Neil Blackwood Small Hunter...

S

steinie

Joined
Feb 9, 2001
Messages
65
Got my first Neil Blackwood today. Yay.. Outstanding knife. I ordered a Small Hunter in D2, and Neil and I emailed back and forth a couple of times. I decided on white micarta scales, and he suggested black micarta spacers to go with. I let him choose the mosaic pin. Great communication on his part with his customers, and I know he's got a lot of us to contend with!!!

Anyway, what a knife!! He picked a gorgeous mosaic pin with copper and steel that looks beautiful against the white scales!! Fit and finish is everything I've been led to believe it would be from reading on this forum. Handle fit is perfect, grind lines are gorgeous, the black spacers and white scales are perfectly joined, attention to detail is way above what I would expect to find in a knife in this price range. Sharpening is above average, with a very even edge on it straight from Neil, no wide or narrow areas, just a clean sweep of sharpened area. No way does Neil overcharge for his work. 'Course, as he gets more popular.......... Hmmm, Maybe I better order more right now!! (grin)

In fact, I've already ordered a Medium Hunter from Neil with the same white micarta scales, and he said he'd save one of the same mosaic pins for my new order so they'll match. Great service on his part.

I don't have a digital camera yet, but ordered one yesterday. Will post pics of this one next week, and then more pics of the matched pair when the medium hunter gets here.
 
I'm jealous. I am anxiously awaiting my Small Tac/ Utility. It should be in my grubby little paws in a couple of weeks. It will be my first Blackwood as well as my first custom knife. Looking forward to seeing your knife when you get that digital camera.
 
The Blackwood Small Hunter is one of my favorite knives. Neil's attention to detail and craftsmanship are outstanding. Here's a shot of the filework and tapered tang on mine.
View


[This message has been edited by ptpalpha (edited 04-21-2001).]
 
Steinie,
I appreciate the nice review. Not bragging but I think I have THAT pattern down to a science
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After loosing count of how many of them I've made, I still enjoy griding and finishing each one, ESPECIALLY with a material I'm not used to working with. That white Micarta is going to be used a LOT more here at Blackwood Knives in the future!
Det,
Thanks again for your understanding.......
Without going into the GORY details, let's just say that "Dr.Lathe" lost one of his patients!! The knife I was working on for Det is in the Lakeland Landfill by now and I've already started another one. Just when I was close to beeing back on schedule
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.........
Paul,
Nice picture, I hope you don't mind if I "borrow' that one for the website?? I don't have a good filework picture!!
Thanks again guys!

Neil

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Talonite......Stellite
Hand Made Knives..High Tech Materials
blackwoodknives.com
 
Borrow away, Neil. Here's another one for ya. Blackwood Small Game, D2 and red/black ashe burl.
View
 
Paul,
I wasn't kidding about loosing count on the Small Hunters!! That was one made before I got my bookeeping set up, NO mention of that one in my MANIFEST O KNIVES
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As soon as I get time, those will be up on my site because I recieve inquiries about filework and I have no good photos of any!! My 35 year old Pentax doesn't do closeups:O
Thanks again,

Neil


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Talonite......Stellite
Hand Made Knives..High Tech Materials
blackwoodknives.com
 
Steinie- hope you can post pic's soon. Sounds like a great combination of materials. IMHO, white Micarta makes for a very classy looking knife!
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Erik W:
What are the dimensions involved?

Thanks,
Erik</font>
Click to expand...

That's one thing I think was missing from Neil's web page, he's got small, medium and large hunters, with pics, but I couldn't find dimensions either.....

Overall length: 7 5/8 inches. Blade length, tip to scales along the spine: 3 1/2 inches. Cutting edge, about 3 1/4 inches.

Pics may be a ways off.
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I just found out the brand new Sony DSC-75 digital camera I ordered isn't for sale in the states just yet. They're already on some websites for sale, but won't actually be here for another 3-4 weeks.
 
Not to sink ya boat, steinie, or Neil, but I find the scales on the Blackwoods to be TOO thin. "Where's the beef!".
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I personally prefer a 'thicker' scaled knife. The ones I have seen would be nice for concealing since they were so thin.

What kind of sheath did yours come with? Post a pic of it when you do.

Paul, the small game skinners look nice - what kind of $ did those run?

FYI - YES, I have handled a few of Blackwoods, and NO I don't currently own one, but I did.
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Ray 'md2020'

ATKI member #A001042
 
Man, i like the way white micarta looks on the grifter! Can't wait to see it on a hunter!

MD2020, let me know how you like your handle on your hunter. I didn't taper the tang, but tapered the handle instead. lemme know what you think!

Dr. Lathe, how do you go about sharpening your D2? I made 4 blade from D2, edge was about 1mm at the edge before HT, took it down to just under 1mm, then used a 120 belt for the bevel profiles, then 600 trizact, then strop with white rouge on a belt, but for some reason, it doesn't want to shave. it slices newsprint cleanly, but doesn't want to shave as easily as some other steels I have used. HT was by Paul Bos, so i know that isn't the problem!
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The micarta scales on the small hunter are much thinner than the burl ashe ones on the small game. I'd bet that any organic material scales that Neil puts on will be thicker than his micarta ones due to the strength factor. However, Neil is one of the VERY best makers I've dealt with as far as working with the customer. If it's thicker scales you're after, just let him know.
The small hunter handled like a dream while field dressing a nice 6-point last season, and the small game has gone through a number of bunnies early this year. Both knives performed flawlessly doing exactly what they were designed for.
Ray-you've got mail.
-Paul
 
The idea behind the Small Hunter is a knife that would apeal to bowhunters wanting to pack a minimal amount of equipment. The knife IS Small and I USUALLY make them rather flat in profile. The blade is short enought to put a finger over the tip for careful field dressing. Overall, the knife has been very popular in it's standard configuration with my customers. Making the handle wider on the Small Hunter wouldn't be a problem. My Small Tac/Utility is based on the same pattern as the Small Hunter and comes with thicker handles as part of the design. Actually, I have more requests to make the Tac handles thinner than I do to make the Hunter handles FATTER
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Taz,
As far as sharpening D2..... I start out with a fresh 220 grit belt to get the bevels even, straight, looking right, etc. Then I move up to a stiff 400 Norton belt. I can't STAND trying to use soft belts like the J-Flex or Trizact's for sharpening. (For the Cobalt Alloys I find that I have to though) Then I go to a 3M 9 micron, plastic backed belt for the finishing touches using spray coolant. After that I hand strop every knife with green compound and examine the edge either with a powerful loupe or my trusty stereo microscope. ($25 at a yard sale) Even when I'm happy with a sharpened edge, I'll find "dead' spots with the loupe or microscope. I find that magnified inpection of the edge is VERY important for perfect sharpening.
Mr. Rosvall,
I'm also looking forward to some HOT digital pics
smile.gif


NEil

------------------
Talonite......Stellite
Hand Made Knives..High Tech Materials
blackwoodknives.com
 
Thanks, Neil! I used a 120 to profile the edge (Both of my 220 belts went boom and exploded on me
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), then went 400 J Flex, and 600 trizact, then strop on belt with white rouge. Maybe i didnt polish the edge enough, or didnt go far enough with the edge. They cut news print cleanly with no hang ups, but have trouble shaving sometimes.
 
I know it sliced, and also push cut a little, too..i mainly used slices to see if it caught up anywhere, but I noticed i would often be pushing thru the newsprint, too..maybe i didnt hold it at enough of an angle to shave...
 
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