I live a few miles from a custom knife maker, so I went over to his shop today and brought a few of my recently stripped Busse-Kin blades (Battle Rat and 711). He hit the blades with a belt, put an "antique finish" on them, and convexed them. But, we just couldn't sit there and admire them........we had to take them out and give them an unrelenting beating of apocalyptic proportions.

I decided to solely use the "Battle Rat", so he and I switched back and forth smashing away at a decent size tree. We continued back and forth for a while, until the tree finally toppled over and crashed to the ground. Upon inspecting the Battle Rat, there was NOT one single ding, roll, or chip on the edge. The icing on the cake was taking the BR and slicing right through thin paper after downing the tree. I have to admit, this may not qualify as apocalyptic punishment (nor was it quite the size of RN's tree <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />), but it sure was one of the most fun days I've had in a very long time. Nothin' like Busse family blades to put a huge smile on your face.

After I stripped them:


After Bill Akers (Backwoods Custom Knives) performed his wizardry:





Bill thrashing a tree with the BR:








The BR slicing through thin paper after downing the tree:

Sweet, love them , especially the 711 !

Nicely done! Remember, though, that while yours was smaller than RN's, yours was also solid oak instead of rotting pine. Not casting dispersion on RN, just saying there seems to be enough...manliness (that sounded better than the other word I was looking for <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )...to go around. Looks like a big ol' time!

As an aside, I've long admired Bill's work--especially his damascus.

Thanks for sharing!

The Battle Rat makes me want the 9-11 that much more


MM

You know I liked that one! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! and you are very lucky to have an awesome knife maker like Bill Akers right down the street!!!! I have a backwoods PEDC and its the bees knees

It really is quite the experience to watch a custom knife maker start with the raw material and finish with a piece of art.

WOW! I thought they looked purty as just naked strippers! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I guess that just proves beauty is better if it is covered up just a little. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Great pics, thanks for sharing! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Thanks so much for the kind comments. I'm no spring chicken and I don't have a great chopping technique, but I will say the Res-C handles on the various Dogs, Hogs, and Rats really make chopping a much easier task for me. By the way, no blisters while using the BR on that Hickory tree.

Wow they look great. The best part is the you get out and use them. Looks really fun.

Great post R/W!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />