Going to Alaska

smitty0331

smitty0331

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Dec 5, 2006
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Hi everyone, my step-son is going to Alaska for 5 months to be a fishing guide at a resort out there. He wants me to make him a knife to take with him. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good guides' knife? Pics. would be awesome if possible. Thanks everyone, and have a great weekend.
 
I've always liked the Alaskan guide knives , a deep belly 5"blade but don't know about the fishing . He made need 2 knives , you better get busy :D
 
Your son will need a much bigger fillet knife than most people think of calling a "fillet knife". I will see if I can find some pics 4 ya. It needs to be probably 1/8" steel, and with a blade that is around 15". You will probably have to start with stock that is around 2" to get the taper right on a knife that long. He will USE this knife. Honestly I'd probably go with CPM-M4 and a scotch- brite finish. It need to hold an ege very well while going through fairly large fish bones. Neoprene handle for wet grip. I mentioned the scotch-brite finsh because he can touch it up himself.
Just my .02 and opinions are like... well you know:D
Matt Doyle
 
Hi Smitty,

It must be getting green up your way. About time, huh?

This is a model I make for people going to the bush. Five inch blade.

These are easy to make good fitting sheaths for.

The fillet knife is 11 inches overall; maybe a little fancy for the bush but the design works well.

Put some more pics up guys and help Smitty out.:thumbup:

Fred
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Wow, that's one beautiful knife Fred. It's been warm here, a little wet today though. Thanks mdoyle, I can't wait to see the pics.
 
Alaska.....

A good guide will have a couple of blades on hand.

A bait knife, which is usually a poly/plastic handled 3-4" SS blade, available at most marine supply houses cheap. This is a beater knife commonly dropped in the drink by clients, so this is one you want to buy instead of making a custom blade. That is of course if he will be working a boat for halibut and salmon.

A good fillet knife, I buy mine here too since this is another beater knife that will see lots of hard use.

A good folder that is fast to get to and comfortable in the pocket would be most useful for his every day needs. My idea of perfect would be a 3" SS blade, ivory, scrimshaw on the scales that show "the life" he will be living up there. I always have a smalish gents folder on hand and it gets used several times a day, by far the most useful tool to have at all times.

Where is he heading? I will hopefully be back on Kodiak Island by mid May.
 
a drop point blade, convex, 3.5" blade, a modest choil or guard, and a generous handle that allows several different grips might be a place to start.

I have a close friend that grew up in the bush and villages and was actually a real deal range riding cowboy for several years. He once said to me that a knife like that will do a mans work all day long, and not weigh you down" I've come to agree with him. (I've lived here since '92 myself)

In reality though, Forschners and Moras are the guides bread and butter knives. good quality, razor sharp, easy to grip, but expendable.

a good quality personal knife is always nice to have too though.:D
 
http://www.gloutdoorstore.com/rhforschnersemi-stifffilletknife-12.aspx

Smitty
Here is a link to a knife similar in shape and length to the one I have used. It is a little bit smaller but not much. No it's not pretty. I assume your son will be guiding for Kings and Halibut? Generally guides do not cut out the ribcage on Kings,they cut through the ribcage, filleting off each side, and then cut into steaks with the skin on. That is the reason for the longer and stiffer blade. This btw is all done while holding the fish up in the vertical position by the gills. Quite impressive to see for the first time to say the least. The fillets just fall off, and the knife hand never gets dirty. The weight of the fillets help to seperate flesh from skeleton.
Halibut are not filleted in the same manner and therefore do not need as long a blade, but they are very hard on knives and so my choice of steel still stands.
Cohos or silvers as they're called there are relatively small and require nothing special, just an ordinary fillet knife.
Dang it! Now you got me cranked up to build a big fillet knife! Thanks alot! I hate makin fillet knives!:D
Walleye season is fast upon us here in Ohio, and we catch some real HAWGS up on the big lake. (Erie)
Matt Doyle
 
You will get as many opinions of what a guide knife should do as there are guides. For me, a guide knife should do many things well. It should be at least adequate as a camp knife for whittling tent pegs or cutting line. It should be an ok cooks knife and skinner. It should be a decent survival knife just in case And it should be able to be sharpened in the field.

I'm with those who say buy a cheapo fillet knife, and I would never say a fillet knife is a guide knife, IMHO. So attached is a pic of my favorite that I made. The prototype was tested in the Aleutian Islands by a kayak guide, and it got rave reviews.

It is 1/8" 154 CM, with a red linen Micarta handle, 8 3/4" tip to tip, blade is 3 3/4. Handle has a good finger groove, and could be used with light gloves.
 

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smitty0331 said:
Wow, that's one beautiful knife Fred. It's been warm here, a little wet today though. Thanks mdoyle, I can't wait to see the pics.
Click to expand...

I used to go to the flea markets in Strasburg, when I lived in Massillon, Ohio! We used to drive through there on our way to our cabin at Seneca Lake also. You brought back nice memories, just by starting a thread. Thanks!!
 
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