CactusRose #4 - the Mike Fink Knife

Wild Rose

Wild Rose

Joined
Aug 23, 2002
Messages
1,398
Well we got another one under our belt. Gib sent me this one a while back and when I opened up the package and saw that scimitar blade, Mike Fink - the infamous keelboatman - just popped into my head. Mike was the inspiration for the term "half man, half alligator". Davy Crockett first called Mike that and the term eventually came to be used for that rough and ready breed - The Keelboatman of the Mississippi , Ohio, and Missouri Rivers.
For more info on Mike check out the following link: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/sw/fink6.html

Now for the important stuff :) :
mf-001.jpg

mf-002.jpg

mf-003.jpg

mf-004.jpg


Here's the specs:
Blade: 10" - Hand forged 5160 - forge finish on spine, aged, and fileworked (OAL is 15 1/2")
Crossguard: Mild steel Hand forged
Grip: Sambar Stag - aged, file worked, with a pewter butt cap.
Sheath: A whiteman vegtan sheath with a swivel belt loop that's been repaired/gussied up Indian style - Painted rawhide and brass tack repair, partially beaded throat wrap with a pewter cross. Edged with tin cone, copper bead, and horsehair dangles.
 
WHAT A WONDERFUL PIECE!!

It really is magnificent! I might even venture to say museum quality!

Thank you so much for sharing!
 
Beautiful !!!

Hey, wait a minute - there's that really long bent-to-the-back guard thing that Indian George was asking about !!! :) :D :)

RL
 
Superb workmanship. Beautiful knife and sheath. I love the time frame and can imagine Mike Fink and the Mississippi. Thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks guys Gib and I appreciate the comments.

Now I've got a question: note the "smooth" spots on the blade - they were not intentional? I did my standard Clorox etch yet those spots did not etch at all? My theory is that they are "smears" of chrome - a component of 5160 - that got "spread out" during the forging and the chrome is stopping or at least slowing the etch action? Any other ideas? (this also happened on the other CR knives but no to this degree)

BTW if you want to get a preview of the next CR knife and sheath check out Keith's post: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=281517
Keith asked to take photos as the construction progressed and although reluctant at first I think it's kind of a neat documentary of how our knives and eventually the sheath all come together.

Darren I think sometimes the photoging is more work than building the knife and sheath!
 
First....the package is stunning,
second... I get the same spots on 01 steel that I use for muzzle loader lock plates. My guess is that the pot wasn't real clean when they made up the steel and there are inclusions in it.
 
Thanks Peter - that was my second "theory".

Do you go with it on your lock plates or just cuss alot? :mad:
 
That those two Old Farts (Chuck and Gib) are starting to get the hang of this. Now I want to see what they do when they get serious-----Sandy
 
Remember seeing that knife somewhere before and really liked it alot...makes me feel like grabin it with a black powder gun and headin to the mountains! Maybe even get me a coon skin hat. :D
 
Caramba! Man you guys sure know how to build a knife! WOW!!!

The butt cap on that thing is just the finishing touch, then the horsehair dangles kick in... That is just incredible. Thanks for sharing, you guys made my day.

Dave
 
the old horse tail is getting shorter :D
nice I realy like the over all handle best on this one.
but still a very nice package.:D
 
the old horse tail is getting shorter
Click to expand...
Well I just got a new on - it was suppossed to be salted and tried - wellllll - it was fresh and in a bag full of moth flakes - to say the least Linda was not a happy camper when I opened the package (neither was I for that matter) The smell of naptha took DAYS to get rid of.
 
The other guys say it better than I can! ZOW! And as for the package you folks opened, you have intestinal fortitude, too!
 
Wow! What a combination. I realy love the handle on this one. The peuter realy adds a nice touch, will have to give it a try one day.
 
Will - the pewter butt cap is an orphan pewter concho I had on hand - www.buffalobrothers.net carries a whole bunch of various types. Commercial pewter buttons were a big trade item way back when and were often used as deco inlays by the Frontiersmen so I figured why not.
 
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