Camp Chopper

[Lin Rhea]

I'm working a on a big Camp Knife and thought you might be interested in seeing the progress. Here is the blade, which is 12 inches long. Its .350 thick at the ricasso so it will be a hoss. Good distal taper so its not too heavy in spite of the thickness. This pattern is from one I designed for my son a while back which has a 9 inch blade. It is has a natural flow such as you would see in vegetation. My son loves his.
 

You can see the guard shows the slot and the bearing points where it sits against the back of the ricasso shoulders.
 

 I started the spacer assembly but will filework the bronze as soon as I can be still a few minutes.
 

[Ray Hammond]

very nice!!!!!

[srtben]

Looking awesome!

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks guys.    

I will mention that the temporary alignment pins will be replaced later after I get all of it finished. I will then peen them into small countersinks and sand them flush so it can be removed when the knife is dismantled for cleaning. If ever the spacer assembly needs to be taken apart, I can punch out the pins easily since they will be nickel silver pins.

[bjansen]

Fantastic work Lin.  I like everything about this knife.  The transitions between your guard and spacers are so clean and perfect, I am just not sure how it is done so well!

[gudspelr]

You never cease to impress, Lin... There's a lot to like on this one. The really fine lines in the Damascus look great-is that where it was twisted? The guard and spacer set look very well done already. It might have been one of your knives where I first saw the top lug hole for a lanyard, which I also really like. I feel like I'm repeating myself a lot...   .


Jeremy

[D.Ellis]

That's gonna be great. I love that slow twist.
It looks smaller than 12"........
Darcy  

[DANA HOLMAN]

That is going to be heck of a knife, you are very gifted. Question, have you quite filling the side of your tang for the guards and mill them to fit? Ive never seen you do this. Either way looks great.

Dana

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks guys.

Jeremy, Yes, its just where the W's come around tight and are bunched up.

Dana, I still file the sides but not on this one. This one is a take down handle so I went about things a bit different than normal. I actually heated the guard to a bright red and drove it onto the blade shoulders to fit it tight to the blade. In other words, I used the back of the blade and tang as a die. Then I went ahead and finished the blade and etched it. Also, I shaped the guard completely after the slot was established.

[Lin Rhea]

This will give you an idea where I'm headed with the handle.
 

[Lin Rhea]

Another short that shows the frame and its thickness. In this picture the pin holes are not yet drilled. The plan is to add another layer of Micarta to each side of this frame.
 

[kbaknife]

I love that stuff.

[Ray Hammond]

so there will be some material removed from the top and bottom profile of that micarta before it's all said and done...to bring it closer to the ferrule dimension?

[Lin Rhea]

Ray, yes, it is way over sized at the moment. My pin holes are located based on the final profile.

Karl, after we talked (yes, I talked to the take down master    ) I decided to turn down a coupling nut to fit through that washer and then attach the but cap directly in line to the rear of the coupling nut.

[Idahomike251]

I would be looking forward to see the finished handle on this beauty.

[kbaknife]

I am really excited to see this.

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks everyone.

I got the handle together and fit up solid. Now I have to work on the finial area. I'll post a picture or two of this thing apart reasonably soon. Time is short.
 

[srtben]

Pretty cool Lin. I haven't ever seen pins like that on a contoured handle, it looks very cool.

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Ben.

[ymountainman]

That's impressive LIn Thanks for posting!