some projects

**koyote** · 02-21-2009, 10:07 PM

Here's a maple handled utility knife, similar handle idea to the last dirk. Blade and handle are each 5.5 inches. The maple has subtle figure, but I didn't (by luck) pick the most highly figured piece. Photos is only sanded down to 120, so it will pop a lot more at 400

Yet another leuku pattern bushie and the first pocket nessie I've done in a while.

Examples of botht he large and the small Mills pattern blades

**C Bryant** · 02-21-2009, 10:46 PM

Sweet!!! I dig the maple one! Pocket nessie too.

**koyote** · 02-21-2009, 10:50 PM

Sitting on my desk right now. It's a LOT of handle. Balance is purty good. I can see it working out with a 6 or 7 inch blade starting with 5/32 and some distal taper. But this is a good solid knife, I like the feel

**C Bryant** · 02-21-2009, 11:01 PM

yeah, blade seems a touch short, but it looks really good. Nice shape on the mills pattern.

**koyote** · 02-21-2009, 11:13 PM

Oh, that's me being a crappy photographer. Blade is just as long as the handle, and it's about the right size for utility work. I'd go for an extra inch or inch and a half as a bow hunting knife.

**Rotte** · 02-22-2009, 08:10 AM

5.5" is a good all-around length. Why would you want it longer for bow-hunting? I like the dirk-style handle too. A big handle always appeals to me.

I'm gonna have to get you to make me leuku some day.

**koyote** · 02-22-2009, 09:12 AM

Oh, here in California if you are bowhunting you aren't allowed to take a firearm. So you can't finish game with a shot, you have to either keep sticking arrows in or use a knife. And I'd just as soon have a bit more blade for that

**Rotte** · 02-22-2009, 12:15 PM

Good point. That Spanish dirk would seem to fit the bill for dispatching game. In Wyoming, we carry guns.

**koyote** · 02-22-2009, 12:21 PM

I'm 50/50- I don't like the idea of not being able to carry a gun AT ALL when bowhunting, but I can accept the potential for misuse of special tags, and don't mind the idea that I'm not supposed to shoot game at all.

**Rotte** · 02-22-2009, 12:38 PM

For me it's just peace of mind. I won't take a shot unless I know with certainty that the arrow will do it's job. But having a .357 at hand is a guarantee that an animal won't suffer if some unforeseen circumstance should arise. It's never come up really, but I like knowing it's there. I suppose a knife with reach can do that to a degree as well.

**koyote** · 02-22-2009, 12:46 PM

Well, an 8 inch 1/8" spined dirk blade with this style handle is something I've been mulling over - and I'd call it the archer's knife

Have to send mike one, of course

**Recluse** · 02-23-2009, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by koyote

A little bit of catchup of photos that just got dumped into a directory over the past few weeks.

This is the texan

Woo hoo!

**koyote** · 02-26-2009, 12:20 AM

The weather is forcing me to use a flash and the photos aren't that great.

Top: Smaller Mills pattern knife handled in jatoba, roughed out to 80 grit so far

Bottom: a skinner/utility I started about a week before Andy sent me his design. eeeeeeenteresting.

bocote palm skinner and ipe pocket nessmuk:

the palm skinner has a really nice fat handle and feels wonderful

A tan canvas bushcrafter on order, cleaning up the handle and front area and it's done.

**koyote** · 02-26-2009, 12:24 AM

Osage orange new handle style (it's like the dirk handles but shorter. don't know what to call it) general wilderness/bushcrafting blade, about 5 inches.

the maple one with the longer blade. I promise the handle is pretty, it's just been soaking in tung oil and hasn't been buffed out yet. Shoulda redone the pics before I soaked it in. But this gives a better idea of the blade length.

**C Bryant** · 02-26-2009, 12:57 AM

damn Christof..... damn. I LIKE those !!!

**koyote** · 02-26-2009, 01:21 AM

I will, somehow, get an actually decent photo of the maple one tomorrow. The Mills pattern isn't like my normal stuff, the shaped handle has a definite desire to be held a certain way, and I usually do more variable handles= but damn, it is COMFORTABLE in the preferred grip. I'm not changing my overall strategy or anything, but I'll make some of those. It's a handy nessmuk variant pattern. The larger one is a treat for a larger wilderness knife, more like the not-recently-seen wilderness model 2 knives.

The bocote palm skinner is just about perfect. still a small knife, but a real hand filling grip and very good tip and belly usability. I think the bigger pins help out aesthetically Koyote Girl is going to give that one a flap sheath.