First post lulz, proposed crowbar blade

rlail · November 12, 2021, 03:12:09 PM

Not seeing a ton of affordable options online, I've been considering heating, flattening, quenching, and sharpening some kind of blade out of one end of a crowbar as a kind of Halligan tool/weapon....anyone ever did anything like this? Would it even be possible? Something like a spike war hammer, with a pry end maybe? Then what length would make the most sense in terms of weight/usefulness?

Mr. E. Monkey · November 12, 2021, 04:32:04 PM

I honestly don't know, but it sounds like an interesting idea. I guess a lot would depend on the steel your crowbar is made of, as far as how well you can harden, quench, and sharpen. If you started with a longer crowbar, it would give you more steel to work with, while still having enough leverage to make a pry end useful and useable.

12_Gauge_Chimp · November 12, 2021, 04:38:48 PM

Didn't someone on the old ZS boards make something similar to this ?

I think it may have either been Storm Crow or maybe JoergS.

Either way, it sounds like an interesting idea. I know folks have taken Estwing hammers and turned them into tomahawks, so why not take a crowbar and make a sort of bladed Halligan tool.

flybynight · November 12, 2021, 05:17:38 PM

How about a froe ?

Or a hacking knife ?

Rednex · November 12, 2021, 05:43:31 PM

Will the sharpened " knife end" be where you put your hands to pry the other end with?

RoneKiln · November 12, 2021, 11:41:01 PM

Quote from: rlail on November 12, 2021, 03:12:09 PM
Not seeing a ton of affordable options online, I've been considering heating, flattening, quenching, and sharpening some kind of blade out of one end of a crowbar as a kind of Halligan tool/weapon....anyone ever did anything like this? Would it even be possible? Something like a spike war hammer, with a pry end maybe? Then what length would make the most sense in terms of weight/usefulness?

I just checked Harbor Freight's website and they have a range of crowbars from $3 to $25. Most of them are from $5 to $10.

Doesn't look too expensive to experiment with cheap ones to figure out your preferences for length and weight. Sell the ones you don't like on eBay or Craigslist. If you have fun making them it could be a good paying side gig.

I suddenly want a 24 inch one.

Barr · November 13, 2021, 11:00:01 AM

https://www.kabar.com/products/BK3

I envision something like this, but maybe a bit larger.

Rednex · November 13, 2021, 01:45:22 PM

I thought a bigger version of this.

https://www.amazon.com/11015-Wrecking-Demolition-Tactical-Multi-Tool/dp/B083F548C3/ref=asc_df_B083F548C3/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475715995816&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14863841085264300330&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007494&hvtargid=pla-930473839913&psc=1

rlail · November 15, 2021, 01:57:16 PM

Quote from: Rednex on November 13, 2021, 01:45:22 PM
I thought a bigger version of this.

https://www.amazon.com/11015-Wrecking-Demolition-Tactical-Multi-Tool/dp/B083F548C3/ref=asc_df_B083F548C3/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475715995816&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14863841085264300330&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007494&hvtargid=pla-930473839913&psc=1

Yes! A melee version of this

Or a bigger version of this

https://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-050042-Global-Demolition-Hammer/dp/B078TLVMZM/ref=pd_bxgy_img_1/143-0499977-2308621?pd_rd_w=i2VlS&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=CJ4ZDJ6YV5FS13B14XR6&pd_rd_r=a4f1980a-54a9-4f1c-a1fb-be7cad78eaae&pd_rd_wg=jGQxQ&pd_rd_i=B078TLVMZM&psc=1

rlail · November 15, 2021, 01:58:43 PM

https://www.sword-wholesale.com/Multi-Function-Tools-30-Tactical-Axe-Hammer-with-p/kx-3712bk.htm

This is the closest I've found, but the reviews say its flimsy

rlail · November 15, 2021, 02:00:10 PM

Quote from: Rednex on November 12, 2021, 05:43:31 PM
Will the sharpened " knife end" be where you put your hands to pry the other end with?

Hopefully, I could hammer in some kind of handstop

rlail · November 15, 2021, 02:06:28 PM

Or a long handle version of this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HLDXH5D/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_w=HRsLq&pf_rd_p=54ed5474-54a8-4c7f-a88a-45f748d18166&pd_rd_wg=koLhc&pf_rd_r=4KN19K4YMH5BE062HDKH&pd_rd_r=cbe7b7a4-4e09-457c-be78-24edd2c0aff5&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyOEgwVUExRjQ2MlY2JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzIwMDc1WFNQSklVUlVBMEQ1JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyMjQ3NDEyMlJNQ0oxOFZRQVo1JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsX3RoZW1hdGljJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

RoneKiln · November 15, 2021, 10:41:50 PM

Quote from: rlail on November 15, 2021, 02:00:10 PM
Quote from: Rednex on November 12, 2021, 05:43:31 PM
Will the sharpened " knife end" be where you put your hands to pry the other end with?

Hopefully, I could hammer in some kind of handstop

A sheath over the blade would add an additional layer of protection.

rlail · November 17, 2021, 08:55:23 AM

Quote from: RoneKiln on November 15, 2021, 10:41:50 PM
Quote from: rlail on November 15, 2021, 02:00:10 PM
Quote from: Rednex on November 12, 2021, 05:43:31 PM
Will the sharpened " knife end" be where you put your hands to pry the other end with?

Hopefully, I could hammer in some kind of handstop

A sheath over the blade would add an additional layer of protection.

I like the idea of both......obviously a sheath to not get cut during day-to-day tasks, but I could see a sheath getting all cattywumpus during hard use

rlail · December 08, 2021, 09:40:54 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we have a winner

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-751410-1001-Fiskars-Pro-IsoCore-Wrecking-Bar-30-Inch/503235470?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1148&&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1021146&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112562587&wl11=online&wl12=503235470&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzILI4sTU9AIV9IJbCh2IpgnkEAYYBSABEgLuhvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Mr. E. Monkey · December 08, 2021, 10:49:51 AM

Those look pretty handy.

RoneKiln · December 08, 2021, 12:34:07 PM

Quote from: rlail on December 08, 2021, 09:40:54 AM
Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we have a winner

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-751410-1001-Fiskars-Pro-IsoCore-Wrecking-Bar-30-Inch/503235470?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1148&&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1021146&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112562587&wl11=online&wl12=503235470&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzILI4sTU9AIV9IJbCh2IpgnkEAYYBSABEgLuhvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

OMG I want one of those!

Stormcrow · December 16, 2021, 04:31:10 PM

As a note from someone who heat treats blades all the time, there's more to it than just hardening. If you don't temper, you're risking a catastrophic failure. I had a big post about it on the other forum, don't have time at the moment, just wanted to pop in and make note so someone doesn't spend a lot of time and effort on something that can break on the first usage.

Mr. E. Monkey · December 17, 2021, 08:08:30 AM

Quote from: Stormcrow on December 16, 2021, 04:31:10 PM
As a note from someone who heat treats blades all the time, there's more to it than just hardening. If you don't temper, you're risking a catastrophic failure. I had a big post about it on the other forum, don't have time at the moment, just wanted to pop in and make note so someone doesn't spend a lot of time and effort on something that can break on the first usage.

Ooh, I did forget to mention tempering, didn't I. Bad monkey.

Also,

Great to see you!

rlail · December 17, 2021, 11:04:57 AM

Quote from: Stormcrow on December 16, 2021, 04:31:10 PM
As a note from someone who heat treats blades all the time, there's more to it than just hardening. If you don't temper, you're risking a catastrophic failure. I had a big post about it on the other forum, don't have time at the moment, just wanted to pop in and make note so someone doesn't spend a lot of time and effort on something that can break on the first usage.

Honestly, the Fiskars wrecking bar would probably just get an edge/point. Glad you made the jump too