The Perfect Hunter

Will York

Will York

Joined
Jan 21, 2000
Messages
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Some time ago I decided to pull together all the elements I appreciate in a full-size hunter. I listed the aspects of each part of the knife that are important to me after fifty years of field dressing and butchering hundreds of animals from javelina up to elk size. Once I completed the list and managed a sketch, I realized I'd never owned a knife that incorporated all these features, so I decided to ask a few of the top makers in the country if they would consider building it for me. Below is a copy of my sketch and photos of resulting pieces from three master smiths.

I thought the design might serve as a basis for interesting discussion here, so I'm offering it for your consideration and certainly all views are welcome.

Thoughts on Size:

I typically carry a 3-4" blade folder for small game and utility purposes, but a 5-6" fixed blade hunter is my preferred knife around camp and on large game. I'm a native Texan and still hunt there often, and Texas once had a legal limit of 5.5" blade length for belt-carry knives. I find this length serves me well. That and my other size/use preferences have resulted in the following dimensions:

Overall Length: 10 inches
Blade Length: 5 ½ inches from guard face to point
Handle: 4 ½ inches, including guard
Blade Thickness: 3/16" at ricasso with distal taper to point

Sketch:
YorkHunter.jpg

NOTE: Edge starts away from the ricasso at a DOWNWARD angle from centerline to a deep belly. Top of spine is clean and straight out to a swedged clip (straight clip, not dished), the clip running half the length of the blade.

Thoughts on Design:

1. The way the edge line starts from the face of the guard at a downward angle does two things: a) it helps hold material on the edge in a pull-cut much like a recurve does but keeps the edge in line for straightforward sharpening; and b) it develops a deep belly, well-positioned for skinning. The straight ricasso, in-line with the edge (no choil), allows the blade to slide all the way in and be drawn back out without snagging. There is enough ricasso behind the edge to support a finger when choking up on the blade.

2. The clip also does two things: a) the combination of the length of the clip, starting about midway between hilt and point, together with the clip angle, forms a fine working point positioned well for penetration. On a larger hunting blade like this, I appreciate a fine
point when working around joints and in tight places; and b) the clip is straight rather than dished, so it can be laid flat against a hide to precisely guide the start of a skinning cut.

3. Neither the spine nor the top of the handle rises above the top line of the knife. This is primarily a cosmetic thing with me, but is also a positioning function. I prefer knives that don't "break back" at an angle between spine and handle, with neither the line of the spine nor the top line of the handle rising up from level. I appreciate a design with the top line of the handle in line with the spine, then dropping away at the butt.

4. The contours of the handle achieve several things: a) the rounded butt is comfortable when tucked into the center of the palm, so that the index finger can be laid along the top of the handle for controlled point-work/penetration as when taking out back straps; b) the rounded butt is also comfortable to strike with the palm, to start the point into resistant materials; c) the contouring along the bottom of the handle allows good control, security and comfort in all positions, including pull-cuts with the handle upside down; and d) the "bird's beak" at the butt gives something to pull against to free the knife if the blade binds in something.

5. Finally, I really appreciate a radiused spine and also a radiused underside to the ricasso, for comfort when choking up on the blade.

Here are pics of finished knives made from the sketch and list of features: ThreeMasters.jpg
3MS.jpg
The damascus knife is by Bailey Bradshaw in elephant ivory and his 400-layer 01-15n20 ladder damascus with an amazing French greyed, deep-relief engraved guard -- pure elegance. The amber-stag handled knife is by Rick Dunkerley in forged CPM10V (heat treated to Rc 64 by Phil Wilson) and is a meat-and-hide razor with a super-thin edge, whisper-fine point, and edge holding that should probably be measured in generations. The one with the bronze guard is by Jason Knight in elephant ivory and forged L6. I really like its robust lines and the way it fills the hand. None of the three has tang surfaces exposed to the hand, which can be a comfort issue when the temperature drops. The Bradshaw is a take-down with recessed finial; the Dunkerley has a mortised tang, epoxied and pinned; and the Knight handle is one piece of ivory with Jason's trademark "barbed tang" construction. All tangs are reduced but sturdy--no stick tangs here.

Bailey ran a thread almost a year ago on the one he did for me. His pics are much better than mine--especially those showing the detail on his engraving. Here's that link:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=618415

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I hope you enjoy the pics as much as I do.

Will
 
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I really like your design - and how cool it is to have three top makers render their interpretation. They are all terrific. Did you specify blade steel / handle material / embellishments for each, or just let the makers have at it? Are you getting any more made? Have you had a chance to use any of them yet? If so, how did the various aspects of your design play out in use?

I have all of one weekend hunting to call upon for experience, but since I was out with a bunch of knife nuts, I got to try a number of different blades with different designs by different makers. My own preference led toward the smaller, thinner blades - think Harvey Dean or Ron Newton or Dan Farr - but I can understand the appeal of a larger piece for all-around use.

Roger
 
I really appreciate your time in this adventure.
Looks like a VERY well thought out design, and I'd say your chosen makers did your plan justice.
Good job - truly.
 
Will, you're a man after my own heart:D Those are all incredible looking knives, and I can really appreciate the thought that went into the design! Congrats on one heck of a trio there:thumbup:
 
Will,Thank You! Fantastic thread,pics,info & the knives are really awesome.
I appreciate all your points,#2 on the clip is spot on.
-Vince
 
Thanks Roger, Karl, Walter and Vince for your kind words. All of you have contributed important insights to this community over the past few years, and I appreciate your comments very much.

Roger:

I did specify the CPM10V and stag for the one Rick did for me, because I knew he was experienced with 10V and also that he worked closely with Phil Wilson on the heat treat which is so critical on that steel. On the others, I’ve asked the makers which steels and handle materials they were comfortable with and we went from there. Both Bailey and Jason were comfortable with working ivory, and I like the feel of ivory in hand, hence the decision on those handles. I hadn’t really intended to use damascus, but Bailey had a billet available and we discussed the performance properties of his mix, which really appealed to me. Rick offered to apply some “western” engraving to the guard on his, to camouflage scratches and use much as anything, and I asked Bailey to suggest what he could do on his guard based on an engraved folder he did for me. Obviously, he blew me away.

I do have the design out to some other makers, but none are working on it right now to my knowledge. I don’t really know what to expect on delivery with any of those, which is not unusual under these circumstances as you well know.

I’m afraid the design may have jinxed my hunting efforts—haven’t had a chance to use any of these yet. But the feel in hand, dimensions and other aspects of these knives is all I had hoped for, which is what prompted me to have several copies of the design made.

Actually, I’m just now learning to hunt the southern mountains of New Mexico where my wife and I moved a few years ago. Seasons here are limited to five days, which doesn’t allow much time to connect, although I’ve seen some monster bulls in the White Mountain Wilderness near the Mescalero Apache Reservation boundary—rough country. My previous hunting has been mostly in Texas and Colorado, with experience elk hunting in Montana, lowland deer hunting in the Carolinas and wild boar hunting on the Tejon Ranch in California thrown in for good measure.

I share your appreciation for small, thin-bladed knives, and during my hunting life I’ve field dressed more deer with Case and Buck folders than any other knives. But a longer blade is much-appreciated when boning out deer to put the meat on ice in warm weather, or when boning out/butchering a bull elk in country too rough to get pack horses into. I hate to add the weight of elk bones to my pack, since I only eat the meat. :D

Thanks again to all,
Will
 
Very nice and well thought-out design, and three extremely fine interpretations.

John
 
Hi Will how are you ?

Let me congradulate you on this way cool project all of the knives look outstanding

Let me also congradulate you on your design .

In a word it looks perfect.

I prefer a smaller knife for skinning and capeing but you did say you prefered this size blade for all around use and I commend you on a great design

First IMHO you really got the tip right. Most guys bring the tip up for my taste way to much. I understand that they are making a knife not to pokey for skinning purposes but incisions have to start somewhere and a lower tip for me helps with the detail work of capeing. I skin with the belly of a blade and you did that nicely. Not to much but enough.

Great comfortable shaped handles

All are nice but I love the Knight
 
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VERY cool Will. There is no substitute for field use of knives to know exactly what your preference is.

Those ALL look superbly made to your design with subtle variations.

They look TOO nice to use:D, but it would be interesting to hear your reviews of how they perform.

Peter
 
Hi Will,nice looking knives.Could you please post pictures of the other side of the knives.Especially the stag handled one,thank you.
Will,the stag kind of stands out as the odd man.You need to get Dunkerly to make you one with ivory handle.Then you will have three matching hunters and your hunting luck may change:).I would also be very glad to do you a good turn and take that stag handled hunter off your hands:D..
Jokes aside,nice collection and hope you do get a chance to use them and let us know how they perform.
Thanks for posting this.
 
Will - thanks for posting these and sharing your very thorough rationale and thought process behind the primary design aspects. Clearly you put a ton of thought into this and I appreciate the finer subtleties of the design. I also learned a thing or two.

The knives, of course, look great too. Can't go wrong with those makers.
 
Wow, I don't hunt but that design looks great! Nice looking flow and I love that you have multiple knives made from it. I've considered sending drawings to multiple makers for their interpretations.
 
Thanks for the info Will - and congrats again on a great design beautifully realized.

Roger
 
Thanks for sharing, Will. Good ideas on a design and well executed by all the smiths. My only preference would be for a stouter tip but these turned out just fine. :thumbup:
 
Nice lookin knives, Will and a great design!

Jason nailed the lines and I like the little extra to the rear of the handle.
 
John White and Don Hanson,

High praise from makers who continually knock me out with their designs. Thank you both for your compliments--very humbling.

JP,

I really appreciate your comments, knowing you have experienced some of the most exotic hunting available on the planet. By the way, I hear Marco Polo rams horn makes super knife handles! ;)

Raj,

Thanks for your generous offer to take the Dunk off my hands, but I’d so hate to burden you. :D

The left side of the handle pictured above is the more textured, lying under the fingers where traction is appreciated. Right side is smoother so that it doesn’t “work” against the palm of a right hander (me:p):
attachment.php



Thanks to everyone for your thoughts,

Will
 
I like them all but I agree that Jason nailed the design. I was thinking the same thing when looking at the three.
 
What a great thread. Thanks!:)
 
Cool! I think I saw that Damascus knife in its unfinished state when I was at Bailey's shop last January or February.
 
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