- Joined
- Nov 21, 2005
- Messages
- 3,972
Well, maybe utility??
I have admired John M. Smith's knives forever. I have also heard he has maybe quit making them? When Matt L. posted some of John's bowies on here awhile back, I got inspired and used the wonders of the internet to run John down and find out he still makes an occasional knife or two. He had an image of a 6" utility knife he had just made for a customer. Plus, he had it listed as having a "wicked, wicked cutting edge". That threw me over the 'edge'.
I told him I was interested in a 6" to 7"-bladed knife for multiple use. I tend to go a little larger with knives I plan to use due to having large hands. I'll work around some extra steel in order to have something that feels right to me. The handle is some dyed maple he had in-house.
He took his utility design and he lengthened the blade, dropped the point, removed a little belly and he came up with a 11 7/8ths-inch OAL-utility that can be used to work over an animal, use around camp, and even function in the kitchen. Plus, it has a fighter look to it.
Not designed for hefty work, it has a flat, narrow angled grind. I wanted W2 steel with hamon, and his extra etching time produced some very interesting blade activity. John produced a nice hamon along with some alloy banding, and what John calls some 'carbide islands'. And, it is "wicked, wicked sharp", as advertised.
I am a happy camper (hunter?, fighter?) here. Thought I would share. My attempts didn't turn out well, so I am using the photos John provided me.
- Joe
I have admired John M. Smith's knives forever. I have also heard he has maybe quit making them? When Matt L. posted some of John's bowies on here awhile back, I got inspired and used the wonders of the internet to run John down and find out he still makes an occasional knife or two. He had an image of a 6" utility knife he had just made for a customer. Plus, he had it listed as having a "wicked, wicked cutting edge". That threw me over the 'edge'.
I told him I was interested in a 6" to 7"-bladed knife for multiple use. I tend to go a little larger with knives I plan to use due to having large hands. I'll work around some extra steel in order to have something that feels right to me. The handle is some dyed maple he had in-house.
He took his utility design and he lengthened the blade, dropped the point, removed a little belly and he came up with a 11 7/8ths-inch OAL-utility that can be used to work over an animal, use around camp, and even function in the kitchen. Plus, it has a fighter look to it.
Not designed for hefty work, it has a flat, narrow angled grind. I wanted W2 steel with hamon, and his extra etching time produced some very interesting blade activity. John produced a nice hamon along with some alloy banding, and what John calls some 'carbide islands'. And, it is "wicked, wicked sharp", as advertised.
I am a happy camper (hunter?, fighter?) here. Thought I would share. My attempts didn't turn out well, so I am using the photos John provided me.
- Joe
