Hunter or skinner?

[David W Babcock]

i made this yesterday and today with a piece of left over w2. I stole the design I admit as I liked it but it was listed as a Japanese “hunting” knife. It only has a three inch blade, similar size to the one featured I copied (it was more like 3.25) and had paracord handle where I used some nice snake wood and cut a couple scales.

My question is, have anyone come across this design before and when I list it for sale, I’m thinking this would be a very good skinner...but think hunter might be misleading....your thoughts?

 

[David W Babcock]

 

[oldmanwilly]

This reminds me of a "roach-belly" slicer (search Google images for examples). It looks like it would also serve well as a skinning or edc knife so you have several accurate options before you. Heck, you made it so you get to name it whatever you want (within reason).

For what it's worth, I find the hamon very attractive. Well done.

 

[DrHenley]

Kind of reminds me of the Old Timer Sharpfinger. Not my kind of hunting knife, but a lot of other people like it.

 

[robwil]

OK, what is a Harmon? I found no definition of it on Google.

 

[David W Babcock]

L

OK, what is a Harmon? I found no definition of it on Google.

Lol - Hamon not Harmon I think autocorrect is getting you. It’s the differential heat treatment that added the wavy line with contrast blade colour towards the cutting edge as you see in Japanese swords....cheers

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I would just call it a hunter. If you want, call it a hunter/skinner. Whatever you call it, it is a nice looking blade.

You should round the front of the scales and polish them before assembly. Now that it is assembled, the square front end is off putting and mak feel sharp. I would suggest taping the blade up with three layers of tape and slightly rounding over the front of the scales to break the sharp edge.

Another thing is that the tang looks very tick. That could be camera angle. What thickness stock is the blade made from? A hunter 3" hunter/skinner should be .125" max thickness stock.

 

[David W Babcock]

I’m a big fan of yours Stacey, so appreciate the critique! The stock was .156, it was a left over piece I had laying around I decided to do something with, coulda gone pines hidden tang, but just wanted to do something yesterday as I’ve been having back issues and stopped taking orders for a bit.

It’s ground to a fine point however and after sharpening I can proudly say I have no problem cutting a circle out of newspaper with it.

In all honesty I had intended to round the scales but between my back and rushing I epoxied and pinned before I realized, so I did try to taper the front, and it doesn’t feel that sharp. Having said that, yes I might wrap it up and try to carefully round it out!

Cheers

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

.156 is a bit thick, but it isn't drastic if you put in a distal taper.

 

[Timetestedtools]

That's a nice design. Like everything else, there are many kinds of hunting. I carried a schrade like above for many years small game hunting. I don't small game hunt much anymore or I'd be making one just like yours.

 

[john april]

are there any animals left in japan to hunt ? nice hamon !

 

[DrHenley]

are there any animals left in japan to hunt ? nice hamon !

LOTS. Too many in fact. Because of the lack of predators, both two legged and four legged. While theoretically it's legal to hunt, the hoops you have to jump through are insane.

 

[David W Babcock]

Well the design is going over well. I switched to 1/8” stock and offering with or without Hamon to give two price points. I’ve made 7 more now, and still getting interest. It’s a different shape, people have purchased for reasons other than skinning, one customer wanted it for a pairing knife.

either way, happy the design is selling.