Modiying Kitchen knives for Outdoor Use

[Morablades]

Anyone tried it? We have a local hardware store that sells Old Hickory and Tramontina. They seem to be pretty sturdy for outdoor use. Here's a pic of the Tramontina that they have http://www.costsaving2u.com/images/13467111.jpg. It's very comfortable in my hand, so I wouldn't mod the handle just get rid of the serrations. Only 4 dollars and change. I did order a Old Hickory Butcher knife and plan on experimenting with that outdoors as well.

 

[m. wohlwend]

I have a freind who builds knives part time. He modifies blade like that all the time. I have a Rapala fillet knife that was broken and I reshaped it into a handy 3 inch blade knife. If you wanted to do this, get the old high carbon blades from yard sales and reshape those. Decent steel and all you will basically have is labor. Also check out the mora style knives. I checked on ebay and could get some for under 15 bucks with sheath.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I was actually at a steak place this week that had the tramonitas, nice knife. Worth modding, probably. The Old Hickory's are commonly altered for that purpose (and many models don't seem to need much modding to become competent woods tools).

 

[m. wohlwend]

My grandfather was an old school woodsman, and I didn't realize it until thinking about it later , all he ever carried was a pocket knife. When we were deer hunting he carried a sharp hachet and a butcher knife taken from the kitchen in our chuck box... never saw him with a sheath knife.

 

[Magnum22]

i just got my carbon opinel paring knife in the mail. sharpened it up real nice and took it out back to start a fire. made great shavings and handled some batoning. i did the batoning purely for the sake of experiment, i wouldn't use it for that. same as when we shave out arms. oh yeah, does that too. needs a sheath.

 

[Ron53]

I've actually done this many times. It's easy, if you take your time, don't burn the steel, and have a coffee can of cold water close by to dip and cool the blade while grinding. I've done it with older Case butcher knives, as well as Old Hickory knives. You can make up some really good "usin" knives by doing this.

I also used to do the same thing with Ontario machetes, cutting the 18" blades down to more usable 12" or so.

Ron

 

[nick-nack]

I just realised the cutlery we use are Tramontina's... how interesting!

 

[IUKE12]

I cut down an Old Hic skinner into a Nessmuk style outdoor knife.

 

[Zombie Zeke]

This is a little 5" Henckels Chef Knife that has come with me on a few camping trips...the only mod is a mulligan on the tip after I broke it...great knife though.

IUKE12 that is a great job on that Ol Hick...nice work.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I cut down an Old Hic skinner into a Nessmuk style outdoor knife.

How well has that worked for you on things like wood carving?

 

[Fiddleback]

I love modding OH knives. That was a great stepping point into making knives for me.

Take your time if cutting the metal. Keep it cool. Don't be afraid to knock off those awful burnt hickory scales, redrill some holes, and put on scales of your own. Also don't be afraid to regrind those edges either. Just go slow.

Here are a few pics.

 

[Morablades]

Thanks for all the pics guys. I just go my old hickory butcher knife. If I get it done tonight then I'll post a pick. I especially like the Nessmuk mod on the OH Skinner.

 

[ilbruche]

Here are some good nessmuk conversion tutorials.

http://forum.ramanon.com/showthread.php?t=43069

http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/skinner.htm

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=429276

I make mine with the J Russell buffalo skinner blades. The next ones will be Old Hickories.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Without modification I like the Dexter Russell carbon steel Sheep Skinner. You can even get a sheath for it. I talked about it in another Bladeforums thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4964711&highlight=sheep+skinner#post4964711

 

[pinetree]

I put together a Dexter Russell Green River Hunter which is a clip point blade along the lines of their butcher and skinning knives. It is a good knife and has made many a marshmellow sticks at the fire pit. I baton kindling with it. I pair my knives and this one travels with a modified CS Trailhawk.

 

[ilbruche]

You came make all sorts of great knives out of the J Russells.

 

[IUKE12]

How well has that worked for you on things like wood carving?

It works OK, one of these days I'm going to take the slabs off and reshape the handle a little bit for more control. Bottom line for me is that I wasn't using it as a skinner, so cutting it down made sense. Total investment was around $15, knife and leather for sheath.

 

[Morablades]

Well, here it is. I just had fun with this one and gave it a John Rambo look. The next one is going to be a Nessmuk design out the OH Skinner. The Old Hickories are fun to mod. I still need to get some leather and make a sheath. I'm thinking a piggy back sheath with a modified OH Paring knife.

 

[Triquetra]

Here's my pretty basic mod. Choil, smoothed and rounde the handle, mineral oil handle, hair popping sharp. Haven't used it yet but it one of the most comfortable knife in the hand that I have. I haven't made the bottom one yet. It's a Photoshop creation. But I hope to make one like it. I don't really like the Nessmuk look. Mine current one is probably a little long.

 

[m. wohlwend]

Ohhhh... must go to shop and modify Old Hickory Knife!!!!! LOL One saftey tip, when working with blades like this, dull them before working with them, you can always resharpen later. And that is much eaiser than dripping blood all over your project, stopping to look for bandaids and tape.... you get the picture!