- Joined
- May 25, 2011
- Messages
- 854

When I first saw a picture of a Canadian Belt knife I thought the knife looked kind of weird and unwieldy. It wasnt something I was particularly interested in, but as I lingered around the knife groupies, found on the Internet, I found myself more and more intrigued as I read glowing comment after glowing comment.
Before too long I decided Id take a gamble and I ordered the R. Murphy version so I could see (for myself) what all the hubbub was about. That knife took a little getting used to, but once I became used to it I was hooked. I fell in love with the style and soon ordered the D.H. Russell original and the Bark River version. I liked them both, but found myself always reaching for the R. Murphy knife: it just seemed like an old friend and it worked brilliantly.
My one issue, with all three versions, was the handle. I wanted something a bit more hand-filling and comfortable, while maintaining the excellent control I had with the other versions.

In short: I loved the blade shape and the layout of the overall knife, but I wanted a better handle.
I cant draw worth a darn and I couldnt design a decent knife if my life depended upon it. However, I do know what I like and I know (roughly) what I want in my knives. Conveying that is sometimes almost impossible though.
John much to his credit somehow took the picture of my R. Murphy knife and my inept requests and magically created exactly what I was looking for. I dont know how he did it, but sometimes I wonder if he has some strange ability to read my mind. He probably doesnt have that ability based entirely on the fact that he hasnt shunned me completely but I really am impressed with his ability to create exactly what I envisioned.
The JKCBK (Canadian Belt Knife)
OAL 8.5 inches
Blade 4 inches
1/8 inch 01 tool steel
Ebony wood handles
Brass pins
Brass lanyard tube

This was my most anticipated knife by far. With other knives Ive sometimes wondered if Id actually like them (in person) as much as I had in pictures. Not with the JKCBK I knew Id love the blade because it was the same shape that I already loved and I knew Id love the handles because I own other knives made by John.
Some might say I had set myself up for disappointment.
Not at all.

Not only did this knife meet my hefty expectations: it blew them away. The fit and finish is just incredible; its a genuine work of art and an everyday working tool all rolled into one magnificent piece.
If youve ever seen a car that looks fast just sitting still, youll know exactly what I mean. This knife looks like it is cutting and slicing while its just sitting there. It practically begs you to pick it up, fondle it lovingly, and then go slice the hell out of stuff.

I suppose the most noticeable feature is the odd shape of the knife itself. Its all about ergonomics and I find this shape to be the single most comfortable knife Ive ever held. Not only is it enticingly beautiful to me anyway but the very shape of the knife leads to its usefulness (in a wide variety of uses). The knife is comfortable in a variety of holds and seems to be an extension of my hand. Because of the configuration, I am able to have precise control for detailed cuts and power when I want to slice off large chunks.
Its almost as though the knife can read my mind and then acts accordingly.
Say . Wait a minute. How much would John charge me to work his magic on my wife?
Ah, never mind I probably couldnt afford it anyway.
The handle is the reason I wanted this knife built and John knocked this out of the park. The Ebony scales are warm and inviting, smooth yet grippy, and somehow soft while being hard and durable. Best of all, the handle slides easily into the palm of my hand, with the butt resting comfortably against the heel of my palm and my thumb or forefinger always available for precision work.

Outside of chopping or use as a heavy pry-bar, Id be hard pressed to think of something this knife doesnt excel at. It is perfect in the kitchen; slicing and dicing is a joy with the offset handle. Outdoors Im easily able to make precision cuts while whittling large sticks into smaller sticks and power cuts are merely a matter of deciding how much I want to remove at once. The point is great for drilling and the spine is nicely squared for scraping.
I have a lot of knives OK; I have too many knives but only two hands. That means most of my knives see little, if any, use in reality. Until I figure out how to grow a lot more hands, I am forced to select my personal favorites for my most frequent users.

Sorry R. Murphy you got kicked out of the starting lineup.
JK Website: http://jkhandmadeknives.com/
JK Forum: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/830-JK-Handmade-Knives


