Stalking Knives

[JohnSmith]

I didn't have the best experience with Emberleaf. After around 6 months of discussion and expressing my preferred criteria for a custom knife, I was presented with knives that met very few of the criteria I had asked for. I would have though that since it's a custom order, that it wasn't a tall ask to have my requests realized.

 

[Kyle_hill98]

I see you have started advertising guided stalks on here. Well I hope you don't start acting like a silly little school kid with name calling if one of your novice paying clients makes a mistake and makes a poor shot. You certainly don't come across as very professional and I certainly wouldn't want to be a novice under your guidance if this is how you behave! Most of us left the school playground a long time ago! If you can't conduct yourself like an adult you should perhaps leave it to the adults who can?

Been out many times with @jimmer.13 since I was a young teenager, ranging from game days and more recently stalking and foxing. I can assure you he's a top bloke and knows his stuff. Book a stalk, you might learn a thing or two, I certainly have!

 

[Morkai]

More of Snake's work, received today.

 

[TundB]

Mine just turned up in the post this morning. I shall look forward to christening it!

Obvs won’t look forward to the inevitable Ebola outbreak afterwards, nor to pooping myself to death but then again the downstairs dunny needs a coat of something so this could be seen as two birds with one stone I guess!

That Victorinox folding is more than enough to deal with any UK deer from muntjac to red.

I have the same one, along with a dozen of others such as multiple Moras, F Dicks and Victorinox.

I tend to use my folding Victorinox in the field. It holds edge for a deer or two, you can razor sharp it in 30 seconds and put it in dishwasher for proper cleaning.

 

[baguio]

Been out many times with @jimmer.13 since I was a young teenager, ranging from game days and more recently stalking and foxing. I can assure you he's a top bloke and knows his stuff. Book a stalk, you might learn a thing or two, I certainly have!

The frightening thing is that I think I shot my first deer with him? I learnt stuff then and I'm sure I would if I went out with him again. Every day is a school day after all. I also think that he's a mate of mine but doesn't know who I am on here. However, we now live a long way apart and I now get paid to shoot deer and not the other way around. He would be embarrassed about his conduct towards me if he realised who I am because, if he's who I think he is, he is indeed a top bloke! The joys of hiding behind a key board I guess?

 

[sy247]

There’s nothing wrong with using a folding knife - they just aren’t as easy to clean as a fixed blade one.

If the guy does in fact clean it each time then there’s no issue. I’m sure plenty of people don’t clean their fixed blades properly.

I’ve always used Moras but recently changed to victorionox after Bowland Blades made me a sheath for one and I actually prefer it to the Mora, couldn’t tell you why but think it’s something to do with a thinner blade.

I just got a Victorinox Rabbit knife. Haven't used it on a deer yet but it looks great for the money and is very sharp

 

[Overlay]

More of Snake's work, received today.

View attachment 301308View attachment 301309View attachment 301310

What timber are the scales please looks very nice

 

[Morkai]

What timber are the scales please looks very nice

Poplar

 

[Overlay]

Poplar

Very nice it is too, for some unknown reason I had it down as a Sandal wood type

 

[Morkai]

Very nice it is too, for some unknown reason I had it down as a Sandal wood type

Thanks, I'm very pleased with it.

Snake had a few types of wood but I liked the dark streaks in the grain and had to go for it.

 

[Overlay]

Snake has done a good job, nice to see, my wife says to keep out of the sweet shop, but all these new varieties keep you keen, I’ve just commissioned another from a certain Mr Mitchell and itching to get it in me mits for a little summer use.

 

[Morkai]

Snake has done a good job, nice to see, my wife says to keep out of the sweet shop, but all these new varieties keep you keen, I’ve just commissioned another from a certain Mr Mitchell and itching to get it in me mits for a little summer use.

Hoping this gets plenty of use this summer with fishing and camping.

 

[Bowland blades]

I just got a Victorinox Rabbit knife. Haven't used it on a deer yet but it looks great for the money and is very sharp

i am informed that the rabbit fits into the same sheath that i make for the 5" boner from victorinox , as the handle is the same .

 

[Bowland blades]

I have a total of 4 of these available to fit the 5" straight boning knife. After they are gone that is the lot because they are not economically viable on time and materials
also fits the rabbit i am told as the handle is the same .
I also have some of the 5" boning knives ( same story )
Personally speaking i do not favour the Mora over the Victorinox 5" boner for deer work , the mora has the wrong grind for deer work but a better design for splitting and carving wood than the Victorinox .
The sheath includes Chicago screws for disassembly / cleaning and a full welt that allows the sheath to drain although keeps the user safe from pushing the knife through the closure fold ( yep did that myself in the development )

 

[Ratel]

The two I generally use together with a narrow bladed Finnish job for tunneling.
One was a present bought from Mitchel Monarch years ago at the stalking show, Cornbury park, by my then wife. It has a one ounce silver boar's head (that needs cleaning).
The other is one of Snakeys with a kirinite handle, a present to myself which I tend to use mostly.

 

[willie_gunn]

The two I generally use together with a narrow bladed Finnish job for tunneling.
One was a present bought from Mitchel Monarch years ago at the stalking show, Cornbury park, by my then wife. It has a one ounce silver boar's head (that needs cleaning).
The other is one of Snakeys with a kirinite handle, a present to myself which I tend to use mostly.

No-one could ever accuse those of being drawer queens!

That’s a fair lump of silver too. Any idea of who carved the original?

 

[Ratel]

No-one could ever accuse those of being drawer queens!

That’s a fair lump of silver too. Any idea of who carved the original?

I haven't Willie, I would think it must have been cast in a mould. Stuart might be able to cast more light on it as I was only given it by the ex dragon after the show. She bought it off a Keeper from Chatsworth who was selling for Mitchell Monarch at the fair.

 

[Scarpa]

Some lovely knives posted here, cheers. I bought a Falkniven F1 blank and made my own handle from stabilised curly birch with mosaic pins. It was a touch slippery when wet though so I sprayed the handle with a clear high grip spray often used on wet metal steps etc (2nd pic). It also makes the stabilised wood handle impervious to moisture and easy to clean although it darkened the colour a touch. I built it all with hand tools, it's not difficult, just a bit time consuming and the tang took a lot of hours with diamond files to shape.

 

[Erik Hamburger]

Afternoon All,

I’m looking at treating myself to an Emberleaf in the near future, just interested to hear peoples opinions on popular alternatives and what you guys are using and rate.

Thanks In Advance,

Dave

I found this £40 knife which gets close - very close- to what a 'custom' knife-maker would produce. Finish and quality are superb. Böker Magnum Elk Hunter 02GL683 hunting knife The steel is 440A.

If you do go for a custom job, try to specify 'Elmax' steel. Yes, it will be expensive...

 

[Overlay]

Stuart Mitchell, Danum and Peter Eaton would be my choice they all make phenomenal blades

i also have Alan wood, Marc zobrowski, Emberleaf, Smyth blades and many others

Stuart Mitchell and Danum are the ones I take with me, because I like the quality, feel, shape and I can sharpen flat grind blades a damn sight easier than any other grinds, Stuart Mitchell and Danum blades rarely need much more than a strop up to keep them sharp