Forum group buy for a knife

A big shout out to Von Gruff. I received my Bushcraft Hunter (Swamp Kauri handle and Buffalo Horn Bolsters) yesterday. It's even better in person than the pictures show. I am planning on taking the knife with me to Tanzania in 5 days. Thanks again for a quick turnaround....
 
Thanks John. Always pleasing to hear that my knives have lived up to expectations.
 
Returned from Eastern Traditional Archery Rendezvous to find my knife had arrived. Very nice work, and thank you. It will be going to Maine in a couple of weeks on an archery bear hunt.
 
Thanks Bill.
 
Pleased to have been able to do this for you all.
 
@Von Gruff, my JT Rangers are perfect, just the right blend of utility and defensive design. Quality is top notch on the blade, handle and leather. Truly a knife I will be proud to carry in the bush. Definitely will be ordering more of your knives. Thank You.
Cheers,
Cody
 
@Von Gruff, my JT Rangers are perfect, just the right blend of utility and defensive design. Quality is top notch on the blade, handle and leather. Truly a knife I will be proud to carry in the bush. Definitely will be ordering more of your knives. Thank You.
Cheers,
Cody
Thanks Cody. Look forward to hearing from you on further knifes needs/wants.
 
Some how I missed the boat when orders were placed...........even though I responded to the polling. :A Bang Head:
 
Some how I missed the boat when orders were placed...........even though I responded to the polling. :A Bang Head:
Because you participated in the poll, you can still get in on this @Sand Rat. I just finished another skinner with buffalo horn bolsters and swamp kauri handles that is an upgrade on the one pictured in the initial poll or could do a handle configuration to suit what you prefer.
An email ( vongruff@gmail.com ) will get the ball rolling for you
 
I've received a couple of emails from members here about Scandi knives and in particular, what to do with the one that Garry makes. Here was my reply for all your reference:

Question: how do I sharpen a scandi. Do I introduce a secondary bevel by using a stone to keep it sharp?

My answer:
Any sharpening system or any stone will ruin a scandi. Once ruined (a secondary bevel) it will cost you $50 to have the hardened blade reshaped to make it a scandi again. That's not fun. Once its not a scandi, then what was the point of buying the scandi, right? The gigantic amount of metal that must be removed going back 1/2" or more up the knife's edge all has to be ground again to make a secondary bevel go away once its there. Like a day's work and maybe an ounce of metal must be removed. Crazy.

For a scandi, the killer super-awesome thing about them is they are usually tool steel (yours from Von Gruff is very high quality tool steel) and they take a razor edge again with a strop so easily you'll never need to use a stone on the knife. You need/want a strop bat. 4 sides. 4 pieces of leather. It comes with compound. One side is 400 grit compound. The next 800. Next 1200. Next is pure leather for final scalpal sharpening. It is easy because you just strop flush with the whole scandi edge so you put no bevel on the knife edge. It also removes patina from the whole scandi edge. A few minutes is all it takes to keep it up. The strop bat is all I use on any knife once its sharpened, regardless if its a filet, scandi, or traditional bevel knife. An ounce of prevention (strop) is worth a pound of cure (a stone). A barber's strop will ruin a scandi though, anything that flexes while you strop will put a bevel on the knife ruining a scandi edge. Here's a great strop: https://jreindustries.com/sharpening

A scandi is the easiest knife in the world to work with. It takes a razor edge. It can be touched up with a fixed strop or even a glass car window's edge in a pinch. It has a TON of metal behind the edge so it will take way more shock without edge damage too. You also don't need to know what angle to sharpen a knife with a scandi. The edge profile of the whole scandi is held FLUSH to the strop so you are polishing perhaps 1/2" or 5/8" of material, not just a micro bevel. It's so easy anyone can do it. If you don't read this and you sharpen your scandi any other way, you've made it into just another knife and it will get duller and duller as you change and grow a microbevel (secondary bevel) until it has no cutting surface at all. Play by the easy rules and enjoy the sharpest, most durable, easiest to sharpen knife design ever made.

I hope this helps you out!

Thanks for this advice. In anticipation of a knife arriving from our respected maker in NZ I’ve just ordered a strop & compound from the link you gave.

Regards
Russ
 
Because you participated in the poll, you can still get in on this @Sand Rat. I just finished another skinner with buffalo horn bolsters and swamp kauri handles that is an upgrade on the one pictured in the initial poll or could do a handle configuration to suit what you prefer.
An email ( vongruff@gmail.com ) will get the ball rolling for you
Thanks for taking my order! Von Gruff is a great guy to deal with.
 
Did you do any more bushcraft hunters with buffalo handle? I’m kinda in love with that knife!!
 
What is the difference in the bushcraft hunter and safari hunter?
 
Thanks for this advice. In anticipation of a knife arriving from our respected maker in NZ I’ve just ordered a strop & compound from the link you gave.

Regards
Russ

Russ, your knife is a full flat grind with secondary bevel rather than the scandi grind of the bushcraft hunter but the strop is still a very effective method of keeping the edge maintained. I use my strop block on all my knives.
 
Did you do any more bushcraft hunters with buffalo handle? I’m kinda in love with that knife!!
I generally make them to order Travis

What is the difference in the bushcraft hunter and safari hunter?
This is the bushcraft hunter. A scandi grind on a heavier O1 blade that will take on a cross purpose capability from the bushcraft general duties through to a hunting knife. Micarta as standard so the buff horn is an upgrade
Gus's buff horn safari knife # 3.JPG


The safari knife is more geared toward hunting and has a1095 full flat grind blade , brass bolsters and blackwood handles as standard, so the buff horn is an upgrade
DSCN1478 (2).JPG
 
Last edited:
I just wanted to say, I got my knife from @Von Gruff. It is a fantastic knife, and his turn around time was crazy fast for a custom knife. The blade has an excellent grind, but I am most impressed with his grip work. Many knife makers don't keep enough length on the grip when making a shorter blade knife, my knife has a great balance. Thank you again for a great deal.
 
Thanks @YancyW comfort in handle design is one of the important aspects of safe knife use that is often overlooked and is an area I spend time on trying to get right.
 
Thanks @YancyW comfort in handle design is one of the important aspects of safe knife use that is often overlooked and is an area I spend time on trying to get right.

I agree and it was obvious you focus on it.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
53,624
Messages
1,131,339
Members
92,678
Latest member
LynnePhife
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Impact shots from the last hunt

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

20231012_145809~2.jpg
 
Top