New Compact Bushcraft-Type

Jeff H

Jeff H

Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
1,093
EDIT: Overall length is 7 1/8", not 7 3/8".

I don't often get "way out" in the woods - most of my woods-time being in places where I am likely to encounter others who may have an aversion to "knife-carrying psychos." I also just like smaller knives a lot of the time and I like to have at least one "woods-worthy" blade with me regardless of what I am doing and where I am so I have looked for a long time for something I could carry unobtrusively in my bag on or my person - concealed if necessary and "non-threatening" if carried openly so I sketch a couple that I felt would meet all my requirements and they came out looking like a "typical" Bushcrafter. 'Stands to reason since that's pretty much what they're for. After sitting on these designs for some time, I met Bryan Breeden. I got a couple of his knives, we talked some and I asked if he would humor me and make my knives for me. Bryan did one thing I did not expect - he made them exactly as I sketched them. Every detail in their design was intentional and he captured every one. I asked him to leave the handles as they were after gluing them up so I could shape them and try them, shape some more....

Here is the first of the two. The second will have to wait a while to be finished. The second is handled in GCM with NS pins and ferrule with a slighthly different blade and handle shape but of the same overall dimensions.
COMPACTBUSHY01.jpg


It's got a couple sanding marks to be removed yet but I wanted to get it out and try it before committing to finalizing my shaping. The handle, while only 3 7/8" long and not terribly thick, is very comfortable for hard or extended work and very handy for more delicate work.
COMPACTBUSHY04.jpg


Here is a comparison with the ubiquitous Mora and my absolutely wonderful MMK Buskcraft. My "compact" is 7 1/8" overall and .093" thick. I don't have a scale but it is very light.
COMPACTBUSHY02.jpg


Last, but not least, a shot giving a view of the handle contour.
COMPACTBUSHY03.jpg
 
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That looks quite excellent! I like the brown colour and white liners. Blade shape looks perfect. Bryan is excellent to work with. Someday he will wake up and charge what his knives deserve!
 
kgd said:
That looks quite excellent! I like the brown colour and white liners. Blade shape looks perfect. Bryan is excellent to work with. Someday he will wake up and charge what his knives deserve!
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Bryan's knives are an excellent value. I believe that is "Natural" Canvas Micarta. Byan refer's to it as "Brown." It just has a very nice, natural look to it. The white liners were Bryan's idea as were the NS pins/ferrule on the GCM one I haven't started. He also sold me on the thickness - I would have asked for 1/8" before starting to talk to him. I think most knife-makers know that we, as knife consumers, tend to ask for more "meat" than is necessary but it is great to have the choice and great that they accommodate.

Thanks for the plug on the blade shape. I went through a LOT of knives and read a LOT of posts here before getting all the details I wanted. The slight belly the full length of the edge was from a review someone wrote about a 4" Bushy (Skookum - which is on my list). I would have gone with a full height convex or a Scandi but Bryan's flat grind, paired with my convex edge makes for a super sweet wood-working tool. All personal preferences, of course but it is so cool that I was able to get them all put into one knife.
 
ooohh....:eek: i really like that one... great job on the design jeff... i love the slight belly it has... that is one thing i don't like about most spear point knives, is the lack of belly...bryans work seems to be getting better and better...:thumbup:
i think i may need to have bryan make me one of those, instead of the kat knife...:o well i guess i could have him make me the kat knife second..:D
 
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that's a beauty Jeff. I love the handle ergo and also like the belly.

Nice job!

Brett
 
Nice job on the design, the full radius belly was the first thing I noticed. I think you will enjoy it and the satisfaction of your own creativity.
 
Thanks, guys.
I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I forgot to mention that it has a 1" blade height. I cut a couple of 1 1/4" saplings with it, worked on a spoon some, stripped some bark, made notches, etc. and it does everything I want of it so, I now have my "Compact Bushy." Well, I sort of already had one. Matt L. made me a Short Kephart that's basicallt he same size and is a sweetheart of a knife.

If you want on like this, he still has the sketch,.... I hope, because I had the original in my hand today and can't find it for he life of me.:( The handle shaping is "by me" so you can ask Bryan to shape it or DIY. I would be absolutely flattered and positively honored to know someone else liked my design enough to have one made.:o:thumbup:
 
Hi all, Jeff that is a very nice job on the handle I can not wait to see the
Green handle one too. Thanks for the comments on making up those two
knives your ya.

That day of waking up and charging what the knives I make are worth
has all ready happend it was the day I opened up my shop and said that
I wanted to make knives that the average working guy could aford
to have and buy a custom knife and not have to dream about it.
aw besides I am not greedy LOL.

A BIG THANKS to all for saying you can see inprovment in my knife making.
I am learning more as I go and I hope to get better at to. You know the
old saying practice makes better LOL. Thanks again.

Very nice review on the cutting and making of things with your knife. I know
that an axe and a saw are nice to have but I know for me that I use my knife
for more cutting chores than the axe or saw. I is very cool to see knives in action and to read about to.

I do have your drawings to and if some else would like to have a knife made
like what Jeff had made let me know since he said he would not mind.

Take care all,

Bryan
 
Jeff and Brian great job! You have created a great compact bushcrafter. My wish list is now one knife longer.
Ira
 
Rockywolf said:
Jeff, Do you have a pic of the sheath?
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SHEATH?? What the heck do I need a sheath for? I haven't put it down all day!:D

Actually, I haven't gotten that far yet.:o I am working out of my realm/league messing with the handles so I never got far enough to make a sheath. I am thinking they will be made like one (pair) I did for my Gossman PSK in Kydex and one like I did for my Breeden PSKKII in leather.

ZZSGPSK08041208.jpg


Hmmmm.... I still haven't downloaded the leather PSKKII sheath pic.
I owe Bryan some photos anyway so I will upload that and his tomorrow.
 
sicily02 said:
I do have your drawings to and if some else would like to have a knife made
like what Jeff had made let me know since he said he would not mind.

Take care all,

Bryan
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bryan-- i really like this design a lot... great job once again jeff... i keep looking at this thread...

i'll probably be sending you an email in the next couple of day for one of these...:D
 
Jeff, Nice work. I can't wait to receive the sheath you made for me. If the ones above are any indication of the one you are making for me I am totally happy.

Your knives look great too!

Btw, I PMed you. Your email address bounced back.

Chris
 
psy-ops said:
Jeff, Nice work. I can't wait to receive the sheath you made for me. If the ones above are any indication of the one you are making for me I am totally happy.

Your knives look great too!

Btw, I PMed you. Your email address bounced back.

Chris
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"Made?":o
I hadn't started because I wasn't sure what color.
Got your PM and e-mail and know what color now. Will start today.:thumbup:

It should look like the one I did for my Pathfinder. The shape and features of the knife dictate a lot of what it will look like because I go for functionality - what it looks like is "what it looks like." If you want something specific or different, e-mail me.

Thanks for the compliments too!
 
OK, now it's ready!
PFBELTSHEATH060108.jpg


I also will have pics of the first one for the Compact Bushy soon,... as soon as my small Tek-Loks arrive.
 
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