Hunter Design - In the Works

Daniel Fairly Knives

Daniel Fairly Knives

Full Time Knifemaker
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Jan 9, 2011
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I'm working on making the most useful, ergonomic and good looking all around knife out there... the DFK Hunter!

Other goals are a full sized, yet compact handle and a blade that is big enough do do most anything. Light weight, strong with great edge holding.

I'm still not there on my steel choice but am leaning to CPM154 in .155" thick. 60-61 RC

These are a good ways off... here is a prototype in thin AEBL that I profiled without a template... the handle profile feels as good as any knife I have held.

 
Farchyld said:
Looks very slick, Daniel.
How big did you plan to make them?
Click to expand...

Thanks

3.8" Handle

3" Blade

I wear an XL glove and my hand has a full four finger grip. The handle design took me a while and I feel it maximizes grip length vs most other handle styles.
 
Daniel put me on the list for one of these will ya? Looks great can't wait to see more! Best Jim
 
Look good, I like the design. Although, I feel .155" is a touch too thick unless you're going to distal taper like mad and taper the tang. I personally feel that a 3" hunter should be no more than about .130 and even .100 is quite nice. Very few people I know actually split the pelvis with their hunters, most use a second tool, myself included. Edge retention is paramount, being able to cleanly get through a whole animal from a tiny coastal black tail to a large bull moose is a huge benefit. Anything from 1095 or O1 through S30V or 14C28N should work well, I think. I bet A2 would be great.

Tip looks like it is centered nicely, handle looks comfy (similar design to the Stinger looks like), maybe consider a thong hole - I know some people like them.

Making a good looking, top-notch performing hunter is a good test of design, its been done so much that the benchmark is quite high! I think you're on the right track!


Gonna get me one of these for sure!


-Xander
 
jmac30 said:
Daniel put me on the list for one of these will ya? Looks great can't wait to see more! Best Jim
Click to expand...

I'll do that, thanks!

I'll have more info later on pricing, timeline finish, materials, handle setup, etc as I go further. I'm in the planning stage right now between my current work on a few fixed blades and my ongoing Framelock run.

I'm thinking satin, stonewashed, removable wraps, comfortable skeletonized handles, micarta handles will be key to the project.
 
fast14riot said:
Look good, I like the design. Although, I feel .155" is a touch too thick unless you're going to distal taper like mad and taper the tang. I personally feel that a 3" hunter should be no more than about .130 and even .100 is quite nice. Very few people I know actually split the pelvis with their hunters, most use a second tool, myself included. Edge retention is paramount, being able to cleanly get through a whole animal from a tiny coastal black tail to a large bull moose is a huge benefit. Anything from 1095 or O1 through S30V or 14C28N should work well, I think. I bet A2 would be great.

Tip looks like it is centered nicely, handle looks comfy (similar design to the Stinger looks like), maybe consider a thong hole - I know some people like them.

Making a good looking, top-notch performing hunter is a good test of design, its been done so much that the benchmark is quite high! I think you're on the right track!


Gonna get me one of these for sure!


-Xander
Click to expand...

Great stuff all around, thanks Xander!

I'm listening to input from everyone and really appreciate if you guys that are interested throw in your opinion. Steel thickness is one thing I'd especially like feedback on. My edges are generally on the thin side so these will be geared to the slicey/edge holding side of things.
 
It's because you listen that helps make you what you are dude!

If you're looking for more of a slicer, why not a higher grind? What you have in your cad mockup behind the template seems to be a quite high grind.

I don't really know a whole lot about the function or history of that design. This is a learning experience for me.
 
Daniel, your standard edge geometry will do just fine. But, if you took your primary grind to a full zero edge, then put on your edge bevels that thing would be incredible! It would give even the toughest to sharpen steels a small enough bevel that they will sharpen up reasonably quick.

Stock thickness, if you're going to do a partial grind, thinner is better. I too, like the FFG you have on the cad drawing. Personally, I wouldn't want removable wrap handle, when dressing an animal in the field I'm not going to deal with that just to clean my knife. I want to be able to just take a bottle of water and some alcohol based wipes to clean it up. The less maintenance th better. Afterall, that very same knife is going to be making my lunch shortly after cleaning an animal.

My current hunter is unstabilized walnut with danish oil finish, it cleans up easily, looks better with use, and maintains grip when covered in blood and offal slime.

Well sealed handles, design that promotes grip retention when slippery, ability to index in hand without looking, and a tip location that feels natural are, imho, the key design features.

Some of the best hunter pattrns out there to check out, Loveless, Fisk sendero, Buck, DHIII, etc...


-X
 
Don't forget Dozier.^
If you nailed the handle, Daniel, the rest will be cake.
 
Farchyld said:
It's because you listen that helps make you what you are dude!

If you're looking for more of a slicer, why not a higher grind? What you have in your cad mockup behind the template seems to be a quite high grind.

I don't really know a whole lot about the function or history of that design. This is a learning experience for me.
Click to expand...

Good eye on the grind! That one is made from .070" stock so that is about as high as I wanted to take the hollow grind on it... it will be a real razor. :D


A Hunter is somewhat of a general use design. It should be good for preparing game, in the camp or around the house, easy to carry but somewhat substantial, slicey, ready to use with great ergonomics and no hot spots.
 
I am with Xander on that high flat grind - and the less maintenance for handles the better! I definitely like a knife where I don't need to touch it up in the field - looking forward to it's evolution! Jim
 
Thanks guys!

Tall grind like the one drawn and thinner high hardness steel.

I was looking at steel today and seriously consider .130" AEBL steel. It holds an outstanding edge at high hardness without chipping and is easy to maintain. I'm going to test some in the next few days.

Double Black Micarta, maybe a thong hole... either black micarta or flared tube fasteners. I'll offer a skeletonized handle model too.

I consider farming out a high quality leather sheath.

I might do a sign up thread and consider a deposit to help start the project. These will take a while to complete but will be top notch! I might do this kickstarter style... have a sign up and if it meets budget we get started. ...just tossing ideas out there
 
I do zero hunting, but would be interested in helping many any of your ideas come to life.
 
Farchyld said:
I do zero hunting, but would be interested in helping many any of your ideas come to life.
Click to expand...

I call this the Hunter model because of the shape but a hunter is really an ideal every day carry type of knife.


Hunting for cool stuff online - open the boxes with it... :D hunting for food too but that includes everything on the way and during for prepping food; setting camp, general use, etc...


Thanks for the support too, I really appreciate it! I think these will be a big thing and am proud I have the support to get started.
 
I really like that design. I think that knife in 0.125" O1 steel, with Desert Ironwood handle, in FFG would be the perfect hunter. I would caution against D2, because in my opinion it is too brittle to be an all around hunting knife. Just my opinion :)
 
morgaj1 said:
I really like that design. I think that knife in 0.125" O1 steel, with Desert Ironwood handle, in FFG would be the perfect hunter. I would caution against D2, because in my opinion it is too brittle to be an all around hunting knife. Just my opinion :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! I have some Desert Ironwood that would be perfect as an upgrade to the black micarta. Much appreciated...
 
morgaj1 said:
I really like that design. I think that knife in 0.125" O1 steel, with Desert Ironwood handle, in FFG would be the perfect hunter. I would caution against D2, because in my opinion it is too brittle to be an all around hunting knife. Just my opinion :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! I have some Desert Ironwood that would be perfect as an upgrade to the black micarta. Much appreciated...
 
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