Vote! Best Hunter 2015

Vot for the Best Hunter 2015

  • Ben Seward

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • John Doyle

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sam Lurquin

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Adam DesRosiers

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Ben Breda

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
S.Alexander

S.Alexander

Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
2,614
Here are your finalists for BEST HUNTER 2015:


1) Ben Seward

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2) John Doyle

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3) Sam Lurquin

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4) Adam DesRosiers

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5) Ben Breda

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Props are awarded to anyone who explains their vote and why they chose that particular knife.
 
I voted for Adam DesRosiers knife. The integral construction and tapered tang are fantastic and they appeal to the engineering side of my brain :p

The Damascus pattern is beautiful, yet I still wouldn't hesitate to use this knife out in the field.
 
For me, it was a close call, between the Seward and Lurquin, both of whom were on my nomination list.

I love the artistic, and Ben's knife was definitely that. But Sam Lurquin got my vote. Most makers never develop a style all their own and of sufficient character and design quality that you can spot one from the other side of the room. And Sam has accomplished that. The Hurak design is one of my favorites, a piece with great presence. Like JoeP says,"it's a great little big knife".
 
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I chose Adam's knife because of the proportions and level of difficulty.

Design wise, it's elegant and practical, he mixed a very durable, stable handle material with gorgeous damascus, thinking outside of the box.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I voted for Adam's knife. Not only is it beautiful and technically complex, it has lots of belly while retaining a good point, has very durable scales and looks like it would feel secure and balanced in hand.

That said, all are exceptional knives and I would be proud to own and/or use any of them.
 
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This was an agonizing decision. Honestly.

I voted for Doyle, because I really dig his handle treatments, especially the final finishing detail on the but. The finishing groove he puts on his handles around the circumference of the but. The coined spacer, the darkened hardware and the darkened blade finish combined with the great visible temper line all work together.

I had my vote marked for the Adam DesRosiers because of the Damascus and the integral details. A lot of work and skill to get the fantastic details. The mic arts was unexpected on an piece with the art integral work and the stunning damascus. I think an ebony or iron wood might have locked me in. The recurve looks great on this design, with the swooping plunge lines and bolster carving, but I do prefer a non recurve edge on knives for the practicality of cutting items on a flat suface (like meat and cheese, and bread, etc). I love the look of recurves, but don't own many.

I also wanted to vote for the Lurquin Hurak, because I think the design is so fantastic.
 
The Seward is the most beautiful knife on that page, IMO.

For me, though, it came down to the Doyle and the Breda - both classic examples of my idea of a hinting knife. Tough to separate those two - both clean and crisp with just a light touch of embellishment in the spacer. These knives are all business - quality tools first, art objects second. Went with the Doyle for that dark blade finish which appeals to me.
 
Man, there is something to love with each of these. My eyes keep going back to Adam's knife.

The word "shape" is the only way I can describe all of the elements that speak to me. The rounded handle, the shape of the steel (blade, rings, handle) ...a curve here, a flair of metal there...gets my vote.
 
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RogerP said:
The Seward is the most beautiful knife on that page, IMO.

For me, though, it came down to the Doyle and the Breda - both classic examples of my idea of a hinting knife. Tough to separate those two - both clean and crisp with just a light touch of embellishment in the spacer. These knives are all business - quality tools first, art objects second. Went with the Doyle for that dark blade finish which appeals to me.
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That echoes my thoughts well. I saw the DesRosiers in person, and it was incredible, but I just couldn't get past $25 synthetic handle material on a knife of that caliber. The Seward is the most innovative and interesting, but it's too far outside the "hunter" box. I was down to Doyle and Breda as well, and went with Breda for the cool wood and copper fileworked spacer.
 
I concur. I think each one would function exceptionally well as a hunting knife, and each one would be a fantastic addition to hunting camp.
But I looked at it from the viewpoint of a knife maker and I found Adam's knife would be the one I would most like to make.

Kohai999 said:
I chose Adam's knife because of the proportions and level of difficulty.

Design wise, it's elegant and practical, he mixed a very durable, stable handle material with gorgeous damascus, thinking outside of the box.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...
 
I voted Breda, but Doyle could have been just as easy. I voted for both in the other thread. I think that Adams and Bens took more to pull off, and are "cooler", but if I were hunting, these would be what I would reach for. Sam's knife is awesome, but seems like a fighter more then hunter, though it would make short work of anything I would shoot.
 
Jason Fry said:
That echoes my thoughts well. I saw the DesRosiers in person, and it was incredible, but I just couldn't get past $25 synthetic handle material on a knife of that caliber.
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As a collector talking to a maker Jason, I would say "get over it".

The material is attractive, and will not shrink. It's pattern mates with the damascus perfectly.

Unless we are talking about an ivory of some sort which is often guaranteed to move and thus devalue the knife greatly, most of the handle materials that would be on this knife would cost sub $100.00....stag, woods, giraffe bone, oosic..... The material cost for knives, especially from folks who forge their own damascus is trivial compared to the hours invested.

I would buy this knife.....can't say that about the other finalists in this case...the Breda if it had a longer blade or a shorter handle.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Jason Fry said:
That echoes my thoughts well. I saw the DesRosiers in person, and it was incredible, but I just couldn't get past $25 synthetic handle material on a knife of that caliber. The Seward is the most innovative and interesting, but it's too far outside the "hunter" box. I was down to Doyle and Breda as well, and went with Breda for the cool wood and copper fileworked spacer.
Click to expand...

I love micarta and would pick it over ivory :)
 
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