|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
I started by cutting the handle down to 9 1/2 inches (Still able to use a 2 hand hold) Stripped the blade of the black paint, put a hot vinegar patina on the blade. Re-profiled the handle. Made the sheath out of 1 1/4 PVC. Dura-coated handle and sheath with Dark Earth. Wrapped handle with paracord. Original mentions a 19 inch blade, mine is 24 inches Link to original. http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/97THK/TWO_HANDED_KATANA_MACHETE.aspx
Last edited by j2dogs; 12/26/13.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436 |
I think you did good. The blade thickness in the link you gave is given as 2.8mm which is .11 inch (no?). A .11 inch thick blade needs two hands the wield it? I like yours better. Can you give us more details on the sheath?
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
The sheath was 1 1/4 inch pvc. The Katana did not come with a sheath. There is a you tube video of a guy making a sheath for one out of pvc using a heat gun and clamps. I just followed his example in making mine.
I know its not a high grade Katana, but I figure it would be excellent on clearing myrtle vine and briar thickets.
Put the calipers to my blade it is .115, at 24 inch blade I can see where a 2 handed hold might help sometimes.
Last edited by j2dogs; 12/26/13.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,034
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,034 |
Neat project and nice work.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,436 |
No, sorry, I wasn't clear. I think you're right in making it a one hander, and thanks for the info on the sheath.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
(Still able to use a 2 hand hold)
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
Field report: Well went to clear some shooting lanes and set up a blind today for late season archery hunt. Took the CS Katana Machete. Initially I was a little concerned, many of my blows seem to glancing and the handle felt awkward seemed like my wrist was getting tired quickly. On one of my strokes against a 1 inch sapling, I looked down and saw my paracord unwrapped and thought crappers. Well it was not the paracord it was this. The handle had snapped at the end of the tang. I thought this really sucks cause I was only half way through my job, I had a folding saw but that would take forever. After I got all my cord off, I got to looking and I could still get one hand on it. So I went back to work and to my surprise the glancing blows stop my cutting power seem to increase, and my wrist was not getting tired like before. A blessing in disguise!! To be fair to CS, I narrowed the handle were it snapped to make everything even from one end of the handle to the other, but I probably did not take more the 1/4 inch off it. Oh well. I am thinking if I was constantly in a Katana battle with other sword swingers maybe a 2 handed handle would be a benefit in theory. But most of my machete work is done with 1 hand, and that length of handle was not comfortable for 1 handed use at all. On another note, the metal and tempering seems to be spot on, I hit several rocks cutting saplings close to ground, after examining the blade no dents or dings the 1055 was done right. And even though I made a belt loop on the sheath when I was fashioning it, I found much easier to carry as the traditional Katana is carried sheath slipped through my belt on the left side very comfortable carry. So now my next project. I am going to finish removing all the synthetic handle material down to the tang, slowly remove about 2 inches of the blade around the hilt to match the size of the tang, find me some good hardwood, (Anyone got a good piece of seasoned Osage Orange?) Epoxy, Corby bolt, and re-wrap. Will give some updates as the project continues.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565 |
Kinda funny. I had one of these in my paws at a gun/knife show a few weeks ago. I could not help but feel that the handle just felt "unsubstantial" to me. I didn't really give it much thought at the time. I just remember feeling that it felt "weak" to me for the few seconds I had it in my hands.
Cold Steel product quality varies greatly. Of course, so do their price-points. Some of it is a bargain IMO, some of it junk. They also have some higher priced products that are pretty darn good, but their prices reflect as much........
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,605
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,605 |
Cold Steel product quality varies greatly. Of course, so do their price-points. Some of it is a bargain IMO, some of it junk. They also have some higher priced products that are pretty darn good, but their prices reflect as much........ some guys i know really like what they get for the Cold Steel kukri machetes as far as bang for the buck.....apparently the design/quality level works really well for what yah pay, they are hacking machines on vegetation....
A serious student of the "Armchair Safari" always looking for Africa/Asia hunting books
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,754 Likes: 5
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,754 Likes: 5 |
Not a huge Cold Steel fan, but these Sax style machetes have been real work horses. 12 inch, and an 18 inch. They whack through anything.
Sam......
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
They look Good! I still believe mine will work out. The metal in mine is excellent I will end up having a little time and money in fixing the handle and all, but I suppose in the end there is no free ride. Next it will be a full tang.
I really like the larger Sax, I believe that is about the right size.
Last edited by j2dogs; 01/01/14.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
Update. Picked up some stock at Tractor Supply. Fashioned my first guard with a cutoff tool, and some hand tools. Don't think it turned out to bad.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
After changing from double grip to single grip I realized the blade was to much, so after custom guard and micarta handles. I cut the blade down to 19 inches. Put a razors edge on it, and a custom para cord retention wrap. Very large knife that can clear brush and other large knife duties.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,786
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 29,786 |
I just default to the old Australian issue Golok made at Lithgow Small Arms Factory in the sixties. The bottom top thing from Nepal may be a boys own toy but is essentially useless as a tool when compared to the Golok. I apologise about the picture orientation but Photobucket is throwing a fit at the moment. apparently it has fixed the issues.
Last edited by JSTUART; 10/27/16.
These are my opinions, feel free to disagree.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
Those look great, wanted to take a better pic of mine but my camera just went belly up.
|
|
|
|
671 members (160user, 10gaugemag, 06hunter59, 1beaver_shooter, 204guy, 1badf350, 68 invisible),
2,710
guests, and
1,464
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,609
Posts18,492,450
Members73,972
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|