Make your own D.A.R.C. (sheath including)

D.A.R.C. - Defence Attack Rescue Claw

Got this idea after an internal brainstorming about the question 'What kind of tool would I like to have if I was burried alive?' Call it The Dark Side Of Myself...

This question implicates multiple if's:
- waking up on time (oxygen stuff)
- no panic (stay cool, it could have been worse)
- hands-free
- large coffin, not yak-proof
- tool not confiscated

Supposing it's my lucky day - after being burried of course - wich tool would it be?

A lot of ideas flashed through my head, but finally my poisoned mind came up with this DARC: a minimalists neck knife aka survival knife. Made to free yourself - not necessary out of a coffin, to defend, rescue, survive or attack. Or simply open a beer bottle - in Belgium we call it 'urban survival' ;-)

Or how a stupid idea turned out into an all-round survival tool...

Easy to make, reliable, solid, yak-proof!

Have fun with it!

All you need:
- a piece of carbon steel
- angle grinder
- drill
- dremel
- band sander
- hand sander
- a lot of sanding paper
- safety gear

Want the pdf-template? Load it down, it's here!

Want the sheath-template? Just load!

Step 1: Design

Print out the pdf-template and glue it on a piece of carbon steel, ceramic or whatever (vectorised jpg).

I based my model on a piece of carbon steel - the tip of a machete I demolished to make another knife.
After a lot of try and error with cardboard I came up with something satisfying I copied on the piece of steel.

Golden rule: waste-steel doesn't exist!

Comments

[triumphman]

You should try my lawn edging plastic for some substitute Kydex sheaths. See my 'ibles. I made afew sheaths and they work well, and the cost is minimal compared to Kydex and the hardware it requires. Thank. Love your little knife!

[TheNerdWhoBuilds]

In the 4th picture, are you holding the sharp part into your palm? Or is it not sharp enough to cut you?

[bricobart]

You're right! The zone around the finger hole is not supposed to be sharpened. I sharpened only the zone that's covered by the sheath, more or less.

[MMoyce]

Dam good 'ible' 5/5 4 sure!!!

[bricobart]

Thanxxxxxxxxx!!!

[doctressjulia]

I don't wanna make one. Start an Etsy site and sell me one! :D

[bricobart]

Nice try! I don't have time now, I'm building a flying fortress in duct tape ;-)

[triumphman]

Check out some of my knives, I used the same type of drilling attack and keep finding new shapes to make! Just started a double ended throwing blade, its coming along nicely, 8.5 inches total length. I recently got two big mill wood cutting blades at a flea market. 26 inches accross by 5/32 " thick. Ten dollars each. I could not pass those up! Really good steel and thick too. Flea markets are great. I use a 4.5 " angle grinder to cut out the basic shape. Then drill press, and dremel for final detailing, and of course a 6" belt sander. Thanks for sharing your ideas. Check out my instructable sheaths and knifes. Cheers. Triumphman

[bricobart]

Thanx for your support mate. Since a lot of time you'll find me on flea markets too ;-) I never saw your type of woodcutting blades, not yet, but I got a huge collection of old rusty butchers axes: great steel!

[triumphman]

I love it! Awesome dude!

[bricobart]

Thanx mate, don't hesitate to post a picture when you made your own!

[MacTheHero]

don't suppose you're selling these on etsy or someplace.

[bricobart]

I've never been running after the money - maybe I should have so ;-) - and I'll just make a few darcs this summer for some friends. We'll make a bloodyak gang, haha!!!
No commercial intentions, sorry. But thanx for the compliment!

[MacTheHero]

I would just love somethign like this for a costume, but dont have the necessary tools for it.

[bricobart]

If it's just for a costume, why not making it in plastic?

[conrad0102]

How do I know what carbon steel is? Would like a lawn edger have a carbon blade? I find those edger blades everywhere when I go for walks. Would That work?

[xfirexstarzx]

One easy way to test for high carbon content is to take a grinder to the piece of metal in question. If you have a piece of high carbon steel, you will get lots of sparks that look like they're branching out. Check out this pic for an illustration:

http://shopswarf.orconhosting.net.nz/spark.gif

Also, check out spark testing. Sparks can tell you a lot about the type of steel you have.

[bricobart]

You can use ANY steel you want, this tool is no rocket science!
My best tip: buy a kitchen axe or garden machete or just take an old rusty butchers axe AND CUT IT DOWN!
One more thing: have fun conrad!!!

[seraine]

Great Instructable! However, there is a small typo. It would be sheath, not sheet.

[bricobart]

So sorry, thanx for 'unridiculising' me ;-)

[panzerfaust379]

Remove the temper from the steel by heating it red hot and slowly cooling it. I bury the piece in a box of lime. it will be easier it work with. You can then restore the temper by reheating and quenching in oil or water. i like using old auto leaf springs for knife making.

[RangerJ]

Panzerfaust379:

Right on the money. I looked down the list of comments to see if anybody had mentioning heat.

I would heat it on either a charcoal or gas grill and pack it in ashes. You will save a huge amount of effort when you are cutting and shaping. (Wait hours before you try to pick it up - it will stay hot a long time.)

[bricobart]

Good idea, I really feel the need to build a forge! Girlfriend, the car is movin' outside!!!!

[bricobart]

Hi all, just posted an extra step - finally I managed to make an appropriate sheet!
Hope you like it, pdf template will be added soon!

[Wulf187]

If you are looking for a small piece of very good steel that will cost very little you can buy a wood plane blade. This steel is very hard. You could also cut it in half lengthwise to make harpoon blades / kiridashi type knife.

[bricobart]

Nice idea, didn't think about that!

[benduy]

it could look very nice, if you 'blued'. this is accomplished by submerging the tool in oil (preferbly motor - clean) and heating to a very high temperature. it means that rusting will not occur.. very nice 'ible, im a a great fan

[bricobart]

Thank you!!!

[benduy]

glad to be of service :)
also your Illusionists heart... i would love to be abel to make it so it dose the slide as well as the twist.

[bricobart]

;-)
This I'ble may help, great work!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Illusionist-Heart-Locket/

[Karl Engen]

How thick of a steel piece was used?

[bricobart]

3 millimeters - 0.12 inches

[Karl Engen]

Thanks

[Northern_Soul]

Great design!

Looks like a convenient knife for people who wear waders. If you fall into fast flowing water with waders you will be swept away.

A neck chain with a knife to cut the straps could save your life. I'm definitely going to make one of these!

[bricobart]

Better one second of inventivity than a bagpack full of useless tools.
Thanx for your support, and show me some pictures when you're done!

[sciencetor2]

cool design, but if you really wanted it "spy style" you could use ceramic, then make a sheath of the same ceramic disguised as something else, thereby avoiding metal detectors, however x-ray would see it fine, so keep it away from the airport

[bricobart]

You really want that all the police officers start keeping their eyes on me don't you? ;-)

[sciencetor2]

heh maybe it wasn't the best thing to mention

[bricobart]

Don't worry, I see only one police car parked before my door. And I haven't spotted the awacs yet. Whaaahahaaa!!!!

[gary.918]

outstanding, recycled good, looks good, bravo