Small fixed blades with stacked leather handles

C

Carboniferous

Basic Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2015
Messages
778
I love the look of stacked leather handles and I've been meaning to buy myself a small fixed blade to carry in my pocket. So far I've found two small fixed blades with stacked leather that I think might work out:

Ka-Bar Little Fin:
DlxLitFinKnife%207''_WEB.jpg


Case 379:

379.jpg


Right now I'm leaning towards the Case, I think their stainless is a bit better than the 1.4116 on the KaBar and the knife is also a bit smaller.

Just wondering what those of you who have handled either of these think and also looking for other options that I've missed.
 
Hess Knifeworks has a Bird and Trout with Stacked Leather and 1095 Carbon Steel. Most GEC Distributors carry them.
 
rma100 said:
Hess Knifeworks has a Bird and Trout with Stacked Leather and 1095 Carbon Steel. Most GEC Distributors carry them.
Click to expand...

Just found a few for sale, these look very nice. I'm a big fan of 1095 and they're under 7" overall, just about perfect.
 
This Marbles small hunter is 7 1/4" overall, and fits nicely in a sheath for a Buck 102, small enough for a rear pocket, or a front, if you are wearing slacks. Sorry, crappy cell phone pic from a bad angle, but these turn up from time to time.

qlr1.jpg
 
Hess knives are impressive. I have a Hunter with black stacked leather handles.
 
I have the Case. I like it. Don't care for the sheath, though. Bulky sheath for a small knife. Great little knife.
 
rdrogers said:
I have the Case. I like it. Don't care for the sheath, though. Bulky sheath for a small knife. Great little knife.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the sheath looks a little bulky but I don't like wearing a sheath on my belt even if it's small. I was going to try out a pocket sheath, something like this:

ambush-leather-pocket-sheath__87602.1431708015.500.659.JPG
 
If you browse around a bit, you can still find some of the original little finns used for a decent price. They were great knives and could do all of what you need a knife for. Some of the Western brand little finns were very compact.
 
Carboniferous said:
Yeah, the sheath looks a little bulky but I don't like wearing a sheath on my belt even if it's small. I was going to try out a pocket sheath, something like this:

ambush-leather-pocket-sheath__87602.1431708015.500.659.JPG
Click to expand...

That should work. Might have to wet form it for a good fit. Those blades are narrow. Mine doesn't fit great in my KSF pocket sheath, but could with a little work. I carry another knife in it most of the time, so I didn't modify it.
 
rdrogers said:
That should work. Might have to wet form it for a good fit. Those blades are narrow. Mine doesn't fit great in my KSF pocket sheath, but could with a little work. I carry another knife in it most of the time, so I didn't modify it.
Click to expand...

I mean, as long as it keeps the knife from moving around too much and stops it from stabbing me I should be happy enough, haha. I plan on buying a few different fixed blades for pocket carry so I probably won't modify it, I'm OK with a not-great fit.

jackknife said:
If you browse around a bit, you can still find some of the original little finns used for a decent price. They were great knives and could do all of what you need a knife for. Some of the Western brand little finns were very compact.
Click to expand...

Those do look nice, I'll have to keep an eye for them. Do you know what steel they use? I assume some basic carbon steel.
 
Not a lot of folks still do the stacked leather in a smaller knife.

IMG_7038__82078.1428463618.1280.1280.JPG


Here is a prototype of a pocket sheath (belt/boot also) that I have coming in the next couple weeks.

12194662_1154616764566559_8149030271797547230_o.jpg

11114065_1154616814566554_6188930188611191715_o.jpg
 
knifeswapper said:
Not a lot of folks still do the stacked leather in a smaller knife.

IMG_7038__82078.1428463618.1280.1280.JPG


Here is a prototype of a pocket sheath (belt/boot also) that I have coming in the next couple weeks.

12194662_1154616764566559_8149030271797547230_o.jpg

11114065_1154616814566554_6188930188611191715_o.jpg
Click to expand...

Yep, you're one of the few places I saw with the bird & trout with stacked leather in stock. Love the maroon micarta with the leather and brass.

That sheath looks excellent, exactly like what I've been looking for.Wwhat are the dimensions/price going to be for it? Looks more front-pocket friendly than most of the pocket sheaths I've been eyeing.
 
jackknife said:
If you browse around a bit, you can still find some of the original little finns used for a decent price. They were great knives and could do all of what you need a knife for. Some of the Western brand little finns were very compact.
Click to expand...

Carboniferous said:
I mean, as long as it keeps the knife from moving around too much and stops it from stabbing me I should be happy enough, haha. I plan on buying a few different fixed blades for pocket carry so I probably won't modify it, I'm OK with a not-great fit.



Those do look nice, I'll have to keep an eye for them. Do you know what steel they use? I assume some basic carbon steel.
Click to expand...

The Western bird and trout models are the L28, L48A and L48B. Blade steel was 1095CV. Aside - Starting in the 1960s, the Western B&Ts also came as models 628, 648A, 648B with Delrin fake stag handles.

The L28 is closest to the Kabar Little Finn (1226) with blade lengths in the 3.5"ish range. The L48A is similar to the Kabar 1232 (4 inch blades). The Western L48B is kind of like a L28/L48A hybrid - blade width of the 48A and the length of the 28.

In the 1950s, Western also re-used the stamp WEST-CUT (from the 20s and 30s). They had the K1, K2 and K3 B&Ts. Basically these were the 28, 48A and 48B, just stamped WEST-CUT.

All of the Western versions pop up on fleabay periodically as good user version all the time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top