MadPoet Camp Set

J

JW

Joined
Dec 4, 1998
Messages
386
I am the proud owner of a new 2 knife set from Mel Sorg. The "MadPoet Camp Set"
I have hunted big game pretty seriously and I insist on handling my own meat from the shot to the freezer(because Nobody is as picky as I am). For many years I thought I wanted a 2 knife set to handle every chore from skinning and caping to quartering and boning. I have seen sets like the one from Junglee, but none of them fit with my ideas. The concept just waited for the right time to solidify.
In March, I took delivery of a beautiful 4.5" fixed blade skinner in D2 steel with desert ironwood scales from Mel at the Badger show in Janesville Wisconsin. The knife balances so wonderfully in the hand, that it actually feels lighter than it really is.
When I had my hands on the skinner, I knew I was halfway to the Camp Set at last.
I discussed my ideas with Mel and found him very easy to work with. He agreed to make the companion knife with a double sheath and he quoted me a fair price for his work.
The second knife is a 3" D2 drop point boning/caping blade with desert ironwood.
The two knives ride side-by-side in a nice combo sheath of heavy leather with border tooling and 2 belt loops.(He even tooled my initials into the back of the sheath)
This is a beautiful set of working knives that will handle the hunt camp chores- from birds to bison and everything in between. I can't wait to give 'em a workout on deer, elk, or antelope.
I should also mention I bought a 4" semi drop point/utility from Mel's table at the Badger show. It has cocobolo wood and a "swinger" clip sheath. I was carrying it on my daily walks, but my wife (who has never carried a knife) decided she would "adopt" it for herself.
For a quality working knife at a fair price, I can wholeheartedly endorse Mel Sorg's MadPoet Custom Knives.
 
How thick stock did you get on those two knives? Do you find that D2 is corrosion resistant enough to handle game without needing to be oiled?

-Cliff
 
Cliff,
the blade stock is 1/8". The blade on the smaller one is thinned down and the larger one has a nice gradual taper all the way out.
This pair will be used hard when they are used, but oiled/waxed in the off season. I am actually good about maintenance of firearms and knives.
Keep in mind, I don't intend to strap these on and head for yonder mountain range. Their job is in camp when it is time to roll up the sleeves and make meat. Cape-quarter-bone etc. I haven't had any corrosion problems on the 4" utility(also D2) and it's been used and carried quite a bit the past two months. I used it to cut some morel mushrooms in the timber and (don't tell Mel) but my wife even used it to dig some wildflowers for transplant to her flower garden. I was suitably horrified but the knife didn't seem to show any signs of abuse.
Mel tells me he expects to have pictures on his web page in a few days.
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/madpoet/index.html
 
Hey y'all let me chime in here about Mel... I have recently "taken delivery" of the first in what I plan to be a trilogy of "Sorg's" and my impression is that he is a folk artist in some sense...he's making knives for neighbors and friends, at least if you take this corner of the net to be a sort of mountain holler or delta whistlestop, and he's unselfconscious in that way that rural whittlers and and painters and philosophers are. He hasn't got a formula and he hasn't got a doggone agent or gallery and he has taste and craft and patience. He made me a knife that I wouldn't trade for all the baltic amber and oosic in the world.
That's my piece.

Tite lines,
the pup
 
Pup,
You mean trilogy as in THREE? Oh Man, now I gotta not only keep up with Marvin Edgeworth and his MadPoets, but your triplets TOO?
That does it. Now I'm gonna have to send Mel my sketches for a 3" wide-bladed wharncliff with stag and damascus bolsters.
HAH! I'll see your three and raise you one!
JW
 
JW its like this....going back years now to my first marriage in '77, when I got orders to go overseas and hitchhiked home to marry my girlfriend...I ended up in Germany living in this little town where the only real industry was gem cutting and selling beer to bored grunts. There was a school for it there (the gem cutting I mean) , attended mostly by people from India...Indians, you could say....anyway to cut to end I came home with a chunk of Persian turquoise, some stripes and a divorce. Time passed and I grew up and all and Mel Sorg set that piece of turquoise in the butt of a drop point hunter with Kingwood scales and its really a stunner. So I'm remarried with two kids and yeah this stuff is all off topic but I decided to have him make me a trailing point, same incredible melt-in-your-hand(le) design, and I muddled around on the net and found someone who would sell me an opal locked down in some quartz so Mel's doing the same handle in desert ironwood with the opal behind a trailing point blade. The last installment is gonna be a stone from Siberia (charoite - deep purple) set in the butt of a Cocobolo scaled caper. Well, whatever. We all have a story, right? The cat builds knives with soul, at a peoples price, whatever the story.

Red beans and ricely yours,
the pup
 
I've been eyeing the MadPoet galleries for a while. His knives have are certainly distinctive works of steel and wood. I keep wondering how the wood handle will hold up with use. Anyway, broke down and ordered a pocket bowie with purple/brown cocobollo handle. Will hopefully have the knife in June, be able to take in hunting in the fall. If the knife works well, I can easily see ordering others. His prices seem more than fair for a custom maker.

Getting anticipation fever from reading these posts.

sing
 
Mel's knives look good but for me that's not enough. The knives I've seen of his have a somewhat "rustic" flavor with light grind lines and shadows of heat treat that add something to the appearance, rather than detract. But it's the way they FEEL in your hand that gets me. Mel knows how to make the knife a part of the hand. The balance and dimensions make them feel lighter than they are. On my postal scale, my 4.5" skinner weighs the same as my big Spyd Wegner, but feels lighter in my hand. These guys beg to cut!
Sing, The wood on my three is real pretty, but I don't doubt it will hold up to any reasonable stress. The handles are well pinned (5 pins on small,6 on others).
 
You guys are all correct! Mel's work is amazing! I came across his website, and to make a long story short, ended up having him make two custom blades of my design. The price was unbelievable, and he provided all the stuff I would need to complete the knives myself. I have finished both, and have a third on the way (the larger of the two customs had a warp from heat treat). I also have one of his drop point hunters, although I am not a hunter. His blades are too cool for words, and his own handle shapes are incredible. The larger of my two customs has a wood handle that I did, and it feels like a big block of crap compared to the one on the DP hunter....dangit. Now I'll have to spend even MORE time reshaping those slabs...! Anyway, I just figured I'd tell you I have all of you beat, with my FOUR Madpoets! ;-) Also, you can expect the number to jump...the gauntlet has been thrown! ;-)
Steve

PS- let's keep this to ourselves so that Mel has the time to do our projects when we need them, and at reasonable prices? Deal? ;-)
 
No fair! No Fair!
Kits don't count for full credit!!!!
I vote kits count for 1/2 each, so we're all even up at three!!!!
and the race is on...
[do any of you realize what this means??]
We can either make Mel a rich man... or
we can apply the Walmart philosophy and go for collective BARGAINING POWER!!
I say we push for a bulk price for say... umm.. 400 assorted knives.
Nah, just wouldn't be the same.
JW
 
JW
I'll add my vote for Mel Sorg's work!

Just a few weeks ago I made the decision to order my first custom knife from Madpoet -- a 5-inch, D-2 clip point skinner with whitetail horn handle and desert ironwood bolster. Over several e-mails, Mel helped me fine tune exactly what I wanted and arranged to have the knife ready in early June when I will be in his upper Minnesota stomping grounds.

In fact JW, now that I recall, you were one of the first to introduce me to Madpoet over on the custom forum --- Thanks!

To all, seriously check out Madpoet knives at http://www.angelfire.com/mn/madpoet/index.html



------------------
Life is a journey, not a guided tour -- GO ARMED!
-->BLADE


 
JW,

I would APPRECIATE IT if you don't advertise Madpoet too much until I have my second order in, okay...?
wink.gif


sing
 
Jeff, et al.

Just a note to let you know that the new pics are up on the website.
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/madpoet

madpoet
 
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