Hunting Knife design issues

Dale Baxter

Dale Baxter

Joined
Sep 16, 2003
Messages
171
I have spoke with a lot of avid hunters here in the North Alabama area about hunting knives.
I wanted to know what would be the best (in their minds) hunting knife design. I wanted to make something functional and graceful, something easy to carry and easy to care for.
Here is what I have come up with. Please allow me to explain as I go along.
It is 7 3/4" OAL with a 3 3/4" blade hand forged from 1095 bar stock. The blade has been hand polished to 4000 grit for a micro-fine stain resistant near mirror finish and the spine had been file worked with a thick rope pattern for grip, beauty, and ease of cleaning. The handle is exhibition grade ebony with a spacer made from stabilized walrus jaw bone. The carved guard is finely etched 800 layer angel hair Damascus. I chose Damascus because of the beauty and the resistance to light damage (thinking the pattern will absorb light scratches) and etched it fine because I did not want areas that would hold moisture or blood. I chose this handle design because the key to a great hunting knife is the feel. This handle shape feels great in any position and angle. The butt-end of the handle has been shaped to allow a thumb rest for drawing or carving. The pins are inconel and are strong and Simi-stain resistant.

This knife has been 100% made by hand, from forging the blade to finishing the handle because I needed to know that I could make a clean, functional knife without power.

Please comment on the knife, it's look, belief in function, and design. Or if you have an interest in her or one similar.

Thank you for your attention,

Dale Baxter
www.baxterknives.com[IMG}http://www.baxterknives.com/Ebony queen.jpg{IMG/}
 
Hey Dale, I really do like the overall design for a user, the only change I would make is the point, I would rather have it more rounded. 1095 is one very, good steel for a user. I have one that J. Neilson made and it is awesome as a user!
 
Dale
There is no perfect hunting knives there is only perfect excecution of a intended design. berrettaman doesn't like the tip while I like it. I feel while field dressing a animal a tip like the one pictured is not only useful but necessary. I personally would like to see more sculpting of the handle to make it set in the hand better and more comfortably much like you have already done on your Ivory Gent model. I also prefer a slightly large guard on the knife to protect from slippage. But by the same token I have several knives that don't have guards and are rounded off at the tip. I think the most inportant thing is to have a Knife with nice lines which you have done and great materials which you have also done. I think if you want to have a line of hunting knives you are off to a great start. (this was written before I visited your site. made me feel like a IDIOT. Oh well wasn't the first probable not the last.)
You will see a order from me in the future.
Great work Dale.
(This is only my humble opinion for what ever it is worth.)
 
Both are actually good comments and have equal ground. This knife may very well a perfect knife for one person and a a chance for improvement for another.
I can see the tip being rounded a little, so not to puncture vital organs. But again, I see the tip being quick and sharp for utility work also.
Before I came up with this design I had a curved handle, but felt it limited the function to a simple grip. With the straight back and curved belly I feel that a reverse grip is equally comfortable. A few of the hunters told me that there are four ways to hold a knife while dressing game and I wanted a handle that will fit comfortable in all four positions and be usefull for any other needs as well.

Please keep the comments coming!
This is great!
 
I would like to see just a little more belly and a clip to keep it pointy for the finer work. The filework will look nice, but to me it does not really serve a purpose. On a hunter I like the spine to be slightly rounded for comfort, but I don't care for filework or ramps; they dig into my hand. The handle looks comfortable to me. I really have started to like the sculpted handles I am seeing lately and you might think of doing this on your hunters, but the one on this knife looks like it will do the job just fine. The guard worries me a little, but it might just be that I am not getting a good look at it. It looks to me that if you snagged the blade your hand could slide over the guard and onto the blade.

All of the above, except for the guard, are personal preferences. As has been stated, others will find your knife more to their liking than one made to fit my idea of a good hunting knife.
 
I love the design but IMO it a bird & trout or utility.

Great functional looking little piece. Perhaps you could make her a sister with a little more belly. Boy I sure do love twins :D

Your idea of making it by hand is especially appealing as now you know you have the tools, resources and skill to make one in a pinch.
Nice job!
 
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