- Joined
- May 25, 1999
- Messages
- 245
Jeff,
That was a fantastic review! Great job of putting it through its paces and excellent pics of the process! :thumbup:
That's how I envisioned folks using the Bushcrafter! I loved your comment "Better to have at least one of these and use the snot out of it because you can keep it sharp." That was exactly what I was envisioning when me and L.T. went through the design. We talked about using a different steel at one point but I loved the history of the old blades (I think there's something comforting in recycling the tools that helped build America with the saw steel and the gunmakers rifle stock scrap) and the ease of use with it. You nailed it 100% when you said this si the steel that folks have used for a long, long time now. It isn't super steel but it works just fine and is easy to maintain.
As to the design, once again you nailed it Jeff. While the blunt spear point is Kephart-esque the Dadley was the blade influence. The handle is influenced by th Marbles Deweese pattern. I liked teh simple lines and finger notch to orient the blade and lock in the hand. We just extended it to make a more hand filling grip, made sure there were no rough edges and rounded the pommel so that you can palm it to drill with the point if need be.
It's certainly not a revolutionary design, that wasn't the point. It's just something that had been percolating around in my head for a while combining the features I liked of old blades (I'm a big fan of the old Green Rivers and trade knives) and what I wanted in a Bushcrafter. Dan and L.T. were able to take my drawings, wood prototype, and ramblings and turn them into a functional piece of art.
As to the finish, mine is bare steel now as well
After some use the bluing started to wear so when I cleaned and stropped mine I also took some steel wool to it and stripped it down to the bare metal. The saw steel has a nice aged patina to it that I really like. I'll have to take some pics of what it looks like now.
Again, awesome review Jeff. I'm glad you're taking yours out and dirtying it up! I envisioned the Bushcrafter as a user that folks could afford to use and not a safe queen but that darn Dan and L.T. make the things so purty that I fear folks are hoarding them and are afraid to use them
That was a fantastic review! Great job of putting it through its paces and excellent pics of the process! :thumbup:
That's how I envisioned folks using the Bushcrafter! I loved your comment "Better to have at least one of these and use the snot out of it because you can keep it sharp." That was exactly what I was envisioning when me and L.T. went through the design. We talked about using a different steel at one point but I loved the history of the old blades (I think there's something comforting in recycling the tools that helped build America with the saw steel and the gunmakers rifle stock scrap) and the ease of use with it. You nailed it 100% when you said this si the steel that folks have used for a long, long time now. It isn't super steel but it works just fine and is easy to maintain.
As to the design, once again you nailed it Jeff. While the blunt spear point is Kephart-esque the Dadley was the blade influence. The handle is influenced by th Marbles Deweese pattern. I liked teh simple lines and finger notch to orient the blade and lock in the hand. We just extended it to make a more hand filling grip, made sure there were no rough edges and rounded the pommel so that you can palm it to drill with the point if need be.
It's certainly not a revolutionary design, that wasn't the point. It's just something that had been percolating around in my head for a while combining the features I liked of old blades (I'm a big fan of the old Green Rivers and trade knives) and what I wanted in a Bushcrafter. Dan and L.T. were able to take my drawings, wood prototype, and ramblings and turn them into a functional piece of art.
As to the finish, mine is bare steel now as well
After some use the bluing started to wear so when I cleaned and stropped mine I also took some steel wool to it and stripped it down to the bare metal. The saw steel has a nice aged patina to it that I really like. I'll have to take some pics of what it looks like now.Again, awesome review Jeff. I'm glad you're taking yours out and dirtying it up! I envisioned the Bushcrafter as a user that folks could afford to use and not a safe queen but that darn Dan and L.T. make the things so purty that I fear folks are hoarding them and are afraid to use them
That's the difference. I find knives that are made well, made 'here" and are affordable. Gloves, well, I guess I will just have to pay the price for my lack of initiative to seek out something worth buying. Those GET that way stacking wood. Every time I pick up a piece that slips (that hurts on cold fingers too), it abrades the tips and they don't last long.
