Community Designed AH Hunting Knife

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

@steve white
If I ever caught someone using one of my good skinning knives to cut thick rope with they would end up a very sore and sorry person.
Use the right tool for the job, a serrated knife for cutting rope not my skinning knives.
Bob

As part of testing to become an ABS journeyman smith, I have to make a knife capable of shaving hair, then cutting through a 2x4 twice, shaving hair again, then cutting a free hanging 1” rope, then bending to 90 degrees and not breaking.

I made one last year November as a practice that passed all the testing. Amazing what steel will do when heat treated right

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Gents! Thanks to everyone who has put something into this discussion. Below are 4 potential designs that I've drawn up this morning. I have my own leanings, but lets see what everyone here may prefer!

Option AView attachment 760953

Option B
View attachment 760956

Option C
View attachment 760954

Option D
View attachment 760955

If you have any more input or want to see something else, speak up now!

once we have a majority vote, will start the CAD work on the design

@UNTAMED KNIVES
My personal preference is C&D
Both ore good for the initial cuts up the legs and belly with enough belly to the blade for skinning. Both have good handles for bigger hands.
My preference would be C for smaller game up to deer
And D for medium to big game.
That's just my personal preferences.
Knives is like guns. No one particular one will do everything
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

As part of testing to become an ABS journeyman smith, I have to make a knife capable of shaving hair, then cutting through a 2x4 twice, shaving hair again, then cutting a free hanging 1” rope, then bending to 90 degrees and not breaking.

I made one last year November as a practice that passed all the testing. Amazing what steel will do when heat treated right

@UNTAMED KNIVES
Whilst I agree with your torture testing of your knives to prove their capabilities I'm very fussy in the care of my knives.
Even tho they are capable of a multitude of tasks I will not use my good knife for anything apart from the intended use ( unless an emergency situation).
My daughter went to put one of my butcher knives in the dishwasher so I had to explain that's the best way to ruin a good knife.
I prefer to wear my knives out with use not abuse.
That's why we have cheap shit knives to abuse.
Good knives deserve respect.
Bob

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

@UNTAMED KNIVES
Whilst I agree with your torture testing of your knives to prove their capabilities I'm very fussy in the care of my knives.
Even tho they are capable of a multitude of tasks I will not use my good knife for anything apart from the intended use ( unless an emergency situation).
My daughter went to put one of my butcher knives in the dishwasher so I had to explain that's the best way to ruin a good knife.
I prefer to wear my knives out with use not abuse.
That's why we have cheap shit knives to abuse.
Good knives deserve respect.
Bob

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar!

You are of course correct, and it’s what I encourage all my clients to do in caring for their knives. In fact, even though I offer a lifetime guarantee on all my knives, it comes with one condition, what I call, the anti screw driver clause.
A knife is a knife, not a pry bar, not a screw driver, and not an ice pick. Don’t use it for what it’s not designed to do.

Dishwashers are also really hard on custom knives for a number of reasons, mostly to do with using natural handle materials, but high carbon Damascus doesn’t like them either.

For me as a maker, it’s nice to know that my knives are being used as intended, and not just sitting in some one’s safe. Even my most elaborate and time consuming builds are still made to be used, like the knife below

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar!

You are of course correct, and it’s what I encourage all my clients to do in caring for their knives. In fact, even though I offer a lifetime guarantee on all my knives, it comes with one condition, what I call, the anti screw driver clause.
A knife is a knife, not a pry bar, not a screw driver, and not an ice pick. Don’t use it for what it’s not designed to do.

Dishwashers are also really hard on custom knives for a number of reasons, mostly to do with using natural handle materials, but high carbon Damascus doesn’t like them either.

For me as a maker, it’s nice to know that my knives are being used as intended, and not just sitting in some one’s safe. Even my most elaborate and time consuming builds are still made to be used, like the knife below
View attachment 762570

@UNTAMED KNIVES

This one was gifted to me by my dear friend and fellow AHer. It was made by his 80 od year old buddy and has giraffe bone handle.
It took me a while to sharpen but man that thing makes a razor look blunt. Feels great in the hand. I used it to gut a deer in England and look forward to using it on game in Australia.
If anyone abused that life they would get a first hand lesson in abuse ( both verbal and physical) from me.
Bob

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

@UNTAMED KNIVES
View attachment 762571This one was gifted to me by my dear friend and fellow AHer. It was made by his 80 od year old buddy and has giraffe bone handle.
It took me a while to sharpen but man that thing makes a razor look blunt. Feels great in the hand. I used it to gut a deer in England and look forward to using it on game in Australia.
If anyone abused that life they would get a first hand lesson in abuse ( both verbal and physical) from me.
Bob

Beautiful knife! Looks like raindrop Damascus. Very nice! A knife like that is definitely something to keep safe. Would also not react well to some one misusing that!

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

Well, I think I have refined the blueing of the guard to the point where I’m happy with it.

And here is number 1 all done, just need to do the sheath

 

[mdwest]

Well, I think I have refined the blueing of the guard to the point where I’m happy with it.
View attachment 762793

And here is number 1 all done, just need to do the sheath
View attachment 762792

stellar work... that is a beautiful blade.. and I think the profile and design will make it exceptional as a general purpose "hunting" knife for most situations that are found in the US (Im guessing the same would be true for Europe as well)..

 

[Betterinthebush]

Thank you Ross. It’s both lovely and exudes rugged utility at the same time.

I’m looking forward to both meeting her (yes, it’s a her…) and working with you on my trophy knife project in the coming weeks.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Beautiful knife! Looks like raindrop Damascus. Very nice! A knife like that is definitely something to keep safe. Would also not react well to some one misusing that!

@UNTAMED KNIVES
Yes it is a beautiful knife (to me anyway).
It will be used but not abused.
It was a gift I will treasure for the rest of my life and pass it on to my son or grandson.
My son has a custom knife I had made for him using NitroV steel by my good friend ted Mitchell.
He loves that knife for its ergonomics and great edge holding ability.
Bob

My sons knife

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’ll sleep when I’m dead!

@UNTAMED KNIVES
Death is just God's way of telling you it's about time you slowed down anyway
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well, the knife itself is done.
View attachment 761430
View attachment 761431
View attachment 761432
View attachment 761429

Overall, Im very happy with how its turned out. Shape and size are spot on in my opinion. Also, love the teak. For me, it comes down to that guard. I gun blued the steel, but I'm just not sure whether or not I would prefer brass.

What do you guys think?

@UNTAMED KNIVES
Gun blued just gives it that added bit of class in my book. Anyone can have nice shiny brass but blued steel goes with blued steel and wood rifles in my book. The other finish I like is colour case hardened but that would put the price up.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The old trick is to leave for Africa with an empty gun case and bring it back loaded.

The wifes generally don’t “buy things”. They go to the mall and “find them”. “Honey, look what I found at the mall today”.
It would be awesome if we could do the same and “find a double” in Africa.

@V.Veritas
Whenever my wife says I have a great idea darling my first reaction is always how much is it going to cost and how much of it do I have to do.

Strange how womenfolk always seem to find something it's fine but when we find something it's usually what do you need that for?
Bob

 

[Rare Breed]

Well, I think I have refined the blueing of the guard to the point where I’m happy with it.
View attachment 762793

And here is number 1 all done, just need to do the sheath
View attachment 762792

How do I order this exact knife shown above please with leather sheath?

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

stellar work... that is a beautiful blade.. and I think the profile and design will make it exceptional as a general purpose "hunting" knife for most situations that are found in the US (Im guessing the same would be true for Europe as well)..

Thanks very much. It’s pretty much the ultimate version of what I’ve always considered the best all round hunting knife, in my opinion. Taken all the best design features of several different ones I have made, input from everyone here on AH, and combined it all to make this knife

Thank you Ross. It’s both lovely and exudes rugged utility at the same time.

I’m looking forward to both meeting her (yes, it’s a her…) and working with you on my trophy knife project in the coming weeks.

Knives are like guns, cars, boats and battle ships!

Look forward to the next build as well, that will be a fun one

@UNTAMED KNIVES
Gun blued just gives it that added bit of class in my book. Anyone can have nice shiny brass but blued steel goes with blued steel and wood rifles in my book. The other finish I like is colour case hardened but that would put the price up.
Bob

I have to admit, it’s grown on me a lot. Most of my career as a Bladesmith I have tended to use brass, but blued steel is definitely now at the top now

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

How do I order this exact knife shown above please with leather sheath?

You can shoot me a PM to book one with a particular serial number if you like, but I’m only going to take orders when my website goes live.

It was supposed to be live on Friday, but apparently there are some technical hitches that the team making it are working through. I will post here and let everyone know when it does go live though

 

[Ozishooter]

Hi When can we order one

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

Hi When can we order one

As soon as my website is up. I keep getting told hopefully tomorrow, but I’m not sure.

If my website isn’t live by Friday, I will be making alternative arrangements to start taking orders so we can get the ball rolling.

Will keep everyone posted, but thanks so much everyone for the support and patience!

 

[Rare Breed]

What is estimated build and arrival time after ordering please

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

What is estimated build and arrival time after ordering please

I’m starting heat treat on the knives tomorrow, that’s a three day process to get them all done. So about 2-3 weeks for me to make them all, then shipping is roughly another 2 or 3.

So basically, I’m pushing to get the knives made by end of may, so that everyone will get them sometime mid June. That’s the plan