New Harsey Custom Blade!
 

Folks:

In conjunction with a special occasion, I received a special gift from my better half, courtesy of Mr. Harsey, who took what I asked him for, and rendered it in real S30-V steel in all of its glory.

We have recently been talking here about small, concealable knives. This is the other end of the spectrum, when you need a knife capable of chopping wood for a fire, saplings for shelter construction, digging, prying, and if need be, defending oneself from unwanted attention, human, or otherwise.

It is big, but lighter than you would expect, quick, point heavy, and sharp as I have ever seen for a knife this size. The sheath is handmade with every hole and stitch made by Bill himself, and fits like a glove. You are indeed a talented artist, Sir!

I see this as the kind of knife you would strap on when you are headed out to the woods and you have to survive with what you are carrying and what you find for an extended period, like Lewis and Clark, for example.

It is an amalgamation of a kukri, Bowie, chopper, and fighter. I hope you find it as beautiful to look at as I do.

These are preliminary shots done a few hours after I got it, better ones will follow. First pic is sheathed, second is by itself, third is to give you some idea of the size of this piece. The little knife to the immediate left of this blade is a Yarborough Knife.

Enjoy!

TR

TR, that is beautiful. A masterpiece from the master. Congrats!

And yes, it is scary-big. :eek:

I might have some cool in-process pics of its creation.

I love the contour lines that G10 takes on shaped handles.

Mr. Harsey, beautiful leather work also.

FrontSight

Damn nice blade there sir

Awesome knife. I think it would make a nice "Professional Soldiers" blade. Is it possible to get one???? I am very impressed Mr. Harsey. And very jealous, too.

Holy Crap! TR has started putting together a Roman Legionnaire's war belt! :) Seriously, beautiful knife. Is that pocket on the sheath made to hold a new Charge XTi?

TR, Thanks for posting the pictures, well done.

Thanks everyone else for your nice comments.

Sharkbait, Yes I'll make more, the master pattern is still here, in fact Ms. FrontSight has an image of the lexan pattern laid out on the steel that became this knife (fire away ma'am if you want).

Razor, I designed the pouch for the DMT Diafold diamond sharpener. I thought about the Leatherman but I just didn't have the pouch stitch width available between the welt stitching and I didn't want to make the whole sheath any bigger.

Yes this knife is designed for that very narrow zone of trying to be a hard hitter without being too heavy. I made this from 7/32 inch thick CPM S-30 V and flat ground the master bevels to a finished .035" thick before sharpening. I wanted a blade geometery that would have maximum penetration per blow if chopping wood and that could be field re sharpened. This knife feels very fast in the hand.

The Reaper is going to test this knife hard and if he can break it, I'll just make another like I would do for any of you guys or gals.

Beatiful Blade Sir.

Looks capable of severing limbs (and I don't mean the lumber kind)

Nice, very nice work Mr. Harsey!

Nice knife.

Can I have it?

I particularly like the pic of the 4 Harseys side-by-side.

Nice knife Bill.

Mick Dundee is getting jealous. You may nneed to get him one for Crocodile Dundee part 23. :p

The hell with Mick! I'm jealous! ;)

TS

Only if I store it in my footlocker and leave the country. :D

Strangely enough, the discussion did touch on the Roman Short Sword, and all of the uses the Legionaire found for it.

As Bill stated, the DuoFold sharpener fits like a charm, the XTi would likely be a bit too thick. He could do that though, I am sure.

I am currently looking for someone to sew up a nylon and Kydex field sheath for it, if you know anyone with the quals.

I think Mr. Harsey mentioned that as well.

"Now THIS is a knife!" :D

Nothing stopping you but a check, and Mr. Harsey's schedule.

Will try to get some better pics up later this weekend.

TR

Wow
 

Nice knife Sir. Beautiful work Mr. Harsey.

Would you prefer stacked?

TR

TR
For a kydex sheath I would contact Tim Wegner at Blade tech. Back before he was rich and famous he made a bunch of sheaths for me working with a toaster oven in his garage. Those sheaths are still as good as the day he made them, everything I've purchased since has been of the same high quality. You will have to send your blade to him, but I'm betting you'll be happy with the results.
DDD

BTW, Beautiful knife! Bill, do I see a little Walter Brend influence?

Walter Brend makes a great knife and it was my honor to meet him in Atlanta at Blade show last June. This knife was heavily influenced by The Reaper and if it relates to Brend, I did it my way based on other big blades I've done.

Beautiful.

Put me down for one when you start making more, Bill!!

The Reaper's knife in-progress
 

I like in-progress knife pics almost more than the done ones.

Mr. Harsey sent me these of The Reaper's knife in-progress.

(the gradient-box in the first pic is to X-out the OpPerSec data)

FrontSight

Ms. FrontSight,
Thank you for posting the working pics of The Reapers knife. I know I'll live to regret saying this in public, but thanks for the digital blocking of some writing. I owe you one.

The first image in FrontSights post is the blade just out of heat treat and the master bevels have just been final ground, freehand, on the belt grinder. Now it's time to figure out how to make the guard.

Here is how it started, the lexan master pattern has been made from the drawings and is clamped onto the CPM S-30V steel that will become the blade. I use a carbide scribe to "draw' around the outside of the lexan to make the pattern transfer onto the steel. Then I use the steel cutting saw to remove major chunks and then grind to the outside of the scribed line on the belt grinder.

Bill-
Are these knives going to be limited as to who can actually purchase one from you due to your busy schedule?

Limited only by my ability to get stuff out the door.

The more I look at this thing, the more subtle touches I see.

Just this weekend, I noticed that he had tapered the tang.

Outstanding workmanship, Bill.

TR

You need a Shipping Associate...

How about some TR quality photos and document this evidence in detail. :D

Since you were a consultant on this design TR, why not go over the things that you asked for and why you feel they are important concerning usefulness and utility of this masterpiece. I would really like to hear the WHY behind some of design features. I am not good at spotting them from a photo.

If and when you have time to do it of course. :munchin

Outstanding!
 

I could do some damage with that! :lifter

Mr. Harsey or The Reaper,

What is this Behemoth called?

"The Sacamuelas" :munchin

LMAO

Okay, okay.

First let me say that I love my Yarborough Knife.

OTOH, when I started the "Survive!" thread, I was thinking about the edged tool I would carry, and the YK was not the knife I would take if I could only have one or two.

One of the primary tasks for both an ground combat soldier and for survival is chopping, digging, constructing, breaking open ammo crates, and if it comes down to it, fighting. Rather than pack five different blades, I asked for one large blade to replace several of them.

I wanted a knife more like a kukri for chopping, but without the bent blade so that you could thrust and fence with it if need be. I asked for 10" of blade to compromise between portability and reach/leverage.

I wanted a blade to replace my machete, axe, prybar, cleaver, large fighter, etc.

I needed for it to be tough to handle repeated impacts, prying, chopping, or occasional digging.

I wanted as much weight forward as possible, but no heavier than it had to be to get the job done.

I asked for the surest, most comforable grip possible, in a "Coke bottle" configuration, to allow for chopping without transferring shock to the hand, a surface which would not promote blisters, and a material that gripped equally well wet, dry, greasy, or bloody.

I requested a guard, and relented at Mr. Harsey's suggestion to use an aluminum one to save weight. He also tapered the tang for that very same reason.

If I were dumped in a remote area with but one blade, this is the knife I would take. If I could choose a second to go with it, it would be a multi-tool like the Leatherman Charge XTi.

Here are some generic pics of the blade to satisfy your curiousity.

Hope that they help, I will put up a few more to respond to specifics.

TR

I will let Mr. Harsey answer that one.

Here it is in a size comparison with the Yarborough, which is not a small knife.

TR

Here is a brief work test.

Mr. Harsey and I were recently saying how hitting a knot in soft wood like pine is like hitting a rock buried in it.

I looked around the woods and found a fallen pine log. Upon examination, it was heart pine, which is the hard center of a pine tree, some had started turning into "lighter knot" (an extremely hard, very flammable resinous portion), and it was dirt encrusted on one side. I started at a 4" section, took the blade, and started chopping away. I am not a logger, or even much of a chopper anymore, but in less than 2 minutes, it was cut completely through.

The next picture shows a scrub oak or Blackjack oak that infest the pine forests here. I was going to time it as well, but it only took three strokes to cut through a 2.5" section of the trunk. It required less than 15 seconds to fell.

The last photo shows the knife is still hair popping sharp, after multiple cuts like the ones above. That CPM S-30V is the heat.

Folks, this is one cutting and chopping monster blade!

TR

A few more, just for show.

I am not normally a revolver man, unless it is black powder, or I am expecting bear, but it seemed to match the blade well. S&W 629 Classic Hunter.

Bill, the blade isn't shiny anymore, but it cuts just as well. You said to wring it out and I am trying. Can't beat the warranty, either!

TR

Wow, very impressive.
Great pics, TR.
The Knife That Sets The Standard is kind of a long name, but fitting.

Wow! TR, I will go stand over in the "that knife makes me jealous corner".

Bill, that is very strong work, Sir.

Holy smokes. :eek:

The biggest knife I used to have was a 4" Strider SLCC. I would open the drawer, look at it, scream, and slam the drawer shut.

I'm not sure what would happen if in the same room with The Reaper Knife :). (Just kidding. I'm not afraid of anything anymore :p )

Hey Bill Harsey, why not just call it The Reaper?
(Gee I hope the solenoid didn't get activated with that comment ::halo:: :D )

FrontSight

To all and Ms. FrontSight,

This knife is called "The Reaper."

I am deeply honored.

Thank you.

TR