Ideal blade length for a nesmuk style knife?

[flatgrinder]

Hi,

I'm thinking about making a Nesmuk skinner and was wondering what would your ideal blade length be for this style of knife?

I'm thinking about 3" or 4"? Any recommendations?

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[Gossman Knives]

The Nessmuk was designed originally to be used as a hunting knife. I make mine 8 1/2" overall with a 4 1/4" blade with a 4" cutting edge. I really think it's up to you what you feel comfortable making. The one in my sig. was a larger size (5" blade) requested by the customer. I would say make it to the size of a typical hunter.
Scott

 

[blgoode]

I was gonna say 4" too Then make a pocket Nessy with a 3" blade:thumbup:

 

[Raymond Richard]

The real thing had a 6" blade.

 

[Jay Mulcahy]

I just made up 2 , one with aprx 3" blade and the other a shade over 4". I thought the 4" looked better balanced and not as "squat' as the shorter one. I sold them both at a knife show and one customer was telling me that the original Nessmuck was like Ray said, actually on the large size, roughly 11" OAL. He thought the famous Nessmuck trio woodcut shown so often was actually all to scale, hence the larger size than we think of today.

 

[flatgrinder]

Thanks for the replies! :thumbup: