Cleaver to Nessmuk-ish.

[crosslandkelly]

Some time ago I was given an old battered S/steel meat cleaver. I spent yesterday turning it into a Nessmuk type knife for general camp duties.
I've never reground tools into something else, or made a handle for full tang blade. All in all I'm pretty pleased with the way it has turned out.
I cut the rough shape from the cleaver using an angle grinder, then filed it to the final shape. The grind I made with a power file, then sharpened till slicey.
A block of beech from an old worktop, red fiber liners and a 4" nail to provide the steel pins. made the Handle.
Final job was to knock up a quick sheath from some scraps of leather, and job done.
There are some obvious mistakes, but as this was a learning experience, I'm quite happy. The grind on the blade may evolve as I use the knife, but for the moment it's a good little Chopper.
Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

 

[Fraxinus]

No pics showing here mate, using Chrome and a photobucket fix add on.
Sounds like a nice project though.
Rob.

Edit: I was right Cracking looking knife, bet it has a nice heft to it. Ta for fixing the pic's.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Cheers, I think the pics are fixed now.

 

[sunndog]

Yep pics working

Nice project, looks almost like a straight handled ulu

 

[Leshy]

Crikey, that's a beast! Good job

 

[Tony]

Great stuff - How long did it take you?

 

[crosslandkelly]

Thanks all.
Sunndog, it does look like it will make a good herb cutter.
Tony. All in, over 2 days, about 7 or 8 hours. I made the sheath while I waited for the epoxy to dry.

 

[Janne]

Excellent result!

 

[Robbi]

Nice job there matey ☺

 

[Nice65]

Thanks all.
Sunndog, it does look like it will make a good herb cutter.
Tony. All in, over 2 days, about 7 or 8 hours. I made the sheath while I waited for the epoxy to dry.

People seem amazed at the cost of knives, it's a good learning exercise to make your own and discover what is involved without even adding a profit margin.

A nice job you've done, but you may have lost your steel hardness with the heat from the angle grinder.

 

[crosslandkelly]

People seem amazed at the cost of knives, it's a good learning exercise to make your own and discover what is involved without even adding a profit margin.

A nice job you've done, but you may have lost your steel hardness with the heat from the angle grinder.

Yes I did worry about that, so I cut the cleaver in stages. Few seconds here, a few seconds there, and keeping a bucket and sponge nearby. 1mm blades and straight cuts meant that the cutting process didn't overheat the steel. (I hope) The whole cutting process took about 40 minutes, maybe a bit less. Thanks for your comments.

 

[Nice65]

Yes I did worry about that, so I cut the cleaver in stages. Few seconds here, a few seconds there, and keeping a bucket and sponge nearby. 1mm blades and straight cuts meant that the cutting process didn't overheat the steel. (I hope) The whole cutting process took about 40 minutes, maybe a bit less. Thanks for your comments.

That's the way

 

[Robson Valley]

Although it's just a Dremel with cutoff disks, I prune used farrier's hoof knives for carving in the same way.

The profile of the blade. Where did that idea come from?
I've got 2 cleavers, too long to be really useful for my kitchen.
Always thinking of whacking one of them into something more useful

You, sir, are leading the way. Thanks.

 

[Janne]

What is your intended use for your Super Nesmuk?


This blade was designed ( not really, it was loosely based on a trad Butchers Knife) by a US nature lover that went by a nickname/pen name of Nesmuk.

It is a skinner. He changed the classic Butchers Knife by making it more compact.

 

[Robson Valley]

Slicing, dicing rocker of a kitchen blade. I will make one.
I'll wait until winter and bring in a bucket of snow for cooling.
There would be a color change if I cook the steel.
Not done that so far in anything that reallly mattered.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Thanks for all the positive comments chaps. I'll be taking it out with me this weekend to give it a good test.

Janne, I had just thought of using it as a general heavy duty camp knife.
The Nessmuk info about the reason for the blade shape, is interesting. George Washington Sears was Nessuks real name.

RV, I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with over the winter.
The wife has already taken a liking to my one, so it may end up in the kitchen.