Ken Erickson: Muskrat

Elliot,that I believe is the prettiest knife I have ever seen.Would love to be able to put a bunch of finger prints on it.:D
Ken is a true master at his craft.
Stan
 
A fine looking knife. I like your choice of the hawbaker. Like you I'm not a fan of the regular muskrat, but the hawbaker with its wharncliffe and long clip blades is a beauty.

Just ten (really long) more days to go.

:p

- Christian
 
That's interesting, Aaron. Bears some looking into. I appreciate you bringing it up.

As to Hawbaker and the wharncliffe blade, that was pretty much common knowledge.

I think I connected the two terms (Hawbaker & "Improved") in my mind and perhaps erroneously.

I'm just going to remove the "improved" from the thread title since the improvement in this case is that Ken made it...but since we aren't haughty we'll just let folks come to that conclusion on their own. ;)
 
Last edited:
Blues said:
That's interesting, Aaron. Bears some looking into. I appreciate you bringing it up.

As to Hawbaker and the wharncliffe blade, that was pretty much common knowledge.

I think I connected the two terms (Hawbaker & "Improved") in my mind and perhaps erroneously.
Click to expand...

Muskrats that are Hawbakers usually seem to also use the word "Improved" on the same knife (or box), but the reverse doesn't seem to always be true. A source of much frustration and confusion on my part, despite my research on the internet (which is likely lacking; old catalogs would probably be more helpful).

Either way, Ken can certainly call his (and now yours) new muskrat "Improved".
 
Well, I'm pretty sure that it's still a muskrat...I guess we'll go with that for the time being. Glad you brought that issue to my attention. Thanks again. :cool::thumbup:
 
Congrats to you both!

I am not a fan of sunken joints as a rule, because of the way they look opened with the tang being so much smaller than the bolster, but I do like they way the feel when closed.
With this knife you get the best of both. The proportions are "right" when opened, and the Clip blade tang is completely covered (for lack of a better word) by the Wharncliffe, and the Clip almost covers the Wharncliffe's tang when closed, like a sunken joint.

That is one smooth knife!
 
Fantastic!

I think that is could be the best looking knife I have EVER seen!

It would be something else to carry and use.

I really like single spring/catch bit muskrats with one wharncliffe. I have modified several single spring regular muskrats so that one is a wharncliffe, but of course that blade doesn't wind up being as long as this one's.

Great choice of materials etc.
 
Every time I see a picture of one of Ken Erickson's knives I am blown away by how much they speak to me as a work of art......but if I had the money to own one I'd stick it in my left front pocket every morning and never look back!
 
When I looked at the pictures of that Muskrat tonight, I felt something I haven't felt in 40 years!
My oldest, now a beautiful young woman of 40, was born with her befuddled father present, and this wave passed over me - "Lord how can one feel so much joy at one time?" !
That Muskrat is as much art as the Mona Lisa - just exquisite!
Needless to say, but, nice work Ken!
Elliott adds just enough salt to the broth!
 
Last edited:
knarfeng said:
OMG. Please, NO one post a youtube. The mere reminder of that song is bad enough.
Click to expand...

LOL! You're right there Frank. I hope there are a few younger members who have so far been spared it entirely! :D

Blues said:
Ah grasshopper...a standard muskrat has two identical slender clip blades. The idea being that when skinning small fur bearing mammals that when one blade dulls, there is another at the ready.

The "improved" muskrat removes the redundancy and replaces it with a wharncliffe which is not only fun to say (like some English aristocracy, don't you know) but is actually pretty useful too. (Allegedly)

Luckily, it's not yet time for you to leave. ;)
Click to expand...

Not an entirely favourable comparison I'm afraid. I'm not sure if there's a current Earl of Wharncliffe (I think not), but the former one had a reputation as a bit of a crook and a bounder. His application to join an old snobby Sheffield gentleman's club was rejected on the grounds of illegibility, and he was incarcerated at least once after his prediliction for drunken driving led to a second fatality. Sorry to post off-topic, but I thought you might like the story ;)

PS Turns out the title has now passed to a gentleman from Maine: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20096630,00.html
 
Last edited:
Jack Black said:
LOL! You're right there Frank. I hope there are a few younger members who have so far been spared it entirely! :D



Not an entirely favourable comparison I'm afraid. I'm not sure if there's a current Earl of Wharncliffe (I think not), but the former one had a reputation as a bit of a crook and a bounder. His application to join an old snobby Sheffield gentleman's club was rejected on the grounds of illegibility, and he was incarcerated at least once after his prediliction for drunken driving led to a second fatality. Sorry to post off-topic, but I thought you might like the story ;)

PS Turns out the title has now passed to a gentleman from Maine: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20096630,00.html
Click to expand...


Nice story, I have not heard the term "Bounder" in quite a while LOL.
 
This sub forum is going to end up costing me more that I thought. Thanks for posting very nice.
 
Great rendition of this pattern. The yellow micarta is just eye catching in the best way! It does not come off as garish or too bright. It is not trying too hard. It is just a great bright/mellow yellow color.

I have heard these called improved muskrat? I sure love the combo of blades!
 
Ken and Elliott,
I expressed my thoughts about you two gentlemen on another thread. And since I'm sure both of you have read it, I'm not saying it again (too much apology could be bad for you guys :D)
Still, there are two things that I want to say here.
First: this is the first time that a Muskrat knife catches my eye, and the symmetry of the closed blades (as Jared noted) is awesome.
Second: Elliott, next year, will you swap Christmas trees for a day? :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
waynorth said:
When I looked at the pictures of that Muskrat tonight, I felt something I haven't felt in 40 years!
My oldest, now a beautiful young woman of 40, was born with her befuddled father present, and this wave passed over me - "Lord how can one feel so much joy at one time?" !
That Muskrat is as much art as the Mona Lisa - just exquisite!
Needless to say, but, nice work Ken!
Elliott adds just enough salt to the broth!
Click to expand...

Thanks so much, Charlie. Truth be told, I really didn't expect this level of acceptance and enthusiasm for the pattern. (Perhaps because historically it's not a pattern I ordinarily gravitate toward.)
That said, Ken could make "plain vanilla" exciting imho with or without any input from yours truly. I am, however, very proud that our collaborations have been so well received and thank you for your kind words.

Jack Black said:
Not an entirely favourable comparison I'm afraid. I'm not sure if there's a current Earl of Wharncliffe (I think not), but the former one had a reputation as a bit of a crook and a bounder.
Click to expand...

Well, I feel much better about the Wharncliffe blade now and its more common touch. (Not too keen on the vehicular homicides but we won't blame that on the blade.) Thanks for the info, Jack.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top