Guardless hunter

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
I know.... most guys want a guard on a hunter, but I've made quite a few hunters this size for guides that think a guard just gets in the way. So I like to make one like this every now and again. :)

Blade was forged from random pattern 1084/15N20 (I ground some shallow, half-width grooves in the blade to get a bit of a laddered edge), 416 bolster, Ironwood burl handle with top and bottom facets, and domed 416 pin. Sheath is hand saddle-stitched heavy, tooled leather.

OAL- 7-1/8"
Blade- 3"L x 7/8"W x 0.150" thick at ricasso

[video=youtube;L_mqFeTiD1w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_mqFeTiD1w[/video]

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I am someone who appreciates both a lack of a guard and a nice random Damascus so I love that knife. Without holding it I don't think there is anything that I would change about it. Thank you for sharing it, your guardless works are among my favourite knives.

Kris
 
I can see the value in a guardless knife but I still don't know if I would use one on heavy work. What would I know. Like you said, if guides are looking for these there has to be a reason. Either way, this is a slick piece that anyone would love to own. I really dig faceted handle for indexing and that is a great feature here. Love it Nick.
 
I love guardless hunters Nick. And I sell as many without guards as I do with. I like it. Nice and clean as usual. Thanks for posting it.
 
Looks great and super useful, nice work. :thumbup:
 
Great little knife, Nick. I can see the advantage of a guardless hunter. Very well executed. Really like the pattern in the Damascus.
 
Lovely work Nick! I l like the partial laddering effect among the random pattern. Great handle ergos too in any conceivable grip. And not too pretty to use (almost though:)).

But no guard?? You're a maniac!! Don't look now - I think OSHA is at your shop door.:eek::grumpy:
 
I really like this one, its nice to see you making some smalls once in awhile, I would like to buy something like that from you one day
 
NickWheeler said:
I know.... most guys want a guard on a hunter, but I've made quite a few hunters this size for guides that think a guard just gets in the way. So I like to make one like this every now and again. :

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To me, this photo shows why this design choice is not such a good idea- at least with this grip. Just my opinion. I would want an extended ricasso for that.
David
 
I like a guardless hunter. It really is a nice knife. I love em even more when they are users :)
 
I like the dimensions, proportions and handle, and generally like your knife- there's a lot to like.
I think it could be neat with a blade that has less belly, maybe more of a wharncliff or 'reverse tanto' (whatever the hell that is).
 
Man your killing it buddy

I've been called a hunter on occasion and I see no need for a guard on a hunting knife

Very nice knife Nick
 
Immaculate package, Nick, knife and sheath !
Looks great and I like the ergos also.

Doug
 
Hey Nick,

Very nicely done.

I also make and sell guardless hunters, I like them.

I understand some folks are concerned about the lack of a guard,but consider the millions of folders and Scandinavian

Style knives that have been used for century's.

Greg
 
Thanks for all the comments guys! :)

Joe--- yea, I suppose some folks might consider you a hunter... :eek: :p LMFAO, you're like the most huntery hunter I know!!! :D

David- I know there are folks who will always want a guard, so I would never try to argue against them. But could you explain what you mean about that photo and a longer ricasso? I'm not sure what you mean. I have only helped field dress about a dozen deer and 7 elk, so nowhere near what most guys around here have done, but enough to know I use that pinch grip on a blade a lot. That's actually why the bolster is beveled the way it is--- I think it adds to the aesthetics, but most importantly, it makes that pinch grip comfortable. :)


FWIW- I was at my Dad and his buddies' elk camp last year and we were talking about knives and the guard/no-guard thing came up. One of the guys is a Cardiac Surgeon. He chuckled and said, "Well, the guys that insist you put a guard on all your hunting knives would really freak out if they saw me opening a patient with a #22 blade and no guard eh?"

I'd never thought of that before he mentioned it, and it's certainly not an open & shut argument for or against guards, but it is interesting to think about (IMHO).


Thanks guys! :)
 
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