Canadian Style Knives

Riz!

Riz!

Joined
May 5, 2014
Messages
4,137
How many of you guys use canadian style or nessmuk styled knives? What are their pros and cons? Which maker do you prefer?

They have always caught my eye but I never bit until the other day. I got an LT Wright Northern Hunter in the mail today. Its a work of ergonomic beauty. If I was to design a Canadian Knife it would look like the Northern Hunter. I haven't used it yet other than to test the edge on paper. It is extremely sharp. Zips through paper like it isnt there and hair flies off of my arm like it a straight razor. Here is a pic. Its the product photo from the dealer I bought it from. Tomorrow its going out with me to scout a new hunting property. I will get some nice shots of it in action.



 
I too have been looking at the Canadian knife from BarkRiver, i haven't bought it yet but i keep visiting it on the internet. Very nice knife you have there
 
Love LT Wright knives. I'm sure that northern Hunter is great. My favorite nessmuck pattern was made by big Chris. Super great handles
 
Was thinking about getting a Grohmann #1 last monday, so I stopped by a retailer and checked it.
Ultimately didn't got it (I wanted a carbon steel model and it was a way too shiny stainless), but I'm thinking of asking my favorite custom maker to build me one with better steel and updated handle materials.
Design is a bit weird with the Grohmann, it was a bit too pie slicer for me (especially with such a shiny steel).
Anyway they must be good because they sell like hotcakes in maple syrup up there :)
 
I have a Grohmann #1 that I got years ago. Still use it quite regularly. It's a pretty good do it all knife in my opinion. You can do anything from skinning, to food prep, to wood carving and light wood chores (right tool for the job of course). And yes FMJ, they even work great for slicing pies...and hotcackes! :D. The ergos are kind of different, but I quite like it by now. If find it works well when cutting on a flat surface, you haven't the need to raise your hand far from the surface for cutting. I do wish it held an edge a little bit longer, however, it's not too shabby. Mine is stainless, wouldn't mind trying the carbon steel. Overall, I say F***in' EH! :thumbup:

 
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I just purchased the small Grohmann folding knife in the same style called the R340S. 4 inches folded. I like the lock back feature and enjoy the entire look of the knife. Rosewood handles and some strong jimping on the blade. I prefer stainless steel for everyday use. For $75 Canadian it is was well worth it.

I do think the price is right on the Grohmann belt knives as well. The basic rosewood handle, and for a small extra you can get micarta or resin wood. You can step it up even more for the premium buffalo horn or stag handles.

If I had use for one I would pick one up in a blink.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
Duper, I would love to see some pics of your folder.


Cteve, You reminded me that for about a month (probably 4 years ago) I had Bark River Canadian Special and Lil Canadian. I was in a period in my knife collecting that I was flipping knives fast just to try them. Both were nice but the one thing I didnt like was the finger grooves and they dont have as much handle offset as the original Canadian Style. I had them for such short time that I always forget I owned them! The canadian special was a beast in the kitchen. They were less of a Canadian Style knife and more like a bushcrafter with a hump in the blade.
 
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Riz! said:
Duper, I would love to see some pics of your folder.


Cteve, You reminded me that for about a month (probably 4 years ago) I had Bark River Canadian Special and Lil Canadian. I was in a period in my knife collecting that I was flipping knives fast just to try them. Both were nice but the one thing I didnt like was the finger grooves and they dont have as much handle offset as the original Canadian Style. I had them for such short time that I always forget I owned them! The canadian special was a beast in the kitchen. They were less of a Canadian Style knife and more like a bushcrafter with a hump in the blade.
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Riz is correct.
I have a Canadian special & a mini Canadian. They are good knives, but the Canadian special is different to a typical Canadian belt knife.
 
The sailing version has a part serration and a marlin spike. I like the marlin spike. The handle and knife shape are more useful for food prep but it does leave you feeling you paid too much for a 'steak knife'! The edge won't cut high tech rope well the first time and not at all the fourth time so it's relegated to cheese and pate. As a knife on a sail boat it's almost useless. I have a real rope knife now, it cost more but it works.
 
Riz! said:
How many of you guys use canadian style or nessmuk styled knives? What are their pros and cons? Which maker do you prefer?

They have always caught my eye but I never bit until the other day. I got an LT Wright Northern Hunter in the mail today. Its a work of ergonomic beauty. If I was to design a Canadian Knife it would look like the Northern Hunter. I haven't used it yet other than to test the edge on paper. It is extremely sharp. Zips through paper like it isnt there and hair flies off of my arm like it a straight razor. Here is a pic. Its the product photo from the dealer I bought it from. Tomorrow its going out with me to scout a new hunting property. I will get some nice shots of it in action.



Click to expand...

That looks like a really well-designed knife, to me. I give it two hockey sticks up and a pound of bacon. :thumbup:
 
I have a few Grohmanns. The ergos are surprisingly good, and part of the magic is that the line of the blade is offset from the handle. Some knives inspired by the design don't have the same feel, such as the Bark River versions. Like the Bark Rivers, they're all hand ground, and they are ever so slightly different even on the same model. The handles are quite wide, which really adds to comfort.

Below are a few of mine. A carbon steel flat grind belt knife (the #1), a flat grind trout and bird (the #2), and a flat grind survival knife (the #4).

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I'm not crazy that they felt they had to laser on "Flat Grind," as the blades are generally nearly sterile. Just the model and maker's mark on the ricasso.

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They're popular around here. They don't need a lot of care. They're easily sharpenable by your average hunter in the field with any stone. They work with gloves or without, and don't have many hot spots. The stock is pretty thin, and they carry light.

They're not much for knife nuts though. No fancy steel, no new designs in ages, no limited/sprint runs.
 
Great knife, very ergonomic design that has won awards. I field-dressed my first mule deer with mine 40+ years ago and I still use that knife. Grohmann sources its steel in Germany (Krupp?). Its C70 carbon steel is pretty close to 1070, apparently. It's a good, tough steel, takes an excellent edge and is easy to sharpen.
 
One of my favorite patterns. Low heel, lots of belly and a Great HT.
NJBillK said:
JK Knives CanadianBelt Knife
OAL – 8.5 inches
Blade – 4 inches
1/8 inch 01 tool steel (As Forged Finish left on flats)
Natural micarta slabs with 1/4" stainless steel tubes

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Too bad it has to go...
 
Cold Steel has a Canadian belt knife for under $15. It's a nice knife for the money, and you can check out whether you like the feel of the pattern before buying a Grohmann or other more expensive one. It caused me to buy a Grohmann and I keep the Cold Steel in the kitchen (comes in quite handy).
 
Here are some in hand pics. I wet formed a smaller JRE sheath that came with my LTWK Maverick Scout because the sheath that came with this knife was the worst JRE sheath I have ever seen. It was way to loose and was crappy leather. Very disappointing considering this knife is just amazing and every JRE shreath that I have bought for other knives was top notch. I used to replace all of my bark river sheathes with what was then aftermarket Blind Horse Knives sheathes made by JRE. After wet fitting the sheath and drying it, I applied copious amojnts of obenauff's leather treatment. I also used paste finishing wax to put a thick coat of wax on the handle of the knife. This seals the wood and keeps the brass from tarnishing.











 
I used the Northern Hunter in the kitchen today to slice up an onion really fine. It works great because the constant curve in the edge always keeps the edge at am angle to the forward / backward slicing motion. Then to mince the slices I rocked the blade around the cutting board. This occurred with ease because of the curved edge and offset handle.
 
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