Lightweight custom pack knife set

[KMD]

One of my buddies in Oklahoma is a gov't trapper and has been making knives on the side for a few years now. Couple months back, we were BS-ing about making a lightweight knife that'd be suited for back country hunting. He's killed & skinned ALOT of animals, so I basically left the design up to him. My only requests was for it to be lighweight, yet able to bone out an elk when needed. Here's what he came up with...

Not quite Havalon light, but that is tempered ATS-34 steel. No need to change blades, just touch the edge up when needed. And the skeletonized handles are surprisingly comfortable in hand. Total weight for the set is ounces lighter than most traditional full handle skinners. The smaller knife is a variation of what he calls his "3 finger" blade, nice little pocket/pack carry general purpose knife. The Kydex sheath can clip in a pocket, or on a pack strap...

Thought the knife junkies might enjoy seeing some cool craftsmanship, I'm looking forward to putting them to use!

 

[kyle1112]

And what does one charge for a set of these?

 

[hflier]

Hey you can't tease us like that without price and ordering info

 

[Tag stew]

Good looking knife, selling them yet?

 

[rodney482]

Your buddy has talent

love the bear paws in the grip area

price?

 

[Justin Crossley]

Those are really sweet!

 

[fillthefreezer]

Your buddy has talent

love the bear paws in the grip area

price?

^^^^^

 

[Doc]

No pictures are showing up on my computer, what gives?

 

[Doc]

They just popped up.

 

[KMD]

Thank you, I will pass the kind words along to Ryan!
The photos are on an angle, which makes the waterjet cut prints appear misshapen. The small knife has a coyote print, the larger, a coyote and a bobcat. That was a cool way to shave weight, really added a nice personal touch since we're predator hunting buddies...

As for price, I honestly can't say, as we did some horsetrading on some used Tritronics gear for his hog dogs.
Don't want to subvert the rules of the site, but I can PM his phone number if anyone is interested? If that's not appropriate, I understand. He's just a good ol' boy from Oklahoma with a real knack for hobby building blades when he ain't killing hogs & coyotes for a living...

 

[kyle1112]

PM me im interested

 

[couesbitten]

Please PM me also, beautiful knives.

 

[crazy_davey]

I went with one of these for this season:

View attachment 9829

But I freakin love the looks of those, very nicely done! Please PM me the contact info as well, thanks!

 

[crazy_davey]

So the small one weighs 2.1oz's, sweet! I want one!

 

[unm1136]

I have had bad luck in the past with ATS34, making me shy away from it. I would be interested in other steels, like VG10, or one of the high speed tool steels, though, which I absolutely love.

pat

 

[Scoutin' Wyo]

Good looking knives! By chance does your buddy run Cur/Catahula crosses? If so, I might have bought a dog from him around 5 years ago.

 

[KMD]

Sorry, just seen this.
Yes, he does run hogs with some crossed up cur dogs...

 

[trapper2]

late to the party I see, glad you guys liked them.

scoutin wyo, if you got the yeller dog out of neb it was probably me, hows it doing?

 

[couesbitten]

So trapper, I'm assuming that these knives are your handiwork? They're fantastic looking knives!

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I've PM'd Trapper. But can the OP send me contact info for the knife builder please?