Hudson bay knife

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MAkives

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May 5, 2015
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Ive been looking for a hudson bayish knife that isnt too big 7" blade at the most since a buddy of mine praises its versatility and how it could even be used for self defense if need be. And he says that since the blade is typically wider than the handle it makes a pretty good kitchen/camp knife. If you know any hudson bay like knives or even knives where the blade is substantially wider than the handle plz tell me
 
Condor makes a good one for about $50. I'd reccomend buying from baronyx (sp?) Knife works and springing for the special grade, he will sharpen and refine the edge before sending it out
 
spikebot587 said:
Condor makes a good one for about $50. I'd reccomend buying from baronyx (sp?) Knife works and springing for the special grade, he will sharpen and refine the edge before sending it out
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I have the condor(actually I have two) and that is my only complaint, the edge is so obtuse that you have to regrind it a lot in order to make it cut decently.
 
Cold Steel made a Hudson Bay knife under its now discontinued Red River brand. These were great knives, Carbon V with simple wooden grips. I cherish my Red River elk skinner. You might find one on eBay.
 
I looked at the condor extensively but it is too big and forward heavy. For a large knife of that size im better off with the bk9 which is more evenly balanced. It saddens me that such a versatile knife design is so hard to find now
 
I've never handled a Hudson Bay. Am I wrong in thinking that the original was blade heavy?

I've had baryonyx(42blades on here) cut down a machete for me at a reasonable rate and he does great work. Maybe he has the means to lop off that extra inch of blade for you on the condor. Bring the balance back a bit? I can see how a knife like this would be useful so I'm interested in suggestions too.
 
I could do that, yes. If a large forward-balanced blade isn't what the OP is looking for, though, I'm curious as to why a Hudson Bay is being considered. Not going to find many <7" blades substantially wider than the handle that aren't significantly forward balanced. If light is a requirement then how about an Old Hickory hop knife?
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
If a large forward-balanced blade isn't what the OP is looking for, though, I'm curious as to why a Hudson Bay is being considered. Not going to find many <7" blades substantially wider than the handle that aren't significantly forward balanced. If light is a requirement then how about an Old Hickory hop knife?
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That was my sense of things as well. Most are forward balanced as might be used for chopping or slashing.

I have always asked myself this question AFTER I buy the knife. I have the Condor Hudson Bay and like it, but don't use it. So, what's it good for? What did the fur trappers actually use their Hudson Bay type knives for anyway? Fighting? Cooking? Camp knife whatever that is? Certainly not skinning. Chopping and cutting stakes along a trap line? Other than being "cool" I just don't see the use application for the most part. Same applies to large bowie type blades. I can see a practical use for the BK-9 and similar knives, but the wider blade of the Hudson Bay makes it less usable, but perhaps only theoretically more useful.
 
They could be used for all of the tasks listed. Jack of all trades, master of none. They were sort of the "one knife option" of their era/locale. That approach is desired by some, less so by others.
 
I would be willing to guess that the wilderness fur trappers had more than one knife with them and included an axe especially if they routinely traveled by water (canoe) or on land with a pack animal. The Hudson Bay type knife would probably be kept handy for defensive purposes and general tasks. I doubt things have really changed that much in terms of what knives are used for and many make do with the one big knife or believe the one big knife is the answer to their knife needs.
 
Im just weird that way my knife buddies think the same about how i like knives this way and that way. But if baryonyx can cut it down then im gonna order soon thank you.
 
I like tip forward heavy knives but when its so substantial that i have difficulty balancing it out doing some tasks i try to do something about it.
 
Wait 42 blades do you change grinds on knives or is that asking too muchc i totally understand if it is
 
Depends on how you would need it altered. I've had people ask impossible things of me like changing a full flat grind into a scandi, etc. Can't put steel back on a knife. ;)

22-rimfire: To clarify, by "one knife option" I mean as a single tool designed to handle everything, not necessarily that it's the only tool carried. Most folks I know that like to carry such a knife do also have an axe and/or another knife with them. But they like the convenience of having the wide-application tool, and it's partly a gear redundancy safety net. :)
 
Wait 42 blades do you change grinds on knives or is that asking too muchc i totally understand if it is
 
Im sorry for so many posts but people say the hudson bay is a convex or scandi so could you make it a saber or flat grind then
 
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