Pre-Blade Show Carcass Splitter

In the weeks leading up to the Blade Show, a knifemaker's life gets pretty crazy.  One aspect, especially for full-timers, is moving along enough work for customers to be able to stay ahead of the bills while also building inventory for the show.  Add to that equipment breakage, injuries, lack of sleep, torrential rains, high heat and humidity, and general bad luck and it's a wonder any of us make it to Atlanta alive and coherent.

As part of the pre-Blade balancing, I forged out a couple of big ol' carcass splitters.  One was to be a commission, the other table inventory.  I let the customer pick which of the two he liked once they were forged out, then finished it out to his taste.

I'm kind of enjoying shaping the fawn's foot handles on these full-sized carcass splitters.

The blades were forged as closely as possible with the power hammer, with a hand hammer used only for straightening.  The spines are as-forged.


Getting the handle wraps epoxied with some other Blade Show inventory.

The customer picked the blade with slightly more curve to the profile, and requested hemp cord (over a neoprene foundation) and black paracord Turk's head knots fore and aft.

I built a Boltaron sheath for it.

Little hard to see in the picture, but there is more power hammer texture in the blade than usual.

Big blade!

Long handle!

The specs:  Blade is forged from 1/4" 5160 steel, is 18 1/2" long and 3 1/2" wide.  The overall length is 40 1/4" and the weight is 77 ounces, or 4.8 pounds.  It shaved hair cleanly down the full length of the edge.

The customer commented upon receipt, "Pics are great, but you need to feel this thing in your hands to appreciate it."  :)

Bevy of bush swords

Some bush swords recently finished up and off to their new owners.

All are 80CrV2 steel with marine epoxy-impregnated cord wraps and Boltaron sheaths.

About a 13 1/2" blade, based on a wooden Filipino training sword the customer already had.  Black on black wrap.

 

This one is about a 16" blade.  It was made for an old schoolmate of mine, one grade ahead but who was in several classes with me in high school.  Olive drab on OD wrap, tan Boltaron.

I had made it almost 36 years without any stitches.  As I was re-sheathing it from taking these pics, the sheath slipped and I cut the ever-lovin' crap out of the thumb on my dominant hand, earning 10 stitches.  I tweaked the sheath to be a smidge looser before mailing it to him.  :)  Sure has made it challenging to get ready for the Blade Show.

And finally, a two-hander with an 18" blade and a hemp cord wrap.  Wasn't sure about it, but by the time I finished up, I really liked it.  Fast and powerful!

Pre-Blade Show commissioned blades

The Blade Show approaches with frightening rapidity, as usual.  I have two tables and at the moment nothing ready. 

I did have this 5160 blade, but it sold within a few minutes of me posting it on Instagram.  My wife wasn't too happy about that, but my pickup's transmission decided it needed rebuilt RIGHT NOW and I needed the money.

The rest of these were commissions that I finished up prior to the show.  They're all 80CrV2 steel with Boltaron sheaths.

These two are about 7 1/2" blades.

A 5" blade with retina-searing neon orange over hemp, for a deer hunter who wanted a hi-viz knife handle.

And a blade a bit over 6".

And now, panic mode engage!  Time to FORGE AHEAD!!!!  :D :D :D :D