Here's my 53 cent "Survival knife."
Truth be told, it's more of a Bird 'n Trout knife for me, but I consider it every bit as useful as any other knife I own for the range of tasks you'd expect out of a small game skinner.
It started life as an Oneida stainless steel steak knife. When I found it at a second hand store, it had a broken wooden handle and a 5" blade. Still, it said 440A or 440C (can't remember) and at $.50 the price was right. Add 3 cents for tax and it's out the door.
I chopped the blade down to about 2 3/4" with a dremel, added some hardwood, epoxy and home made Loveless bolts for the handle and did some sanding. Then 3 coats of mineral oil.
The sheath was recycled from when I made a necker out of 1095 and micarta. It cuts but is ugly. It may get a makeover when I get motivated.
As you can see from the paper behind the knife, it shaves fine. I had to reset the bevel on the edge thinner to get it to cut like that, using carborundum stones and a 250-400-600-1200 grit diamond set. I suspect edge retention may not be too great, but I see this thing doing yeoman's work gutting trout, rabbits and grouse and that's what it's all about.
Truth be told, it's more of a Bird 'n Trout knife for me, but I consider it every bit as useful as any other knife I own for the range of tasks you'd expect out of a small game skinner.
It started life as an Oneida stainless steel steak knife. When I found it at a second hand store, it had a broken wooden handle and a 5" blade. Still, it said 440A or 440C (can't remember) and at $.50 the price was right. Add 3 cents for tax and it's out the door.
I chopped the blade down to about 2 3/4" with a dremel, added some hardwood, epoxy and home made Loveless bolts for the handle and did some sanding. Then 3 coats of mineral oil.
The sheath was recycled from when I made a necker out of 1095 and micarta. It cuts but is ugly. It may get a makeover when I get motivated.
As you can see from the paper behind the knife, it shaves fine. I had to reset the bevel on the edge thinner to get it to cut like that, using carborundum stones and a 250-400-600-1200 grit diamond set. I suspect edge retention may not be too great, but I see this thing doing yeoman's work gutting trout, rabbits and grouse and that's what it's all about.
