What has this got to do with this knife? Now there's a story. Last season, at the end of January I saw a post on a hunting forum by a fellow who uses a Russell Easler small game knife for skinning and so on while he is hunting squirrels.
If you've ever priced such a thing, you know it can get a little bit expensive to buy. The Mrs. advised it was pretty but no way would I be spending the money on a knife like that. The I thought I would have to learn to make knives so I could make one.
I've been grinding and heating and quenching steel every since. That was last February. Since then I have been working on learning. Cut to last Tuesday. I was busy working and sweating about how I would get things I needed ready by the 30th of this month, ready... And then it sets in. Squirrel Season is only 3 weeks away. Oh man...
I figured it was time to get to it. An appropriate knife needed to be fashioned. I spent a bit of time drawing out a profile and found some 1/16th inch o1 that would be usable to make this happen. I cropped it at about 6 3/4" over all with a 2 1/2" blade. It's flat ground and hardened and double tempered. This one will be a cutter.
The scales are American Oak Dymondwood and the pins 1/16" brass. I added a 1/4" lanyard hole. I added red vulcanized fiber spacers and set to shaping. The scales wound up a bit thicker than I normally like them but it feels great in the hand. I can't wait to see how it does...
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