well, i don't think i am going to get a chance to process any game with this knife. so, rather than hogging it, i will post my thoughts and send it on its way.
here she is
What i liked....
Fit and finish is great. Really like the blade. As Daily said above, the blade stock is thick(er), but i really like the grind. It is ground to a very thin cutting edge. i like it! :thumbup:
seems like it will be a great cutter. i see this as being quite a good hunting knife. i expect it would excel at small game prep (and fish).
Dan also really put a great taper on this tang.
it was easy to use for fuzz sticks.
What i didn't like....
The handle. i actually liked the shape quite a bit. it just didn't fit my hand. the handle was 5" long. and the swell was right in the middle. this meant that there was a lot of excess for me (sorry for the crappy pic).
you can see what i mean with my hand closed.
i would have preferred the palm swell to be moved toward the tip. that way, my hand would be pushed toward the guard. even then, i could lose a bunch of length.
now, i know the handle is a very subjective thing... so take that all with a grain of salt. if you have large hands (or were perhaps wearing gloves), then this handle would probably work for you. i would guess it is tough for a maker to come up with one handle that pleases everybody.
Dan, i know you said that you wanted feedback on the guard. first and foremost, the construction was sound. very good. honestly, i can't recall ever seeing a guard quite like this. it was almost like a hidden tang handle...except a hidden tang guard.
however, with all that said...like the handle...it was a bit much for me. it extended a good 1/4" past the knife edge. i would have preferred it either trimmed closer, or have the edge extended. just my 2 cents.
My overall impression was that this knife was quite a unique offering. i really think it would excel at game prep, and i am sorry i didn't get a chance to use it as such. the fit and finish were outstanding. the blade was outstanding. the handle really just didn't fit my hand.
I would like to see this same knife shape in a more compact offering. also, aesthetically speaking...i would like to see a contrasting bolster. i.e. nat micarta and black G10, or vice versa (e.g.).
Dan, thanks so much for this passaround. glad i got a chance to check it out.