Recently I received a Neil Blackwood Medium Hunter that I had commissioned a few months ago via Kevin Pensinger of The Edge Equipment. What follows are the specifications for the knife and my impression.
Neil Blackwood Medium Hunter Specifications:
Steel: D2, heat treated by Neil Blackwood
Style: drop point hunter
Length: 8.25 inches(knife)
4 inches (blade)
4.25 inches (handle)
Width: 1.0625 inches (at widest portion of blade)
Thickness: 1/8th inch
Handle: contoured black linen micarta over black and white liners
Sheaths: kydex and leather
Pictures: see the Edge Equipment site or Neil Blackwoods website for pictures of this knife style.
Impressions of the knife:
At first glance, one can tell that this is definitely a right handed knife. Left side is straight, right side is tapered especially noticeable on micarta covered tang. A slight recurve is noted with the blade with the widest portion of the blade being in the middle of the blade. Blade is hollow ground, very close to a flat grind. Micarta scales nicely ground and shaped. Lanyard hole properly beveled. Blade is hair shaving sharp. Fit and finish excellent. Usual Blackwood quality that I have come to expect and is up to par with another Blackwood Medium Hunter and Small Hunter I have.
Kydex sheath - nicely done. Belt loop is positionable in 3 ways and easy enough to convert this to neck carry. Again, usual good Blackwood quality.
Leather sheath - right handed pouch style. Only 2 inches of knife handle sticking out when knife is in sheath. Drain hole noted at bottom tip of sheath. Good idea as this should help keep the knife dry. No inside welt seen: a welt on which the guard could have rested and also protected the stitching would have been nice. Belt loop secured by stitching, raising the concern that this could be cut by knife as it is slid in. Having 3 rivets flat side in, securing the belt loop is one possible suggestion eliminating this. This leather sheath would be the only area that could stand to see improvement, but am confident as Neil does more of these, quality will match the knife and kydex sheath.
In summary, a good knife that is ready for use and is good looking also. Good kydex sheath that will see most use. Leather sheath ok, but because of safety concerns, will only be used occasionally. Overall, I am happy with this knife.
Thank you, Kevin for setting up this custom knife order and Neil for making the knife and sheaths.
Harry
Neil Blackwood Medium Hunter Specifications:
Steel: D2, heat treated by Neil Blackwood
Style: drop point hunter
Length: 8.25 inches(knife)
4 inches (blade)
4.25 inches (handle)
Width: 1.0625 inches (at widest portion of blade)
Thickness: 1/8th inch
Handle: contoured black linen micarta over black and white liners
Sheaths: kydex and leather
Pictures: see the Edge Equipment site or Neil Blackwoods website for pictures of this knife style.
Impressions of the knife:
At first glance, one can tell that this is definitely a right handed knife. Left side is straight, right side is tapered especially noticeable on micarta covered tang. A slight recurve is noted with the blade with the widest portion of the blade being in the middle of the blade. Blade is hollow ground, very close to a flat grind. Micarta scales nicely ground and shaped. Lanyard hole properly beveled. Blade is hair shaving sharp. Fit and finish excellent. Usual Blackwood quality that I have come to expect and is up to par with another Blackwood Medium Hunter and Small Hunter I have.
Kydex sheath - nicely done. Belt loop is positionable in 3 ways and easy enough to convert this to neck carry. Again, usual good Blackwood quality.
Leather sheath - right handed pouch style. Only 2 inches of knife handle sticking out when knife is in sheath. Drain hole noted at bottom tip of sheath. Good idea as this should help keep the knife dry. No inside welt seen: a welt on which the guard could have rested and also protected the stitching would have been nice. Belt loop secured by stitching, raising the concern that this could be cut by knife as it is slid in. Having 3 rivets flat side in, securing the belt loop is one possible suggestion eliminating this. This leather sheath would be the only area that could stand to see improvement, but am confident as Neil does more of these, quality will match the knife and kydex sheath.
In summary, a good knife that is ready for use and is good looking also. Good kydex sheath that will see most use. Leather sheath ok, but because of safety concerns, will only be used occasionally. Overall, I am happy with this knife.
Thank you, Kevin for setting up this custom knife order and Neil for making the knife and sheaths.
Harry
