Knife porn thread

Ouch! Hopefully not deep enough for any last damage!

It bends so I don't think I hit owt complicated...

These are too small for either of those techniques really. I'm not swinging the knife at first, just gently pressing it into the wood, then swinging the wood down onto a log to split the embedded knife through it.

I like the car tyre tip for bigger stuff, will use ta.

Machete suggestions

I'll measure mine, but I'd say don't skimp on length. You want the longest that's practical to carry.

Pretty sure this is mine: https://www.armysurplusworld.com/gavilan-incolma-machete-18-blade

It's a nice balance of length, but at the time it needed to fit on the side of my backpack. If I was just carrying it in my hand I'd have gone a little longer.

Also make sure you have a sheath.

And just in case you're not aware machetes tend to come fairly blunt.

Brambles = slasher.
I like to keep as far away from brambles as possible.
Learnt on many voluntary conservation tasks.
A good straight, heavy blade with little hook, and a decent Ash 5ft handle.
They last forever. I can't even remember the last time the group I work with had to replace one.
Bit of a sharpening with a suitable file before each work day,
and the occasional trip to the grinder if someone really stuffs is into the ground or hits a stone.

Long reach hedge trimmers work great for brambles. Can reach in and chop them off at the base without getting mauled

For professional level bramble clearance, simply make the most junior labourer do it. Welding gauntlets can be issued if you don't actively dislike the labourer. Then blitz the regrowth with SBK.

Is there anywhere recommended in East for knife sharpening (appreciate they likely wont be open right now)? I have a whetstone but I'm a bit crap at it and it doesnt really spark much joy.

How bad are you? I bought a whetstone last year after using a shit sharpener for ages and found it didn't take too much practice to get a decent edge on a knife. I'm definitely not an expert at all but can get a kitchen knife sharp enough to be useful which is all I really need.

Get a Lansky - for the price you'll pay to get a knife sharpened it will be about the same price. its dead easy, bit artless but you'll get a good edge every time

Kataba are open for drop off/pick up sharpening, they're in central though (endell street) so maybe not ideal if you're far east.

I bought a whetstone a couple of months ago - I haven't risked my good knives on it yet but it is kind of nice to use once you get into it! Maybe give it another go, I think you can do it much worse than you'd expect and still be able to rescue the knives!

https://www.hartsofstur.com/minosharp-2-piece-guide-rail-set-ms-463.html

Thanks everyone. I can get a reasonable edge on a whetstone but theres the odd knife that I always think is worthy of much more. Going to persevere on the stone, get a Lansky and take the one that really really needs rescuing (many chips) to Kataba.

I can do it for you for beers. I’d offer a tutorial but for COVID.

I'll measure mine, but I'd say don't skimp on length. You want the longest that's practical to carry.

2x this, and add practical to swing (depends on your height and arm length).

Sent our Globals off to Blade & Butler for a resharpen because my home sharpening skills just weren't cutting it on this level of bluntness.

So sharp...really pleased.

@dancing james

Machete length for reference.

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Healing nicely.

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Couldn't resist a pricey scrub clearer & bark remover.

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I fancy making a camping knife for my girlfriend for her birthday - does anyone have a suggestion for UK shops for buying knife making steel blanks?

Managed to blunt two knives by using a knock off edge pro apex.

I’ve used Moonraker knives and English Handmade Knives but I’ve bought some of the best handle blanks from eBay.
My camp knife is an Enzo Camper which I find a bit unwieldy I’ll post some photos tomorrow.

Are you looking for steel to forge the blade? Or a forged blade to grind?

So I've been watching Uri Tuchman who makes nice looking knives using just a blow torch and an oven, so I was hoping I might be able to do the same....

Definitely looking at eBay for handle blanks, but I'm wondering if I'm insane for wanting to grind and shape the blade myself with just a hacksaw, file and vice...

Definitely do-able for a utility knife. I'd advise getting / making a blade clamp though. Mine is made from an offcut of steerer tube and cut in half curtain rail. Makes holding the blade at different angles much easier.

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