Muskrat Manor

thawk · Nov 19, 2011

I only wish that Mark Nagle calendar Hawbaker was mine. But like most pin ups, I only own the calendar, thanks to Charlie. That brunette beauty was the September Girl of 2010... some of the prettiest bone Schrade produced.

Here are a couple more Schrades for this dandy muskrat thread.

A Schrade Heritage red bone, and a 2002 NYKC Commemorative

Railsplitter · Nov 19, 2011

GEC Cuban Muskrat with Elk Horn scales. 440C.

300Bucks · Nov 19, 2011

In the Buck world we are actually talking Camillus made Model 313 Muskrats. The two black sawcuts were contract made for Buck by Camillus from 72 - 97. Two variations, one with a single opening for the clip main blade nic and one with an opening on each side of the scales. The yellow sawcut 313 was special ordered and offered only by Smokey Mountain Knife Works and not sold in Buck catalogs.
The 'top dog' would have to be a custom scale by some maker. Here a stag by the Buck Custom shop is shown. Not many of this type were ever modified by the Buck Shop. Blade grind was all the same, single backspring and steel likely all Camillus 440A. I also have one with a company named imprinted in the scale shield. 300Bucks

POST SCRIPT ADDED 11-19-11------------------------------------------------------ I am getting grey on my sideburns....I knew something looked wrong and was wrong with my post. There were actually 3 versions of the Buck 313 Muskrat. Add to the ones above the very first variation. Still made by Camillus, but clip tang is stamped: BUCK, Made In U.S.A., with 313 stamped on the reverse tang. This stamping occurred 72 - 74. Also shown is the company stamping on the scale shield I spoke about above. These were apparently issued in both 74 and 75 since the tang stamps are different. Sorry for the mistake.

comoha · Nov 19, 2011

I tell ya, Schrade sure had the muskrat pattern down! Some real beauties guys!

Campbellclanman · Nov 19, 2011

I keep going back to Charlie's two lovely knives here...What a great combination of blades, I find myself often using the serrated part of my Kershaw Blur blade, and these two knives have it all, great combination of blades, serpentine styling, and lovely bone..let alone the quality that will last lifetimes.
Very Nice knives

waynorth · Nov 20, 2011

Glad you like them Duncan!
I quite like those two that Hal posted. They did some nice bone handles in those years!
There are actually a lot of great 'rats, here all in all! Lookit them Bucks!

comoha · Nov 20, 2011

I wonder if we will see some custom 'rats? I think I only recall ever seeing Tony Bose and Ryu Kawamura muskrats
but there must be others. Could it be a difficult pattern to pull off?

Casares · Nov 20, 2011

I have quite a few muskrats.

here are just three...2 Schrade and a Queen.

waynorth · Nov 20, 2011

comoha said:
I wonder if we will see some custom 'rats? I think I only recall ever seeing Tony Bose and Ryu Kawamura muskrats
but there must be others. Could it be a difficult pattern to pull off?

Here you go, Corey. A Ken Erickson, single spring, modeled after a Remington. Sole authorship, Ken jigged and dyed the bone, as well as making the rest of the knife. Being a single springer, I only open one blade at a time.

oilburner · Nov 20, 2011

I started the Sunday traditional picture show off with this one today, and it obviously belongs in this thread...
A Kutmaster (Utica Cutlery) muskrat. They were not the highest in quality, this one is original from the factory itself, I mean right out the back door, and neither of the blades even have a sharpened edge, maybe that was the last step and it was handed to my grandfather out the back door before it made it to the front door, I don't know, maybe they were just dull, low quality knives. I've thought about sharpening it a few times, but havn't yet. Anyways, here it is...

ranchmanben · Nov 20, 2011

comoha · Nov 20, 2011

waynorth said:
Here you go, Corey. A Ken Erickson, single spring, modeled after a Remington. Sole authorship, Ken jigged and dyed the bone, as well as making the rest of the knife. Being a single springer, I only open one blade at a time.
View attachment 242796 View attachment 242797 View attachment 242798 View attachment 242799 View attachment 242800

Just spectacular Charlie! That inspires me to make that pattern my choice when my name finally comes up on Mr. Ericksons list next year

whetrock · Nov 20, 2011

This thread has got me wantin' a Muskrat of some sort I think I may settle for a Red Bone CV Case but I'm not for certain. I just feel that the muskrat is a super practical and attractive pattern made with the user in mind and that IMO is what traditional knives are all about.

Bigfattyt · Nov 20, 2011

I am also in the crowd that really was indifferent to the pattern, unless it includes a warncliff 2nd blade (or at least a spey 2nd). That changes every thing!

Eyegor · Nov 20, 2011

I just won a 2009 CS gold dust mica pearl 'rat. It will pair nicely with my CS white buffalo mica pearl half moon trapper. Thanks everyone for sharing great pics. If I ever figure out how to take a good picture, I'll post a few.

Campbellclanman · Nov 20, 2011

Eyegor said:
I just won a 2009 CS gold dust mica pearl 'rat. It will pair nicely with my CS white buffalo mica pearl half moon trapper. Thanks everyone for sharing great pics. If I ever figure out how to take a good picture, I'll post a few.

You lucky bugger...how'd you do that?...and yes please pictures would be great!

bakerg2g · Nov 21, 2011

DAM Charlie! That Erickson Muskrat made the hair
on my neck stand up it's so dam nice! Sexy knife
you got there my friend! Lovely....

Jason

Jug Johnson · Nov 21, 2011

Great pattern, great thread, great pictures. I have always thought Case made a great Muskrat knife, and have always wanted one but never had one.

Here is my only example of this pattern, even tho it is one of my two favorite patterns:

black mamba · Nov 21, 2011

Here is my Tidioute #66 in Burnt Grizzly Cut bone. Muskrat clip is my favorite blade shape.

comoha · Nov 21, 2011

black mamba said:
Here is my Tidioute #66 in Burnt Grizzly Cut bone. Muskrat clip is my favorite blade shape.

Have to agree with you there on blade shape. :thumbup: That Burnt Grizzly Cut bone of yours is amazing. I don't think I've ever noticed it before.

I really do like GEC's interpretation of the muskrat, even though it's built on their standard cigar body shape and not a serpentine frame. It's husky and it means
business.
Here's mine in elk antler.