2 Dogs, 2 Custom Knives and a Primitive Weapon.

[pitdog]

I posted this on the WSS forum but seeing as it has JK content I figured I'd post it here as well.......

I decided to take 2 of my custom knives out today ( I only have 3 anyway ! ) to compare them side by side, one was my JK Hiker and the other my Koster Nessmuk.

My first test was to Batton some Fatwood.......

I had to give this one to the JK, it's 3/16" thick and drives though like a tank, the Koster still performed well but I have actually put micro ripples in the edge when battoning it before. It was ok this time though because although Fatwood is hard it does split easily.

I then decided to test my fire-making skills. I shaved some fine Fatwood dust from one of the pieces and got ready with the smallest firesteel in the world ( I really hope I win one of the competitions that are on here at the minute with firesteels as prizes !!!!).

After 4 or 5 strikes I had fire, some days things just go right eh !!!

Time to enjoy the views with a cuppa !

I spotted quite a few of these today, they are FairySlipper ( Calypso bulbosa ) the Haida boiled and ate the corms in small quatities and they are said to have a rich, buttery flavour....I've yet to try them !

Then it as back to the testing.......

Now it's no secret that John ( Stomper ) is my favourite knife maker, he's just such a nice guy, so I really wanted the Hiker to kick the Nessmuks butt, however when it came to cutting and notching these sticks the Nessmuk leapt ahead. I guess it's a no brainer really, one is 1/8" stock with a scandi grind the other 3/16" with quite a thick edge !!!!
I will say though that the JK is 100% more comfy to use, now if the Nessmuk had a JK handle on it......maybe when I have the funds I'll have to send it to John to re-handle !!!!!!

I used some OceanSpray - Aka Arrow wood, it grows very straight and is very hard so it was used to make harpoon shafts, teepee pins, digging tools and drum hoops.
I figured it would be perfect to use with a little natural cordage to make an Apache throwing star !!!

Once it was made I figured I'd try it against an old tree stump, if I'm honest I was expectig it to either break or bounce off but........WHACK it flew straight into the stump first go !!!!!

Thinking it must have been a fluke I pulled it outand tried a second shot.....WHACK straight in again....I kid you not !!!!

Feeling happy and not wanting to push my luck a 3rd time this was where I left it......would love to see some sheeples face if they find it !!!!!!

 

[pitdog]

I've just been outside and have knocked the shoulder off the edge of the Hiker and then stropped it to a convex edge with some wet and dry. It's too late to get pics now but it looks pretty good for me and is now cutting wood great !!!!:thumbup:

Everything is always a compromise eh, if you have a real fine edge it might cut great but can be easily damaged and if you have a thick edge you can give them hell but they won't cut as well !!!!!

 

[pitdog]

This is the edge of my Hiker now that I've knocked the shoulder off the bevel ( if that's the right terminology !).......

Today I chopped down a section of the Arrow wood that I had made the Apache star from the other day and once again cut points on the end, this stuff is real hard wood but the Hiker made short work of it today !!!!