Stuart Branson Hunter

Very nice Hunter. I've not had the pleasure to see one of Stuart's knives in person but I do know his sheaths are excellent. Congrats Will and nice work Stuart!
 
That is one of the nicest hunters i've seen posted! Awesome shape and VERY nice piece of ironwood.

From some posts, it seems you are an outdoorsman/hunter/guide extraordinaire Will.

Have you used it yet? Perhaps you would elaborate on the design features, as it is not a typical shape for a hunter.

Peter
 
I like everything about this hunter! Great work, Stuart, and having seen your designs, Will, I am not surprised by the outcome. I am a fan of your ideas about hunters, and I know your knowledge comes from years of experience in the field. Stuart is really coming around with his early work, and I can't wait to see the sheath for this.

Congrats! :thumbup:

- Joe
 
Mr. York, I've always enjoyed your concept/design threads. Kudos to you for selecting Stuart to make this one a reality. Stuart is such a talented fella and gives 110%. His willingness to please is highly evident here.
Stuart, this knife rivals that of many well known makers. Outstanding work!
 
Matt, Kevin, Joe and Bill: Thank you very much for the nice compliments and congratulations; very much appreciated here.


peterinct said:
That is one of the nicest hunters i've seen posted! Awesome shape and VERY nice piece of ironwood.

From some posts, it seems you are an outdoorsman/hunter/guide extraordinaire Will.

Have you used it yet? Perhaps you would elaborate on the design features, as it is not a typical shape for a hunter.

Peter
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Hi Peter,

Thank you for such a nice post. I have not had an opportunity to use Stuart's knife yet--it's brand new, but certainly I look forward to it with gusto.

I want to apologize if I seem self-promoting or to be building myself up as anything extraordinary--certainly I'm not. Let me try to explain where I'm coming from. I hope it's not too boring.

I grew up in a family truly dedicated to hunting, and we processed all of our own game from field to freezer. I'll turn 60 this year. I've taken hundreds of game animals in my lifetime and have been field dressing and butchering them since I was a boy. I know there are those with broader hunting experience than mine who post here, though probably not many with more hunting behind them just because, well, I'm old. :)

Over my lifetime, my methods/techniques have evolved quite a bit. Fifty years ago when we processed a whitetail deer, it took about two man-hours to field dress, skin and butcher a carcass. By the time I was in my 40's, my efficiency had improved considerably. When my father was still alive, I remember him timing me one day from when I had a whitetail hanging on a singletree and had first drawn my knife until all the meat was on ice--20 minutes.

Naturally, I pursued the "perfect" hunting knife for many years, which gave me a lot of joy and first pointed me into custom knives and learning about steel, blade geometry, etc. I finally sat down and listed all of the features I really appreciated in a large hunter. That was more than five years ago. I realized at that point I'd never had a knife that included all those features, so I started sketching designs until I finally came up with one that included all the elements on my list. My friend Rick Dunkerley in Montana, who had helped me understand a lot about knives and steel, was the first who agreed to build the design from my sketch. When that knife came in, I was delighted with it, but also found myself wishing small aspects were different.

Rather than leave well enough alone, I began asking other makers I admired if they would build the pattern, and the journey since has been amazing. I love every knife that has come out of this project, each for different reasons. All are built from the same pattern, but all by different hands under different sets of artistic eyes. I'm amazed how much the knives differ from each other.

As soon as I saw Stuart's first work, I knew he had "the eye", so I was delighted when he agreed to build my design. Now I am simply in awe of his talent. I'm very glad I got this knife when I did, because I have an idea anyone who waits much longer to order a Stuart Branson knife and sheath is going to find himself at the end of a very long waiting list.

I won't ramble any further except to say that the "nuts and bolts" of my thinking on the design, and a copy of the sketch, can be found in the following thread for anyone who might be interested:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=703461

Thanks again for your kind words,
Will
 
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Thanks for the reply Will. I've always loved knives and guns from an early age, but never had the opportunity to learn about hunting as no one in my family hunted.

I've used knives extensively for camping and hiking but have never dressed game or done any skinning. I was totally unaware of custom knives back then and my Buck 119 and 110 sufficed my needs for camping and hiking.

Thanks for the link to the thread where you explained the functionality of your design. I had read it previously, but it was a pleasure reading it again and viewing the knives. Some really fine ones, and it's cool to see how each maker interpreted your design.

That sheath looks great with the Branson. Great package!

Have you developed a preferred steel?

Peter
 
peterinct said:
... my Buck 119 and 110 sufficed my needs for camping and hiking.
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I've field dressed and butchered more deer with Buck 110's and Case Folding Hunters than with any custom I've owned. As a yound man just getting started, when you can only afford one or two knives, they get a lot more use than when you own a safe full. I bet you've had that same experience.


peterinct said:
Have you developed a preferred steel?
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I used to be more of a steel snob than I am now. I've found that extreme edge holding isn't all that important. I've used CPM10V and S90V knives and have enjoyed them very much for edge holding, the 10V being the tougher of the two and the S90V being the much more stain resistant. Both of those steels have tremendous edge holding.

But I'm too O/C to let a knife go unsharpened after finishing an animal anyway, and most of the current-day high-end stainless or tool/spring steels being used by knifemakers are more than adequate to take care of any large game animal before needing to have the edge touched up--and I'm going to do that after every animal anyway, even in the field.

Now, when I order a knife from a maker the first thing I ask is what steel he's most comfortable working with and usually that's what I settle on. Heat treat is at least as important to the final product as the steel, and I'd rather go with something a maker has experience and confidence in than trying to push him into using something he doesn't know.

I will say that I find Busse's INFI, as heat treated by them, has the most impressive combination of toughness AND edge holding I've seen, although its edge holding is not up to the high-vanadium CPM steels. INFI also has the best rust resistance of any steel I've used in the non-stainless category and actually better rust resistance than some stainless steels--certainly better than ATS34/154CM in my personal experience. But as a proprietary steel, options for using INFI are of course limited to the Busse line.
 
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Stuart and Will, I was waiting until the sheath was posted so I could comment and compliment both at the same time. Will, I looked at the drawing of your knife in the other thread and to my eye Stuart produced an absolutely faithful copy of your idea and design.

It's no big secret, that while I really love knives and the people associated, I have little to no technical savvy about making knives other than just general layman's knowledge, but sheaths and leather work is another story. I started this leather "hobby" back in 1951, and since that time I've learned a lot in the hands of my mentors over the years. I've had the great opportunity to be a mentor myself for a handful of young men and three or four of them went on to make me as proud as can be. Not one of these young men stands ahead of Stuart. I know I don't have to tell you, but I will any way. That sheath you have with your new knife is one I would be very proud to have my maker's mark on. It has quality fused into every fiber. Design, selective embellishment, color, construction, the whole works is just perfect for that knife....your knife. I know you will be proud to carry and use it.

Stuart, you did well on all counts!

Paul
 
I love how the grain in the wood follows the shape of the handle.
And, like Paul said, after looking at the pic you can see how Stu totally nailed it. Totally.
I think the coming year is going to see some major growth for our man here.
Stoked to know you Stu!:)
 
Thanks so much everyone. I am deeply deeply grateful to all for the kind sentiments expressed here. :o:)

Will has really been a mentor of another kind to me over these years of emails back and forth. That he chose me to render his design is an honour I cannot thank him enough for. I can only hope I have done some justice to his faith in me.

Thanks Will.

Paul- what can I say again but thanks.


Lorien said:
I love how the grain in the wood follows the shape of the handle.
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Thanks, I planned that. ;) I guess my woodworking day job has some crossover. :p
 
Congrats to both of you, Stuart and Will :D
Sweet knife and sweet sheath :)
The wood grain on the handle is really something and nicely matched the design of the knife while the tool work on the leather sheath enhanced the look of the sheath very much :thumbup:

mohd.
 
Good looking hunter Will, that sheath is mighty sweet too. :thumbup: Now all you need is a bull elk to try her out on. Congrats,

Doug,
 
That may be my favourite sheath of Stuart's yet, and I like ALL his sheaths. Gorgeous!

Roger
 
High praise from Mr. Long....! :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup: And it sure looks to be VERY WELL deserved. OUTSTANDING sheath to go with such a fine knife Stuart!!! :)
 
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