- Joined
- Dec 27, 2013
- Messages
- 9,887
Hello all,
I was recently contacted by a policeman down on the Texas coast who was in search of a certain sort of blade for use during search and rescue (SAR) activities. After a hurricane, he ended up carrying around some sort of prybar as well as a machete as the SAR folks went into torn-up areas to check on (and rescue) people. What he was looking for is a giant seax that can be used as a machete AND used to pry, clear, and breach...as also be light in weight, as he must carry around a bunch of equipment, including a folding stretcher.
Well that just so happens to be a major part of my philosophy in blade-making! Cut, pry, smash through walls, chop, split, fight, etc, all in one tough, light weight, easy to use big blade.
The parameters given were an 18" blade, and 8" handle, made of titanium alloy, and more or less carte blanche otherwise. It's a bit of a tester/prototype, and here it is. Behold, the SAR seax!
Made in my typical style, out of Grade 38 titanium alloy.
I was able to retain the heat treatment "alpha case" and oxide surface, which is slippery and very hard, and resistant to scratches. I don't often get to do so, and it's one of my favorite things to pull off. The surface is gray and shiny with some trout-like iridescence.
It has a stiff diamond-like cross section through the length, from bow to stern.
And a wedge-like angled tip to weasel through things or puncture.
Should pry things nicely, like a fancy flat bar. Certainly it will cut.
Lastly, Ms. Oye made a simple flat leather carrying case to strap/lash onto the pack next to the stretcher and other equipment.
Hopefully this SAR seax will prove to be a useful tool the next time disaster inevitably strikes, and the officer gets to take a Search and Rescue break from tweaker-wrangling or whatever crazy horseshit he normally gets roped into every day.
I was recently contacted by a policeman down on the Texas coast who was in search of a certain sort of blade for use during search and rescue (SAR) activities. After a hurricane, he ended up carrying around some sort of prybar as well as a machete as the SAR folks went into torn-up areas to check on (and rescue) people. What he was looking for is a giant seax that can be used as a machete AND used to pry, clear, and breach...as also be light in weight, as he must carry around a bunch of equipment, including a folding stretcher.
Well that just so happens to be a major part of my philosophy in blade-making! Cut, pry, smash through walls, chop, split, fight, etc, all in one tough, light weight, easy to use big blade.
The parameters given were an 18" blade, and 8" handle, made of titanium alloy, and more or less carte blanche otherwise. It's a bit of a tester/prototype, and here it is. Behold, the SAR seax!
Made in my typical style, out of Grade 38 titanium alloy.
I was able to retain the heat treatment "alpha case" and oxide surface, which is slippery and very hard, and resistant to scratches. I don't often get to do so, and it's one of my favorite things to pull off. The surface is gray and shiny with some trout-like iridescence.
It has a stiff diamond-like cross section through the length, from bow to stern.
And a wedge-like angled tip to weasel through things or puncture.
Should pry things nicely, like a fancy flat bar. Certainly it will cut.
Lastly, Ms. Oye made a simple flat leather carrying case to strap/lash onto the pack next to the stretcher and other equipment.
Hopefully this SAR seax will prove to be a useful tool the next time disaster inevitably strikes, and the officer gets to take a Search and Rescue break from tweaker-wrangling or whatever crazy horseshit he normally gets roped into every day.
