What is a "hunting knife"?

Cushing H. said:
Hah - I actually just really, really easily found a downloadable pdf of the loveless book with knives placed on grid paper. the more I think of it the more I like the idea of starting from one of his designs.

Funny .... he has "Riverside" drop point hunters, and "Lawendale" drop point hunters. I wonder what makes for the distinction between the two (and maybe others?).

Ugh .... I am also looking at a photo of a knife called a "Lawendale amputation knife" .... apparently made of all metal (so it can be sterilized), and made for a Chinese american doctor. Cant guess what *that* one is for.......

Actually, this just plain looks like a fun book to read through....
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You're welcome.
 
Cushing H. said:
definitely stainless - S35VN hopefully. Ive heard about that issue with a choil - will remember (thanks!). I'm thinking 4" blade. do you think though that would be absolutely too short for a compromise? (Loveless has lots of examples with ~3" blades that are called a "drop point hunter"......
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No, it's perfect.

Small is handy, too large and you can't get into a spot.

I had a buddy clean and cut up a fresh road kill bambi for dog food
He used my SAK because that's all I had with me and it worked great.


My grandad used a three inch for bambi and a maybe four inch for one for moose


"Riverside" drop point hunters, and "Lawendale" drop point hunters.
I think that's two different shop locations.
Maybe different logos,
 
4 inch drop point is the most ubiquitous hunting blade shape. It will do all tasks reasonably well, but not be a master of any.

It is the knife proifle most likely to hit the mark. The loveless style drop point is a very usefull example of this.

My hunting is all hike in alpine hunting spike camp stuff. Because of this I don't carry out hide or bones so I prefer a more boning focused profile, longer & narrower with less belly.
 
I think a semi-skinner inspired profile is the most versatile. A bit upswept with a dropped tip.
My most recent hunter.
TS0NN2a.jpeg
2lGDS7d.jpeg
 
Cushing H. said:
Hah - I actually just really, really easily found a downloadable pdf of the loveless book with knives placed on grid paper. the more I think of it the more I like the idea of starting from one of his designs.

Funny .... he has "Riverside" drop point hunters, and "Lawendale" drop point hunters. I wonder what makes for the distinction between the two (and maybe others?).

Ugh .... I am also looking at a photo of a knife called a "Lawendale amputation knife" .... apparently made of all metal (so it can be sterilized), and made for a Chinese american doctor. Cant guess what *that* one is for.......

Actually, this just plain looks like a fun book to read through....
Click to expand...
Riverside CA the location of his last shop
Lawndale CA, possibly his original shop, Lawndale is sort of near LAX (airport area)
I know this because in 1991 I rented a room in a house in Lawndale, I had just started a job in Compton CA.
 
I think 4” is fine. 3” seems a little too short for a legitimate all around hunting knife. I think you’d be sacrificing cutting edge for minimal gain. S30VN would be a good choice. I much prefer my S30V and S110V knives these days. I can skin an entire deer and never need to resharpen those, however, that’s not the case with others and can be annoying. Drop points are great all around hunters.
 
Forget to mention, that a hunting knife’s tip will be working around bones and joints so it’s best to have some beef behind the edge and tip so it doesn’t chip off.
 
Cushing H. said:
Funny .... he has "Riverside" drop point hunters, and "Lawendale" drop point hunters. I wonder what makes for the distinction between the two
Click to expand...

Those are locations of his shops. He was in Lawndale then moved to Riverside.
 
Scaniaman said:
I think a semi-skinner inspired profile is the most versatile. A bit upswept with a dropped tip.
My most recent hunter.
TS0NN2a.jpeg
2lGDS7d.jpeg
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Scaniaman - so a "semi skinner" has a less pronounced belly toward the tip, and instead spreads the belly out towards the heel so the edge curvature is more gradual overall?
 
I was hoping you'd copy my design above, but Scaniamans design is better! I know it's going to be the inspiration for my next hunter! ( sort of joking here, but I do mean to compliment Mr. Scaniaman on his excellent design!)
 
Cushing H. said:
Hah - I actually just really, really easily found a downloadable pdf of the loveless book with knives placed on grid paper. the more I think of it the more I like the idea of starting from one of his designs.

Funny .... he has "Riverside" drop point hunters, and "Lawendale" drop point hunters. I wonder what makes for the distinction between the two (and maybe others?).

Ugh .... I am also looking at a photo of a knife called a "Lawendale amputation knife" .... apparently made of all metal (so it can be sterilized), and made for a Chinese american doctor. Cant guess what *that* one is for.......

Actually, this just plain looks like a fun book to read through....
Click to expand...
To me there is quite a difference between a Loveless profile, and a truly Loveless style knife. I suggest looking at the WIP by David Sharp. The knives have characteristic tapered tangs and soldered guards, in addition to hollow grinds. Not to mention handle liners. I have gathered the materials, but not yet the courage to try a couple.
 
Richard338 said:
To me there is quite a difference between a Loveless profile, and a truly Loveless style knife. I suggest looking at the WIP by David Sharp. The knives have characteristic tapered tangs and soldered guards, in addition to hollow grinds. Not to mention handle liners. I have gathered the materials, but not yet the courage to try a couple.
Click to expand...
I would not myself presume to claim to replicate a loveless blade .... but rather to start there for understanding and inspiration for what i *might* be able to accomplish given my current skills.
 
eric brinkerhoff said:
I was hoping you'd copy my design above, but Scaniamans design is better! I know it's going to be the inspiration for my next hunter! ( sort of joking here, but I do mean to compliment Mr. Scaniaman on his excellent design!)
Click to expand...
Thanks bro, I think your blade looks awesome :thumbsup:
 
Cushing H. said:
Scaniaman - so a "semi skinner" has a less pronounced belly toward the tip, and instead spreads the belly out towards the heel so the edge curvature is more gradual overall?
Click to expand...

I don't know the formal definition. But to me it's a continuous curve from the heel to the tip, with a slight drop of the tip. Also less pronounced belly than on a dedicated skinner and the highest part of the blade should only be so much higher than the spine part of the handle.
I may be wrong
 
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