My own personal hunter...raised clip w/ claro walnut

J. Doyle

J. Doyle

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
8,205
I have never used one of my own knives on any of the deer, elk, bear, or antelope I've killed over the years. Sad, I know. :) Our firearm deer season opens tomorrow and I told my wife this year, I'm field dressing my deer with one of my own knives.

So I took a couple days and and finished one for myself to use. It's kind of surprising, this knife isn't the steel or the wood that I thought I'd use for my own hunter but I love it just the same. I will use this knife as research and practice.
I used 1095 for the steel because I wanted to give it a real world test and see how it holds up with my heat treat on it. I chose curly claro walnut for the handle because it is a really nice piece and walnut just seems to be classically associated with hunting (on fine rifles and such). Plus, after the season, I will use this knife to practice some checkering on and I think the bold curly figure will look really cool showing through the checkering. I put some of my .45-70 rounds in the picture because it's my favorite rifle cartridge and I've killed a lot of things with that rifle. The damascus collar looks a lot better in person. I had a hard time getting good photos of that.

Specs:
Hand forged from 1095 steel, clay quenched and etched dark
7 7/8" overall, 3 5/8" blade, 3 1/4" actual sharp edge, .195 thick at the ricasso with sharp distal taper
False edge not sharp
Heavily rounded spine and ricasso edge
My own damascus collar
Curly claro walnut handle with oil finish
Stainless steel checkered finial (I am NOT going to be making a matching damascus finial :D, It's for my own knife and I really didn't have the extra time and recessed like that, I don't see much point, especially checkered)

All comments, discussion and critique welcome.









 
C'mon, make the dammy finial! Very nice knife. I never understood why so many great knifemakers don't even use knives made by their own hand.
 
Good looking knife John - I like it. It must be a symptom of knifemakers - I've yet to use one of my knives on my harvested game. :confused:
 
Really like it. So many nice little touches and the checkering won't hurt either. Funny that the knife on my belt is 1095 too, considering how much both of us use so much 1075. I just happened to have a partially finished 1095 knife on the bench when I needed it...great steel, btw.
 
Love what you did with it. The blade shape looks like it will be a great field dressing knife. The wood choice and blade treatment look fantastic together.
 
that hump is so cro-magnon. Unibrow swedge!
nice knife, and 1095 was a great choice. Pretty damn fine steel in my experience, especially if you don't wanna have to touch up the edge constantly-very stable, long wearing stuff.
As for the finial material, whatevs. A user like this, that little cavity will fill up with schmutz in no time.
 
Very nice knife John. I has everything we have come to expect from your work, that's a good thing. I hope that knife sees lots of use in the field.

Chris
 
That is a very nice looking knife. I like it a lot. My only critique is that thinner stock might be a little nicer for a pure skinning knife. I really like the subtle touches though.
 
Lorien said:
that hump is so cro-magnon. Unibrow swedge!
Click to expand...

Hey!......Just like me. ;) :)

Thanks for the comments guys.

I managed to take a doe on Saturday, the only deer I saw. The edge seems exactly the same as before I started which is not mind blowing. That's just what I would expect after one deer.

Thanks again guys.
 
bbingenheimer said:
John, Nice hunter. Would like to see pics of after it was put to work. :D

Bing
Click to expand...

Thanks Bing.

Here's a couple quick pics I just took on my shop bench with knife and sheath. I think my Dad has some pics of it in use while I was dressing the deer. I'll have to check with him. I didn't get too excited about taking pics of it with a doe. :D

A little stained from the blood but other than that, none the worse for wear.



 
John, i'm a big fan of your knives!!
Since i don't go hunting and have no first hand experience i have a question, do you find the dropped sharp choil tendency to grab on game during dressing? SHould a rounded or more angled one be better in that situation? Thanks

Stefano
 
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