Simple and sweet - hunters by Russ Andrews and Dave Kelly

RogerP

RogerP

Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
13,348
While complex damascus, colourful ivory and fancy engraving all have their place, I have always had a soft spot for the simple, clean lines and traditional materials of the "bread and butter" carbon steel hunter. At least when it is done as well as these two.

First up, a honey of a little knife by Russ Andrews in W2 and birdseye walnut. Russ turned out an extra nice ostrich-inlayed sheath for this one. The theory is that I'm going to use this one. I have it in my head that I really want to have using knives from my favourite makers, and this one is about as simple as Russ can make it, so I hope I will be able to bring myself to mar its flawless finish.

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Next up is a stag sweetie by Dave Kelly. I really do owe a note of thanks to Paul Long for bringing this maker to my attention. When Paul posted up a couple of examples of Dave's work (as here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=582138), I was asking myself "How is it possible that I don't know of this guy?" Well, I know now, and I am glad I do. 1095 and stag with bronze guard and handle frame. Fit and finish are absolutely top notch and the stag is of the kind of quality you just don't see any more (much nicer than represented in my pics). A little further up the scale from true basic, but well short of frilly. One of Paul's superb sheaths completes the package.

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Thanks for looking.

Roger
 
let's see some 'in use' shots! Pressure's on buddy:)
 
Those are both real nice. My penchant for nice stag makes the Kelly my favorite of the two. Congratulations.
 
I remember when that Kelly piece was posted...Very complex-but-well-done construction
IMO....Memorable piece..:-)
 
Roger, I share in your joy of ownership..............literally.

Paul
 
RogerP said:
I have it in my head that I really want to have using knives from my favourite makers,
Roger
Click to expand...
BOLD statement ! :D

Two SUPER hunters with great matching sheaths.
Thanks for sharing, Roger. :thumbup:

A little OT but there's a nice stag Newton on the exchange now,
but it's priced a little too much,imo.
Just a little. :)

Doug
 
Those are both incredible. I seem to have the same problem with buying knives that are more basic with the intent of using them, then finding them too nice to use. I'm sure that they would perform well. If you do use them, please report.

Nick
 
ROGER! How could a maker as awesome as Dave Kelly fly under your amazing radar? I swear, I'm gonna take both you AND Danbo hunting... as long as each of you take one of your fine custom knives with you, AND make you USE them!;):D And... to top it off, I'll make you use one of your fine custom camp knives for actual camp knife chores!

OK, seriously now... thanks for posting those two beauties. I know I'd put them to work.
 
Very nice knive. With that said, you are a lawyer from Toronto, right? Why is it that I suspect that "using" will likely consist of slaying the odd baguette or skinning a trophy wheel of camembert?:D
 
Roger , very nice pair of blades.

That Kelly is without a doubt my favorite of all the fixed blades I have ever seen , there is just something about it's "basic-ness" , that just makes it stand out in my mind above others. Love the choice of guard material and finish.


If you don't mind sir , I would like to use that picture as wallpaper on my pc.
 
I have to be honest Roger, when I found out who was getting this one I was a bit nervous.....very glad you like the knife and goes without saying, Paul's amazing sheathwork.
What a great honor to be included with Mr. Andrews beautiful work!! Made my day, thank you!

Dave
 
Simple and sweet, hard to beat. Two excellant hunters, Roger. I really like the guard length and flow on Russ', and the stag on Dave's is awesome. Each handle shaped for comfort.

Congrats on two fine knives that would both make tremendous users.

- Joe
 
Thanks very much guys.

Joe - :D - yeah, fair comment. My 9-5 knife needs are pretty much satisfied by a pair of small pearl-handled slipjoints. Hunters for me are more of a general utility knife than a field-dressing little critters knife. For example, I just bought a set of all-weather floor mats for my wife's new car. The one for the driver's footwell had to be shaped like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle to fit. The rubber was WAY too thick and tough for scissors or an exacto knife, but my Burt Foster Blue Collar hunter just zipped through it. Nothing glamorous - no-one is going to write a ballad about it - but I was glad to have a quality using custom on hand for this and a myriad other mundane chores.

John - you can use any pic of mine in any way you like, as long as you promise to stop calling me "sir". ;)

Dave - thanks - you really did a fine job on this piece and I hope we get to meet up at a show somewhere down the road so I can shake your hand. Keep posting up pics of your work, and if you're ever pounding out a large fighter like the one you did for Paul that isn't otherwise spoken for, do give me a shout. :thumbup:

Roger

PS - Dave - how did you get that kind of antique patinaed finish on the bronze?
 
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