Two skinners 154 CM and D2

J

Jason Fry

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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My name is Jason Fry. I've been making knives for just about 5 years. I am a psychologist/behavior analyst by day. I've got a wife and two boys. Knives fund my fishing habit and provide good end-of-the-month money. I make mostly fixed blade hunting knives, but have made a few folding knives as well. I do mostly stock removal, but have forged a few dozen. I like 1084, 154 CM, and D2, and I do my own heat treating in a digital kiln. I like wood, particularly stuff I can find locally, like mesquite. I do my own leather work as well.

I have hunted and fished since before I can remember, and have had knives around my whole life. I ground out my first blade in high school, from a file, but never finished it. In 2003 while trapping furbearers, I got to skinning so many raccoons that I couldn’t keep a sharp knife around. I needed more knives, so I put a handle on that blade from high school. I consider that knife #1. Memorial Day weekend 2008 I went to my first gun show, in Ruidoso, NM. I saw a table full of custom knives, picked up a few, and thought, “I think I can do that.” I made my first 19 blades with files and sandpaper, then got a grinder. Since I mostly write paperwork and “help people” for a living, I love knifemaking because it gives me the chance to produce something tangible. I can see knifemaking progress on a daily basis, and I love it.

I've been published in Knives 2013, the March 2013 issue of Texas Monthly, and have a knife coming out in Blade Magazine in a few months. I've got my signatures to join the Knifemaker's Guild as a probationary member, but have yet to get very far into that process.

These are the first knives I've posted for sale here. I figured I'd start with the basics: two relatively simple skinners. The steel on the green linen micarta knife is 3/32 154 CM heat treated and dry-ice cryo treated to 60 RC. The cocobolo handled knife is 3/32 D2, also cryoed and heat treated to RC 60. They both have 600 grit satin finishes. Dimensions on both are 7 1/4 OAL, 2 5/8 blade. Both come with the sheath pictured. My usual price on these is $200 each, but since I haven't sold here before, I'll put these first two out at $180.

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Mark sides

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Back sides

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Spines

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Sheaths

Thanks for looking.
Jason
 
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That's some super fine work Jason! Glad to see you posting here. I've followed your work on the forums for a while now.
 
Very nice knives Jason. They look like very functional skinners.

I have 2 questions which could very likely be me just interpreting incorrectly. The title seems to indicate that both these skinners are made with CM154, but your individual knives description, specifically the 'cocobolo' handled skinner, says that it's made with D2 steel. Neither is a a deal breaker steel to be sure, but for purposes of clarification, if you could just confirm the steel used in the 'cocobolo' knife.......thanks.

Also.......and this might have to do more with improper/mistaken letter and number placement, but as far as '154' steel goes (in my very limited banks of steel/metallurgy knowledge), there is either 'CPM 154' or '154 CM', generally stated and written exactly like I have presented them. As you have written 'CM 154', I'm really not sure of which '154' you are referring to as the steel used in either both of these skinners or at least one of them. It is neither unusual nor rare for this exact same subject to surface quite often here on BF's, but since one often makes their determination on knife purchases, generally in high regard to the exact type of steel used, I am no less curious.

Thanks for any clarifications that you might consider helpful to me.

Again, very nice work on both your knives and sheaths,
 
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You're correct on both counts, Magnumb. The title is incorrect. The wood handled knife is in fact D2. I can edit the text, but can't change the title of the post.

As far as the 154, the knife is made from Aldo's bar stock, not the Crucible particle metallurgy CPM version. From my limited research, the order of the designations is all over the place in actual use. CPM 154 CM is correct for the Crucible version.
 
Jason, you can edit the title by going to "Edit" post then "Go Advanced" at the bottom of the edit page. Very nice work!
 
Jason, those are very nice knives that are appealing in a number of ways: materials, fit/finish, handle ergonomics, blade shape, and the handle length. The handles, in particular, look like they would be comfortable for extended periods of use. Some folks can get by with a 3 - 4" handle, but a more full sized handle is always welcome by me.
 
I like your sense of design. Your blade to handle ratio is very functional. Your choice of D2 is a great all around steel a la Dozier. Keep up the good work!
 
Thanks for the clarifications Jason.....I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Again.....2 very nice skinners and sheaths!
 
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