New 52100 hunters from MS Rick Dunkerley

Status
Not open for further replies.
Will York

Will York

Joined
Jan 21, 2000
Messages
8,888
Master Smith Rick Dunkerley is probably best known for his award-winning mosaic damascus and high-end folders, but he is also a licensed guide and outfitter operating in the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness Areas of Montana—some of the most remote contiguous wild country left in the lower 48.

Rick was bitten by the sheep-hunting bug a few years ago and has developed some wonderful light-weight hunter/caper/camp utility blades in 52100 that have become very popular with guides and other high-altitude sheep hunters.

Thought you guys might like to see an assortment of these models (images by Point Seven Studios) in their very affordable no-frills form, which he will have available at Blade Show Booth 235 under his trade name Baldy Mountain Forge (check out the handsome leather shown with the last two):

attachment.php


attachment.php


attachment.php


attachment.php
 
Last edited:
Here are a couple more accessory pieces to the line, a dedicated featherweight caper and a compact, packable hatchet:

attachment.php


attachment.php
 
Those look great, I'll look forward to seeing them at the show. Thanks for the head's up Will.
 
Glad you guys like them. They are pretty basic hunters with scotch brite finish on the blades. I've also got a fighter that is being tested by some Navy Seals in Afganistan right now. Stop by booth 235 at the Blade Show and check them out. Rick
 
Pretty basic, but pretty darned nice. Looks like a lot of thought went into making them really light weight - an important factor in this application, I would think.

Roger
 
Very nice Will. The clean lines and abscence of unecessary embellishments like filework, i see as a sign of a confident accomplished maker.
One of these would make a fine knife to pass along to another appreciative hunter. :)
roland
 
Thanks to all for the kind words.

I’ve been a fan of Rick’s blades for many years—excellent edge holding and tough as nails. I’ve also enjoyed elk hunting with him in Montana, which is the most amazing laboratory I can imagine for making hunting knives.

In the October 1997 issue of BLADE Magazine, Ed Fowler reported on a 52100 blade tested by Metallographic Laboratory Services in California. The owner of the lab stated that the sample had the finest grain structure in the cutting edge of any steel he had ever examined, with carbide size between 1/2 and 1 micron. As Ed said, "This is as fine as it gets," comparing it to D2 at 10-15 microns and CPM420V (now S90V) at 2-4 microns.

I contacted Ed about that test blade, and he told me the blade had been forged and heat treated by Rick Dunkerley. I called Rick and we immediately hit it off—I’ve enjoyed blades of his in his forged 52100 and forged CPM 10V, and look forward to testing one of his blades soon in Cru Forge V.

These “Baldy Mountain Forge” featherweights get the same heat treatment as Rick’s forged blades, and he says performance is comparable—which in my mind is a major accomplishment and makes them a great value. As for superior grain refinement and toughness/flexibility, here’s what he has to say about these hunters:

“I am now fully hardening all of the blades except the hatchet which is still edge quenched. With the super fine grain structure obtained thru the precise control of temp. during heat treat they still flex 90 degrees.”

Fairly amazing stuff, IMHO.
 
Seems like you guys get what these knives are all about. I have enjoyed all of the positive feedback from guides all over Montana, Alaska and Canada. It is fun to make knives that people actually use. These no frills designs are priced so almost anyone can afford them. The smallest knife weighs in at under 2 ounces and has become my personal favorite for all of my hunting. I have personally used them on dall sheep, mountain goats, elk, moose, caribou and deer.
 
For all you hunters out there. These look like great guide gifts for your guided hunting trips.
Gary
 
XIECHENG said:
I love Rick Dunkerley teacher, I have a he did.
Click to expand...

Three-year-old thread, but yes, I certainly agree as I think many who have taken his classes would.

I'm locking this one down due to the age factor--thanks. You can reach Rick at [Removed].
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top