Can someone explain this style of blade to me?

[moab]

My Little Rok design is about a 4" blade. Every once in a while someone wants a 3" blade from me, but 4" is about as short as I go.

midtech03 by James Helm, on Flickr

Tall flat grind with a secondary bevel (not present in that pic as it hadn't been sharpened yet).

The video with the machete is interesting. The philosophy of what he did is very similar to the philosophy of the Tracker or M18, on a longer, thinner blade. I've spent a lot of time on the back end of a machete, but it's mostly been on Tramontinas. I haven't gotten to run an Ontario, but I'd take a Tramontina over my Cold Steel Latin machete any day.

1095 (that Ontario uses) is a good blade steel, though higher carbon than I'd probably run on a machete, m'self. The Rockwell on their HT seems appropriate, and 1/8" is going to be on the stouter end for a machete. In my experience, wooden machete handles tend to be blocky and short for my paws, with plastic handles being much more ergonomic and appropriately sized.

All in all, seems like a good choice for his starting point and reasonable, well-thought out mods. The size is big enough for most tasks while staying compact and light weight. Just from watching the video, I can see why he would end up winning his season of Alone.

That's one hell of a bushcraft blade. How much are those going for? Ballpark?

[Storm Crow]

Moab - I'll shoot you a PM.

[IANMCDEVITT]

I got a knife from Storm Crow. It's been to places on the planet you couldn't imagine. Met the Russian Spetsnaz on the Ukrainian Contact line. Met the Tauregs in the Sahara.......I showed it to my grandson and told him "this is yours, and when you show me your ready, you can take this".

[Storm Crow]

I got a knife from Storm Crow. It's been to places on the planet you couldn't imagine. Met the Russian Spetsnaz on the Ukrainian Contact line. Met the Tauregs in the Sahara.......I showed it to my grandson and told him "this is yours, and when you show me your ready, you can take this".

That's so awesome! Thanks.