Just an update: I modified the handle a little bit for my small/medium hands and beat the snot out of this Jungolo. It chops like a champ, and what's even better, it's far easier to make snappy cuts with it because of it's lighter profile, so I don't have to exert so much energy to chop with it. Good job, 42!!
This is from last night. I also decided to trim the spine for more dynamic blade profile. I'll post pics later.
As some of you know, I'm not a firm believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra. I'm more of an "ain't that better?!" (shout out to Patrice O'Neal) type of guy. This is work in progress, it takes a while, what with cooling the blade every few seconds. Hope to be done by lunch.
Here is the end product....for now, at least. Given the nature of the transformation, I decided to name it 'The 13th Warrior'.
Feels even awesome.....er. I wanted it as a proof of concept for the knife I'm trying to design. Nothing new, just an idea I think is mostly ignored in the industry - FFG short machete. Standard machete is a great tool; short machete, on the other hand, has limitations - they're either as thin as a regular machete so they are too light to be effective choppers, or they are too thick and suck at slicing and clearing light brush (lot of Condor big boys fall here). I figure using a FFG would allow it to have a thicker spine with little added weight, so it's still swift enough for light brush, stout enough to chop heavier wood, a much better slicer, can take batoning well, and you can use steel with better edge holding (1095 or O1) without worrying about breaking it. The prototype I'm having made will have 5/32" stock with FFG, and 12" blade. If I feel like it performs how I want it, I will either send it to some forum members to try it out or go through another Field Survival class with it. Maybe I'll end up getting it mass-produced, maybe I'll have me the custom blade I wanted.....maybe I'll have a failure on my hands and out a bunch of money, but this little experiment gives me faith.
@FortyTwoBlades Hey, man. If I send you my knife, can you grind some metal from the spine? The prototype I got of my knife has wider stock than I thought it would. Shouldn't be hard, but I don't have a belt grinder anymore. If you have time to take on it, let me know how much it would be.
You wanted to distal taper it, yeah? Making it more like that Jungolo in that respect? Naturally I won't be able to preserve the finish on it and probably can't keep the plunge lines as crisp as my grinder just isn't as precise, but I'd certainly be able to do the job. I could probably accomplish what you're looking for for $30 and return s/h.
I actually decided to not distal taper it yet. Instead, I want to narrow it across the entire length of the knife. I'll send you a pic later. No worries about the finish, it's going to be a working beast. As long as the blade is kept cool enough to retain the heat treat (especially towards the tip), I'm a happy camper. $30 is very generous, so if you decide that it's too much work for $30, just let me know.
Oh, yeah I could do that for $35. Most of the work would actually be in contending with the micarta since it'd need re-shaping after altering the profile.
A friend of mine was kind enough to let me borrow his bench grinder. It's not ideal, but I was able to get some of it done. I've ground down the handle, so you don't have to worry about that. I'll cut off the back part of it later. I was able to remove some material from the spine, but I think I want a little bit more removed and smoothed out. Here's what I have so far.
I'll probably take it on the trip afterall, and after I get back, I'll get in touch with you about removing the rest.
I might need help still. It's hard to make straight lines on a wheel grinder. I still have a bit of a hump on it. I might be able to file it down, but not sure.