My own hunter for this deer season...

[J. Doyle]

Here in Michigan, our firearm deer season opened yesterday, Nov. 15th. I made a knife for me last year but it made it just past hunting season and someone wanted to buy it. Cash is king, so I sold it. Which left me in need for a hunting knife for this deer season.

This is what I came up with. It's a tad larger than my ideal preferences for a dedicated field dressing knife, but the idea was to make it a little larger to handle a few more camp type chores. I chose 80CrV2 steel for the blade, ground thin for its toughness and edge holding properties and curly koa for the handle. For the rest of the fittings I chose as maintenance free materials as possible.

Last year, I made a guardless hunter. This year I went with a guard....for no other reason than just to do it different this time. I like both.

I killed a decent 7pt buck yesterday morning around 8:15 and shot a nice big doe at 5:00 in the evening. The knife took care of both deer easily with no chips, rolls or flat spots (as I would expect of any quality knife steel) and still shaves hair exactly as it did before I started.

I did forget to take my camera yesterday but I think my dad snapped a few with his phone. I'll check on that. In the mean time, here's the knife.

Specs:
Hand forged from 80CrV2 steel
8 1/2" overall, 4 1/4" blade, .175" thick at the ricasso with full distal taper
Heavily rounded spine and ricasso edge
Rounded, filed thumb grip
Black g-10 guard and collar, double line cut
Stainless steel thorn and vine spacer
Stabilized Koa handle
Stainless checkered finial screw

Any and all comments/discussion welcome.

 

[Dennis Morland]

John

Nice job on the whitetails. Here is last year's model. http://knifedogs.com/showthread.php?38899-My-own-personal-hunter-raised-clip-w-claro-walnut

Unfortunately, you will be making a new one for next year. Seriously, you need to make a "signature flaw" or you will just keep selling your deer knife every year. Again, this one is way to nice to keep for yourself. It will get sold before Christmas. :biggrin:

DeMo

 

[John Wilson]

That's a beautiful knife. I'm sitting here shaking my head, because I only have one knife for myself of all the knives I've made, and it's a simple wharncliffe utility that I use to make all of my leather sheaths.

 

[Eddie Mullins]

Congrats on the deer, maybe you will be able to keep this knife around for a few more, she's a beauty.

 

[J. ROSA]

Beautiful blade!

 

[arlops50]

Hi John,,,That is a beauty. Love the Koa, and the guard/ collar treatment,,,Very nice.
Have a great thanksgiving. ,,,,Arlo

 

[Ed of all trades]

Beautiful knife, Have a great hunting season. Ed

 

[Justin Presson]

Sweet John that's a dandy, can't wait to see the bloody pics.

 

[BrandantR]

Just a beautiful knife all around, John. I do love that guard/spacer look. Very classy!

 

[Hunter10139]

Wow John, just wow. If I wasn't a poor college student I'd probably give you a call and make an offer on that knife right now.

 

[kevin - the professor]

excellent work. Not over-the-top, so it is something that you use without worry. But well-crafted, for sure.

 

[Lagrange]

I dont see the picture. Am I holding my mouth wrong or what?

 

[J. Doyle]

I dont see the picture. Am I holding my mouth wrong or what?

Something must be down with photobucket, where the pics are hosted. I'm not seeing them right now either.

 

[J. Doyle]

Yeah, just checked into it.....something down at photobucket. Pics from other threads where I've used them to host photos recently are not showing either.

 

[Dennis Morland]

John
I can see the pictures, if that helps any??
DeMo

 

[J. Doyle]

I can see them now too. Photobucket must have fixed whatever the issue was.

 

[Keith Willis]

That Koa wood is beautiful that G10 and stainless fits it all great! Nice job.

God bless

 

[J. Doyle]

Thanks Keith! I appreciate the good words.