Bill Drake
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- May 25, 2021
- Messages
- 174
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a great Holiday Season.
I also want to thank all the guys in here who snatched up some of my blades in the weeks leading up to Christmas...that support from you definitely made my entire year and allowed me to do a little extra for my son whose birthday is just after Christmas on NYE. A million thanks to all of you!
Working on the next couple of blades to be posted, but I wanted to get a few hunting knives back in front of you. I know the season has passed, but a good hunting knife is a good hunting knife, and it's never a bad time to add something new.
#1 - 4.5" Hunter/Skinner in NitroV with Antler handles.
Specs:
NitroV with Cryo set to 61.1 HRC.
0.156" x 1.75" x 10.25" OAL. 5.12" Tip-to-scales, with 4.6" blade.
Sabre grind hand-rubbed to 1200 grit with rock texturing (done by Dremel) on the flats.
Handle is modified and bleached Antler with thin brown G10 liners. Front is sculpted along the lines of the blade texturing.
Great length, and 1.12" thick at the swell for larger hands.
**I decided to use epoxy to fill in all the open pores at the front pinch points as well as along the spine, making sure they don't collect fluids when used for processing.
Handmade and wet-molded leather sheath with boa-pattern (stamped) inset piece.
Knife has some minor handle issues as noted below, but nothing affecting functionality or overall appearance...you need to look for them to actually notice.
***The issues***
- An early stupid (yes, I made a mistake) required a major rework to the left side of the handle...basically requiring sanding off most of the natural texture and color and recreating it with my Dremel and small files. Several attempts at dyeing did not stick, so I decided to bleach it all off, hoping for a good result...and I am fairly pleased with it.
- Pin holes at the rear went crooked on me, so I had to re-drill them and fill the gaps. See close-up pic for reference.
- Right side slightly separated at the rear (probably from the dyeing processes and cold temp in the garage). Not wanting to cause extra stress on the slab by clamping it after gluing it back, I decided to leave the space and fill with glue. See spine pics for close-up reference.
Note: it has not moved since the repair was completed.
Sorry for the novel-length description, but honesty is everything.
My lighting always sucks...it's actually brighter in person.
A lot of work went into this piece, not including the repairs, so I would love to regain some of my time with a reasonable (I think) asking price.
Asking$350 $325 $300, and willing to offer repair/replacement if further separation happens on the handle.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
#2 - Hunter's Duo
Designed to be sold as a matched pair and carried either alone or combined...piggy-back style.
**Includes an attached, reversable "pocket" molded to the sheath of the smaller blade that allows for the two blades to be carried together if so desired.** This was difficult to make work and is admittedly a little clunky and heavy to carry, but I will include it so you can decide for yourself.**
Large Hunter is A2 @ 59-60 hrc., and weighs 11 oz.
0.175" x 1.75" x 10.75" OAL with blade tip to scales at 5.75".
HIgh Sabre grind with 600 grit satin finish and a mild swedge along the spine.
Handle is Walnut (from Rifle Stock) with bolster made from wood chip "Micarta", brass pins and a hand-rolled center pin from the bolster block.
Sheath is Kydex with removable and reversable leather dangler attachment and security strap.
Small-ish Skinner is D2 @ 61-62 hrc., and weighs 7 oz.
0.153" x 1.5" x 8.75" OAL with blade tip to scales at 3.75".
HIgh Sabre grind with 600 grit satin finish and a lightly crowned spine.
Handle is also Walnut (from Rifle Stock) with bolster made from wood chip "Micarta", brass pins and a hand-rolled center pin from the bolster block.
Sheath is Kydex with removable and reversable leather dangler attachment and security strap.
I would love to hear what you all think of these two, and the carry setup.
Asking$550 $500 for the pair (willing to discuss individual pricing if preferred), shipped insured CONUS. Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal
I look forward to hearing your comments and/or interest...in the chat, via DM, or email at w.drakejr@gmail.com.
Thanks as always for checking out my work!
Bill
I also want to thank all the guys in here who snatched up some of my blades in the weeks leading up to Christmas...that support from you definitely made my entire year and allowed me to do a little extra for my son whose birthday is just after Christmas on NYE. A million thanks to all of you!
Working on the next couple of blades to be posted, but I wanted to get a few hunting knives back in front of you. I know the season has passed, but a good hunting knife is a good hunting knife, and it's never a bad time to add something new.
#1 - 4.5" Hunter/Skinner in NitroV with Antler handles.
Specs:
NitroV with Cryo set to 61.1 HRC.
0.156" x 1.75" x 10.25" OAL. 5.12" Tip-to-scales, with 4.6" blade.
Sabre grind hand-rubbed to 1200 grit with rock texturing (done by Dremel) on the flats.
Handle is modified and bleached Antler with thin brown G10 liners. Front is sculpted along the lines of the blade texturing.
Great length, and 1.12" thick at the swell for larger hands.
**I decided to use epoxy to fill in all the open pores at the front pinch points as well as along the spine, making sure they don't collect fluids when used for processing.
Handmade and wet-molded leather sheath with boa-pattern (stamped) inset piece.
Knife has some minor handle issues as noted below, but nothing affecting functionality or overall appearance...you need to look for them to actually notice.
***The issues***
- An early stupid (yes, I made a mistake) required a major rework to the left side of the handle...basically requiring sanding off most of the natural texture and color and recreating it with my Dremel and small files. Several attempts at dyeing did not stick, so I decided to bleach it all off, hoping for a good result...and I am fairly pleased with it.
- Pin holes at the rear went crooked on me, so I had to re-drill them and fill the gaps. See close-up pic for reference.
- Right side slightly separated at the rear (probably from the dyeing processes and cold temp in the garage). Not wanting to cause extra stress on the slab by clamping it after gluing it back, I decided to leave the space and fill with glue. See spine pics for close-up reference.
Note: it has not moved since the repair was completed.
Sorry for the novel-length description, but honesty is everything.
My lighting always sucks...it's actually brighter in person.
A lot of work went into this piece, not including the repairs, so I would love to regain some of my time with a reasonable (I think) asking price.
Asking
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
#2 - Hunter's Duo
Designed to be sold as a matched pair and carried either alone or combined...piggy-back style.
**Includes an attached, reversable "pocket" molded to the sheath of the smaller blade that allows for the two blades to be carried together if so desired.** This was difficult to make work and is admittedly a little clunky and heavy to carry, but I will include it so you can decide for yourself.**
Large Hunter is A2 @ 59-60 hrc., and weighs 11 oz.
0.175" x 1.75" x 10.75" OAL with blade tip to scales at 5.75".
HIgh Sabre grind with 600 grit satin finish and a mild swedge along the spine.
Handle is Walnut (from Rifle Stock) with bolster made from wood chip "Micarta", brass pins and a hand-rolled center pin from the bolster block.
Sheath is Kydex with removable and reversable leather dangler attachment and security strap.
Small-ish Skinner is D2 @ 61-62 hrc., and weighs 7 oz.
0.153" x 1.5" x 8.75" OAL with blade tip to scales at 3.75".
HIgh Sabre grind with 600 grit satin finish and a lightly crowned spine.
Handle is also Walnut (from Rifle Stock) with bolster made from wood chip "Micarta", brass pins and a hand-rolled center pin from the bolster block.
Sheath is Kydex with removable and reversable leather dangler attachment and security strap.
I would love to hear what you all think of these two, and the carry setup.
Asking
I look forward to hearing your comments and/or interest...in the chat, via DM, or email at w.drakejr@gmail.com.
Thanks as always for checking out my work!
Bill
