Stormcrow
Well-Known Member
I had a customer request a bush sword as close as possible in profile and bevels to one that I forged a couple of years ago for Knife Rights' Ultimate Steel fundraiser. Fortunately, I had traced the blade on a piece of cardboard before I finished it out, so I was able to make a pattern. Making any forged blade match exactly what has been done before is always boogery, but the pattern helped.
I forged it from 80CrV2 steel, with a 14" blade and an integral socket handle. Like the original, the clip is a false edge, though thin enough that it could be sharpened.
![](http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39/helmforge2/sean05_zpsarc5pnec.jpg)
The customer wanted me to do the handle wrap with a patterned paracord called "copperhead" that matches pretty close to the scale pattern on the actual ophidian, with the Turk's head knots in a solid color called "rust" that compliments the copperhead well. The cord always darkens when the epoxy is applied, but the pattern still shows up. Just not as obvious at a distance.
![](http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39/helmforge2/sean06_zpsg0rjgw4c.jpg)
The customer is a lefty like me and liked the edge-forward left-handed cross draw setup I had done on my test mule camp knife. He wanted to wear it lower than I did, so I gave the quick-detach, double-adjustable shoulder sling an extra foot of webbing so he could adjust it to where he wants it.
![](http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39/helmforge2/sean07_zpsatf6vhnt.jpg)
He expressed his satisfaction with the rig in no uncertain terms. Always glad to have another happy customer.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I forged it from 80CrV2 steel, with a 14" blade and an integral socket handle. Like the original, the clip is a false edge, though thin enough that it could be sharpened.
![](http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39/helmforge2/sean05_zpsarc5pnec.jpg)
The customer wanted me to do the handle wrap with a patterned paracord called "copperhead" that matches pretty close to the scale pattern on the actual ophidian, with the Turk's head knots in a solid color called "rust" that compliments the copperhead well. The cord always darkens when the epoxy is applied, but the pattern still shows up. Just not as obvious at a distance.
![](http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39/helmforge2/sean06_zpsg0rjgw4c.jpg)
The customer is a lefty like me and liked the edge-forward left-handed cross draw setup I had done on my test mule camp knife. He wanted to wear it lower than I did, so I gave the quick-detach, double-adjustable shoulder sling an extra foot of webbing so he could adjust it to where he wants it.
![](http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll39/helmforge2/sean07_zpsatf6vhnt.jpg)
He expressed his satisfaction with the rig in no uncertain terms. Always glad to have another happy customer.