I'm going to make a hunting knife for my Uncle and my Aunt said he needed a nice deer skinning knife. I have catalogs from Jantz and Texas Knifemakers Supplies and was wondering what knife would be a good, solid deer skinning knife that would be relatively easy to make. I haven't done a hidden tang knife yet, so i am kinda leaning away from those for now. I am keeping it a suprise for my uncle, so I can't ask him what he wants. I don't know what makes a good skinning knife, so I was hoping some of you hunters could give me a hand. Please let me know which blade styles are good for deer skinning and what handle material would be good. Thanks for the info!
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Need some help, guys!
- Thread starter Taz
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To add to Stompy's great advice, let me say that finding one in 440C would be a step up too. Those kit blades that are labeledd 440 or stainless steel are, more often than not, AUS6A or 440A. Not bad steels, mind you, just 440C is a definite step up from them.
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Another possibility is to get in touch with custom or small production knife makers. many will offer kit blades at under $60, and that usually will include handle scales of your choice, the blade, pin stock, etc. Most makers do not offer kit blades in their usual inventory, but more often than not they will sell you somthing they have lying around, or even make it to your specs, if you ask. All you have to do is the finish work and put the scales on and you're all set!
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My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
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Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
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How bout jantz ats-34 blades? Or should I go with the Texas stuff and get the cryo treatment? How bout that Cast Dendritic blade, the drop point one in Texas knifemakers supply? Why does it say 440-C in Jantz, but the same knife says 6A in texas knifemakers? In the Texas, what is 6A 440, Vanadium? Should I get a Jantz blade and have it cryo treated by Texas? Jantz seems to have 440-C stuff, but it also says 6A in parantheses...what is it really? and how is the heat treat on the Jantz stuff? Thanks for the tips!
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Have you asked this in the bladesmith forum? I would make that my next step. Good luck.
Personally, I'd call ATS-34 the equal or superior of 440c for a skinner, but with less resistance to rust. You might have to base that on your uncle's personality. I'd give my dad an ATS-34 knife but not my grandpa; grandpa would find it rusting on the kitchen sink one morning.
All the above is opinion and may be dead wrong. But I'd say if your uncle takes any kind of care of his blades (he'll rinse off the blood and let it dry) ATS-34 is probably fine for him and 440C would be as well, so go with the blade style and size that you like. I also would go with a drop point. I like a 5" blade for some reason but anything from about 4-6" is probably great.
Personally, I'd call ATS-34 the equal or superior of 440c for a skinner, but with less resistance to rust. You might have to base that on your uncle's personality. I'd give my dad an ATS-34 knife but not my grandpa; grandpa would find it rusting on the kitchen sink one morning.
All the above is opinion and may be dead wrong. But I'd say if your uncle takes any kind of care of his blades (he'll rinse off the blood and let it dry) ATS-34 is probably fine for him and 440C would be as well, so go with the blade style and size that you like. I also would go with a drop point. I like a 5" blade for some reason but anything from about 4-6" is probably great.
I was just looking for blade style help, then I saw the different steel choices, which is how it become more like a bladesmith question. I was originally wondering what stlye blade, ie upswept, drop point, gut hook or not, etc, but then I got into steels. I'll post it on the bladesmith forum, too.
I like a 3-4" thin drop point with a stag handle. And I like carbon steel much better then stainless, but you know that argument
I like 52100 best but if you haven't heattreated it before I wouldn't use it. It is a lot harder to do right then say 5160 or O-1 or 1095 those are all good steels too.
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-Greg Johnson
ICQ#4236341
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-Greg Johnson
ICQ#4236341
I wouldn't heat treat the stuff. I am looking for kit type knife to put together. I don't have the equipment, knowledge or time yet to grind, shape, heat treat, etc the blade. I am still working from kits. How thin, like 1/8"? How does stag hold up to conditions? I was originally thinking of that, but what do you have to do to shape attach, and finish it? I have limited tools available.
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I think Koval has some called K Custom blade kits that include diamond wood scales and pins and maybe a gaurd. They're 440C and seem to have a good price. you should check them out. ATS34 holds a better edge than 440C, 440C is more resistant to corrosian. Neither one rusts very easily, and both are good blades steels. Try and find a kit you like in either steel.They should both work fine.
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !