Shane Wink
Well-Known Member
I have not really posted any work on this site so I decided to post a WIP of a kukri machete. Where I live a machete is a better choice than an axe IMHO and while in Panama with Uncle Sam I had the pleasure of using a kukri machete. It was by far the best machete I have ever used and I have been trying to find one like it ever sense but to no avail so I decided to forge one from some 5160. I added a forward lanyard hole to the machete for safety over the rear placement.The forward lanyard does a much better job of preventing swing back should I miss or the blow is glanced. It cant slip from my hand either.
After the forging process and the HT phase I cold blued it and went out to see how it preformed and if I need to make any changes. It chopped veru well but I had hit the blade too deep in a couple of places when forging with the hammer that just bugged me to no end. Initially I did not try to remove them because I did not want to lose mass of the blade. I also wanted to take some of the belly out of the nose of the blade so I did just that and went back with bare hands to feel for heat and removed all but three of the offending hammer marks and fixed the nose. I had already tapered the tang so it was good to go and so was the distal taper of the spine which ended up from 5/32 at the ricasso to 1/8th at the tip. All that is left to do is add the handle which I will do later this week. I will added the modded pics in the morning. Weighs 1.52 pounds currently.
I will be forging another one out with what I believe to be improvements later this fall. One of which will be to add a short flat ground section just forward of the ricasso to aid in some wood skills and to steepen slightly the convex along the nose and belly for added strength. I dont want the convex to be full height either on the front 1/3 of the blade but rather maybe 1.5" up from the edge so as to have added mass. I also will add a longer sweep to the butt of the handle.
Look Ma, No hands. The joy of the forward lanyard!
One hit wonder! 2 3/4 post oak!
A little visual effect and will work on the handle today.
After the forging process and the HT phase I cold blued it and went out to see how it preformed and if I need to make any changes. It chopped veru well but I had hit the blade too deep in a couple of places when forging with the hammer that just bugged me to no end. Initially I did not try to remove them because I did not want to lose mass of the blade. I also wanted to take some of the belly out of the nose of the blade so I did just that and went back with bare hands to feel for heat and removed all but three of the offending hammer marks and fixed the nose. I had already tapered the tang so it was good to go and so was the distal taper of the spine which ended up from 5/32 at the ricasso to 1/8th at the tip. All that is left to do is add the handle which I will do later this week. I will added the modded pics in the morning. Weighs 1.52 pounds currently.
I will be forging another one out with what I believe to be improvements later this fall. One of which will be to add a short flat ground section just forward of the ricasso to aid in some wood skills and to steepen slightly the convex along the nose and belly for added strength. I dont want the convex to be full height either on the front 1/3 of the blade but rather maybe 1.5" up from the edge so as to have added mass. I also will add a longer sweep to the butt of the handle.
Look Ma, No hands. The joy of the forward lanyard!
One hit wonder! 2 3/4 post oak!
A little visual effect and will work on the handle today.
