However, if Dan happened to make an S7 with a Chopweiler type blade, that would be cool, too.
Something like this?:
![[Linked Image from i80.photobucket.com]](http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j183/DWRW/ScrapYard-CampWeilerleft.jpg)
Man! I really like the looks of that baby! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
Bring it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Looks great. I hope the S7 has a full flat grind though.
I don't really have a problem with full flat grind. For me, it comes down to feel and balance more than looks.
Preferences on feel and balance have take intended use into consideration.
I like the full height grind on the DFLE and many other knives. I don't have the DFCG, but I can see where for a knife like the DogFather that is primarily a large chopper, there are ultimately probably just trade-offs, compromises and comparable pros and cons. Heavier DFCG blade creates more force for power chopping - Lighter DFLE blade is still plenty powerfull, but looses a "little" power to gain more speed, nimble and balance.
Here are some relevant and comparable dimensions:
Yard Guard..............= 7.25” blade; 0.270" thick (Stripped and satin finished); 16.0 ounces
Camp Tramp............= 7.325" blade; 0.236" thick (stripped); 14.5 ounces
Chopweiler - Micarta = 7.5625” blade; 0.239” thick (with coating); 19.1 ounces
Notice the Camp Tramp and Chopweiler both pretty much have about 0.236" thick blades - Chopweiler has a coating, Tramp Doesn't. So, I assume coating is probably close to the difference.
The Yard Guard is significantly thicker even after stripping and satin polishing. It is listed at 0.277" with coating.
My "Honest" opinion is the Camp Tramp is better than the Yard Guard more because of balance and feel in the hand than flat vs. recurve. Many prefer the flat edge over recurve and I will go along with that, but I don't have a big problem with recurves for using or sharpening. I just find the occassional benefit of a flat edge more so than any benefit to a recurve. So, "Two" advantages to the Tramp.
The feel in the hand is due to a slightly lighter (approximately 1.5 ounces) blade. The Yard Guard probably has close to about a 2/3rds height grind (probably closer to 60% height grind ???) - The Camp Tramp is probably closer to a 5/7ths height grind.
It is a lot easier to measure the straight lines of the Camp Tramp and measure a primary grind area at 1.25" vs blade height of 1.75". The Yard Guard's grind isn't perpendicular to the blade height.
* The Chopweiler also has about a 5/7ths height grind - 1.25" primary grind vs. 1.75" blade height.
There is some difference in more full blade thickness of the Yard Guard, but most of the difference is probably the thickness of the blades. No doubt the Yard Guard is tough, but it has more of a thick chunk of steel with a handle feel vs. the Camp Tramp having a little more nimble, balanced and user friendly feel.
The Chopweiler is NOTICEABLY heavier in the hand. The full tang and micarta (or G10) scales add a lot of weight. But, it is a different feel. The micarta vs. Res-C, just makes the knives "different". - Part of the reason I would be VERY interested in this Chopweiler blade with a Res-C handle!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
But, it is much easier to compare the Yard Guard to the Camp Tramp because of both of them having Res-C handles and very similar blade lengths.
I "STILL" say the Yard Guard is underappreciated. But, I still say the Camp Tramp is better (* for my preferences...).
So, I would hope some effort would be put into trying to achieve a balance more along the lines of the Camp Tramp, but obviously at about 0.5" longer, so a little heavier blade and over-all weight would be expected.
So, if the blade were to be in the 0.277" thick range, I would likely be wanting as high a grind as possible - Probably a Full Height Grind - to help make the knife more balanced and nimble.
If the knife were to have a blade thickness closer to 0.24" thick, then about a 5/7ths height grind (similar to the Camp Tramp and Chopweiler) would likely be fine with me.
I am not sure how I would choose:
0.277" thick with Full Height grind (Or similar)
Vs.
0.24" thick with 5/7ths height grind (Or similar)
??????????????????????????????????????????????????? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
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But, in regards to "S7". I don't think this should be called S7.
I go along with the mentallity that if and when there is an S7, it should be a 7" - 7.5" inch version of the S6. The S6 actually has a 6.5" blade, so I guess an S7 would likely have about a 7.5" blade (????). But, the big difference is the different blade style. The S6 has a clip point blade. The S7, whenever it is released, should have a clip point blade like the S6 - just my opinion.
The Chopweiler has a 7.5" blade.
*** However, that 7.5" is measured from the leading edge of the micarta at the ricasso to tip of blade. The standard large Res-C handle, if lined up with the Chopweiler's handle, would actually be right at 0.5" shorter into the ricasso. So, if using the same blade, this concept would have an 8.0" blade.
I see this concept to have at least an 8.0" blade!
I sort of like Scrap-Weiler or Scrap-Tramp for this concept with a slight variation on the Chopweiler's blade.
The blade variations - again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> :
- More pointed blade
- smaller guard
- Closer in choil
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
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