What is the perfect hunter?

[Jon Brand]

I am trying to brainstorm for a project that will probably be far in the future but hopefully not to far. I am thinking a frame handled hunter, with a relatively long southwest style blade. This is for presentation and won't be used, so some kind of ivory, fileworked liners and maybe some carved bolsters would be cool.. But what are some things you like to see in fancy hunters? I would LOVE to see pictures of blade styles and overall designs if available. What style of blade would be preferred if you were to hunt and rely on this knife.

I hesitated to post this because I have a good idea of what I want already and there are so many options and styles. So I am not sure if I will get much of a response, but shoot if you have ideas.

This is a quick sketch of the kind of blade profile I had in mind. Maybe 5.5". I want a slim ricasso but is it more practical to leave room for a finger? I will probably want a rear bolster.

 

[black mamba]

I definitely think that on a 5.5" bladed hunter, you would want to have a choil in front of the guard. Most game is processed/skinned with blades under 4", so handling would be improved with the possibility of "choking up" on the blade.

Decorative jimping/filework on the spine in front of the guard would compliment such a choil.

Ed Caffrey had a "clad damascus" bladed hunter at BLADE this year, which was exceptional.

Something like this, or W2 or 52100 with a hamon would be striking for the blade.

I'm also a fan of domed and hammered pins on a hunter. Just a few ideas. Sounds like a great project.

 

[RogerP]

Hey Jon - perfect in what sense? The perfect hunter from a functional sense - one that will efficiently and effectively gut and skin a deer (or whatever critter you plan to shoot)? The most elaborate hunter with the most luxurious materials and elaborate embellishments?

I am no expert - I have been deer hunting all of once - but I got to use a hunter of my own design as well as those of a few JS and MS makers and definitely learned more about a few practical issues - as well as my own preferences - on that occasion.

For one, I don't need a blade any longer than 4 - 4 1/2 inches. For another, I prefer a slender, scalpel-type blade versus a big, beefy, thick, broad-bladed chunky hunter. Next, upswept trailing points are great for skinning but not great for other tasks - there's a reason the "drop point" is kind of popular in hunting knife designs. Your SouthWest design as drawn kind of engages the trailing point concerns.

Of course, if you're trying to create a work of art in the hunter category, functional design considerations may be secondary. But if not, seek the input of some of the real hunters on thi sforum. Paging J. Paranee.....

bm - that Caffrey piece is stunning!

Roger

 

[lwrhea]

My idea of a perfect Hunting Knife is based on a lot of experience skinning Whitetailed Deer and for various uses involved in the hunt. I like a small to medium sized knife with about a 4 inch dropped point blade with a proportionate handle.

As for materials, I would go for a medium layer count twist damascus blade for the cutting qualities as well as the durability of finish, 416 fittings, and a grippy handle material. That and a good solid secure sheath and what else could you ask for? Here is one I made a while back that I was partial to. Lin

 

[Lorien]

do you know who will be building the knife yet, Jon?

 

[dbl-edge]

I am trying to brainstorm for a project that will probably be far in the future but hopefully not to far. I am thinking a frame handled hunter, with a relatively long southwest style blade. This is for presentation and won't be used, so some kind of ivory, fileworked liners and maybe some carved bolsters would be cool..

That hunter in the picture carved enough?

Based upon what you said above, I think the clip blade you've sketched would be a nice presentation. It's rather large, but it's a presentation piece so. . . Any steel - stainless, straight carbon, hamon, or damascus - would give it a great look. A fabricated frame of 416 would easily allow for some engraving, and one of damascus would have it's own character without the embellishment. If you wanted something done along the false tang part of the frame I'd suggest an unravelling rope. This would also work well on a bronze frame, along with an antique patina. Fossil or elephant ivory would look good with any of these metals. I think a tapered (wider at the butt) and dropped shape would work best with this style of blade.

If you went with a more contemporary blade style like a drop point or semi-skinner, you could go with more of a Loveless style handle. A frame would still work well.

Lastly, I myself would sure like to give Caffrey's clad steel a try. That's great looking blade stock!

David

 

[RogerP]

Lin, David, those are both gorgeous pieces.

Roger

 

[Jon Brand]

Would a longer blade like I mentioned turn this more into a fighter? This is more of a presentation piece and I want it to flow nicely. Nice pictures guys.

I realize my thread might contradict itself. I want a perfect looking hunter, but a large fancy one might not be good for hunting. Lets just call this a small presentation fixed knife? Haha

 

[dbl-edge]

Thanks, Roger. I think Lin's hunter is excellent. It's straight forward and functional in design, and it has damascus and amber stag for a higher level of interest.

And Jon, that's a fine new name!

David

 

[RogerP]

Would a longer blade like I mentioned turn this more into a fighter? This is more of a presentation piece and I want it to flow nicely. Nice pictures guys.

I realize my thread might contradict itself. I want a perfect looking hunter, but a large fancy one might not be good for hunting. Lets just call this a small presentation fixed knife? Haha

A small fancy fixed blade - well, that certainly opens things up. Nothing wrong with a big (in the hunter context) southwest blade profile on that score. I seem to recall that John Horrigan had something like that at Blade - very impressive looking, but larger than I would personally like for a using hunter. As a presentation piece, thugh, thumbs way up.

Roger

 

[Jon Brand]

Yeah I should have clarified that I am not using using this to hunt and its like art to me. I want something in the hunter category cause I can't afford bowies and need to reduce the amount of inches of steel to cut costs. I want something visually amazing that will make all you guys and myself drool. But it has to have design elements I like that make the knife feel good in the hand. It would need to work if I wanted it to. John Horrigan makes great stuff and I sort of recall what you are talking about from Blade.

Curious what you guys think of the ricasso area? Should it be small like my picture (Nick Wheeler style) or should it leave enough room for a finger? I think I want very little space in there so that the choil is close to the guard.

 

[JParanee]

Thanks Roger for the consideration. I try. Sometimes I get lucky

Jon as for the perfect hunter this is a very subjective topic

I have seen skinners in Asia and Africa use what looked like sharp pieces of metal in all different shapes and sizes that I would not want to scrape mud off my boots with do incredible work. They where sharp and they knew how to use them.

I have a good friend that owned a Texas hunting ranch he would buy cheap pairing knives by the case and use them till they where dull and throw them out and grab another

The point is this is going to be your perfect hunter so make it look like you want it to. Believe me it will work if ya need it to

For me I like a blade 3 to 4 inches long no bigger

I have to be able to sharpen it quickly and it must hold an edge very well

When it is getting dark out and it is cold ya want to keep working not retouching up your edge

As for shape I like a bit of a belly and a relatively thin edge and a good tip not to pokey cause when capeing if ya go to fast you can poke holes in the cape if ya hurry.

On the same note a fine tip makes detail work like turning eyes and lips alot easier so I look for a compromise in an all in one hunter.

If I am hunting at home it is easier I drag the deer in my garage there is a block and tackle I hoist them on and I go to work next to wood stove

I can use a knife like mentioned above to do the lions share of the work and a scapel for the detail. Once the animal is deboned I move to a cutting board and butchers size knife to finish up my cuts.

I have used everything from saws to Kukris to split joints what ever is around

In the Bush ya make due witnh what ya got
In the Bush I favor the Big knife little knife set up

I once had a Bushman in the Yukon we called him the Jack Pine Savage offer to help skin a Dall Sheep with me when he pulled out a bowie I declined Pont is everyone likes a different tool.

the shape of this blade has served me well

Blackwood

This year I think this Foster is gonna skin alot of deer

 

[Jon Brand]

Thanks Joe, thats interesting about the tip of the blade. I had one of those Fosters and the blade felt strong as hell.

 

[Hmathews]

I would choose a 4.5 inch drop point myself for a hunter. Or at most a straight back clip. A raised clip looks good, but to me it gets in the way and is much more likely to cut something best left un-cut when I'm dressing game. I have used a bunch of different styles over the years and the drop point suits me the best for all around hunting.

When someone talks to us about a presentation hunter that likely won't see much use but is fully capable of doing the job if called on, this is what we like to do. If it is likely to see a good bit of use, we wouldn't pierce the stag, but just carve the surface. There are several out there that are pierced and hunting every year though.

 

[RogerP]

Okay - here are a bunch of random pics of hunters and smaller fixed blades that I like. Some are or were mine, most weren't. Just pulled from images I already had on fototime.

On the short / long ricasso - I don't have a standing preference. And even Nick does them both ways:

Roger

PS - I really like the blade profile on the one that Karl just posted up.

 

[Lorien]

I don't have a lot of hunting knife experience, but after your email, Jon, I'm starting to get all sorts of crazy artistic ideas

 

[hmarziali]

My idea of a perfect Hunting Knife,

Argentinian KnifeMaker, Niclás Salonia

Horacio

 

[RogerP]

^^^ Great lines. That thing looks like it's going a hundred miles and hour.

Roger

 

[Kevin Jones]

Jon, John Horrigan makes a hunting knife with a similar blade shape.

In my opinion, the perfect hunting knife is one that both fits the hand comfortably and is ergonomically correct to skin and do field tasks efficiently and with ease and looks great when pulling it out around the fire or at the lodge.

To me, this particular Fisk "Gamemaster" is the definition of the perfect Hunter. It's like nature created this piece of stag to be a hunter handle.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Jon, here's what John Horrigan calls his "Hunting Bowie". Again similar to the blade profile on your drawing. About 5-1/2"ish Blade if I remember correctly.

Here's what Jerry call his "Sporting Bowie". Similar clip to your drawing with a 5" Blade.