The ECOS Edge

[bigjim]

Picked up this knife from a maker that posts here. Ecos is his handle.

This knife is a Carbon steel prototype he sold me. His heat treat is perfect.

I took this edge to the limits of the steel. I cut the bevel back to be damn near the same angle as the flat grind he put on the blade. VERY acute angle.

I used three grits of ceramic rod to polish and hone the edge to glass smooth.

People talk about scary sharp..... Well after I super lightly stropped this blade on oiled carboard it is TOO SHARP. A moments lack of concentration and you are bleeding. Washing the blade for food prep is STRESSFULL. If your skin touchs the edge it cuts period.

I can lay newspaper on a flat surface and shave layers off of it! Here is a close up of the edge..... Scapel sharp....does not do it justice.

 

[fisherman66]

Do you have a picture of the whole knife?

 

[bigjim]

I do. However, Jason(Ecos) sold me this as a prototype. In terms of cosmetics it is not up to par. He has not asked that I do not post pictures of the knife. But.......... Since I plan to buy his knives in the future and want to foster a relationship where he trusts me 100 percent...up to and includeing sending knives for evaluation KNOWING I will not betray his confidence. I choose not to post pictures of this one knife.

I only brought it up as a example of the qualities of old fashioned carbon steel and the EXTREMES to which it can be taken.

This edge is realy something.

 

[JShirley]

Ah, you evil tease. How 'bout them kukuris?

John

 

[bigjim]

Ah, you evil tease. How 'bout them kukuris?

John

You mean these?

 

[JShirley]

Why, yes.

I think my new BGRS villager is just about the purtiest kuk I've seen, 'cept maybe some of the BDCs.

I'll try the cold blue when I have the time, probably in a couple weeks.

John

 

[bigjim]

Cold Blue is cool...

I t really takes good on these Khuks....

 

[JShirley]

How did you degrease?

 

[bigjim]

Washed the knife in hot soapy water.

Cleaned blade 3 times with rubbing alcohol.

Applied cold blue with Cotton bore cleaning patches.

One coat of cold blue rub down with brass choreboy scrub pad.
Another coat of cold blue....rub down with Choreboy.
Heavy coat of oil allow to sit over night.

Wipe clean and dry the next day ....re-oil.

 

[carolinaman]

Hi bigjim,

I have a Windlass Steelcraft Kukri. It seems like a inexpensive "knock off" of the real thing.

Will it take cold blue?

Chris

 

[Don Gwinn]

Couldn't tell ya. Do it rust? Stainless won't take it very well.

 

[bigjim]

Hi bigjim,

I have a Windlass Steelcraft Kukri. It seems like a inexpensive "knock off" of the real thing.

Will it take cold blue?

Chris

I would be VERY suprised if it did not. Nothing to lose by trying.

 

[ecos]

hi jim...im glad the knive are working out for you

for those that were interested here is a pic of the design. jims had composite and wood handles...and were kinda ugly test pieces but this is the basic shape



having fun hacking stuff with those khuks?

-jason

 

[Valkman]

Nice grind and etch!

 

[bigjim]

nice to hear from ya Jason....

Yeah those khuks are the cats meow. I sent away for number 13 and 14 this week....I have only been buying them for a month or two.

They are addictive as anything I have ever been interested. They are so cheap you can buy 5 a month for less than the cost of a gun. No problem to get one a week. So you constantly have the excitement of waiting on one.

 

[JShirley]

Jason's blade shape (very nice, btw) reminds me quite a bit of the Soldier's Knife I got from Shane Justice.

 

[hso]

Very impressive looking Jason! What steel did you use?

 

[Skofnung]

Good heat treats and good grinds are things of beauty. Good job on the blade Ecos. Good job on the sharpening bigjim.

 

[ecos]

thanks guys!

the steel was 1095.

usually i make smaller knives with a 3-5" blade length since thats what most people carry on a daily basis and they are faster to make but all your guys khuk talk coupled with reading cutting competition results has me starting to make big knives.

heres me starting to experiment with larger designs. the one with a handle is 13"...it would easily cut 1" saplings but not 3" (one swing)
it would make for a nice light camp knife but i want more power so the next one that is shown under the test piece is 15 1/2" and 1/4" wider. think it will be closer to what i was looking for with the small one but now i want to make a 18"ish 2.5-3" wide one. what have u guys gotten me into??

 

[JShirley]

Jason,

Those are brutes! I like big knives.

Brad Epperson thinks an ideal camp knife size is 18" OAL and about 28 oz.

I don't know that I can quantify what I like that succinctly, but those do look very nice and capable. Thanks for sharing.

John