[sinawalli]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #58711

David Petersen wrote: Bill — that “Sticker” is gorgeous work! What sort of leather is the sheath and how did you get it to look so old? Your freind is a lucky man to have a friend as talented and generous as you. Despite a 7th-grade metal-working class back in the late 1800s (it seems), knife-making is a skill I’ll never acquire, so I’m all the more impressed by those who do it and do it well.

Thanks Dave! All I can take credit for is the knife! I farmed out the sheath to a buisness acquaintance I dealt with in the past who is a amazing leather worker/knife maker. I found a pic of a sheath I wanted, changed a few things, added the Ranger star (my friend is US Army Ranger tabbed), added a genuine bear claw, and presto, he came up with this brilliant design! The leather is rawhide that is “aged” to appear old. The knife was one of the most intensive projects I’ve undertaken! Made the first one, got it all done, looked at it for awhile and said *#ck it! Not what I wanted, so I totally scrapped it. Built another one, didn’t like the handle scales, ground them off, six months later, came up with what you see now! Gave it to him along with a fine bottle of whiskey the day before he officially retired! My sheaths are kydex, don’t have the means or talent for leather!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Snow #58700

paleoman wrote: This spring has barely sprung here in SW lower Michigan. Just got me thinking about finding a patch of snow in June one year as a kid in New England. Curious about other areas of the country when you’ve seen your last bit of snow go out…assuming it does for most eventually. Just amazes me the contrast between this winter and last year…

The way it’s going right now we might just have snow until June! Just got another 4″ in the last 2 days!!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Interests #51131

[quote=ShaneHarley]Until about a year and a half ago I flew hawks. I did falconry for a number of years. But the time commitment to do it right is a lot. It’s an everyday ‘hobby’. So in the interest of God and family I put down the falconry glove and decided to do something else.

I love to fly fish. I recently decided to make it a little more difficult on myself and just use dry flies. Which is what I’m in it for, that top water action from a nice looking trout. I don’t get to hung up on fish size. Don’t get me wrong I love to catch big fish but in my opinion 100 little fish in one day far exceeds one salmon every few days for me. Plus I like the little wilderness streams. Beautiful fish but not much size.

I love God most. He’s my main interest. I love praying for sick people and watching Him touch them. He’s just a lot of fun. Next to Him is my family. I have two daughters that I try to get them out hunting and fishing as much as I can. My wife is and has been pretty supportive of all my pursuits.

I recently got my first trail cam and move that around once a week. I think I could become a ‘trail cammer’ later down the road as finances allow. It gets me outside and playing around in the woods. I like it.

I just ordered my first custom longbow from a local bowyer. I so very excited to get it. I had been shooting my buddies bow but his bow he was using broke so I had to give his other one back. I managed to shoot big gapping holes in one of those self healing targets. Guess they quit self healing after 1000 arrows or so. I was shooting 30 to 60 minutes or more a day. I love it. But now I am ‘patiently’ waiting for my new bow. And am still waiting…

I grew up out in the woods. In grade school I would check traps before catching the school bus. I’ve loved bow hunting from a young age but never tried traditional as much as I wanted to. But after not having hunted big game for 7 or 8 years, because I chased critters with a hawk, I’m ready to get back into it full swing.

So I guess if I listed my interests in order it would be God,family, archery, fishing. Outside of those I really don’t have much playing around time left.

You all seem like a good group of people and the trad guys I’ve met at a club meet were cool so I’m excited not only to hunt with a stick and string but to also experience the culture of who you all are.

Blessings,

Shane

Wow, falconery! That just sounds cool! Many years ago I was working in the bush, and was driving home one day with 3 other guys in a truck, when we spotted a injured bald eagle. Long story short, we managed to get it, and one guy had a jean jacket over it’s head while it was perched on his lap in the back seat of the truck while I drove down the highway thinking ,please God, don’t let this bird freak and go ape shit in here at 60 mph!! It remained

totally calm, we dropped it off at a local vet, repaid a vist there 2 weeks later to learn that it had made a total recovery and was released back where we found it! I was impressed! Could not believe the size of this bird! we had a binder on the lap of the guy holding him, and the size of his feet and talons was quite impressive! Beautiful eagle!! Glad he made it!!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: The Non-Trad Knife Thread #48398

J.Wesbrock wrote: I’m not sure what makes a knife trad or non-trad, but for the past few years I’ve been very partial to an old Buck Crosslock for field dressing and skinning.

Buck as well aren’t what they used to be, going overseas and using steels like AUS8, and 420C! My brother had a 110 that was is about 25 years old! Left it in the bush after cleaning a moose, came back a year later in the spring, found it, cleaned it up, just like new!!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Helle Knives #48393

David Petersen wrote: Bill — I touch up more often than necessary, because, as I’m sure as a knifemaker you know, if you keep the blade razor sharp you will never have to go beyond touch-up. The longer you let it go — which is always the temptation when busy taking an animal apart and it’s getting dark, etc. — it takes more work to bring it back. On average with the knife shown — to skin, quarter and bone an elk — I will touch up with one of those crossed carbon stick units (I don’t recall the proper name) every few minutes, whether it seems needed or not — just wipe the gore off the blade, drag it a few times across the V of the sharpener, and ready to go again. I generally also stop to stroke the blade a few times on a diamond bar after skinning and again before boning or any time it seems necessary. Bottom line with any knife in my experience is to frequently do a wee touch-up so that it stays high-sharp at all times, rather than struggling along until it’s so dull you have to really work on it to get it back, if you even can. By comparison, with most other knives I’ve had, I have to stop frequently to use the diamond bar and occasionally even a broadhead file. Be aware that not all Helle blades are equal. Their carbon steel (of which I own two that I bought as blades and put handles on) take more care. It’s the triple-layer stainless blades that most of us rave about. I frankly find many other knives to be prettier than the average Hello (though I love the looks of the fire). And many others are as well or even better designed for particular jobs. It’s simply the extremely high quality of the steel and the layering technology that sets the Helles apart so far as durability of the cutting edge.

Agreed Dave! Just like a butcher does! Which ones did you put handles on? That is the main reason I became a knife maker. Was cutting up a moose once, and was tired of constantly having to sharpen the POS knife I had. Figured as a machinist I could make something much better. The resulting blade (01 tool steel), skinned a whole moose and was almost still shaving sharp. Don’t suppose you could post a pic of your Helle’s you made handles for? Thanks!!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: The Non-Trad Knife Thread #48302

Unfortunately Gerber isn’t what it used to be! Outsoursed to China! My edc is a Emerson CQC-10, great knife, very durable. Also have a Al Mar SERE. I buy, sell, trade more knives than Iran does guns!!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Helle Knives #48296

David Petersen wrote: This is my second Helle Fire. I love the knife so much that I gave it away to a good friend. I think I paid less than a hundred for the first Fire … and a thousand for the second! It came “free” with a life membership to BHA. 😆 While the special qualities of Helle’s unique three-layer blade sandwich are often lauded here, I like the Fire in particular for it’s looks and mostly because it has a big nice handle that provides great leverage in combo with the smallish blade. For other purposes I might want another design. But for taking an elk apart, from the delicate work of skinning to the brutish effort of separating leg joints, the Fire is hands down my favorite.

Dave: How many times do you have to sharpen/touch up the edge when dressing a elk?

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Broadheads, left bevel or right bevel? #46563

Webmother wrote: Here is a tip we published a while back that should explain it. A picture is worth a thousand words! 😀

Single Bevel Broadheads

Excellent! Thank you!

Now, why do you want a single bevel as opposed to a double bevel?

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Broadheads, left bevel or right bevel? #46400

David Petersen wrote: Doesn’t matter so long as broadhead bevel matches feathers — either both left or both right. Otherwise they work against one another, trying to spin the arrow in opposite directions.

Thanks Dave!

I can’t remember which feathers I bought, how do you tell by looking at them?

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Which jig to buy #46292

David Petersen wrote: I’ve had one for more than 20 years and it has never failed me. Only real diff between the Bohning and Blitz is one is metal, the other ballistics plastic. Both are great. If I ever need another jig it will be another Bohning, as I appreciate long-lasting quality at a good price.

Hey Dave! Do you use a helix or just offset the fletching?

[sinawalli]

in reply to: Favorite Traditional Web Searches #46187

Pretty much this site, Trad Gang, but they are a bit too anal for me!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #28588

Here is a Arkansas Toothpick I made for a good friend as a retirement gift for serving 35 years in the military.

[sinawalli]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #28582

Smithhammer wrote: DWC – nice Scout knife! That’s a classic.

Another fave of mine – a Blind Horse Knives ‘Lost Trail:’

Great ergonomics and a really useful, versatile spear point. Green micarta and O1 steel.

That sir is a nice knife!! Love the simple design!

[sinawalli]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #28580

Smithhammer wrote: [quote=sinawalli]Had a BRKT once, can’t remember the model, but I wasn’t impressed at all! The grinds weren’t even on the sides or the distal taper, looked real amateur!

That’s very surprising. How long ago was this knife made? Not doubting your experience at all, but every BRKT I own has had excellent f&f and perfect convex grinds. In addition, their customer service is top-notch, so if you received a knife from them that wasn’t satisfactory, I have no doubt they would have made it right.

Regardless, I’m curious about some of those other blades, like the wood handle/mosaic pin & the 1095 w/blue G10. Who is the maker?

The BRKT was purchased second hand off another forum, so I’m not sure how old it was. Yeah I’m pretty sure it was a anomaly. I’m not sure how noticeable it was, but being a knifemaker you notice/look for that type of thing, especially in a high end knife. They have a good rep, and I would probably buy another one should the deal present itself! All the knives pictured were made by me. The Mora was just the blade, and I made the handle.

[sinawalli]

in reply to: The Trad Knife Thread #28503

Oh oh, knife topic! One of my favorite things!! Had a BRKT once, can’t remember the model, but I wasn’t impressed at all! The grinds weren’t even on the sides or the distal taper, looked real amateur! Ended basically giving it away for that reason. Lots of folks swear by them! Here are a few of mine.

Above is a simple Mora with a G11 handle.

Small pack knife 440C with tiger stripe G10 slabs.

Slightly bigger knife, 1095 steel with blue G10 slabs.

Big ole pig sticker, double edged, 01 tool steel, black G10 slabs.

My go to knife, CPM154, bocote slabs. It’s seen a lot of critters!

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