- Joined
- Jan 18, 2003
- Messages
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Matt Tackett’s Bushcrafter.
Matt is part time knifemaker from Tennesee. He apprentices with Chris Bowden of KFU knives and produces some fine wilderness style knives meant for use. When he first started posting his knives I was instantly attracted to his lines and style. I would say with a similar flavor to KFU’s in the raw material choices and some techniques, but with a style all his own. I have been curious to try out one of his knives for a while.
I received this knife in the post along with one of his All Purpose knives the weekend before Sandy hit. Matt asked if I could give this knife some thorough use and review it and this is the result.
Initial impressions: This knife is gorgeous! Not in the safe-queen , “I don’t wanna mess this up” way but in the way that begs to be used.
My first interaction with any knife after initially looking at it is feeling how the handle feels and manipulating it in various grips.
This one, done in Stabilized Buckeye burl with black spacers, stainless pins and tube, looks like translucent polished stone. It does not have a sharp corner anywhere and is softly and evenly contoured around its profile but left relatively straight from front to back on either side of its spine.
It is 4 5/8” long, 1 1/8” wide and 7/8” thick. Many knives made in the bushcraft style or for such use have very pronounced palm swells and inward curves toward the front. They are very comfortable but not absolutely necessary and if the actual geometry does not fit the size of my hand, I tend to not want to use it. Straight sides give it a versatility that is appreciated with prolonged and continued use.
The blade is 1/8” thick 1095, convex sabre grind with a convex edge, 4 1/8” long and 1 1/8” wide. This profile gives IMO the best balance between plenty of straight edge and plenty of belly, and a sharp point. The flats are acid etched and patinaed which give it a rustic look and feel.
The convex primary and secondary bevels’ geometry is well thought out. I can’t give you the precise angles but the blade gave me plenty of bite when whittling and carving.
To be continued....
Matt is part time knifemaker from Tennesee. He apprentices with Chris Bowden of KFU knives and produces some fine wilderness style knives meant for use. When he first started posting his knives I was instantly attracted to his lines and style. I would say with a similar flavor to KFU’s in the raw material choices and some techniques, but with a style all his own. I have been curious to try out one of his knives for a while.
I received this knife in the post along with one of his All Purpose knives the weekend before Sandy hit. Matt asked if I could give this knife some thorough use and review it and this is the result.
Initial impressions: This knife is gorgeous! Not in the safe-queen , “I don’t wanna mess this up” way but in the way that begs to be used.
My first interaction with any knife after initially looking at it is feeling how the handle feels and manipulating it in various grips.
This one, done in Stabilized Buckeye burl with black spacers, stainless pins and tube, looks like translucent polished stone. It does not have a sharp corner anywhere and is softly and evenly contoured around its profile but left relatively straight from front to back on either side of its spine.
It is 4 5/8” long, 1 1/8” wide and 7/8” thick. Many knives made in the bushcraft style or for such use have very pronounced palm swells and inward curves toward the front. They are very comfortable but not absolutely necessary and if the actual geometry does not fit the size of my hand, I tend to not want to use it. Straight sides give it a versatility that is appreciated with prolonged and continued use.
The blade is 1/8” thick 1095, convex sabre grind with a convex edge, 4 1/8” long and 1 1/8” wide. This profile gives IMO the best balance between plenty of straight edge and plenty of belly, and a sharp point. The flats are acid etched and patinaed which give it a rustic look and feel.
The convex primary and secondary bevels’ geometry is well thought out. I can’t give you the precise angles but the blade gave me plenty of bite when whittling and carving.
To be continued....
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