Behold...the MEGA-SMATCHET!!!

[stabman]

We all know that the correct answer to any knife-related question is Smatchet.
But in these crazy times, a regular, run-of-the-mill Smatchet just won't do.
Hell no! What you need is a Mega-Smatchet.

The first step is to source some mega-thick steel.
This is from the thickest part of a huge truck leaf-spring stack. It is 0.665" thick at the thickest section.

You need the correct tools to begin with...which in this case is an angle grinder, one clamp, a piece of wood and a 20 pound weight, and some boots you don't care if they catch on fire (they did):

A screwdriver will help you pry off those stubborn sections:

Getting there...

Safe!!!

Time for forging fun.

Need to flatten things out, and widen the blade.

Now, due to part of what makes it so "Mega", I needed to anneal the handle.
I had set up the video camera, and got great shots of the whole process. Almost the entire piece was glowing like the sun, and it was impressive to watch as I placed it in the pre-heated vermiculite.
Somehow, it all got erased along the way though...

Anyway, it's still thick.

 

[stabman]

This is the next day, after the piece had overnight to cool down. It was still sort of warm all those hours later though.

It also had melted the vermiculite onto itself, creating a very, VERY abrasion resistant skin that had to be removed:

It is ready...

I decided on a lanyard hole for a change:

And then, what the annealing was really all for...drilling a hollow handle into it!!!

Sadly, the melted vermiculite skin made for squealing on the drilling of the lanyard hole when I went up in drill diameter, so I figured I needed to work my way up the drill sizes for the vertical drilling.

Unfortunately, the set-up was rickety due to no angle plate, and the drill-press travel height being less than the length of the Mega-Smatchet.
Sooooo...the fist cobalt drill bit snapped.

It took an hour and a half, and a LOT of drill bits, but I got past it...and it turned out that the annealing had gone perfectly. I should have just started with a larger drill bit...

Time to tap that hole:

Here it is as work progresses in the following days:

Time for Heat treat!

I took it to the techno-wizards at McLearie and Sons Heat treating, that they might imbue the might of the Machine God upon it:

 

[stabman]

Time to finish it up, and go cut stuff.

It will cut food.

But being a hollow handle knife, what it contain is the most important consideration, according to some...

...and according to one noted survival expert on this very forum, the most important thing a hollow handle knife can contain is...pills.

Just look how prepared I am.

But enough of food and pills, it's off to the woods I go!

 

[stabman]

So yes, it cuts wood just fine.

But, the original Smatchet was designed for killing Nazis; how does the Mega-Smatchet fare?
Let's find out.

First, you need to find some Nazis.
We don't have a bunch of those round these parts, so to test it out, paper Nazis and Neo-Nazis will have to suffice.

According to the original instructions, you're supposed to use a lanyard with it:

Ready...set...

Stab!

Seems to work just fine.

Afterwards though, you should reward yourself:

With a cigar.

And then cook some steaks and sausages:

And enjoy the fire, knowing that the Mega-Smatchet is up to the task of keeping the world safe from evil.

 

[GermanyChris]

Somebody in you life needs to learn the difference between a bike and BSO other than that please carry on

 

[W. Anderson]

Um, yes. This. This I like.

 

[W. Anderson]

Specs?

 

[Charlie Mike]

As our president would say... Yuge!

 

[sodak]

Nice! Can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[stabman]

Specs?

16.375" long overall with cap-screw.
10.25" long blade.
2.9" wide blade at widest part.
Weighs in at just about 3 pounds.

I gave the handle a gun blue and bleach etch.

 

[stabman]

As our president would say... Yuge!

Yep, you can skip the gym on any day you use this.

 

[jbmonkey]

is that bottom nazi the loon from jersey i think.....who wanted the birthday cake with his kids name himmler or hitler or adolf or whatever nonsense?

nice job, Sir. well done. enjoyed the heck out of these posts.

 

[stabman]

is that bottom nazi the loon from jersey i think.....who wanted the birthday cake with his kids name himler or hitler or adolf or whatever nonsense?

nice job, Sir. well done. enjoyed the heck out of these posts.

I think that might be the guy. Just needed some stupid looking Nazis, and those pics showed up.

 

[Pilsner]

Superb, absolutely love it - full marks, man.

 

[Mick_1KRR]

Very cool

 

[stabman]

Superb, absolutely love it - full marks, man.

Very cool

Thanks.

I went with the original Smatchet blade design, in that the top edge is only sharpened half its length. In later production they went to full double edged.

 

[FullMetalJackass]

Stock removal from a balcony downtown eh, hats down Sir

Cool blade, and cool photonovel!

 

[stabman]

Stock removal from a balcony downtown eh, hats down Sir

Cool blade, and cool photonovel!

When you live in an apartment, the balcony and bathroom get pressed into workshop service.
My wife prefers me using the balcony.

 

[mmmotorcycle]

The cigar holster is what really makes it!

 

[stabman]

The cigar holster is what really makes it!

That's your justification for carrying it in large cities.
(that should work out, right?)

Managed to drill the hole 4.1 inches deep, which was quite a feat given that set-up.