Growing up in the world of what is today called traditional archery there have been many legends. Ron LaClair is is one of these legends. I have long followed Ron's exploits and as impressed as I am with his many archery skills including trick shooting, accomplished hunter, Bowyer , etc I'm more impressed in how this living legend comes off as a true spokesman and ambassador to the wonderful world of single string archery.

This story starts with a friend of mine Bill Jinks

Bill is an archery buddy that I've never meet but got to know on the various archery forums over the years

A friendship between us has grown over the years and when he asked me about buying a custom machete/Bush Sword I referred him to a maker I know by the name of James Helm of HELM ENTERPISES

James is a past Forged In Fire Champion and an awesome maker and all around good guy :)

Well the rest is history

Bill posted his new blade which turned out to be one of James Bush Swords on some forums and Ron got a view of it and reached out to James to have him do something for him

I called James up and said man that's cool your making a knife for a living archery legend :)

James said he had known the name from Ron's Shrew Bow days and it would be a pleasure

I love seeing two great craftsman and people get together

This is a quick work in progress of what they came up with

But first the living legend Ron LaClair today at 81

Growing up in the world of what is today called traditional archery there have been many legends. Ron LaClair is is one of these legends. I have long followed Ron's exploits and as impressed as I am with his many archery skills including trick shooting, accomplished hunter, Bowyer , etc I'm more impressed in how this living legend comes off as a true spokesman and ambassador to the wonderful world of single string archery.

This story starts with a friend of mine Bill Jinks

Bill is an archery buddy that I've never meet but got to know on the various archery forums over the years

A friendship between us has grown over the years and when he asked me about buying a custom machete/Bush Sword I referred him to a maker I know by the name of James Helm of HELM ENTERPISES

James is a past Forged In Fire Champion and an awesome maker and all around good guy :)

Well the rest is history

Bill posted his new blade which turned out to be one of James Bush Swords on some forums and Ron got a view of it and reached out to James to have him do something for him

I called James up and said man that's cool your making a knife for a living archery legend :)

James said he had known the name from Ron's Shrew Bow days and it would be a pleasure

I love seeing two great craftsman and people get together

This is a quick work in progress of what they came up with

But first the living legend Ron LaClair today at 81

Back in the day

On with the build on what James and Ron came up with

Rons blank is on the left

Happy Birthday Ron.I hope you keep the arrows and Hawks flying for many more years.>>>-----> Ken

Well, we all know there's only one living legend and it's not Ron! That said, at least we don't have to see the loincloth photo, lol! Get on with the knife build pics.

Joe

More to come

Sorry about the double post

82 and probably still draws twice the weight that I do...Happy Birthday, Ron!

Ron is a true class-act who sets the example for the rest of us in every way. I have spoken to him on the phone a couple of times. He was always very helpful, friendly and down to earth. One gets the feeling they have known him a long time, even if you've never met him. My Super Shrew is my favorite longbow (based strictly on performance). Ron really knows quality. - John

RON looks like HE would have been right at home with Jeremiah Johnson! LIVE LONG & PROSPER.

Ron looks way better than Jeremiah Johnson.

To be honest, I wouldn't be caught dead or alive wearing that outfit!

Joe

Frisky you couldn't

The weight alone would bring you to your knees :)

Roughing in bevels on a grinder

Finalizing with file

Ready for heat treat

Top clip will be sharpened

In hand

Nice!

Great post Joe!

That will turn out nice. Ron is a class act too

Does sharpening the top clip make it a double edged stabbing weapon? Would that be legal in Michigan Ron? Is this section applicable?

750.227 Concealed weapons; carrying; penalty.

Sec. 227.

(1) A person shall not carry a dagger, dirk, stiletto, a double- edged nonfolding stabbing instrument of any length, or any other dangerous weapon, except a hunting knife adapted and carried as such, concealed on or about his or her person, or whether concealed or otherwise in any vehicle operated or occupied by the person, except in his or her dwelling house, place of business or on other land possessed by the person.

Nah :)

Jeremiah Johnson is a cheap knock-off of Mr. LaClair.

Just reading the title of this thread I already knew who the reference was to. Way to go!

Cool :-):-) JF

We gotta back up a second these pics are from earlier on

That is some kind of cool!

GREAT looking knife:::Thanks for the pics.

Neoprene foundation, intact paracord underlay, stripped paracord overlay, three- strand Turk's head knot.

This is the first pic sorry

It's almost finished, I'm getting excited.

It looks like it could easily go toe to toe with my Tramontina, as it's the right size.

Joe

Getting ready to epoxy handle

Handle epoxied

Forming Kydex

Now THAT is lookin' good!

Holes and trim lines laid out. The two halves of the sheath are temporarily bolted together.

Trimmed on the band saw, then rough ground on the belt grinder.

The sheath is unbolted and any melted Kydex or dust from trimming or grinding is cleaned out

The sheath is permanently riveted together. I use eyelets for .125" Kydex although I use .080" Kydex for the sheaths. It rolls a head closer to the factory heads.

Sorry things got out of order and I can't edit my posts to correct but you all get the point

Sweet!

Finished

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crehh_T5cSY&sns=em

Thanks for posting that vid Joe! :)

I've spent 30+ years working Military R&D aerospace projects where the first 10 years were spent in precision sheet metal fabrication (including press room tool & die stuff) and spent the last 20+ years as a machinist...all round...including set-up and programming but I hold guys like James in the highest regard as they don't have an army of engineers, designers and planners behind them yet?...they design and build their own tooling, snaders, grinders, forges and power-hammers often times using cannibalized items to do so.

They are both their own metallurgist and thermal engineer...they are their own designer and artisan and create their end products from a multitude of materials ranging from alloyed steels too liquids applied and everything in between.

And while I'm not a First Responder, Active Military, Law Officer nor even and Archery Legend?...you helped me luck into a custom ordered Helm Bush Sword! :)

Thank you so much Joe and Best Wishes with your New Blade Mr. Leclair!! :)

That's a nice knife! The only thing I don't care for is the length and cord wrap. 7" would be much more practical in a large blade. 13" is getting into the short sword, machete length. The hard cord wrap looks very uncomfortable. I don't even like a soft cord wrap. Also, it makes no sense at all to sharpen the top edge. This knife was made as a weapon and not as a practical knife. As a weapon, I'd say it's an extremely good design!

Joe

Two edged stabbing weapon illegal in Michigan. Guess you could use it in your house?

Joe, I can understand there things you don't like about it because it wasn't made for you....it was made for me. James made it how I ask him to make it. I had him slightly change the original blade design. It's designed to do things that other knives can't do. You're right it "IS" a short sword/machete....you're wrong saying that it's not practical for what it was made for.

I have big knives, small knives, skinning knives and chopping knives. I even had two machete's that my daughter brought back from Honduras when she was there years ago with Teen Missions. I do not have a blade like this one from James Helm who specializes in Tactical Bush Swords and I'm looking forward to getting it.

Nice!!

Nice!!

That's going to be one bad mamma jamma Ron! :)

Especially in your big badazz hands! LOL!

Joe Paranee directed me too James Helm after basically interviewing me regarding what it was I wanted this blade for and what I expected of it where Joe's professional opinion of James's works was that James pretty much specializes in...

"WORKING BLADES"

Be they Bolo style Choppers, Cleavers, Bowies, Short Swords, Bush Swords etc...

where James's style is raw and rugged yet extremely functional and while some purchasers may desire "Practical"?...others may want something a bit more "Tactical" while others yet?...may wish for a combination of both and it is my opinion that "Both" is where James's designs shine yet he makes it all and they all work and work extremely well.

I'm very happy for you Ron and in a strange way feel both flattered and blessed that I as well own a blade made by the same master bladesmith as an iconic archers such as yourself! :)

All the best with it!...Bill Jinks. :)

Ron- On second thought, it is practical for you. If it's just what you're looking for, and you have knives to cover all other bases, it is practical. I'll stand corrected on this one, for a change, lol! You'll have to show it off when you get it.

Joe

Contrary to what some might believe, I actually like this type of knife. I just don't have use for one at the moment.

Joe

Frisky...ever heard this rule of thumb?...

"I'd rather HAVE IT and not need it than NEED IT and not have it!"

LOL! ;)

I believe that rule applies to all of our tools and toys.ie..guns, bows boats, fishing poles, knives.etc.

crowfoot: I rarely "need" toys and I can often times improvise tools but when I need a good gun or sharp edged blade?...

Here's a story that might explain my interest in such a blade. Many years ago when I was just a pup I had a hankering for such a knife. It was during the war...the BIG one WWII. All of my uncles were in the service and one of them was in the Philippines.

His wife, my aunt was visiting us one time and as she was writing a letter to my uncle she ask me if there was anything she wanted me to put in the letter. I told her to tell him to send me a "Bolo" knife. I had heard somewhere, probably from the radio (no TV in the 40's) that the natives were making their Bolo knives from the propellers of downed airplanes.

Long story short, I never got my Bolo knife. It was a big disapointment to a young bow who was already showing interest in knives. Well now I'll have my Bolo knife. :>)

You might be interested in the BEST bolo made today. The Tramontina 14" Bolo machete!

Joe

Joe, the Tramontina is a machete not unlike the two that I have from Honduras. I wanted something made like the old Bolo knives from the Philippines. The one's that James makes are very much like that style.

I know, I know, lol! I have to admit that those old US bolo machetes were something to long for!

Joe

Yep...Bolo's were awesome for slashing and chopping but?...

You ran just as much risk of running your grip hand fingers down your own blade as stabbing anything renedering them useless for that.

Which is why I opted for a Bush Sword...it adds stabbing too the mix. ;)

He is happy

Fits ya just right Ron.

Terry Harris

:)

Great to see an artist crafting a product that came from their body, mind and soul; hands on with loving care.

my best, Paul

Frisky, I don't understand why you are bragging on your tramontina,

The Tramontina I have won't cut worth a hoot is very awkward and won't fit in my sheath, it would make a good club maybe.

Nice knife Ron, I like them that large also, takes less work to do the job.

Ron- The Tramontina is relied upon by more people in the South American rain forests than any other blade, period! They're great machetes! They sharpen to a wicked edge and hold it well. The 12" model can clear brush for blind making and also chop off fish heads and such and still shave. Really great machetes! They won't break, regardless of false reporting here (fake news) but they don't come great from the factory. At $5, why should they? You have to sharpen them. The last 1/2" of the tip is blunt, so you have to put in extra filing there. Some folks lightly sand along the slot on top if it's rough. After that, you have the finest machete in the world! The heat treat is great! The steel is great! If your life depends on your machete, make it a Tram! It's the only big "knife" I need!

Joe

That is not fake news, I received my Tramontina yesterday and it's a 12" frying pan. There is the photo of the label in the pan. I was making a funny, it obviously went over your head...Ha!Ha!

I saw the fry pan, lol! I think they make sort of cheap pans though. I'd go for the machete!

Joe

UNDATE!

The kydex is a very tight fitting and secure sheath but it's just not a style I can relate to so I had my friend and leather smith Tim Able make it more to my likeing. He covered the kydex with pigskin, added fringe and ....Wala..... I love it

Great package there! James makes some big and small great knives. Like the finished leather covered kydex. I've done that to a kydex sheath or two. Enjoy!

Leather over kydex...mmm,mmm,good! I really like the sheath Ron. You’re friend Tim done ya real good. Lance

Happy to see you still enjoying that James Helm Bowie Ron! :)

The Bushsword James made me still rates among my top prized posessions...there's just something about custom crafted forged blades that sets them apart from all others especially when they are forged and crafted by a master. :)

Man....that is one COOL knife!

It’s ok Ron. I enjoyed looking at the sheath 4 times. I think I’ll make one like that for a Bowie! Lance

I think you're better suited to the Kydex- cheap, plastic, phony, cold, calculating, crappy. Perfect for that big pile of junk! There's zero utility in that blade! Since I'm the last of the living legends and the only true living legend left, I'll show you a real knife, made for a living legend!

The Legend

So Joe, you wanna have a duel with that little pimp knife of yours?

LOL! Those pics just show the deterioration that comes with old age!

Joe

Joe when you're my age you'll be in a home being spoon feed.

Ron, I don't think Frisky will make it to your age. He has been eating that city food too long now. Especially that fast food and I don't mean running deer. That thing Joe showed wouldn't make a good letter opener.

Ron and Jinks, great looking blades, in the words of a certain dude from down under.......( now that is a knife)

Awesome knife.

Any details on the steel and temper?

Google the name "James Helm knives" and you'll get more info

Google the name "James Helm knives" and you'll get more info

Beendare...the steel is..."80CRV2"

as I understand it (from James) the primary targeted market for 80CRV2 alloy was for use as blades in high end stump grinders and wood chippers....think of it as 5160 but with enhanced edge retention and impact durability which are two characteristics that don't typically walk hand in hand.

Ron I very much like what you did with the sheath and I’m happy that you have made it fit you that much better

May it serve you well my friend

Gentlemen..those are both impressive knives in the hands of Legends...

Sheesh Ron - based on that pic, I'm guessing your hobby is Push-ups and picking up heavy things!

I love the sheath modifications, but then, I like leather.

Spoon feed by his mom Ron if she is still living or maybe Cat lady will take him in? LOL

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