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Discussion: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
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Braydonn |
ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 4 2012, 9:41 AM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 4 2012, 9:42 AM EDT
Hello ladies and gentlemen!I bought a slab of unknown stock steel at my local hardware store yesterday with dreams of turning it into the ultimate survival knife. I've roughed out a basic shape and the shape I've chosen sort of resembles a Kabar Warthog. I'll get around to cutting it out soon and shaping it properly. I'll post pictures on my profile when I finish it. But in the meantime I have a little scenario for you! You've been approached by a well known Knife manufacturer, they are hoping you can help guide them in creating the "Ultimate Zombie Survival Knife". They are looking for a knife that can hold it's own for both General tasks and combat situations. They've given you a set of criteria to fill out. Blade Shape = (Clip point, drop point, etc.) Blade Length = (4 inch, 6 inch, etc.) Blade Material = (VG10, S30V, etc.) Blade Grind = (Hollow Grind, Full Flat, etc.) Blade Thickness = (3/16", 5mm, etc.) Handle Length = (4 inch, 6 inch, etc.) Handle Material = (Elk horn, G10, etc.) Other Features = (Saw back, Gut hook, etc.) Try to explain your choices as well! Have fun! 3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you? |
brandon_a_boyer |
1. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 4 2012, 10:42 AM EDT
"Hello ladies and gentlemen!I would suggest you get a better steel before you put all of the effort into making a knife. Either way. I'd choose a clip point blade, 7" long. With a blade made from S7 steel, flat ground with a rolled edge. The spine would be 1/4" thick with 6" handle, full tang, made from G10, with a subhilt. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
jamesgoddam |
2. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 4 2012, 10:46 AM EDT
haha looking foward to the pics bradonn,and for other stuff i have no idea, a mate of my dads made a wicked sword out of some spring steel (suspension from cars) it was a really tough blade, i mean this guy was getting it about 2 inches into a peice of dry redgum and nothing happened whatsoever to the blade. im thinking of making myself a kinfe out of a nice thick bit that i got off an old tractor, have fun making your knife dude :) 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Braydonn |
3. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 4 2012, 6:06 PM EDT
"I would suggest you get a better steel before you put all of the effort into making a knife.@Brandon Yeah I guess you are right Brandon, I'll look for some better steels online. I'm probably going to go ahead with making it anyways, just because I think it would be fun. Besides I was planning on making a few anyways. This will be my test knife, it won't matter if I wreck it. I'd prefer to wreck this unknown steel than a slab of good steel. There are some 1095 Carbon steel billets on sale on Ebay. Any experience with this steel? @James Cheers James! Yeah I've heard that spring steel cam be made into wicked blades! That's pretty sweet! Must have been pretty tough to get through that redgum! You should definitely make yourself a knife! 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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brandon_a_boyer |
4. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 4 2012, 7:12 PM EDT
"@BrandonI'd probably suggest finding something in the 1040/1050 range. The carbon content is a little high for a beginner and I wouldn't want to have it crack on you during heat treatment. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Braydonn |
5. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 4 2012, 7:17 PM EDT
"I'd probably suggest finding something in the 1040/1050 range. The carbon content is a little high for a beginner and I wouldn't want to have it crack on you during heat treatment."Alrighty! I'll look for something in that range! Thanks for the heads up, I would hate to have put in all that work just to have it crack on me. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
redcomrad |
6. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 4 2012, 9:10 PM EDT
Blade Shape = curved, trailing-pointBlade Length = 20 inchs Blade Material = plain-carbon steel Blade Grind = make it sharp but not at the expense of too much durability. Blade Thickness = make it thick like butcher knife Handle Length = 10 inchs Handle Material = Iroko wood Other Features = have at the base of the handle the initials A.J.W. Blade edge = single edge i made my knife very long its too long too be a nice but too short to be a sword. its kinda like a machete except its able to be handled with 2 hands because of the long handle which allows much more stability. It is meant to be more of a cutting and slashing weapon than a stabbing weapon. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
Filadog |
7. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 5 2012, 5:27 AM EDT
"Hello ladies and gentlemen!Is it High Carbon steel? If it is low carbon steel it wont be able to be hardened If it is high carbon steel How are you planning on Hardening it ? Then how are you planning on Tempering it ? Instead of trying to re invent the wheel just go with the WWII " Kabar" MK II design 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
IamSlowRide |
8. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 5 2012, 5:44 AM EDT
Blade Shape = Bowie fighterBlade Length = 6 1/4" Cutting Edge: 5 3/8" Blade Material = 1095 High Carbon Alloy RC-58 Blade Grind = Hollow Blade Thickness = 1/4" Handle Length = 5 3/4" Handle Material = Black Linen Micarta Other Features = Tactical Gray duracoat, thumb groves cleared of duracoat to provide a striking surface for ferrous rods without dulling the blade edge 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
BigLoki |
9. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 5 2012, 10:31 AM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 5 2012, 10:33 AM EDT
Blade Shape: I agree with most on here, the "Bowie" style has a lot going for it, no sense messing with it.Blade length: 6.5"- 7" Blade Material: A2 Tool steel (I know many will disagree, but it's just an opinion, right?) It may make it a bit harder to sharpen, but it's tough stuff, and would stand up to a ridiculous amount of abuse. I'm no metal smith, and many on here have more experience than I do with steel, so I'm not completely sold on the type. Blade grind: Sabre. Easy to resharpen, and holds a good while. You sacrifice some sharpness, but it's a survival knife... in my mind a lasting edge is more useful than a razor sharp one. Blade thickness: 1/4' - 5/16" Handle length: 5 1/2" - 6" Handle material: Rounded handle with a paracord wrap. It will grip wet, dry, and dirty. If you ruin it, you can replace it easily. Some other things I'd like to see in a "survival knife" - A gut hook - A lanyard hole - A flattened area on the back of the blade for baton splitting and the like - A rounded notch on one side of the hilt. If you need to/decide to fashion it into a spear, it makes it easier to keep the knife still on the stick/pole. I'm no knife maker, but that's what I'd like to see. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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PaganArcher |
10. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 5 2012, 9:44 PM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 5 2012, 9:45 PM EDT
Blade Shape = Rounded seax, straight cutting edgeBlade Length = 5-7 inches Blade Material = O1 or 1095 Blade Grind = Flat or Scandi Blade Thickness = 3/16", 1/4" Handle Length = 5- 5 1/4" Handle Material = Stag or micarta Other Features = Distal taper, no lanyard hole 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
cameobiscuit |
11. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 6 2012, 1:09 AM EDT
Make an electric chainsaw katana, it'd be easy!
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Braydonn |
12. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 6 2012, 1:10 AM EDT
"Is it High Carbon steel? If it is low carbon steel it wont be able to be hardenedI don't have a clue, this is just a little bit of an experiment. The steel wasn't marked, so I'm not sure if it's high carbon or low. I'll be buying a billet of high carbon steel soon and will start shaping it! As for the actual heat treatment, I have no means of heating the blade to red hot. Any ideas? Is there anywhere that could do it for me? 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
shadowmancer |
13. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 6 2012, 1:39 AM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 6 2012, 3:09 AM EDT
I'll skip my personal design and move right to your idea. I think its a great idea to work your basic shape out on common flat barstock because it will allow you to make mistakes, gain a little experence and to get some practice before you make your final peice. In my view besides injuries there is nothing worse than spending a great deal of time on a project then either hating the final product or making a critical error.Allowing youself a high margin for error in the prototype stage is a wise thing to do. Taking the time to experiment and learn to properly use your tools are some of the first steps to making some high quality blades. It doesn't matter what the prototype is made of because you improve your skills with ever peice you create. I'd rather make the mistakes on common barstock. Keep up the good work Braydonn. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Braydonn |
14. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 6 2012, 3:53 AM EDT
"I'll skip my personal design and move right to your idea. I think its a great idea to work your basic shape out on common flat barstock because it will allow you to make mistakes, gain a little experence and to get some practice before you make your final peice. In my view besides injuries there is nothing worse than spending a great deal of time on a project then either hating the final product or making a critical error.Thanks Shadow! Tried using an angle grinder for the first time today, that thing has injury written all over it! Of course if you are wearing the proper safety equipment and not operating it like a fool I'm sure it would be safe. I can just see so many accidents happening with that thing. :P Practice makes perfect I guess! : ) 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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shadowmancer |
15. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 6 2012, 4:50 AM EDT
| Post edited: Jul 6 2012, 4:55 AM EDT
respect your tools, take your time and use proper safety gear and you'll do fine.
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djnerfer |
16. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 24 2012, 2:42 PM EDT
tanto tip15 inch blade 5160 spring steel full flat grind 1/2 an inch thick 5 inch handle pine handle kydex sheath fetures a knucle guard with included removable neck knife with sheath 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
theenglandguy |
17. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 24 2012, 10:26 PM EDT
WARNING: I am not an expert bladesmith! If my choice of steel dosen't suit you, then use something else. Thanks.Blade Shape: Tanto-bladed, with the angle of the smaller edge being 140 degrees from the blade Blade length:7 & 1/2 inches Blade material: Damascus, maybe 50 layers. Blade grind: Flat ground Blade thickness: 3/16" Handle length: I don't know your hand size, so it's up to you! Handle material: 8 orange-colored G-10 scales arranged in an octogonal manner for the handle, screwed and glued to the knife's tang. Other features: Gut hook (yes, a gut hook on a tanto knife...) Explaination: Blade Shape: Always owned Tanto-bladed knives, and used other blade designs, but I prefer tanto. I can use them for any camp task, and it has better combat capabilities. (Camp chores with tanto-bladed knives require some getting-used-to). 140 degrees is regular Tanto angle (correct if I am wrong. Blade Length: Long enough to be practical as all-around tool and weapon, but not too long as to be in the way when going prone, crouching, sitting down, riding a horse, or sleeping. (Cuz' oh f*ck yea I will sleep with a combat knife come Z-Day) Blade material: I have heard good stuff from quality Damascus. Only drawback being that sometimes it de-laminates under heavy chopping or prying tasks... (who prys with a knife? Get a titanium crowbar instead) Blade Grind: Flat Ground, for strength and ease of sharpening. Blade thickness: I think 3/16" is good to have durability out of your knife while still being able to be sharpened to a razor-sharp edge. Handle length: I have small hands, maybe you have big bear paws, so I won't give a handle length. However, if I were to make the perfect zombie-survival knife, it would be custom-made with clients' specifications so that they get what they WANT. (cont'd) Do you find this valuable? |
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theenglandguy |
18. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 24 2012, 10:51 PM EDT
(cont'd from previous)Handle material: My EDC Knife handle is made from G-10, and it never becomes really hot, nor really cold. It isn't affected by corrosive liquids, and it gives a good grip. The hexagonal design is because I do not think that you can heat and bend/mold G-10 in a household garage. So, I thought that using 8 scales, and filing/sanding them to get a round grip was a (maybe) good idea, because I like round grips. Think about it: when you close your hand slowly, it makes a circle, so your grip should be round like the shape of your hand. Other features: The Gut Hook! It's the only tool Chuck Norris uses! (joking) Seriously, I dare you to take an urban-dwelling citizen, give him a 4-legged fur-bearing mammal, and ask him to "skin it, take the meat off, cook it, then eat it". I bet 20$ that if he doesn't have a gut hook, he will pierce the animal's intestines and/or other vital organ, causing, well... sh*t to be poured all over the meat... BTW, you didn't talk about a sheath for the knife. I would use a Kydex, knife-locking sheath (the custom ones that the knife "clicks" in). The mains reasons for it are: -It has holes, which allow carbon steel blades to "breath" and not rust from humidity inside the sheath (like leather sheaths tend to do) -It's secure, and it allows the knife to be readied faster than a sheath with Velcro or metal push-button thingys on them (you know what I mean). -It has holes so you can do an improvised thigh sheath, and strap it to a rucksack. On the sheath I would include a nylon pouch for holding a kit containing This: http://www.rei.com/product/745498/coghlans-six-function-whistle This: http://www.countycomm.com/sslight.html and This: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_19_grenade_launcher (Last one is a Mall Ninja joke... who said survival had to be without a laugh?) Do you find this valuable? |
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IamSlowRide |
19. RE: ZSDW Fixed Blade Knife Designer Scenario.
Jul 25 2012, 5:02 AM EDT
"tanto tipYou plan to use a 20" knife as a neck knife...meh, night make for a good laugh when you have to break into a sprint and the thing whips up and knocks you cold...hey but to each his own right...lol Do you find this valuable? |
