Bladeforums Best Hunter 2017 - Voting is closed

Post #10 - Knife #1. (As i4Marc posted, If this ergonomic skinner doesn't qualify for this thread, then the decision is one that's too hard for me to make.;))

Dang this is hard, these are some incredible pieces to try and sort through!!!

GREAT JOB to ALL the Makers!!!:thumbsup:
 
What a great collection of hunters! All so good but if I have to choose:
1) Post #3 Eric Markman
2) Post #5 #1 - James Rodebaugh
3) Post #5 #2 - Shayne Carter
4) Post #16 Ben Seward
5) Post #28 Karl Andersen #3. San-mai, wrought iron and African Blackwood:
6) Post #25 #1: J. Doyle Black & Bronze Hunter
7) Post #38 #1- ADAM DESROSIERS , hunter damascus
 
It’s hard to come up with reasons why I like what I do sometimes. It just sort of happens. I like clean lines, clean transitions, a mix of traditional flavors, and some ornamental dynamite without going overboard.

Post 20, #4: Cody Hofsommer (the classic lines just do it for me)

Post 21, #1: Karl Andersen (this is one that would look great sitting next to any hunting rifle, especially a lever gun)

Post 26, #1: John Doyle (it’s fancy but not over the top. I wouldn’t be able to use this one but I’d be damn sure to always dream I could)

Post31, #3: Jerry Fisk (absolutely drool worthy)

Post 33, #1: Kyle Hanson (awesome styling with no need for a guard. I would definitely carry this one in the field. No doubt about it)

Post42, #1: Stephen Fowler (as Coop said, ageless. This knife will never go out of style. That popcorn stag is perfect!)
 
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Post 10 #1 Aldrich ........ It Works :)


Post 12 #1 Mirabile Tsunami ....... not the best hunter but it would make a dandy skinner


Post 14 #1 Seward Reflex ....... solid all around knife


Post 22 #1 Chovanec..... interesting


Post 41 #1 Hogstrom ....... just like the shape


Post 41 #2 Seward ....... a knife I would buy


Post 42 #4 Gallagher .... not a hunter but another knife I’d buy
 
Same as it ever was... Too many knives, not enough votes. I like how casual the "Best Hunter" is. I wish everyone who had made a hunter they liked had put a picture of it up here. I mean, EVERYONE has a camera in their phone, right?

21 - 1 ... Karl Andersen... a real tool-looking kind of knife... bigger, and I like that. I mean, there are elk and moose in the world.

23 - 3 ... Paul DiStephano... Nice straight forward lines. It all looks just-right to me.

26 - 1 ... John Doyle... A very pretty knife... every piece and every line is all together. I feel it would be a treat to use.

33 - 1 ... Kyle Hanson... Subtle hand position... easily usable up or down... a guard-less hunting knife that works like it had a guard... nice quiet lines... a pretty knife.

41 - 1 ... Anders Hogstrom... This was the first knife in this "Best" I knew I would vote for. I like looking at it and I'd love to use it... a little un-zipping and piercing, then a lot of skinning. Wonderful lines.

42 - 2 ... John Parks... Lots of nice details... integral beading... file work... blade profile touches. It all fits well to my eye.

43 - 2 ... Eli Jensen... A nice simple knife... lots of good using details... graceful looking.

M.Krall
 
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Such tough choices, like every year. Thanks to all the participants for the wonderful submissions. I wanted to vote foe Dave's Tsunami but I just can't see it as a hunter. Cool knife nonetheless. So these are my choices. Like I said in the Bowie thread, if I didn't choose a knife it wasn't because I didn't love it. I chose pieces that, to MY EYE, had the best balance of details that spoke to ME.


Post 24 #1 J. Fisk - I prefer some of his less adorned models. This one has a nice balance of form and fancy.

Post 26 #1 J. Doyle - John's work is always so classy but I prefer his models that feature guards. Fantastic details on this one, not to mention a tasty piece of Koa.

Post 30 #4 K. Andersen - I like Karl's work. So many of his pieces are worthy but this one stood out to me.

Post 31 #1 A. Wilburn - I've been following Aaron's work for a while. There aren't too many pieces he makes that don't get my attention. This one has great flow and a beautiful blade.

Post 41 #2 B. Seward - Ben has been killin' it for a while. I'm not sure I'd call this one a hunter but it's close enough. So well done.

Post 42 #6 E. Khokhklov - Clean, crisp and purposeful with distinctive design.


Thanks to the folks who gave my submissions a second look.
 
Post 5 - #1 - Rodebaugh - stunning damascus

Poist 20 - #3 - Hofsommer - stag/damascus

Post 24 - #2 - Fisk - damascus/ivory/engraving

Post 31 - #1 - Wilburn - Scagel design

Post 39 - #1 - Appleby - san mai/amber stag

Post 41 - #2 - Seward - damascus

Post 42 - #5 - Steingass - take down
 
the choices are particularly complicated but ...

Post 38 #1 Adam Desrosiers hunter damascus (for all of his work that is like him remarkable)
post 12 #1 David Mirabile integral cable damascus (I will love having one of these knives )
post 38 #2 Adam Desrosiers integral hunter W2 with stag handle
post 3 #1 Erik Markman damascus with splayed beech
post 24 #1 Jerry Fisk plain Sendero

 
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Again very difficult to choose. Here goes.

Post 14 Seward Reflex.

Post 20 Hofsommer.

Post 21#1 Andersen.

Post 25#1 Doyle.

Post 28#6 Andersen Cocobola.

Post 40#5 Sean O'Hare.

Post 46#4 Keith Fludder.
 
Great lineup of knives!

My votes:

Post 10 - knife 3 - Aldrich Black Micarta Clip Point. The lines, the lines, THE LINES!

Post 21 - knife 1 - Andersen Curly Oak Hunter. Of Karl's many great hunters, this is the style that speaks to me most clearly.

Post 24 - knife 2 - Fisk Ivory Sendero - If I'm going to grab a fancy schmancy hunter from these pages it is going to be this one.

Post 25 - Knife 1 - John Doyle Black & Bronze Hunter. Love the crazy blade finish on this one - makes the knife just leap off the screen.

Post 38 - knife 2 - Adam DesRosiers Stag Integral Hunter - this knife is perfection!

Post 40 - knife 4 - Schuyler Lovestrand Ivory Hunter - The lines, the lines, THE LINES!

Post 41 - knife 2 - Ben Seward Damascus Double Guard - not my definition of a hunter but my definition of a knife I want.
 
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Post 5, #1 James Rodebaugh Fancy Hunter - More embellished than normal for a hunter I would buy, but man, this one is a beauty. Love James' work. Glad to see it here.

Post 21, #1 Karl Andersen Curly Oak Hunter - Karl has had my number with his hunter designs for years. A favorite.

Post 26, #1 John Doyle Koa Hunter - A classy hunter, Koa grabs you on this one.

Post 30, #4 Karl Andersen W2 & Ironwood Hunter - What I think of when an Andersen hunter comes up in conversation. Nice to see all of his choices this year.

Post 31, #3 Jerry Fisk Stag Sendero Hunter - Such a classic design by one of the best. Gets my vote.

- Joe
 
Post 5, Knife 1 - James Rodebaugh
Post 5, Knife 2 - Shayne Carter
Post 5, Knife 3 - Jerry Fisk Sendero
Post 21, Knife 1 - Karl Andersen
Post 28, Knife 7 - Karl Andersen
Post 32, Knife 1 - Steve ?????
Post 42, Knife 1 - Stephen Fowler


I reeeeeaaaaaaaaaally wanted to pick 8 - Mark Knapp just missed out. :(

Actually, I did not pick my favorite knives on this thread because IMO they were not hunters. :oops:
But the ones I did pick are all outstanding knives from their pictures anyway, and I would be proud to own any of them.
 
RogerP said:
Great lineup of knives!

My votes:

Post 10 - knife 3 - Aldrich Black Micarta Clip Point. The lines, the lines, THE LINES!

Post 21 - knife 1 - Andersen Curly Oak Hunter. Of Karl's many great hunters, this is the style that speaks to me most clearly.

Post 24 - knife 2 - Fisk Ivory Sendero - If I'm going to grab a fancy schmancy hunter from these pages it is going to be this one.

Post 25 - Knife 1 - John Doyle Black & Bronze Hunter. Love the crazy blade finish on this one - makes the knife just leap off the screen.

Post 28 - knife 2 - Adam DesRosiers Stag Integral Hunter - this knife is perfection!

Post 40 - knife 4 - Schuyler Lovestrand Ivory Hunter - The lines, the lines, THE LINES!

Post 41 - knife 2 - Ben Seward Damascus Double Guard - not my definition of a hunter but my definition of a knife I want.
Click to expand...

Post 28, knife 2 is not an Adam DesRosiers Stag Integral Hunter. It is a Karl Andersen Single twist, Curly Oak and hot-blued take-down, mirror polished spine.

I think you meant Post 38 - knife 2.
 
The Virginian said:
Post 28, knife 2 is not an Adam DesRosiers Stag Integral Hunter. It is a Karl Andersen Single twist, Curly Oak and hot-blued take-down, mirror polished spine.

I think you meant Post 38 - knife 2.
Click to expand...
Thanks for pointing it out. I'll make sure to count the votes accordingly.

I'll leave this open for nominations for a couple more days, since I started the post later than usual.
 
As basically a non-user but rather a collector of mostly "art knives" as pieces of sculpture, this is the criteria used for the 7 knives selected and would fit the bill for me to purchase.

Post #5 #1 James Rodebaugh -- this just jumps off the page and while I have long viewed and enjoyed Jame's work, until this one I just did not see one that said take me home. This one would.

Post #22 #3 Brian Chovanac -- I thoroughly enjoy Brian's knives and this is one that is very nice and fits my definition to a T.

Post #31 #2 Jerry Fisk Blue Ivory Gamemaster -- tough to beat that ivory and it is on a JF piece.

Post #40 #1 Mark Knapp Paua -- MK always shoves the envelope all over the desktop and keeps up creating winning knives.

#4 Schuyler Lovestrand -- soft and smooth and immaculate execution. As an owner of a couple fighters by SL, this hunter just shows his skills so well.

#5 Sean O'Hare -- a nice hunter before the engraving and a nice piece of art with the engraving added.

Post #41 #2 Ben Seward -- another maker that just keeps creating great knives and this one fits the bill very nicely.

Lots of great knives produced by all.
 
Post #5; #1 James Rodebaugh Hunter - Jim showed me this Hunter at Blade Show just prior the CKCA banquet years ago when he initially offered it for sale. I though it was one of the
finest hunters I had ever examined then and my opinion has never changed. I would have probably purchased it from him on the spot if not for my being so busy getting ready for the banquet.

Post #31; #3 Jerry Fisk Deluxe Amber Stag Sendero - Jerry's Sendero Hunter speaks for itself as it's probably the most copied hunting knife in existence with the exception of the Loveless Droppoint
Hunter. Jerry's damascus and amber sambar stag model is what I consider the 'Classic' Sendero and my favorite of the many versions he creates. This is an exceptional example
of this model.
 
Since this thread is about the best HUNTER, I'm viewing this from a strict hunting/utility standpoint.

I would love to own Rodebough's post 5 #1, or any of the fabulous Fisk Senderos, be they plain or fancy, but the one knife I'd be most comfortable with, up to my elbows in blood and guts would be T K Steingass' takedown in post #42, #5. It's made by a hunter for a hunter and after it has done it's job you can return it to near new with a thorough clean up. Therefore, I'm going to nominate just one for the finals...and that is Post 42, #5 TK Steingass Take down.

Paul
 
My votes:
post 5 #3 - Jerry Fisk - true master make only masterpieces
post 10 #3 - Aldrich - classical elegant lines and color, great even with that little loss near pin
post 26 #1 - John Doyle - great materials comparasion, classic design beauty and that filework integral with koa wood
post 31 #2 - Jerry Fisk - i'm blue...
post 40 #4 - Schuyler Lovestrand - shape details of blade, clean and completely matched - it was love by 1st sight
 
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