- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
Well, this weekend I decided to dust off another favorite in the collection. This one is the Koyote Mills Pattern Skinner model that was purchased back in 2009. Specs are: 5.25" blade length and 1.625" blade height and 3/32" thick. Steel is 15N20. This is the only knife I have in this steel, but it takes on a mean, crisp edge and patina's up in beautiful patterns. The handle is made of jatoba and has a wonderfully deep grain that isn't too exaggerated, just enough to give it an aesthetic warmth.
I have to admit, this one hasn't seen a lot of belt time this last year. I've gravitated more towards blades with lower blade height and more classic bushcraft spearpoint type designs. However, Christof had a lot of good reason to design this blade the way it is. At 5.25" blade length and 3/32" thickness it would have a lot of flex if it were not for the blade length and shape. This one is very stiff. I cannot flex the blade with my hands, whereas I can flex the blade of my my 4" x 1/8" thick B. Andrews bitterroot. Not, that being able to a flex a blade makes all that much difference, but it does give you a feel for how this blade handles itself.
Like Breeden's peacemaker I posted up earlier this week, this knife has fantastic handle ergos. You can get a slight pinch on the drop down blade in the reverse grip if you squeeze your hand up forward, but there is a tonne of room on the handle to back up your grip and make it very comfortable. The handle is canted downwards slightly and when held the point becomes centered in line with your grip. So for all intensive purposes, the blade behaves just like a spearpoint.
As I stated earlier, the 15N20 steel takes a very fine and crisp edge. This one ranks as one of the sharpest in my collection, closely matched by my B. Andrews scandi bushcrafter. It sports Christof's scandi-vex grind which is an aggressive convex grind forming a wide bevel. When coupled with the thin 3/32" steel, this knife is wicked sharp. It doesn't behave like a scandi when making fuzzies, it behaves like a very sharp convex, but it makes fuzzies with the best of them. The 5.25" blade length makes batoning a piece of cake. Even though the tip is not pronounced, the tip is very robust by design and that sharp edge at the tip makes it drills very nicely. I find that this one performs great at drilling out divots for bowdrill and the wideness of the tip means I don't have to drop the knife to a low angle to try and widen the divot like I do with many knives. The pronounced drop down blade serves as a guard and makes it great for food prep. This knife actually came to me all polished up, but after processing 120 lbs of tomatoes 2 years ago, it became nicely acid etched with a deep patina that I love far more than when it was shiny.
Overall, this is a superb bushy blade. Again, another little big knife that lets you get a lot of jobs done that a smaller knife will have trouble with, but doesn't pack heavy and exhibits no compromise on performance. Its only weaker attributes are related to fine carving chores because the high blade height gets in the way of working the edge in tight places. I've used it to clean fish and it works great. I imagine it would be amazing at skinning an animal for which it was originally designed for.
Here's a close up of the blade and patina generated from my big tomato slicing session....
Another of the edge
One stick fire made from oak stick all processed with the Mills Pattern Skinner
Well, when you make that wood, best to use it up and make a fire. I lit my fire using the old timey tin given to me by Rick. This time, it was sunny enough that I decided to use the lens to light my charcloth. This took about 8 s once I was able to find and focus the sun.
Then I forgot to pack the little slotted pot holder slabs for my twig stove, so I made a little pot holder instead. I used the koyote to chop the ends of the stick into a spear point. The koyote isn't the greatest chopper compared to a big knife, but it was able to do this fast and efficiently.
I forgot to mention the sheath. This one came with a really pretty pouch style sheath with stamped patterns into the leather. I have to admit I kind of like his regular bushcrafter sheath with its multiple carry options better, but this one is very functional and certainly makes for a beautiful package.
A couple parting shots of the Mills Patter Skinner. If you are into nesmuks but also want a really functional food prep, batoning, fuzzy maker, this is a great way to go.
Re-visiting this blade today was a good exercise in blowing apart some of my preconceptions. As I stated at the beginning of this check-up review, I always liked this knife but it has been getting less belt time lately because of my notions about woodlore-like blade shapes for use in bushcraft. Handling this one today makes me wonder why I built up such a narrow notion in my head. One thing is for sure, the Mills Pattern Skinner is going to get a lot more belt time this season!
I have to admit, this one hasn't seen a lot of belt time this last year. I've gravitated more towards blades with lower blade height and more classic bushcraft spearpoint type designs. However, Christof had a lot of good reason to design this blade the way it is. At 5.25" blade length and 3/32" thickness it would have a lot of flex if it were not for the blade length and shape. This one is very stiff. I cannot flex the blade with my hands, whereas I can flex the blade of my my 4" x 1/8" thick B. Andrews bitterroot. Not, that being able to a flex a blade makes all that much difference, but it does give you a feel for how this blade handles itself.
Like Breeden's peacemaker I posted up earlier this week, this knife has fantastic handle ergos. You can get a slight pinch on the drop down blade in the reverse grip if you squeeze your hand up forward, but there is a tonne of room on the handle to back up your grip and make it very comfortable. The handle is canted downwards slightly and when held the point becomes centered in line with your grip. So for all intensive purposes, the blade behaves just like a spearpoint.
As I stated earlier, the 15N20 steel takes a very fine and crisp edge. This one ranks as one of the sharpest in my collection, closely matched by my B. Andrews scandi bushcrafter. It sports Christof's scandi-vex grind which is an aggressive convex grind forming a wide bevel. When coupled with the thin 3/32" steel, this knife is wicked sharp. It doesn't behave like a scandi when making fuzzies, it behaves like a very sharp convex, but it makes fuzzies with the best of them. The 5.25" blade length makes batoning a piece of cake. Even though the tip is not pronounced, the tip is very robust by design and that sharp edge at the tip makes it drills very nicely. I find that this one performs great at drilling out divots for bowdrill and the wideness of the tip means I don't have to drop the knife to a low angle to try and widen the divot like I do with many knives. The pronounced drop down blade serves as a guard and makes it great for food prep. This knife actually came to me all polished up, but after processing 120 lbs of tomatoes 2 years ago, it became nicely acid etched with a deep patina that I love far more than when it was shiny.
Overall, this is a superb bushy blade. Again, another little big knife that lets you get a lot of jobs done that a smaller knife will have trouble with, but doesn't pack heavy and exhibits no compromise on performance. Its only weaker attributes are related to fine carving chores because the high blade height gets in the way of working the edge in tight places. I've used it to clean fish and it works great. I imagine it would be amazing at skinning an animal for which it was originally designed for.
Here's a close up of the blade and patina generated from my big tomato slicing session....
Another of the edge
One stick fire made from oak stick all processed with the Mills Pattern Skinner
Well, when you make that wood, best to use it up and make a fire. I lit my fire using the old timey tin given to me by Rick. This time, it was sunny enough that I decided to use the lens to light my charcloth. This took about 8 s once I was able to find and focus the sun.
Then I forgot to pack the little slotted pot holder slabs for my twig stove, so I made a little pot holder instead. I used the koyote to chop the ends of the stick into a spear point. The koyote isn't the greatest chopper compared to a big knife, but it was able to do this fast and efficiently.
I forgot to mention the sheath. This one came with a really pretty pouch style sheath with stamped patterns into the leather. I have to admit I kind of like his regular bushcrafter sheath with its multiple carry options better, but this one is very functional and certainly makes for a beautiful package.
A couple parting shots of the Mills Patter Skinner. If you are into nesmuks but also want a really functional food prep, batoning, fuzzy maker, this is a great way to go.
Re-visiting this blade today was a good exercise in blowing apart some of my preconceptions. As I stated at the beginning of this check-up review, I always liked this knife but it has been getting less belt time lately because of my notions about woodlore-like blade shapes for use in bushcraft. Handling this one today makes me wonder why I built up such a narrow notion in my head. One thing is for sure, the Mills Pattern Skinner is going to get a lot more belt time this season!
