- Joined
- Jun 27, 2007
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- 1,797
Just a warning for all you sensitive types, there may be a drop or two of blood pictured below, and a pinch of gore.
Lesson no. 1: When you ask Bruce Culberson to build you a knife the final product will exceed expectations.
Like most everyone else I'm always chasing after the elusive best combo of knives for camping/hiking use. One of my most used and all time favorite knives is the Bark River Golok. However in my perfect world it would be a little shorter, taller, have a more substantial handle, and carry more weight towards the tip. So, a few months ago I sent Bruce a hand drawn design for something I called the mini-mauler. Of course it would need my standard big knife items finger choil, jimping, and protruding tang.
Additionally, I asked Bruce to build a roach belly, about 7 OAL, as a companion knife and a piggyback sheath to complete the package.
Well, they showed up on my doorstep yesterday, just in time to take on the hike I had planned for today. Below are several pics taken yesterday and this morning. Having camera issues so had to use the Blackberry pardon the quality.
OAL 14"+
Side-by-side with the Bark River
Lessons no. 2 & 3: Learned these two lessons at the same time. Lesson no. 2 is never forget to snap the retention strap. Lesson no. 3 is that Bruce gets his knives very sharp.
Basically I was in the back yard wearing the sheath to see how it would carry on the hike. Was climbing around the bank above the house and went to step over a stump. From the top of the sheath I tilted it into the horizontal+ position as I stepped over, and the knife slid completely out...cutting my pinkie to the bone. First thing I did was to make a fist with my pinkie on the inside to apply pressure and control the bleeding. Second thing I did was look at the sheath to see what happened and there it was .retention strap not snapped. Dont know if I was more upset about the gash or the fact that I made such a bone head move. First time Ive ever dropped a knife out of its sheath, and Im always very cautious about securing my knives properly. One moment of inattention is all it took. And I wasnt even drinking! A trip to the emergency room and seven stitches later and Im back home playing with knives again. Will have to wait two weeks before giving Bruces work a good test run.
The damage
The repair
Starting a blood patina the hard way
Lesson no. 4: Pay more attention! Playing with new knives, getting ready for a long day hike, got a little too excited and a little too complacent. Lack of attention in the right set of circumstances can be trouble.
Lesson no. 5: Beef up the med kit. This cut really sucked, thats for sure, but if it would have happened while out in the boonies and had to hike 4 hours back to civilization it would have sucked a whole lot worse. There are countless ways to get hurt out there, and not all are from moments of stupidity. I added an extra roll of gauze because I went through it very fast, and ordered two finger and one 18 SAM splints online.
Bruce did an awesome job on these knives and oh hell yea theyre sharp! The piggyback setup is well thought out and nicely done. Once my finger heals up Ill put the whole package through hoops and report back.
Lesson no. 1: When you ask Bruce Culberson to build you a knife the final product will exceed expectations.
Like most everyone else I'm always chasing after the elusive best combo of knives for camping/hiking use. One of my most used and all time favorite knives is the Bark River Golok. However in my perfect world it would be a little shorter, taller, have a more substantial handle, and carry more weight towards the tip. So, a few months ago I sent Bruce a hand drawn design for something I called the mini-mauler. Of course it would need my standard big knife items finger choil, jimping, and protruding tang.
Additionally, I asked Bruce to build a roach belly, about 7 OAL, as a companion knife and a piggyback sheath to complete the package.
Well, they showed up on my doorstep yesterday, just in time to take on the hike I had planned for today. Below are several pics taken yesterday and this morning. Having camera issues so had to use the Blackberry pardon the quality.
OAL 14"+
Side-by-side with the Bark River
Lessons no. 2 & 3: Learned these two lessons at the same time. Lesson no. 2 is never forget to snap the retention strap. Lesson no. 3 is that Bruce gets his knives very sharp.
Basically I was in the back yard wearing the sheath to see how it would carry on the hike. Was climbing around the bank above the house and went to step over a stump. From the top of the sheath I tilted it into the horizontal+ position as I stepped over, and the knife slid completely out...cutting my pinkie to the bone. First thing I did was to make a fist with my pinkie on the inside to apply pressure and control the bleeding. Second thing I did was look at the sheath to see what happened and there it was .retention strap not snapped. Dont know if I was more upset about the gash or the fact that I made such a bone head move. First time Ive ever dropped a knife out of its sheath, and Im always very cautious about securing my knives properly. One moment of inattention is all it took. And I wasnt even drinking! A trip to the emergency room and seven stitches later and Im back home playing with knives again. Will have to wait two weeks before giving Bruces work a good test run.
The damage
The repair
Starting a blood patina the hard way
Lesson no. 4: Pay more attention! Playing with new knives, getting ready for a long day hike, got a little too excited and a little too complacent. Lack of attention in the right set of circumstances can be trouble.
Lesson no. 5: Beef up the med kit. This cut really sucked, thats for sure, but if it would have happened while out in the boonies and had to hike 4 hours back to civilization it would have sucked a whole lot worse. There are countless ways to get hurt out there, and not all are from moments of stupidity. I added an extra roll of gauze because I went through it very fast, and ordered two finger and one 18 SAM splints online.
Bruce did an awesome job on these knives and oh hell yea theyre sharp! The piggyback setup is well thought out and nicely done. Once my finger heals up Ill put the whole package through hoops and report back.
