Help finalize the "Dixie Zipper" (Mini CBK) for a group buy

[Ferrulewax]

I really like that design…don’t know if with.120 steel it would hit your target weight. Full grind and a taper tang would be close. I’ll grind one out when I get a chance and see.

I could be convinced to go thinner. I would also love a skeletonized g10 and handle (like the argali) but I figured that may be difficult without machining. These are just musings of a knife nerd with no real experience with knife making.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I really like that design…don’t know if with.120 steel it would hit your target weight. Full grind and a taper tang would be close. I’ll grind one out when I get a chance and see.

A little width could be taken off of the front part of the middle handle swell as well, should help a (tiny) bit with the weight, and would help with the lines a little bit as well.

 

[Dixie]

A little width could be taken off of the front part of the middle handle swell as well, should help a (tiny) bit with the weight, and would help with the lines a little bit as well.

Balanced design to me. A little off the front swell but not much. Aesthetically it looks good and function should be about the same as the other versions.

 

[hereinaz]

I finally got around to sketching out what I think would be my “ideal” hunting use knife. I tried to replicate the blade shape from the top knife in the second image, but give the handle a little more width for general use if needed. My blade may be a hair more swept towards the tip, I can’t really tell- a little more tip and less sweep may be preferable. If it could come out between 2-2.5oz would be ideal!

As with any piece of gear, I am sure once I had it in hand I could immediately find things I would change, but here’s my humble submission:
View attachment 833128

You are really close to a final design!

I am going to make a couple versions, same blade different handle per preference.

The blades I will make should be close to your weight.

 

[hereinaz]

How would this knife work for skinning coyotes? Will the tip stay under the hide? I’ve never tried a dedicated skinner, I usually use a havalon but have a hard time keeping the tip under the hide on long cuts.

It was like a zipper on my little javelina. Coyote wouldn’t be different.

The blade design is to keep the point out of the meat. And skinning the blade belly makes for long sweeps.

It’s unreal…

 

[Clarktar]

How would this knife work for skinning coyotes? Will the tip stay under the hide? I’ve never tried a dedicated skinner, I usually use a havalon but have a hard time keeping the tip under the hide on long cuts.

Works fantastic!! Got two from Dixie a few days ago. It is really easy to skin with the blade design. Top stays out of the meat easy enough. The blade design or profile (not sure the right term) makes it really easy and fast to skin. Long strokes with that belly are the key!

Skinned a beaver this afternoon and the belly of Dixie's knife did exactly what I wanted. It really is a smaller version of these old beaver knives I find in old trappers gear pile.

Will zip through a land otter with it tomorrow!

I might buy a few more just to have them around. And orange is the way to go!!

 

[hereinaz]

Works fantastic!! Got two from Dixie a few days ago. It is really easy to skin with the blade design. Top stays out of the meat easy enough. The blade design or profile (not sure the right term) makes it really easy and fast to skin. Long strokes with that belly are the key!

Skinned a beaver this afternoon and the belly of Dixie's knife did exactly what I wanted. It really is a smaller version of these old beaver knives I find in old trappers gear pile.

Will zip through a land otter with it tomorrow!

I might buy a few more just to have them around. And orange is the way to go!!

Awesome! It is crazy to me that I had never heard of this knife style.

 

[T_Widdy]

I changed out the wood scales on my Grohmann to g10, thinned them out and gave the back another curve. I think it really helped the feel and ergonomics of this knife.

 

[Cahunter805]

Just curious. How much is a knife Dixie? Hereinaz?

 

[Mojave]

So this is chrome steel or stainless?

I would be interested in a N35 or whatever it is called high end stainless if the price was right.

Does it come with a sheath?

 

[WI-Carcosa]

Very interested in one of these. Will any be in magnacut?

 

[doc holiday13]

I will get the weights for you tomorrow.
I have 1/8 and .100 Magnacut with some .080 on order. All of the test ones were .100 and .080 ABE-L. Post a drawing what you’re thinking ,my favorite thing to do is one offs. Picture is of a couple of my old favorites.

.080 should be crazy light.

 

[doc holiday13]

I could be convinced to go thinner. I would also love a skeletonized g10 and handle (like the argali) but I figured that may be difficult without machining. These are just musings of a knife nerd with no real experience with knife making.

IF...if you go .080 thick you'll never want to go thicker

 

[hereinaz]

Just curious. How much is a knife Dixie? Hereinaz?

I am working out cost right now, getting prices for a run of blade blanks, handles, hardware and sheath.

My goal is to make it a quality knife but not MKC prices. Those in the group buy will get it with very little mark up.

So this is chrome steel or stainless?

I would be interested in a N35 or whatever it is called high end stainless if the price was right.

Does it come with a sheath?

The steel blanks I can get right now is AEB-L, which is a fantastic stainless steel that works good for the laser and grinding in batches.

It will come with a Kydex sheath, maybe a nice leather sheath as an option.

Very interested in one of these. Will any be in magnacut?

Right now, you’ll have to get a custom from Dixie.

IF...if you go .080 thick you'll never want to go thicker

I think I am going to as thin as possible.

@Ferrulewax the steel in the handle will be skeletonized but not the G10 or Micarta.

I will be designing the knife blade in such a way that it will be full and then partial tang so that I can use one blade and multiple handles.

I will show the design, but the first half of the handle will be full and then it will transition into a rat tail for the last half.

 

[Dixie]

Works fantastic!! Got two from Dixie a few days ago. It is really easy to skin with the blade design. Top stays out of the meat easy enough. The blade design or profile (not sure the right term) makes it really easy and fast to skin. Long strokes with that belly are the key!

Skinned a beaver this afternoon and the belly of Dixie's knife did exactly what I wanted. It really is a smaller version of these old beaver knives I find in old trappers gear pile.

Will zip through a land otter with it tomorrow!

I might buy a few more just to have them around. And orange is the way to go!!

Thanks for the review! Of the two any preferences? The 3-1/2 was more on the Original style, 3-1/4 had the more scalloped handle and just a tad wider blade.

 

[Clarktar]

Thanks for the review! Of the two any preferences? The 3-1/2 was more on the Original style, 3-1/4 had the more scalloped handle and just a tad wider blade.

Definitely the 3 1/4 for me if I had to choose one.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Looking forward to seeing it!

 

[Randle]

Those that have one now do you find it slick in the hand due to no texture and rounded handle?

 

[doc holiday13]

@Dixie is blade length now 3.5" up from 3" ?

 

[Dixie]

@Dixie is blade length now 3.5" up from 3" ?

Up to now my finished ones have been either 3-1/4 or 3-1/2. I’ve got a 3” one I’m working on that has a shorter handle that carries better in the horizontal position.