Is it just me, or is the nessmuk just a plain knife with a funny humpback on it?

Macchina

Macchina

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
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I know the title is treason around here, so let me start by saying: I have nothing against nessmuks in particular. I am actually rather fond of Dan Kosters take on the Nessmuk, but I think that is because it is not actually a traditional Nessmuk (due to the drop of the blade after the handle)! I have held them and used them, but never owned one. I think I like the feel of a long strait edge before the belly on my woodcraft knives. The one benefit of a Nessmuk knife would be in skinning (but this is the only benifit I can think of), and I do use long bellied knives when skinning deer.
Can somebody please explain the benifits of a traditional Nessmuk style knife. I almost feel that Gorge made a funny looking knife because that was the shape of steel that came out of the forge, and went with it. Please set me strait on why the Nessmuk is better, and feel free to post pics.

recon20004.jpg
 
as far as i know, george was looking for a good skinning/foodprep knife, so he designed something that was good for that.

he already had a two-bladed jackknife and a two bit hatchet, he didn't need a mid sized fixed blade for bushcrafty type chores, just something for the messy work that would have gunked up his folder or have been hard to do with the axe.

also, in my experience a slight belly to a blade makes for some very curly fuzz sticks, though these are obviously more fancy than practical (non-curly fuzz sticks work fine too)
 
I can totally appriciate the skinning value and traditional value (George "Nessmuk" was one of THE outdoorsmen) of a Nessmuk, I guess I don't understand the value as a woodcraft knife.
 
I say, " to each his own"..but I agree..I own a green river with a Nessmuk shape, and its a fine blade, but you wont be seeing me trade out my Gamewardens, Northstar or Aurora for it....although...I have been looking at making it a nice sheath! That might mean I have to carry it everyonce in a while.
 
You must own the Nessmuk and use it in the wild, and let the spirit of "The Old Woodsman" speak to you. Then you will no longer be obsessed with survival, or bugging out, or SHTF, or with "roughing it" but an unbelievable sense of peace will descend on you and you will sleep soundly, tell tall tales and "smooth it".

The wide blade is meant as a mirror you can look into and fall thru ala Alice to another time and place.

The shape acts as sort of a receiver to focus that energy like an outdoorsy monkey's paw or satellite dish and when brought into use on the trail awakens the spirit of the long dead but never forgotten woodsman;):thumbup::D
 
I agree with siguy's points, and in addition to that I believe the purpose of the hump is to rest the forefinger in order to put a bit more pressure and/or control at the tip of the knife while using it for skinning or detail work. That's just my guess.
 
hollowdweller said:
You must own the Nessmuk and use it in the wild, and let the spirit of "The Old Woodsman" speak to you. Then you will no longer be obsessed with survival, or bugging out, or SHTF, or with "roughing it" but an unbelievable sense of peace will descend on you and you will sleep soundly, tell tall tales and "smooth it".

The wide blade is meant as a mirror you can look into and fall thru ala Alice to another time and place.

The shape acts as sort of a receiver to focus that energy like an outdoorsy monkey's paw or satellite dish and when brought into use on the trail awakens the spirit of the long dead but never forgotten woodsman;):thumbup::D
Click to expand...

I have a guess as to what your doing tonight!:D
 
It's so obvious what it's intended use is I can't believe none of you have realized it.

Nessmuk loved canoe trips. His knife doubles as an emergency paddle.
 
michaelmcgo,
You are right, a humpback knife. I belive George was fascintated with humpback whales and decided to make a knife after it. Anyone who says different is just making too much out it really, a humpback whale knife.:D
 
hollowdweller said:
You must own the Nessmuk and use it in the wild, and let the spirit of "The Old Woodsman" speak to you. Then you will no longer be obsessed with survival, or bugging out, or SHTF, or with "roughing it" but an unbelievable sense of peace will descend on you and you will sleep soundly, tell tall tales and "smooth it".

The wide blade is meant as a mirror you can look into and fall thru ala Alice to another time and place.

The shape acts as sort of a receiver to focus that energy like an outdoorsy monkey's paw or satellite dish and when brought into use on the trail awakens the spirit of the long dead but never forgotten woodsman;):thumbup::D
Click to expand...

HD is 100 % right here! The old style woodsman went to the woods to get away and relax!! :thumbup:
 
michaelmcgo said:
I know the title is treason around here, so let me start by saying: I have nothing against nessmuks in particular. I am actually rather fond of Dan Kosters take on the Nessmuk, but I think that is because it is not actually a traditional Nessmuk (due to the drop of the blade after the handle)! I have held them and used them, but never owned one. I think I like the feel of a long strait edge before the belly on my woodcraft knives. The one benefit of a Nessmuk knife would be in skinning (but this is the only benifit I can think of), and I do use long bellied knives when skinning deer.
Can somebody please explain the benifits of a traditional Nessmuk style knife. I almost feel that Gorge made a funny looking knife because that was the shape of steel that came out of the forge, and went with it. Please set me strait on why the Nessmuk is better, and feel free to post pics.

recon20004.jpg
Click to expand...


Dude! Thats a pic of my knife by Dale Chudzinski! :D
 
hollowdweller said:
You must own the Nessmuk and use it in the wild, and let the spirit of "The Old Woodsman" speak to you. Then you will no longer be obsessed with survival, or bugging out, or SHTF, or with "roughing it" but an unbelievable sense of peace will descend on you and you will sleep soundly, tell tall tales and "smooth it".

The wide blade is meant as a mirror you can look into and fall thru ala Alice to another time and place.

The shape acts as sort of a receiver to focus that energy like an outdoorsy monkey's paw or satellite dish and when brought into use on the trail awakens the spirit of the long dead but never forgotten woodsman;):thumbup::D
Click to expand...

This could not be better spoken, booze or no :D
 
hollowdweller said:
You must own the Nessmuk and use it in the wild, and let the spirit of "The Old Woodsman" speak to you. Then you will no longer be obsessed with survival, or bugging out, or SHTF, or with "roughing it" but an unbelievable sense of peace will descend on you and you will sleep soundly, tell tall tales and "smooth it".

The wide blade is meant as a mirror you can look into and fall thru ala Alice to another time and place.

The shape acts as sort of a receiver to focus that energy like an outdoorsy monkey's paw or satellite dish and when brought into use on the trail awakens the spirit of the long dead but never forgotten woodsman;):thumbup::D
Click to expand...

I'd like to add somthing to this, but there isn't anything I can think of.

Well said HD:thumbup:
 
hollowdweller said:
You must own the Nessmuk and use it in the wild, and let the spirit of "The Old Woodsman" speak to you. Then you will no longer be obsessed with survival, or bugging out, or SHTF, or with "roughing it" but an unbelievable sense of peace will descend on you and you will sleep soundly, tell tall tales and "smooth it".

The wide blade is meant as a mirror you can look into and fall thru ala Alice to another time and place.

The shape acts as sort of a receiver to focus that energy like an outdoorsy monkey's paw or satellite dish and when brought into use on the trail awakens the spirit of the long dead but never forgotten woodsman;):thumbup::D
Click to expand...

I vote it gets framed somewhere !!! :D:D:D
 
Or, maybe it was a regular hunting knife whose tip broke off and was modified to use the knife, rather than pitch it out. :)

He didn't say much about it other than to comment and contrast it to the huge hunting knives of some of the inexperienced.

It's neat. Does the jobs required, suitably dimensioned, and has a certain distinctive flair to it.

HD is a romantic about G.W.Sears. Forgive his extravagance
 
I like that it's distinctive yet functional. Not exactly my cup of tea but to each his own.
And well said, HD, just read Nessmuk's book and it was great, you really zerod in on the spirit of the "old woodsman".
 
hollowdweller said:
You must own the Nessmuk and use it in the wild, and let the spirit of "The Old Woodsman" speak to you. Then you will no longer be obsessed with survival, or bugging out, or SHTF, or with "roughing it" but an unbelievable sense of peace will descend on you and you will sleep soundly, tell tall tales and "smooth it".

The wide blade is meant as a mirror you can look into and fall thru ala Alice to another time and place.

The shape acts as sort of a receiver to focus that energy like an outdoorsy monkey's paw or satellite dish and when brought into use on the trail awakens the spirit of the long dead but never forgotten woodsman;):thumbup::D
Click to expand...


HELLLLLL YEAH. :thumbup::D

That is my kinda talking.
 
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