Custom mini Canadian belt knife

[Netherman]

Thanks for all the replies. Lots of great info and rabbit holes... I'm really wishing I'd paid more attention in my college materials classes when looking at steels. Heat treat, thickness behind the edge, and even steel choice seem like something I need to leave to the "experts". I just need to educate myself enough to be able to identify an expert and be able to explain my use case/needs.

Sounds like magnacut in the 0.10-0.08 range is where I want to be. the KOA is 0.12 and from my experience there I want to go thinner. I don't expect I'd ever baton wood with this knife. I've been attaching an ESEE Izula to my bino harness as a quick access "beater" knife and will likely continue, but like the idea of "the perfect CBK" being capable of light survival type tasks in a pinch.

 

[rifletuner]

Thanks for all the replies. Lots of great info and rabbit holes... I'm really wishing I'd paid more attention in my college materials classes when looking at steels. Heat treat, thickness behind the edge, and even steel choice seem like something I need to leave to the "experts". I just need to educate myself enough to be able to identify an expert and be able to explain my use case/needs.

Sounds like magnacut in the 0.10-0.08 range is where I want to be. the KOA is 0.12 and from my experience there I want to go thinner. I don't expect I'd ever baton wood with this knife. I've been attaching an ESEE Izula to my bino harness as a quick access "beater" knife and will likely continue, but like the idea of "the perfect CBK" being capable of light survival type tasks in a pinch.

Mate, if you want to know more about the properties of knife steel, buy a copy of Larrin Thomas's book. Its very technical, but a lot of good info in it: https://popsknife.supplies/products/knife-engineering-by-dr-larrin-thomas

 

[Dixie]

Mate, if you want to know more about the properties of knife steel, buy a copy of Larrin Thomas's book. Its very technical, but a lot of good info in it: https://popsknife.supplies/products/knife-engineering-by-dr-larrin-thomas

His blog knifesteelnerds has some good information also.

 

[rifletuner]

His blog knifesteelnerds has some good information also.

Yes, and his YouTube videos. I want to read his "story of knife steel" book, but its never been released in Australia.

Just one more rabbit hole

 

[CypressCreek]

Yes, and his YouTube videos. I want to read his "story of knife steel" book, but its never been released in Australia.

Just one more rabbit hole

I've got a spare copy that was beat up by Amazon. It's yours if you want to cover shipping!

 

[hereinaz]

Got to use a prototype @Dixie sent me, gotta say I really like all the specialized geometry in the blade shape and handle.

Definitely going to use this style going forward. Dixie made a great knife. excited to try improvements.

I could grip it with my hand and it sliced everywhere. I didn’t have to adjust my hand much at all. The blade cuts in so many positions.

 

[ElPollo]

Dig the knife. Did we get details that I missed?

Also dig the big Gus hat for the desert.

 

[hereinaz]

Dig the knife. Did we get details that I missed?

Also dig the big Gus hat for the desert.

Carry my own shade… been here too long for baseball caps.

It’s the first prototype @Dixie made. I reached out for a trade!

I ground the back half of the handle, you can see I didn’t fine sand it out. Love the feel to allow my pinky and ring fingers to grip.

 

[Slalomnorth]

Carry my own shade… been here too long for baseball caps.

It’s the first prototype @Dixie made. I reached out for a trade!

I ground the back half of the handle, you can see I didn’t fine sand it out. Love the feel to allow my pinky and ring fingers to grip.

Looking good, I’m curious what the height of that blade is from @Dixie

 

[Dixie]

Looking good, I’m curious what the height of that blade is from @Dixie

1-1/4" on that one at the widest.

 

[hereinaz]

1-1/4" on that one at the widest.

It worked, and having the width I could use it to kind of hit the meat side and keep the blade skinning.

Thinking out loud for you designers (and me), what I liked about it.

I think there is some tweaking to get the balance “perfect” between the edge sweep, location of the drop point, hand position and spine. It doesn’t need to be that wide, necessarily.

I especially like that I could hold the knife and the depth of the finger guard pushed the blade out away from my knuckles.

The blade/knuckle relation seems to be one part of the “functional” utility of this knife to get into and around the carcass/skin, combined with the belly sweep that means a slicing edge is always gonna be there.

I didn’t have to “think” and plan to apply the typical shorter sweep and avoid the point of an Outdoor Edge blade.

There was a good slicing curve anywhere I wanted it. I could also slice the whole length of the animal in one motion. I had a tendency to do lots of little motions to slice with the Outdoor Edge, and adjust my hand. When doing the javelina, I consciously almost fought that habit to try long deep slices. I had a fear I would cut meat or the hide from inside out, but surprisingly the blade didn’t seem to do that.

However you get the blade forward of the knuckles, whether by angle or by finger guard, that seems to be an important part of the design, combined with the sweep of the belly. I never found a need for a “straight” section of blade like if I were shaving kindling or cutting a rope with some force in the wrist/arm.

I could hold the handle and found I didn’t need to choke up or go to the pinch grip when skinning and coming at it from different angles.

For me it was the deep finger guard, handle angle, and the way I shaped the back end.

Also, if the blade were 1/4 to 3/8 shorter over all, “the pinch and slide the forefinger under the drop point” method for gutting would keep more of my hand on the blade. That’s one reason why I like shorter blades.

 

[CypressCreek]

Has anyone tried using a Nessmuk style blade? It has many of the same "features" of the CBK (long continous belly, offset handle, leaf shaped blade), though the pattern is significantly different, and oftentimes larger.

I'd be curious to hear from someone who has used both knives.

 

[Slalomnorth]

Has anyone tried using a Nessmuk style blade? It has many of the same "features" of the CBK (long continous belly, offset handle, leaf shaped blade), though the pattern is significantly different, and oftentimes larger.

I'd be curious to hear from someone who has used both knives.

I made this one awhile back. I think nessmuks are good for skinning but to broad of a blade to make a great processing knife.

 

[CypressCreek]

I made this one awhile back. I think nessmuks are good for skinning but to broad of a blade to make a great processing knife.

That makes sense to me. I've never used a Nessmuk, so I have no experience with it. Sounds like it may be the ideal choice for trappers who spend a lot of time skinning, but not so great for those who are actually processing a lot of meat.

 

[hereinaz]

@Dixie pointed me to the new MKC skinner. Has some of the features we have been discussing, but it more purpose built for skinning.

PACKOUT SKINNER

www.montanaknifecompany.com

 

[Obsessed1]

I have used nessmuks, CBK, and semi skinners for years.. my favorite design is an upswept semi skinner with continuous belly very similar to a crotts semi skinner. It has many of the blade features of a CBK and is very ideal for field tasks from gutting, skinning, and breaking down big game. 90% of the time I'm doing gutless and the semi skinner is the perfect tool for me to complete that task. Mine is a Chisan custom to my specs in magnacut.

 

[rifletuner]

@Dixie pointed me to the new MKC skinner. Has some of the features we have been discussing, but it more purpose built for skinning.

PACKOUT SKINNER

www.montanaknifecompany.com

View attachment 816884

Yes, was going to post this. It looks a bit like a big belly version of the CBK. I think its got some merit.

 

[rifletuner]

Has anyone tried using a Nessmuk style blade? It has many of the same "features" of the CBK (long continous belly, offset handle, leaf shaped blade), though the pattern is significantly different, and oftentimes larger.

I'd be curious to hear from someone who has used both knives.

I have made a couple, but it was earlier in my knife making journey. I agree that they are not as versatile as a design like the CBK. To me, something like the Nesmuk is a good companion knife, whereas the CBK can do most chores on its own.

 

[rifletuner]

I've got a spare copy that was beat up by Amazon. It's yours if you want to cover shipping!

Mate, that is awesome. I appreciate it. Will PM

 

[Slalomnorth]

This is my skinner pattern, it’s 4” but I also make a 3.5”. I don’t want to step on any toes because I believe MKC is a sponsor of the forum, but some drama going on with them in the knife community lately with quality control issues, and really nasty messages sent by Josh the ceo to people.