That one looks awesome KG!
It reflects the SY/Busse parameters and honors the traditional at the same time.

I like the one Dan Melone made out of an Old Hickory skinner. That type of knife just seems right made of traditional materials.

I have to agree with the traditional materials combined with a Nessmuk blade shape.


But, imagine a Scrap Yard or Busse kin blade with some custom (nice) scales:





<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />



..... if you can hack up an Old Hickory Butcher knife, you can make custom scales. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
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I do get where you are coming from but maybe your design just reminds me too much of my BlackJack grunt which I already have !

Hiya bro,

I love my Koster Nessmuk dearly but to me the handle slabs are a little too thin, with thicker slabs this knife would be nearly perfect....

And while the res-C handles on my little Coot and DM feel ok they do not feel anywhere near as good as those on my ChopWeiler and Ratmandu.....










JMO !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Nice pics pitman, especially the Rat in a Trap, lol

I think this one would be better though. LOL!

Thanks for the update on the different handles, pitdog, and sorry for calling you out like that; first-hand perspective helps fill in the "imagine" gaps though. The res-c has some unique advantages but I prefer the Swamp Rat micarta as well.

Never be sorry for calling me out bro, that's what make this forum the great place it is !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Vic, you mean this one? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />





[img][image]http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s146/DMelone73/PA020265.jpg[/img][/image]

I like the handle, like the steel, but not so sure I like the curve so much.

What's the purpose of a blade angled like that? No good for chopping, no good as a pure skinner (from my personal experience something like this would be better for that


So what would that knife design be for?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I am not a big fan of the smaller Res-C handles - EXCEPT for the Mudder grips. I love the Mudders. I still have all incarnations of the Mudders ever used (except I only have the 1 D2 Bog Dog and don't have the SR-101 Bog Dog <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />)
So, I have and like: Bog Dog in D2, SS4 in INFI and Mud Puppy in 154CM.

But, honestly, over the years, I have sold off all of my smaller Res-C handles except for my customized DM (CG) that I stripped and made satin. I also reshaped the Res-C handle on my DM to better fit my hand. But, I can visualize a better handle for my DM than the Res-C. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
I still have my 2nd Generation Howler - which I honestly only like when choked up and it just isn't near the top of my favorite smaller knives - Sorry. Some people love it. I prefer the 3rd Generation Howler and quite a few other small knives.

For most smaller knives, I would rather have micarta (or sometimes Mudders) than the standard Res-C handles.

However, I really do like the larger Res-C handles for Choppers/Chopping. I don't think the Res-C handles are particularly decent looking. But, for general use and Especially for Chopping, I LOVE the Larger Res-C handles. I also like the price savings. But, I do easily prefer the looks of micarta (or G-10) "IF" done right.
In all honesty, I generally prefer SR-101 over SR-77 and would likely prefer my Mega-Muk and Mini-Muk Concepts made with differentially heat treated SR-101. But, for large chopping knives, SR-77 is still the toughest and would no doubt be more than sufficient. I wouldn't have any problems with SR-77 on the Mega-Muk or Scrapweiler (and similar larger knives). And I would be fine with the Large Res-C handles on the Larger Muk and the Mudders on the smaller Muk.

If given the option, I would choose to have the smaller Muk made with SR-101 over SR-77 and would be fine with Mudders which suit the design well IMO. But, Busse has decided to only use Res-C (and Mudders) with Scrap Yard products. So, Unless Scrap Yard gets authorization to use SR-101...... Or Swamp Rat gets the O.K. to use mudders again........ <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Since Swamp Rat was the first to use SR-77 and Mudders and since Scrap Yard actually used INFI once, why not doing some more mixing and matching of materials???

In any event, micarta and full tangs would be very nice as well for either Muk concepts. So, maybe these are better suited for the Swamp?


I Photo-chopped the Muk concepts together with some Swamp Rat flutted scales and some slight alterations to the pommel and guard areas. These would be full tang.

I have to honestly say, "If done right!", I would probably prefer these over Res-C.:






<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" />



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I should add that changing out scales on full tang handles is much easier than changing out scales on hidden tangs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> - For those who might want to change out for some traditional wood. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> :




<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> Dang that Koa is Nice Lookin'.



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