Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
I have been a fan of Ed Martin's knives for some years now. The man does some really nice work. His knives not only look great, but handle hard use very well. I was looking for a small-ish knife for use in some wilderness skills classes on small-knife techniques. I like the different tang styles that Ed offers, as he offers full-tang, mortise tang, and hidden tang, depending on your wants and needs. Because of how I wanted the sheath set up on this one, weight was a factor for me this time. So we talked about a new hidden tang version of his Bush Hunter that he was working on, and it sounded perfect. I explained to him that this knife would be pushed really hard at times, due to the nature of the course, but that after working one of his mortise-tanged knives really hard, I had faith in it. He liked the idea of it being worked hard as he wanted to see the new design really tested hard. I had no doubts going into it, but agreed to push it to some extremes. The understanding was that if it didn't handle the workload, we would do another tang style.
This is the version of the Bush Hunter I chose
The Specs are:
Overall length.................8 inches / 20.3 cm
Blade length...................3.6 inches / 9.1 cm
Handle Length................4.4 inches / 11.2 cm
Blade Thickness..............0.160 inches 4 mm
Steel..............................CPM S35VN Tripled tempered and cryo-quenched
Handle material..............Black canvas micarta, tempered aluminum hilt
Some in hand shots
The basic set up comes with the knife, and a scout carry sheath. However, I wanted the upgraded sheath with pouch, fire steel loop, and accessories. Ed really hooks you up with this option. It comes with a diamond stone sharpener and a swatch of sandpaper for edge maintenance, and a fire steel with a striker that can also serve as a signal mirror. The vertical belt loop is adjustable for right or left hand carry.
I love the CPM S35VN for the wet areas I frequent
To me the knife feels great in hand, has great controlability, and came with Ed's usual very sharp edge.
One of the methods I use for getting a clean end on a thick-ish branch is the ring-and-break, where I use thumb-pushes to cut into a branch all the way around the circumference, and then break across my knee, on a tree, or on the edge of a rock, depending on the thickness of the branch. Then whittle the ends into the shape I want.
Another method for larger diameter limbs is truncating them using a baton. This can be a little hard on a knife, but the Bush Hunter has handled it like a champ.
This knife has also been used to baton some kindling a few times, but I didn't take pics, it wasn't planned at the time. I happened on some folks from Florida who were camping and the spring rains caught them off guard. I showed them how to find and use fatwood, and how to reduce dead limbs to get dry tinder and kindling.
It also handles snack and meal duty well
I have to say, I am extremely pleased with this knife and have ordered another in natural canvas with a brass hilt.
Very well done Ed! I really like this model very much.
.
This is the version of the Bush Hunter I chose
The Specs are:
Overall length.................8 inches / 20.3 cm
Blade length...................3.6 inches / 9.1 cm
Handle Length................4.4 inches / 11.2 cm
Blade Thickness..............0.160 inches 4 mm
Steel..............................CPM S35VN Tripled tempered and cryo-quenched
Handle material..............Black canvas micarta, tempered aluminum hilt
Some in hand shots
The basic set up comes with the knife, and a scout carry sheath. However, I wanted the upgraded sheath with pouch, fire steel loop, and accessories. Ed really hooks you up with this option. It comes with a diamond stone sharpener and a swatch of sandpaper for edge maintenance, and a fire steel with a striker that can also serve as a signal mirror. The vertical belt loop is adjustable for right or left hand carry.
I love the CPM S35VN for the wet areas I frequent
To me the knife feels great in hand, has great controlability, and came with Ed's usual very sharp edge.
One of the methods I use for getting a clean end on a thick-ish branch is the ring-and-break, where I use thumb-pushes to cut into a branch all the way around the circumference, and then break across my knee, on a tree, or on the edge of a rock, depending on the thickness of the branch. Then whittle the ends into the shape I want.
Another method for larger diameter limbs is truncating them using a baton. This can be a little hard on a knife, but the Bush Hunter has handled it like a champ.
This knife has also been used to baton some kindling a few times, but I didn't take pics, it wasn't planned at the time. I happened on some folks from Florida who were camping and the spring rains caught them off guard. I showed them how to find and use fatwood, and how to reduce dead limbs to get dry tinder and kindling.
It also handles snack and meal duty well
I have to say, I am extremely pleased with this knife and have ordered another in natural canvas with a brass hilt.
Very well done Ed! I really like this model very much.
.
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