Rainyday, You never know the blade could have had a stress crack from when it was heated and then cooled during the initial blade work and then when you chopped it finished the break. If I remember from your pictures that the blade had some brass transfer on it. That would show vertical movement of the blade to the hilt. Anyway the shop has seen more broken RMK knives than anyone on this site regardless of what they say. They will know what happened and should take care of you.