I'm looking to add a LARGE knfie to my range of regular bushcraft knives, but I can't settle on a design. So I thought I would ask for the opinion of those who I will be trying to sell them too!
Size will be limited by what I can comfortably heat treat in my workshop, so no more than a foot long blade, preferably I will be sticking to about 10" as it makes my life easier. The tang WILL be a stick tang, no choice there I'm afraid (I'm a tool user and abuser and the only stick tang I have had fail on a large blade was when I ran a 7 tonne digger over it).
The blade shape and angle are where I'm dithering. When I use a large blade I tend to go for a billhook, but i understand that they have their limitations in bushcraft due to the hook on most patterns.
Is a down cranked handle (like a kukri), or up cranked handle (like a parang) better than a straight handle (like a golok, machete, etc) best?
Is a straight, upcurved or recurved blade prefered?
A blunt point (like a golok), drop point, spear point or bulbous end better?
So people, what should I try out? The first prototype(s) will be coming with me to the Wilderness Gathering, so you can have a play and tell me what you think
n.b. I was going to do this as a poll, but can't work out how
Size will be limited by what I can comfortably heat treat in my workshop, so no more than a foot long blade, preferably I will be sticking to about 10" as it makes my life easier. The tang WILL be a stick tang, no choice there I'm afraid (I'm a tool user and abuser and the only stick tang I have had fail on a large blade was when I ran a 7 tonne digger over it).
The blade shape and angle are where I'm dithering. When I use a large blade I tend to go for a billhook, but i understand that they have their limitations in bushcraft due to the hook on most patterns.
Is a down cranked handle (like a kukri), or up cranked handle (like a parang) better than a straight handle (like a golok, machete, etc) best?
Is a straight, upcurved or recurved blade prefered?
A blunt point (like a golok), drop point, spear point or bulbous end better?
So people, what should I try out? The first prototype(s) will be coming with me to the Wilderness Gathering, so you can have a play and tell me what you think
n.b. I was going to do this as a poll, but can't work out how