Show Us Your Hunting Knife

[Nicaburns]

I'm not sure what's more impressive. That you make your own Damascus or the fact that you do it in Atlanta where it's already hot enough to melt metal.

I'd be looking at a power forging hammer in a hurry if I had to deal with that kind of heat.

Thankfully, I have a press for drawing out the big Damascus billets but I do the rest with the hammer… it does get hot as blazes standing in front of the forge!

 

[Jagerrand]

I had this one made for my first SA safari. Our tracker was kind enough to use it on everything we shot on that trip.

 

[ftrovato]

I had this one made for my first SA safari. Our tracker was kind enough to use it on everything we shot on that trip.

Nice! I too like to use my knife on every animal I take....

 

[Nicaburns]

I had this one made for my first SA safari. Our tracker was kind enough to use it on everything we shot on that trip.

That is some beautiful ironwood and raindrop Damascus!

 

[Kharn]

I´ve already shown my custom knives, now these are the factory ones. Some "personalized"

I really like the Muela Limited Edition Africa Dangerous Game Knife Series.

Can't think of anything more nostalgic to remove the tail off an Elephant than using the limited edition Muela Elephant Knife (same goes for every other knife in the series & their species).

Be nice if they also added a knife and sheath combo for Crocodile & Hippopotamus (& possibly even an 8th single knife that represents all 7 of Africas DG).

Could see some seriously nice looking trophy room displays of these knives, If I could in my country I would have most of the knives re-scaled to match it's name (Ex: Elephant ivory scales on the Elephant series knife).

 

[mitch4570]

Here's an unissued US MK2 utility knife made by Union (Ka-Bar) late '43 through '44. DOM based on construction features. The MK2s were fairly large with about a 7" blade. Note the grooved leather disc handle. The MK1s were a smaller version utility knife with simpler blade design and non-grooved leather disc handle. Both were made by various govt contractors like Camillus, Union (Ka-Bar), Pal, Ontario, etc.

IMO the MK2 design, utility and usefulness is hard to improve upon. That construction and handle design just works. The overall design of both the MK1 and MK2 utility knives have stood the test of time. I like the MK2's handle better but prefer the slightly smalerl size of the MK1.View attachment 424265

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Now that's a knife! Always liked them. If you google top survival knives kabar is always on the list.

 

[mitch4570]

On Friday I used a 30 year old Swiss Army knife to process an elk. I had two other knives (including my favorite a William Henry and the buck knife in the photo) but opted to use this one because I never had. I wanted to know if it would work. The answer is yes!
the drawbacks: it isn’t very comfortable to use and the blade doesn’t lock. After thousands of mile of travel with that little Swiss Army knife, it was time to test it out. I’m glad I did.

note: the Victorinox pocket dual knife sharpener is really useful to carry. For $20 it is a great item to sneak into your pack. It also sharpens the crappy cooking knives at places that I stay.

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I have gutted 2 deer with the swiss army tinker. I forgot my other filder in the truck both times. It worked just fine.

 

[CZDiesel]

I really like the Muela Limited Edition Africa Dangerous Game Knife Series.

Can't think of anything more nostalgic to remove the tail off an Elephant than using the limited edition Muela Elephant Knife (same goes for every other knife in the series & their species).

Be nice if they also added a knife and sheath combo for Crocodile & Hippopotamus (& possibly even an 8th single knife that represents all 7 of Africas DG).

Could see some seriously nice looking trophy room displays of these knives, If I could in my country I would have most of the knives re-scaled to match it's name (Ex: Elephant ivory scales on the Elephant series knife).

Pics?

 

[BeeMaa]

Pics?

In all honesty, @Kharn didn't say that he had one or used it to cut the tail off an elephant...etc.

 

[steve white]

I had this one made for my first SA safari. Our tracker was kind enough to use it on everything we shot on that trip.

View attachment 674397

And did the tracker scratch it all up while sharpening it? (on a flat rock?)

I have become too vain to scratch up the sides of my own knives with sloppy sharpening. But it makes like more difficult being so careful. Maybe knives shouldn't be so nice you can't use them in the real world.

 

[BeeMaa]

And did the tracker scratch it all up while sharpening it? (on a flat rock?)

I have become too vain to scratch up the sides of my own knives with sloppy sharpening. But it makes like more difficult being so careful. Maybe knives shouldn't be so nice you can't use them in the real world.

If I could afford fine rifle, like a rifle of provenance (owned by Harry Selby) or beautifully engraved rifle...I wouldn't hesitate to take it hunting. At the end of the day, it's still a rifle and I will enjoy using it.

I understand that some objects (knives, rifles, cars...etc) transcend the definition of a tool to become "art", but at their core, they are much more than just art.

I'd rather make my own memories with whatever it is and truly enjoy it, instead of just admiring it under glass. YMMV.

 

[MS 9x56]

And did the tracker scratch it all up while sharpening it? (on a flat rock?)

I have become too vain to scratch up the sides of my own knives with sloppy sharpening. But it makes like more difficult being so careful. Maybe knives shouldn't be so nice you can't use them in the real world.

As with guns I have never seen a knife that was to pretty to take hunting. I also have never seen a knife that didn’t look better with a bit of blood on it.

 

[steve white]

As with guns I have never seen a knife that was to pretty to take hunting. I also have never seen a knife that didn’t look better with a bit of blood on it.

I was mostly thinking about how hard it would be to even SEE that beautiful Damascus figure with scratches all through it....

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

A great website for those interested.

Knife Steel Nerds

Articles and original research for knife makers and enthusiasts about steel metallurgy and knife design.

knifesteelnerds.com

 

[Nicaburns]

A great website for those interested.

Knife Steel Nerds

Articles and original research for knife makers and enthusiasts about steel metallurgy and knife design.

knifesteelnerds.com

Steel is just mesmerizing… especially when you heat it to a stage of plasticity… often introduce other metals/alloys, bang it into shape, then harden it into something that can be anywhere from scalpel to crowbar!

 

[MS 9x56]

I was mostly thinking about how hard it would be to even SEE that beautiful Damascus figure with scratches all through it....

Good point, no one sharpens my Damascus knives but me.

 

[PerH]

And then the answer to the riddle of the steel is ?

Answer is the human that took the soil and heated it to get the iron and then into steel .

 

[Greffdog]

The nicest knife I own. Audra Draper who was the first female master bladesmith. She learned from Ed Fowler - someday I will own a knife made by him as well.

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to use it hunting but hopefully that will change this year.

 

[mdwest]

I own dozens of hunting profile type knives.. Ive been making knives for several years at this point (7-8?) and have made several for myself over that time period.. and have for almost 40 years been something of an on-again, off-again collector of hand made/custom knives and have managed to pick up several "hunters" from various makers... (Id guess between customs and production knives Ive probably got 80-100 blades laying around in different places.. Ive honestly never rounded them up or tried to inventory/count them)..

these are my current favorite hunters.. (and among the most recent acquisitions.. all less than 2 years old)..

From top to bottom..

A giraffe bone handled, D2 steel hunter made by... me! ...

A hackberry handled, 1075 steel tahr hunter made by @nztimb (just picked this one up at the post office this afternoon... absolutely love it.. fit and finish are excellent, balances well in the palm.. Im excited to get to put it to use on a few pigs this summer and hopefully a few deer in the fall!)

and an ironwood handled, CPM 154 steel Hunter made by MT Maker in Broadview, MT..

 

[CoElkHunter]

I own dozens of hunting profile type knives.. Ive been making knives for several years at this point (7-8?) and have made several for myself over that time period.. and have for almost 40 years been something of an on-again, off-again collector of hand made/custom knives and have managed to pick up several "hunters" from various makers... (Id guess between customs and production knives Ive probably got 80-100 blades laying around in different places.. Ive honestly never rounded them up or tried to inventory/count them)..

these are my current favorite hunters.. (and among the most recent acquisitions.. all less than 2 years old)..


View attachment 683022

From top to bottom..

A giraffe bone handled, D2 steel hunter made by... me! ...

A hackberry handled, 1075 steel tahr hunter made by @nztimb (just picked this one up at the post office this afternoon... absolutely love it.. fit and finish are excellent, balances well in the palm.. Im excited to get to put it to use on a few pigs this summer and hopefully a few deer in the fall!)

and an ironwood handled, CPM 154 steel Hunter made by MT Maker in Broadview, MT..

Very nice functional skinning knives.