Capybara

LongRifle

LongRifle

Joined
Apr 5, 2000
Messages
2,018
Here's a little knife made for a deer hunter in VA. This will most likely be the last small forged knife out of my shop for a loooooong time :).

Forged from w1 round bar, 3.75" blade, 8.25"OAL, green canvas micarta, 416ss fittings.

Don't worry, I have several big hamon bowies in the works :) ;). No more small knives :).

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Matt
 
I like it....the handle seems a bit long but I have big hands so maybe it would fit perfectly. How round is the handle is it more squared off or is it round?
 
Great work Matt.I like the extra length on the handle.Too many small fixed blades suffer from short handle syndrome.;)
 
Matt I really like this one a lot. But I'm curious why you named it CAPYBARA?
I mean, it doesn't seem to fit???

Great work...
Jeff
 
Jeff M. said:
Matt I really like this one a lot. But I'm curious why you named it CAPYBARA?
I mean, it doesn't seem to fit???

Great work...
Jeff
Click to expand...


Silly boy; obviously, it's a play on words. Clearly, it's ARABYPAC spelled backwards! :)
 
Thanks guys!

I think "capybara" is a perfect name for these smaller pieces. The knife is completely out of proportion and a little goofy looking, just like the animal. I don't like knives with handles I can't comfortably hold, so if I want to make a small knife it's going to look a little silly.

JP, the handle is pretty round at the top and underneath, sides are slightly round. To me it's very comfortable. We'll see what the new owner says.

This really is the last small knife that will be coming out of my shop. Way too much effort goes into small pieces. Especially considering the goofy looking pay out.

Matt
 
First, I'd like to say that this is well done. I can understand where you're coming from regarding the handle. However, that is the way I'd want it made. I'm not a big fan of the three-finger grip.

Second, I'd like to wish you the best of luck in all your big-blade endeavours. However, I'd like to say that I am more likely to spend my money on small fixed blades because I can carry them more often than large ones.
 
I'm done making small knives due to the economics and the enjoyment I get from the process and the final product.

Making bowies is a "bang for the buck" process for me; it doesn't take much longer to make a bowie than it does to make a hunter. Obviously, the guard and handle time are the same. Forging times are close; delicate work on small pieces is difficult and forging the tang is very time consuming. Really, the only time differences are grinding and polishing.

I don't make knives to make money, but I am giving my time away by making small knives. Unless I'm going to start selling small knives for $350+ I'm giving my work away. Thankfully no one is interested in my small knives ;) so there isn't much of an incentive.

I'm also discontinuing small pieces because I have very limited time to make knives. I would rather invest a few more hours and produce something more substantial. The truth is the frustrations of a big knife are always present in a small knife. Maybe I'll try some stock removal small pieces, but I am a pyro :) so that seems unlikely.
 
Hey, I'm interested in your small knives! I would have bought that green micarta utiltity knife, if you had let me. :)

Please, Matt. Make more small knives!
 
Yes, it would be a shame if you would quit completely on small knives. I'm using my small exemplar every day and I love it! I would have taken the one on display too ;)

Ulrich
 
Firts of all - cool little knife. I also prefer a good sized handle even with a smaller blade.

Second of all - I am a bit surprised by your take on the economies of producing small versus large knives as I have heard more than one smith complain about precisely the opposite: that the big knives are less economical to produce as the increased labor is not adequately compensated in the increased price.

Not saying you've got it wrong, I just find it interesting. It probably reflects the fact that different makers have differing efficiencies of manufacture. Whatever the case, please don't abandon these little guys, as I definitely want to grab a small stag companion to the big stag number I have coming from you. ;)

Cheers,

Roger
 
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