I made about 20 knives from blades made by different manufacturers, but this is my first one I completly made by myself..
I always wanted big chopper in Hudson Bay pattern, but I was never able to afford it, at least ones I realy like, like Idahoknifeworks one. So only way for me was to make my own, and I incorporated all tircks I learned about big blades from reprofiling Ontario machetes, and playing with Valiant Golok Potong, or Bark River knives.
It started as a round bar of 52100, and a friend power hammer it to a flat bar, machined it down to 0.330" thickness, normalized and anealed, and than I grinded of anything surplus with small angle grinder with sanding pad, and small belt grinder I own.. Than it went to same friend for heat treating, and he did it differentialy, 52 HRC back and 61 HRC a 2 cm wide strip behhind the edge. Finishing it was a easy job on belt grinder with regular cooling in water bucket.
It have 9" long blade, now 0.300 thick, 2" wide, and a stripled maple handles, contured so that they are wery safe in use, even in strongest swings.. Blade is full height convex. If you look carefuly, there is hammon line on bottom picture.
I only need to make a sheath for it, to finish this project, and to move to smaller knives I plan next.
Bogdan
I always wanted big chopper in Hudson Bay pattern, but I was never able to afford it, at least ones I realy like, like Idahoknifeworks one. So only way for me was to make my own, and I incorporated all tircks I learned about big blades from reprofiling Ontario machetes, and playing with Valiant Golok Potong, or Bark River knives.
It started as a round bar of 52100, and a friend power hammer it to a flat bar, machined it down to 0.330" thickness, normalized and anealed, and than I grinded of anything surplus with small angle grinder with sanding pad, and small belt grinder I own.. Than it went to same friend for heat treating, and he did it differentialy, 52 HRC back and 61 HRC a 2 cm wide strip behhind the edge. Finishing it was a easy job on belt grinder with regular cooling in water bucket.
It have 9" long blade, now 0.300 thick, 2" wide, and a stripled maple handles, contured so that they are wery safe in use, even in strongest swings.. Blade is full height convex. If you look carefuly, there is hammon line on bottom picture.
I only need to make a sheath for it, to finish this project, and to move to smaller knives I plan next.
Bogdan
