Help: Commissioning a medium camp knife

After reading Eee's post on commissioning knife, I had been thinking about it on and off for some time. Previously I had wanted a titanium machete from Mad Science Forge but after a long consideration I have to resort back to steel. I would like to ask for your thoughts and comments on my plan:


1. Target material
Coconut and wood (not intend to chop down a tree with it, but maybe some limbs).

2. Grind
I want a grind that is well balanced in performance and ease of maintenance. It's Full Flat, High Saber, or even Scandi. Tapering for the tip.

3. Steel
Best corrosion resistance and toughness with decent edge retention is preferred. Could it be done with LC200N? Or should I just go CPM3V or Cruwear.

4. Dimension
The steel and grind would greatly affect the weight. I desire a width of at least 1.5 inch. 10-12 inches blade.

5. Other feature
I want a raised area for thumb (gentle gimping is preferred). A slight clip point. A guard of some sort is needed - unless the blade width is wide enough and omit the need of it - while the weight still being acceptable. Hand and a half grip, ergonomic comfy fit.


A close commercial knife would be the "Bark River JX5 Vengeful One". Yet the design, and more importantly the company does not give me much faith.

Thoughts and comments are highly appreciated, thank you.

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vigiloconfido

2. Grind
I want a grind that is well balanced in performance and ease of maintenance. It's Full Flat, High Saber, or even Scandi. Tapering for the tip.

A single-bevel grind (scandinavian) is only used when cost is prohibitive and you want the cheapest possible construction route, anything else is misinformation.

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3. Steel
Best corrosion resistance and toughness with decent edge retention is preferred. Could it be done with LC200N? Or should I just go CPM3V or Cruwear.

It is extremely unlikely that a camp knife is going to need wear resistance and the added carbides that produce wear resistance are more likely going to simple reduce performance (lower toughness / ease of grinding - repair).

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4. Dimension
The steel and grind would greatly affect the weight. I desire a width of at least 1.5 inch. 10-12 inches blade.

What you need to take into account is a larger picture, things like balance/weight. If you specific something rigid like the width has to be X, then you could end up with a balance that isn't at all functional.

I would recommend that you talk to a maker who actually understands what that kind of knife actually does and then tell them what is important to you *functionally* and then see what they recommend.

I would look up hikoito knives. He seems like a good guy who would have experience with what you're after.

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Always in search of a good choppa'

Whoa, that Hiko Ito Coconut Saber is sweet.

-Nate

Awesome guys! Really the kind of info I'm looking into. I think the coconut saber is really what I'm looking for. Never knew this. Will follow up and come back later.

what thickness steel? give a target weight.
is this a small machete or what? too big for basic knife, too small to be machete. what is the knife to be used for?
LC200N makes a good ball bearing, but is very low carbon. don't know where one could buy a piece. CPM3V and Cruwear are very expensive and require expensive heat treat. 8670, L6, or S7 are available steels that don't cost a lot, simple heat treat, good toughness at Rc60 or so.

scott
[www.etsy.com]

Hi Scott,

AlphaKnifeSupply has LC200N/Z-Finit in stock. Yes this is a small machete or big camp knife intended for coconut and some wood works.

Referring to my conversation with Hiko Ito, he said that indeed LC200N/Z-Finit could be used to make the Coconut Saber but he is not sure, as he had been using AEB-L for it. Good ol' AEB-L but I really want more corrosion resistance. They say LC200N/Z-Finit is like a very corrosion variety of the AEB-L, but well. I would give target weight a pass and just match it with performance. So many factors compounding into one and the knife I dreamed is very niche.

I may as well just go for the Menechume as a compromise if we need to make a thick stock to compensate for the edge retention for the LC200N/Z-Finit, or just as a plain test subject.

Hiko Ito's page: [www.hikoito.com]

Merry Christmas guys. So I ordered:

1. 2.5" Stubby in Vanax, Shred Copper Carbon Fiber handle, neck wearable kydex sheath compatible with Tek-Lok

2. Menehune in Nitro-V, Shred Copper Carbon Fiber handle, kydex sheath compatible with Tek-Lok

It would probably be April till I get them. Will update later.

Congrats. Let us know what you think when they arrive.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Always in search of a good choppa'

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vigiloconfido
Merry Christmas guys. So I ordered:

1. 2.5" Stubby in Vanax, Shred Copper Carbon Fiber handle, neck wearable kydex sheath compatible with Tek-Lok

2. Menehune in Nitro-V, Shred Copper Carbon Fiber handle, kydex sheath compatible with Tek-Lok

It would probably be April till I get them. Will update later.

The look like very practical designs, let us know how they perform

Is it Vanax 75?
Looks a very interesting steel

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Eee

Is it Vanax 75?
Looks a very interesting steel

Just regular Vanax now. They have discontinued the 35/75.

[www.alphaknifesupply.com]

I don't have high hope for the Nitro V. But the stock version is made with AEB-L. Let's see.

Just a little note in my experience with z-finit, if I did not need outstanding corrosion resistance it would not be my 1st, 2nd or 3rd pick. Most of this is due to its cost and lack or hrc, it is tough for stainless though. For kitchen or diving I think its a good steel beyond that.........

Contact 570-486-9095

Thank you KWB, I believe so indeed.

So my mother discovered that I scratched her Wusthof Santoku while repairing the edge. Family feud ensured. Anyway I proceeded to order a 7" Santoku from Hiko Ito with abalone handle and a 10' Chef. Both in AEB-L. Will gift the Santoku to her as her 60th birthday present.

Will let you guys know when they arrive, probably around June.

Calmax. S7.

i really like Calmax......

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It's not Cliff, its Dr Stamp
#kebabstickcut, it's a thing - make it happen

[www.youtube.com]

Okay guys it's here.

Link's not working for me. Still, congrats on the new knife!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Always in search of a good choppa'



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2018 11:38AM by C Amber.

I have got more knives from Hiko Ito. Very, very good knives at very good value. Post some later.

The Chinese chef knife and the Kitchen Rebel have arrived!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2018 02:51PM by vigiloconfido.

[deleted]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2018 02:52PM by vigiloconfido.

Wow, those look awesome, congrats!!

Can you please post up a pic of the camp knife too? Vid link above doesn't work.

-Nate

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Nate T
Wow, those look awesome, congrats!!

Can you please post up a pic of the camp knife too? Vid link above doesn't work.

Sorry was super busy. Here you go. Didn't have time to tune the colors so they would look less accruate.

They look great. Hiko does some really nice work, and he has a style that is easily recognizable as his.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Always in search of a good choppa'

Thank you, these all look excellent. I need to thin my collection a bit before I buy any new fixed blades, but he'll be on my short list of custom makers to contact when I do.

-Nate

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C Amber
They look great. Hiko does some really nice work, and he has a style that is easily recognizable as his.

Thank you very much for your recommendation. He is really good.

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Nate T
Thank you, these all look excellent. I need to thin my collection a bit before I buy any new fixed blades, but he'll be on my short list of custom makers to contact when I do.

I need to stop buying knife. But I already wanted at least 2 more from him.

Sashimi, Deba, Breakfast and Coconut saber all looks good. Oh now I need 4.