APOC Tactical Cutlass rework.

   

    I fairly certain the most of folks here are familiar with the APOC line. Brutes. Blades for using in just about every application. I have one of the cutlasses and I really like it however...and that's where I'll begin. The tang and handle are like the rest of the blade. A bruiser. i've noticed a LOT of vibration transfer into the tang which on jobs like clearing brush or chopping into bigger things like say firewood for camp where the job gets a little bigger it can get my hands to crying for mercy. The slab G10 handle is tough and comfortable to hold but I think if I slimmed the tang down and put a handle on that encases the tang maybe with some leather underlayment that would calm things down a mite. 

   I have some nice oak and silver maple that would make a nice handle and I'm intrigued by the possibilities. my question lies in the reworking of the tang. I thought about forging it into the shape I want but I've never worked with 9260. I've read that it's a tricky steel to get the heat treatment right on and I don't want to blunder this rework. With that in mind would I just be better off doing a stock removal method? 

   I'm going to make a proper guard for it also either from some 1045 or mild steel I have laying around as well. This project sort of reasserted itself in my mind after a sapling/sucker chopping chore I just finished. I'm entertaining the idea of taking it off the heavy field chores in favor of my machete though the heavy stuff doesn't bother it a bit. I just don't want to start heating and hammering without hopefully talking to someone who's worked with 9260 and gaining some insight via someone's actual experience. Ill put up some pics when I get going but right now it's just an regular APOC and my materials are in the rough. 

   Again the most of folks here are familiar with this and other APOC designs. Perhaps someone here has already done such a rework? If this was a steel I'd worked with before it wouldn't give me a moments pause as there's tons of meat to work with. I just don't want to blunder in like a rhino in an art gallery and bugger up a 180 dollar blade that is worth every penny and that I like very much. I'm seeing a really attractive and highly useful sword waiting to be pulled out of hiding. 

  Forging it would give me more options in how the final shape comes out and allow me to utilize and draw out the steel especially where the guard will be placed and at the pommel. If it still need lightening up I could flute the tang which would turn out better in the forge. Forging is also a lot more satisfying and would put some soul into the piece. 

  so if anybody can toss me some insight experience advice or any other constructive opinions and/or experience with 9260 or with an APOC project of their own I would be most appreciative. I have a bit of time to think it through and do my homework as I'm a bit limited in mobility right now. Just went through a brutal revision on my amputated foot and ankle that was worse than the actual amputation but I've still been managing to get out and do things. But my recovery routine still leaves me with a lot of time to think and this project has been running in my head a bit. Anyhoo thanks in advanve to anyone with anything to offer. And always remember... "It is to late to whet the sword when the trumpets sound." Best wishes to all.