Not your typical bushcraft knife

[Storm Crow]

I was contacted by a fellow who runs a school focusing on preparedness/bushcraft/survival. He wanted a knife to carry in general and to use in his classes. He liked a previous knife I had done, and I took that as the starting point for his. He sent me a sketch for the sheath setup he wanted, which I handed over to my sheathmaker. It had several new aspects for my sheathmaker, but the customer was well pleased with the outcome and commented that it looked like the sheathmaker had made hundreds of 'em.

The blade is around 6" long, forged from 3/4" 5160 round bar, and given my typical triple normalized, triple hardened, triple tempered heat treatment. The handle is wrapped in paracord impregnated with Minwax Wood Hardener, with a grayish green cord for the underlay and black for the overlay and two-strand Turk's head knot. The edge shaves hair, of course.

The sheath features a retention strap with a snap, brass D-ring dangler belt loop, and brass flared tube rivet attachment points, as well as a fire rod loop.

And some texturing to go with the forge finish.

It seems like most bushcraft knives are around 4" and scandi ground with fairly gentle spear points. This is a full flat bevel with a sharper point.

It's light in spite of its stout spine. The spine is around 1/4" with a distal taper. The balance point is just in front of the Turk's head knot.

 

[Storm Crow]

The customer, Dave Carlson of Blackthorn-USA (Blackthorn-USA.com) gave the knife its first testing. The words and pics are his:

"It was about 28 degrees when we hit camp this morning. Needed a fire so the new knife got its first taste of the outdoors. And liked it.

It preformed very well. From delicate cutting required for feather sticks to batoning through a very knotty piece of oak it excelled at the task. And of course remained very sharp. Only one thing comes to mind that I'd ask to have done differently in the future. I’d have the makers mark stamped on the other side of the blade so people in front of me could see it when I’m using it in my right hand. Of course I didn't think of that until I had it in hand. Absolutey great knife in every regard.

The sheath is also excellent, in quality as well as use. I wore it on my left side today so as not to interfere with my handgun. Cross draw for right handed use was easily accessible. The D ring made it nice in that the sheath could pivot up when sitting in a vehicle.

Great knife and sheath! Everyone should have two or three of these. Ok, more pics :

"

 

[james terrio]

That's a sweet rig! Every detail is accounted for, but there's no extra silliness. :thumbup:

I see you built the keeper strap so it opens from the edge side, with your thumb. I was beginning to think I was the only one who likes 'em that way

 

[Storm Crow]

Thanks, James.

I take no credit for the sheath. It was built by a local guy who makes sheaths as a retirement hobby, to the design sketch of Dave Carlson, the customer. I hadn't noticed that about the keeper strap, but I think I agree with you.

 

[james terrio]

He certainly does nice work, and of course I meant your knife as well :thumbup:

I hadn't noticed that about the keeper strap, but I think I agree with you.

It just feels more natural to me that way.