Ideas for a new blade:
1. I would like to see a skinning knife. But not the drop point or straight spine type, those are done everywhere. I am thinking more of an upswept trailing edge style.
Perhaps in the fashion of the old “green river” knives popular years ago.
High upsweep with a fairly wide belly…. Not so wide as to make it unwieldy. Maybe half again as wide as at the start of the edge.
I don’t think it should have a clipped or dropped point like the Muk.
Simple handle design, maybe standard res or mudder (maybe even micarta) for good grip while working and large enough to fill the hand; for me at least an inch or so larger than the S5. The sweep shouldn’t be so steep as to render the knife inefficient at, or useless for slicing. It should not come to a super sharp point but similar to the green river “buffalo hunter” shape.
It should be of satin finish, preferably with a flat grind. I will leave the steel choice to the experts. While I know a little about steel, I cannot begin to guess the best for this application. Length should be 7-9” I think. Width at handle 1.25 – 1.5” or there abouts.
2. Another thought for a different style skinning knife. A blade that is again an upswept trailing edge but with more finesse than the “green river” style.
Start with a modest elongated tear shaped handle, rounded at the butt and narrowing toward the edge. Handle material would probably look better smooth that mudder style…or perhaps even micarta, or an exotic wood
Once the metal passes the handle material, the metal flairs outwardly an inch – inch and a half in a largish radius curve suitable for the thumb and forefinger, in order to move the hand closer to the blade for finer work.
The edge should sweep up sharply and come to a finer point, as if the edge and spine followed two different radii and intersected a point of cusp. From the flair outs width at about 1.25 – 1.5” to zero at the point of cusp.
Length should be 4”... no more than 5” designed as to be an aesthetically pleasing blade shape… i.e. the makers choice.
Again, it should be of satin finish, preferably with a flat grind. I will leave the steel choice to the experts.
3. Last but not least, perhaps a small skinning or caping knife. Slight upsweep trailing edge, or maybe a slight drop point. 1.5 – 2” long… Maybe 1/2” wide. It could be a solid steel handle or maybe smooth res-c, for grip, at least 4-5” long.. For utilitarian sake, a narrow extension from the handle to the blade beginning to offer a greater reach to the work area. An option here could be to make the entire knife a fat stubby like a Scandinavian puuko. Scand grind, perhaps. Same blade style and length but with no extension and a fat res handle…
Again, it should be of satin finish, preferably with a flat grind. I will leave the steel choice to the experts.
All of these blades should be thin enough for the type of work they are being designed for.. maybe 1/16”- 1/8” or so for the shorty.. 1/8” – 3/16” for the others…?....
I realize that the more zealous dawgs won’t be able to baton these things through telephone poles, or convex them into spheres… but they should draw another clientele component … more hunters and guides. Yes I know there already many of us here, but these ideas could be another depth of service that might be interesting…
Well… that’s my 3¢…
Doc
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
