Let’s talk hunting knives. (Traditional)

I'm content with my W49.
It isn't easy for me to disagree with Horace Kephart, but I think he was deluded when he said it's a delusion to think that a big knife can do the work of a hatchet.
Though I guess I'm straying from "hunting knife".
 
screened porch said:
I'm content with my W49.
It isn't easy for me to disagree with Horace Kephart, but I think he was deluded when he said it's a delusion to think that a big knife can do the work of a hatchet.
Though I guess I'm straying from "hunting knife".
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Since this is my thread... and in the voice of Mills Lane... I'll allow it.

Now... to say a big knife can do the work of a hatchet is a bit much. Pends on how you use a hatchet. I've used my Gransfors Bruk to fell a couple of 8" poplar trees. I'd have had a mighty rough time of it with a bowie knife. But if the tasks are more like... splitting a few sticks for kindling or other light duty hatchet stuff, yes a big knife will perform admirably.
 
JM2 said:
Since this is my thread... and in the voice of Mills Lane... I'll allow it.

Now... to say a big knife can do the work of a hatchet is a bit much. Pends on how you use a hatchet. I've used my Gransfors Bruk to fell a couple of 8" poplar trees. I'd have had a mighty rough time of it with a bowie knife. But if the tasks are more like... splitting a few sticks for kindling or other light duty hatchet stuff, yes a big knife will perform admirably.
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Thanks.
Depends on the Bowie, too, I expect. My W49 would go through an 8" poplar a lot quicker than my straighter, thicker, Gerber. I'd bet my Western against Kep's tiny Colclesser tomahawk with the 8 ounce head any day.
The Gerber for fighting monsters, though. If you must hunt monsters without a gun.
eGdnvMd.jpg
 
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screened porch said:
I'd bet my Western against Kep's tiny Colclesser tomahawk with the 8 ounce head any day.
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Kep was (being generous) dilusional and highly mistaken (IMHO) if he "thought" a tomahawk is a hatchet or perfroms like one.

In the wager you mention, I doubt you have reason to fret about finishing second. 😁👍
(Please recall I am not on the chopping and/or batoning with a knife band wagon ...)

I had a tomahawk once ... I think my former almost brother-in-law (his sis called it off 2 weeks before the wedding to be with Sherry) "borrowed" it (without asking) and for some strange/odd reason "thought" since his sis broke up with me he didn't have to return it ... (Affirmative. He lacked two consecutive functional thinker cells.🙄)

I never did find anything the tomahawk was good for aside from throwing (during the throwing portion of the shooting match) at a Rendezvous.
 
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afishhunter said:
Kep was (being generous) dilusional and highly mistaken (IMHO) if he "thought" a tomahawk is a hatchet or perfroms like one.

In the wager you mention, I doubt you have reason to fret about finishing second. 😁👍
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If I recall correctly, he called it a tomahawk but it looked like a miniature axe. I think it was pretty close to the tiny hatchet Vaughn makes or used to make. Except Kep made a straight handle for his.
For opening up the ribs of old bucks he had hunted.
[I recalled incorrectly- it looks more like a Hudson Bay.]
https://masterwoodsman.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/kephartad3ax.jpg
 
JM2 said:
Awesome that you can see the snowflakes! One of my fondest hunting memories is setting out and watching snowflakes fall and prick into my jacket's weave.
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I'm with you on that. :thumbsup: I have some great memories of times in the woods during snowfall, it can transform the landscape in a kind of mystical way. That day it was just a light dusting of flakes but added to the beauty of the forest just the same. :)
snow dusting - 1.jpeg
 
This knife was given to me when I was 18 or 19. It was a blade blank I'm assuming. It's scales are fit to my hand perfectly and the steel is probably some flavor of 440. It's never seen all that much action but it's been out on its share of adventures and I considered it my hunting knife. Unfortunately for this knife, the Russell knife was always better at processing any critters.

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I think if I got back out there one of these days, that this G.L. Drew would be the perfect knife.

IMG_20240102_185447358_HDR~2.jpg

I have hunting knives from family. My great Grandpaps Randall, Grandpaps Schrade 165, Dad's "Jean Case" small Bowie. Everyone was ready for rifle season each year.
 
"G.L. Drew would be the perfect knife."

Sure looks it to me. Heck, I've never heard of them. Dang nice looking knife, thanks for sharing.
 
JM2 said:
"G.L. Drew would be the perfect knife."

Sure looks it to me. Heck, I've never heard of them. Dang nice looking knife, thanks for sharing.
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He's a knife makeri learned about from the forum here. If you check out the knife makers section he posts his work regularly. Warning, seeing all of these knifemakers products for sale can be addicting! https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/for-sale-fixed-blades.754/
I picked up the one above and a smaller straightedge he made both from 52100 and they are awesome.
 
lambertiana said:
Hatchet_Jack Hatchet_Jack From my angle it looks like Osage. For those on the other side of the pond, Osage rivals quality yew as a bow wood. I have seen reports that the plains indians so valued Osage bows that one bow could be traded for a horse and a blanket.
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Yeah looks like osage orange to me too. I’ve got a box of it I use for knife handles.
 
Hatchet_Jack said:
Beautiful stick bow setup, what is it?
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lambertiana said:
Hatchet_Jack Hatchet_Jack From my angle it looks like Osage. For those on the other side of the pond, Osage rivals quality yew as a bow wood. I have seen reports that the plains indians so valued Osage bows that one bow could be traded for a horse and a blanket.
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Horsewright said:
Yeah looks like osage orange to me too. I’ve got a box of it I use for knife handles.
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Thanks for the interest guys.
Yes, it's a osage selfbow, king of all bow woods. :) Although I make my own bows this fine example was made by a good friend and fellow bowyer. We did a bow trade this year where we each made a osage bow and exchanged them. This one shoots so smooth that I felt it needed to hit the deers woods.
Here's a pic of the one I made for him.
Northwoods Mike's bow - 1.jpeg
 
sunknife said:
Thanks for the interest guys.
Yes, it's a osage selfbow, king of all bow woods. :) Although I make my own bows this fine example was made by a good friend and fellow bowyer. We did a bow trade this year where we each made a osage bow and exchanged them. This one shoots so smooth that I felt it needed to hit the deers woods.
Here's a pic of the one I made for him.
View attachment 2444425
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That is gorgeous. Funny that such a beautiful wood is used as fence posts through much of its range.
 
sunknife said:
Thanks for the interest guys.
Yes, it's a osage selfbow, king of all bow woods. :) Although I make my own bows this fine example was made by a good friend and fellow bowyer. We did a bow trade this year where we each made a osage bow and exchanged them. This one shoots so smooth that I felt it needed to hit the deers woods.
Here's a pic of the one I made for him.
View attachment 2444425
Click to expand...
That is a beautiful bow sir.

I'm mostly a flintlock hunter, but I do want to get into stick bows for deer hunting at some point. I was curious who the maker was, didn't expect to be speaking with the artisan himself!

Did you manage to notch your tag mate?
 
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