Community Designed AH Hunting Knife

Hi Ross! Yes..That would be excellent. I would certainly be interested in this design idea if you decide to pursue it. Thanks for your attention to the possibilities!

Would anyone else be interested in something like that? Would change the handle material up from teak, maybe to Tambotie or another local wood.

UNTAMED KNIVES said:

Would anyone else be interested in something like that? Would change the handle material up from teak, maybe to Tambotie or another local wood.

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I’d be interested. I’d probably grab one for my son as well.

Ross...Critical that the handle material be Africa-durable. Either a Zim-sourced wood with spectacular graining or Horn/warthog. Understood on the current warthog restrictions. I love your design on the last knife you made for AH. Just a little more length to 3.75 inches. An 80 or more-layer stainless Damascus blade with your own signature pattern would be outstanding. I would understand an upcharge for this and worth it! Stainless Damascus to avoid the unavoidable rust of a non-stainless Damascus if used and not just a Cabinet Queen! I'd consider picking this up, if possible, from you next year as I have a tuskless hunt planned in Matetsi Unit 3 next September. Cheers and thanks for considering this!

When I get worst to order one , put « art « on the label , so much money the city here is using on art of all kind they would likely pay me for it instead of vsv

Africa1 said:

Ross...Critical that the handle material be Africa-durable. Either a Zim-sourced wood with spectacular graining or Horn/warthog. Understood on the current warthog restrictions. I love your design on the last knife you made for AH. Just a little more length to 3.75 inches. An 80 or more-layer stainless Damascus blade with your own signature pattern would be outstanding. I would understand an upcharge for this and worth it! Stainless Damascus to avoid the unavoidable rust of a non-stainless Damascus if used and not just a Cabinet Queen! I'd consider picking this up, if possible, from you next year as I have a tuskless hunt planned in Matetsi Unit 3 next September. Cheers and thanks for considering this!

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Id be interested to hear Ross's answer. But stainless Damascus is very difficult to make in a home / small professional workshop. The vast majority of stainless Damascus is bought from commercial operations like Damasteel.

Africa1 said:

Ross...Critical that the handle material be Africa-durable. Either a Zim-sourced wood with spectacular graining or Horn/warthog. Understood on the current warthog restrictions. I love your design on the last knife you made for AH. Just a little more length to 3.75 inches. An 80 or more-layer stainless Damascus blade with your own signature pattern would be outstanding. I would understand an upcharge for this and worth it! Stainless Damascus to avoid the unavoidable rust of a non-stainless Damascus if used and not just a Cabinet Queen! I'd consider picking this up, if possible, from you next year as I have a tuskless hunt planned in Matetsi Unit 3 next September. Cheers and thanks for considering this!

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rifletuner said:

Id be interested to hear Ross's answer. But stainless Damascus is very difficult to make in a home / small professional workshop. The vast majority of stainless Damascus is bought from commercial operations like Damasteel.

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Unfortunately, what @rifletuner says is correct, stainless steel is incredibly difficult and expensive to make or buy. I have had success forging my own stainless san mai, but stainless Damascus is another beast.

And buying it is another story. Last time I priced it, to make a 4" knife out of stainless Damascus, the knife would end up having to be $1200. For that money I can forge out a beautiful 8" bowie in regular high carbon Damascus.

I know the modern idea for clean and hassle free low maintenance is a thing, but honestly, I love a good old fashioned high carbon steel, especially Damascus! And by the time I have finished it, etched it, coffee etched it and hot waxed it, you will be surprised how resilient that finish is. Granted, its no stainless, but I guess that's why its so expensive!

Below are some examples of my Damascus knives and the prices I sell them at. For each one, the price would be at least double in stainless Damascus! All of these I have forged myself, which is another reason I love regular Damascus, I get to make it myself.

$580


$700


$1200


Having said all of that however, if there is a serious demand for knives made out of stainless Damascus, and the price point is acceptable, then I can get my hands on it and use it. Its just that up until now, I've always viewed the cost as too high for what you get.

Oh, boy. These are too pretty to be use in the field. They are more appropriate to be used as a “barbecue knife’s” in the countries where the barbecue guns are prohibited.

Understood. That said...I love the belly of the second knife shown and the damascus pattern and handle materials of the third knife shown,: Looks like Cape Buffalo horn and Warthog tusk". Using your damascus curing method, are you suggesting your damascus is more resistant to rusting? What is the hardness of your finished damascus blades? Thank you, Ross!

V.Veritas said:

Oh, boy. These are too pretty to be use in the field. They are more appropriate to be used as a “barbecue knife’s” in the countries where the barbecue guns are prohibited.

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I don't believe in too pretty to be used! They are all made to be used!

Africa1 said:

Understood. That said...I love the belly of the second knife shown and the damascus pattern and handle materials of the third knife shown,: Looks like Cape Buffalo horn and Warthog tusk". Using your damascus curing method, are you suggesting your damascus is more resistant to rusting? What is the hardness of your finished damascus blades? Thank you, Ross!

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Last time I got one of Damascus blades under a hardness tester it was a nice even 60HRC, and I use a electronically controlled kiln for all my heat treating, so I know all of my knives are heat treated to the same standard.

Thank you, the third knife down, the bowie, is gun blued mild steel fittings and hippo tooth.

And as for my etching method being more resistant to rusting, its tough to say. I would say yes, so long as you let the steel acquire its natural patina over time, which will still keep the look of the Damascus, but just show that the knife is being used. Once that patina is well developed, rust is MUCH harder to form. A good patina becomes a sort of stainless on its own. But nothing will ever take away from good care for the knife as well.

Good afternoon, Ross. Hippo tooth would be outstanding! Is that a horn inlay with the hippo tooth? That gun blueing pattern is beautiful! Yes...hippo too,3,75 inch blade length, deep belly drop point blade as in that second knife of the 3, damascus in 60 rch. A winner for sure! Sign me up!

Looks like mine is still “on the way” from Memphis….

UNTAMED KNIVES said:

Unfortunately, what @rifletuner says is correct, stainless steel is incredibly difficult and expensive to make or buy. I have had success forging my own stainless san mai, but stainless Damascus is another beast.

And buying it is another story. Last time I priced it, to make a 4" knife out of stainless Damascus, the knife would end up having to be $1200. For that money I can forge out a beautiful 8" bowie in regular high carbon Damascus.

I know the modern idea for clean and hassle free low maintenance is a thing, but honestly, I love a good old fashioned high carbon steel, especially Damascus! And by the time I have finished it, etched it, coffee etched it and hot waxed it, you will be surprised how resilient that finish is. Granted, its no stainless, but I guess that's why its so expensive!

Below are some examples of my Damascus knives and the prices I sell them at. For each one, the price would be at least double in stainless Damascus! All of these I have forged myself, which is another reason I love regular Damascus, I get to make it myself.

$580
View attachment 787392

$700
View attachment 787393

$1200
View attachment 787395

Having said all of that however, if there is a serious demand for knives made out of stainless Damascus, and the price point is acceptable, then I can get my hands on it and use it. Its just that up until now, I've always viewed the cost as too high for what you get.

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I’m with you there.

As a knife collector and as a hunter my preference is always for carbon. 52100 is my favourite steel for a working knife but even the humble old 1095 is great when done well. 3V is great but a bitch to sharpen in the field.

Mekaniks said:

Looks like mine is still “on the way” from Memphis….

View attachment 787815

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Mine just finally gave me a delivery date, so it will make it, just whenever customs deems it so sadly.

Mekaniks said:

Looks like mine is still “on the way” from Memphis….

View attachment 787815

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AustinM said:

Mine just finally gave me a delivery date, so it will make it, just whenever customs deems it so sadly.

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Looks from my end like they have changed status. That usually means they should actually now be on their way, hopefully in the next day or two!

JPbowhunter said:

I’m with you there.

As a knife collector and as a hunter my preference is always for carbon. 52100 is my favourite steel for a working knife but even the humble old 1095 is great when done well. 3V is great but a bitch to sharpen in the field.

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All great steels. High carbons make for great users, Damascus included!

Africa1 said:

Good afternoon, Ross. Hippo tooth would be outstanding! Is that a horn inlay with the hippo tooth? That gun blueing pattern is beautiful! Yes...hippo too,3,75 inch blade length, deep belly drop point blade as in that second knife of the 3, damascus in 60 rch. A winner for sure! Sign me up!

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Unfortunately, hippo teeth fall into that same wildlife category that US customs is having a whine about right now. If you are ever in country or even on the continent though, there is always a plan to be made!

If you would like to look at a custom to those specs, feel free to message me. Same for anyone else. If there is enough interest perhaps I do a very small run of 5 Damascus knives similar to this one:

Ross...I will tentatively be in Vic Falls next September 2027. Would that work for knife pick-up?

Africa1 said:

Ross...I will tentatively be in Vic Falls next September 2027. Would that work for knife pick-up?

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Most definitely. And it will remove any limitation we have on using materials like hippo tooth, warthog tusk or African Blackwood

Ross, my two knives arrived yesterday--all the way to Alaska! They are beautifully crafted. Mine, which you elegantly engraved, will be a joy to use; the other I will gift. Boxes for each knife did not hold up to rigors of shipping, but I saved the pieces and will try to glue them back together. To my amazement--no customs charge on the two knives! That said, occasionally FedEx has billed me on account a month or two later for a charge, so we'll see. But right now, zero!!!

Thank you for doing this Africa Hunting knife project!

Laura

Laura AK64north said:

Ross, my two knives arrived yesterday--all the way to Alaska! They are beautifully crafted. Mine, which you elegantly engraved, will be a joy to use; the other I will gift. Boxes for each knife did not hold up to rigors of shipping, but I saved the pieces and will try to glue them back together. To my amazement--no customs charge on the two knives! That said, occasionally FedEx has billed me on account a month or two later for a charge, so we'll see. But right now, zero!!!

Thank you for doing this Africa Hunting knife project!

Laura

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A pleasure Laura. Thank you to you and everyone else who supported!