Got this knife made for me for my b-day by Clarence Smitherman in AL. I went all out. Plan for this to be my main deer butchering knife. 1095/15N20 damascus twist Mammoth Ivory (cracked) stabilized handle with snakewood Mosaic Pins. Everybody says I am crazy for using, but I can't own something and not use.
I use this one for just about anything to do with gutting, skinning, boning etc. 3 inch blade... works like a champ. LOL I could probably buy 5 or 20 of mine for what you paid. LOL I've used one of these little babies for decades..
Ok, so whats your point? Have you ever noticed every post of yours ends up turning every thread about you? From what I heard about you from your buddies, you would be scared to soil your hands butching a deer. I mean, someone posts some beautiful pictures about hawks, you got to come here tell what you know about it. Someone comes on and tells about thier fishing trip, and all you want to talk about is yours. Besides,who wants a cheap 420 steel chinkianese knife like a gerber gator. Anybody who knows steel, knows it won't hold an edge worth a crap.
Folks, I was tore about buying this. On one hand, I need another knife like a hole in the head, but this guy does it for fun. He really doesn't make anything on these. Joe bowhuntingfool has a few and intrigued me. But I wanted something good looking. And felt like getting it. No, I didn't need it. Sure, you can be like Dave, and buy cheap chinese knockoffs for 5 bucks and they will work. But I wanted something American made by hand. Some folks appreciate it and some just see it differently. I really miss American craftsmanship and detail.
You would be crazy not to use it! That is a beautiful knife! I love a well made knife with good steel. They are worth every penny. One thing I have found about knives though, some fit your hand better than others and that makes using them fun instead of work. Once you get a chance to use it let us know how it fits. Beautiful knife.
He only charges 125 for tradgang members for smaller ones. Since I wanted a custom shape of a ripper blade, and custom materials, he upped it to 175. Grand Levitt hand forges these damascus blanks. So if you want something out of the orndinary, they can do it. Some don't like 15N20 steel because its harder than crap (nickel content), but holds an edge like no ones business, so they can switch out steels. I like high contrast damascus so I only have 125 layers, some like 250 layers, and some like 416. Which all comes with a premium. go to tradgang website and tell him bowhuntingfool and bigcounty sent ya.
I am a fan of custom knives and that is one amazing piece of craftsmanship. Congrats on treating yourself to a working piece of art. You should be proud to put that beauty to use.
It's a piece of art. Looks like you got a steal on it as well. Custom hand crafted with quality materials for $175? Seems like a good deal to me. I would have guessed you paid $250-$300 from the photos.
when he told me the hours he put into it, I told him, I flat out wouldn't do it for 250. But the guy does for fun. Donates many of them too for Saint Judes.
Wow. That's awesome, I also would have thought it cost way more than that. Congrats on the new toy! I've been thinking about getting a custom knife made for my main hunting knife for a few years, this post got the wheels turning again.
Yeah, $175 for a custom knife with quality steel is a hell of a deal. I guarantee that if you kept that knife is good condition, that the value will increase over the years.
I searched for him over there and was unable to find anything. PM me a link to some of his work if you don't mind. I am in need of a new hunting knife and may go the custom route for the prices he is charging. Heck, a Buck 110 in a nylon case costs $60....
PM sent. He also replaces out buck blades with damascus. And so does a few more blade smiths over there. I am thinking about having a old buck blade changed out.
Beautiful knife. I'm glad you're using it. I understand they are works of art... but if they're just for looking at... they're not really knives.
