Elmer Keith knife - yep!

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Jul 27, 2003
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Well, I am apparently about 1 year back on my knife orders.
A good customer of mine came up to my table last year at the Janesville, Wisconsin, Badger Show with a drawing of an Elmer Keith knife, and asked me if I'd make my rendition of it.
I just got it done, and we're only five days from the next! Badger Show. (Just in time for delivery!) ;)

It's not a knife for everyone.
In fact, I wasn't sure I even wanted to do it.
At first glance, it looks like a brick with a handle on it.
But, I went ahead and proceeded with the project regardless.

I am amazed that I actually, along the way and right up to this point, acquired a bit of affinity for the knife designed for Elmer Keith by Gil Hibben.

It's actually called the Elmer Keith Skinner.

From Wikipedia:

Elmer Merrifield Keith (March 8, 1899 – February 12, 1984) was an Idaho rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum, as well as the later .44 Magnum and .41 Magnum cartridges.

Keith was a prolific writer, writing both books and magazine columns. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was especially well known for his regular monthly columns he wrote for Guns & Ammo magazine, and American Rifleman typically exploring the performance of the latest new gun offerings, especially those firing large, heavy bullets pushed to high velocities.

In fact, the Elmer Keith Skinner was given in the 1960s as a premium for a subscription to Guns and Ammo magazine. :eek:

As I researched this knife, I began to discover that it had/has quite a following and any of the originals are highly sought. And Hibben Knives still, to this day, has this knife as one of the most sold knives from the company.

Do a quick Google search on Elmer Keith Knife and click on IMAGES to see many originals and custom renditions.

As an aside, Elmer Keith, who spent most of his life in Idaho and Utah, had a hunting cabin in the mountains. When they cleared out the cabin after he died, they found an Elmer Keith Knife in the cabin that had seen PLENTY! of use in all of his hunting and outdoor activities.

So, I was asked to build this knife as an Andersen Forge Take-down.
Damascus blade - 1095/15N20.
Hot-blued fittings
and Stabilized figured Walnut.

Not something we see often around here.
I hope you all appreciate my efforts creating my rendition of a cutlery icon:

RC5a_zps1c769d1c.jpg
 
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Yep! that's Elmer Keith.. Good job Karl. A friend of mine, now recently deceased, John Wooters had one of the originals. He was also an outdoor writer and hunter retired here in Kerrville.

Paul
 
Very nice rendition Karl

An Elmer Keith from Dennis Friedly was one of my first customs :)

I'll look for a pic
 
Joe, I have viewed a few of his and found them to be very inspirational for this project.
I appreciate your kind words, as well as Don's and Mr. Long's.


Very nice rendition Karl

An Elmer Keith from Dennis Friedly was one of my first customs :)

I'll look for a pic
 
Not a style I'm usually drawn to, but this is a fine rendition IMO. Love the steel.
Great execution, a very successful venture outside the box! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Yep! that's Elmer Keith.. Good job Karl. A friend of mine, now recently deceased, John Wooters had one of the originals. He was also an outdoor writer and hunter retired here in Kerrville.

Paul

I had the pleasure of meeting John many years ago. A truly fine person. I read his obituary in the Chronicle, sad to see another legend go.
 
:D
Very nice rendition Karl

An Elmer Keith from Dennis Friedly was one of my first customs :)

I'll look for a pic

I had one from Dennis, as well, many years ago. And one from Harvey Draper.

Karl, you're right about the brick comment. Years ago, anytime I couldn't find my hammer quickly, I always thought about using the butt of the Elmer Keith:D
 
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Good one Karl. I remember first reading about this a couple years ago and it stuck me as an odd knife but I grew to like the design. I like what you've done with it.
 
Karl --- I agree that it is a bit of a strange knife and one I never considered and did not really care for. However, that being said, you have made a terrific rendition of the EK knife and frankly I think it is the best I have seen of that particular genre. Congratulations and I'm sure the owner is thrilled.
 
NICE Karl! I've always liked that pattern myself.

Your takedown construction with a damascus blade looks AWESOME!

Peter
 
Here is Edmund Davidson's rendition of this knife
and the story that goes with his Full Integral version:


“Elmer Keith Knife”, 2012
by Edmund Davidson, USA

The original knife of this design was made by Gil Hibben
in 1966 for Elmar Keith.
In 2009, Dr. Chris Kuettner prompted Edmund to make a first
ever Full Integral Elmer Keith knife.
Gil Hibben then provided the pattern, allowing Edmund to create
an accurate hand made reproduction in the dimensions of the
original knife, including its blade thickness of 3/8” (9.5 mm).

The raw bar of 440C steel from which Edmund created this knife
was 1.0” (25.4 mm) thick and 3.0” (72 mm) wide.
Heat treating was done by Peters Heat Treating.
Handle material is Desert Ironwood and the knife has an all
over hand-rubbed finish.
Blade length 6 1/4” (165 mm), overall length 10 5/8” (270 mm).


All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

Edmund%2527s.jpg
 
Living in Montana and being raised in North Dakota I always had a affinity for Elmer's writings, Fast forward a few years and I am visiting with MS Bill Burke and the topic of High caliber handguns comes up and I mention Elmer Keith and Bill reminds me that Elmer lived in Salmon, ID (where Bill is originally from) and of the fact that as a kid he would trick or treat at Elmer's I was a bit jealous.
 
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