Author Topic: Need a small game knife...( made in America ) (Read 10594 times)

ironglow · « **Reply #30 on:** May 24, 2011, 09:59:43 AM »

Ladobe;
What's the brand name on that ols stockman..looks like celluloid handles in what is called "molasses" ...right ?

Yes ;Bill steered you right with Bear cutlery..quality stuff ! All American made..

saddlebum · « **Reply #31 on:** May 24, 2011, 12:22:40 PM »

Looks like a Schrade 'butter and molasses' 896K. K stands for celluloid scales. Nice collectable knives.

ironglow · « **Reply #32 on:** May 24, 2011, 01:42:00 PM »

Saddlebum;

Nice folders..nice..

saddlebum · « **Reply #33 on:** May 24, 2011, 10:32:35 PM »

Since we are showing off knives that aren't easily available or not in production but still great small game knives, I'll throw up a picture of a nice Uncle Henry, (USA), that's on the 'Muskrat' design with the addition of a little gut hook. To be honest, I have never used it. It's one of my 'safe queens'. Or I should say cigar box collection......

ironglow · « **Reply #34 on:** May 25, 2011, 01:08:21 AM »

When we talk about carbon steel, U.S. Schrade always had some good stuff. A couple lesser known brands which produced lower priced knives with high quality carbon steel were Robeson ans Utica. Robeson brand is now owned by Ontario (Queen). Utica was their own brand but defunct now. I was in Utica, NY a year or so ago and saw an old building with the Utica Cutlery name blasoned across it. If you find one of these old knives at a garage sale or flea market and the price is right, grab it..you won't be dissapointed.
While Robeson knives were being made in Perry, NY, the company also made small appliances ..toasters, small electric ovens etc.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/robeson/index.php

CORRECTION: After some searching, I found some Utica knives available on line. Some are of 1095 steel and if they are US made, may be a (not intentional) well-kept secret of the folding knife business. If the steel is the same as years past, it's got to be good.
http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-319016.html

Found some on Ebay also http://cgi.ebay.com/Utica-Cutlery-Catskill-Brown-Sm-Stockman-Knife-Carbon-/360273144187

While it appears Utica is like many other old companies, selling a mix of imports with their own, apparently their Catskill line is all American made with 1095 steel..may have to get it from knifedepot.com (there is a small, straight hunter).
http://www.kutmaster.com/productline/uticacutlery/catskill.php

Spencer, Carey · « **Reply #35 on:** May 25, 2011, 04:09:55 AM »

Sir, can't go wrong with any of the Kershaw "onion series" folders. Been carrying my "Shallot" SS folder for the last three seasons, and it has performed very well for me. Holds an edge very well, smooth assisted opening action, comfortable in the hand, and in the pocket. STRONG pocket clip. There are several variations form real short to bigger than I think you "need" for a small game knife, but hey, its all in what you want! Definately worth checking out in addition to the other fine blades that have been mentioned by others here.

Ladobe · « **Reply #36 on:** May 30, 2011, 11:05:12 PM »

Ironglow...Saddlebum,

Sorry so long getting back to you. Forgot I had posted to this thread.

My first thought from your posts after the picture was a Case or Schrade as that is the brands my whole family usually bought in the old days. But I'd have to dig it out to be sure. It certainly looks like the Schrade 896K Walden with butter & molasses celluloid scales though. I don't think this one has the shield on either side even though the scales are prefect on both sides as I remember. Some rust on the blades fits with celluloid scales too from the gases they emit, although I don't remember the scales to be deteriorating. I did a search and the time frame for this model fits as well.... 1948-1972. I remember Pops having it back before the mid 50's. Anyway, I'll have to find it to confirm the model number, but I think you gents got it. Also found some pics of some other small game knives I have or had. Some are scans of slides so excuse the quality. Posted pic below...

Butter & Molasses scales...

For the other picture...

First one is a custom Donaldson Trout and Bird with Damascus blade and Myrtle Burl scales he made for me in 2003.

Second is a custom Al Warren #57 D2 blade, brass wrapped tang with high grade Hawaiian Koa scales and scrimshawed ivory inlay. Made in July 1985.
.
Third a custom Javalina Knives Coyote by Mike Clerc with bead blasted blade and Mircarta scales. Mike made 6 of these for me in 2004, and a one of a kind skinner all dolled up with the highest grade materials and exhibition Desert Ironwood scales.

Last one is a custom Matt Harildstad Trout and Bird.

L.

ironglow · « **Reply #37 on:** May 30, 2011, 11:38:51 PM »

Ladobe;
Nice looking knives..that middle folder looks like the ever popular "farmer's knife" which every major company it seems,has made .
That straight knife on the bottom looks like a real handy blade for close work..

saddlebum · « **Reply #38 on:** May 31, 2011, 07:04:29 AM »

Really nice old folding knives, Ladobe. Like Ironglow mentioned, the middle one as well as the bottom one is a real popular design. Two of my favorites. The top one probably would have been more popular if big brother hadn't outlawed switchblades in a stupid effort to curb criminal activity.

I like your Warren knife. The Koa handle is nice!
Here is a few of the small fixed blade knives I like from Uncle Henry and Moore Maker. Not as pretty but the handles don't break, chip, or crack.

ironglow · « **Reply #39 on:** June 01, 2011, 01:46:08 AM »

Nice blades Saddlebum.. I have been partial to the yellow delrin for my work knife handles. Nice feel, impervious to blood etc, durable..and easier to find if dropped in snow, leaves etc.

Ladobe · « **Reply #40 on:** June 01, 2011, 03:42:31 PM »

Those three B&M folders are not mine gents, just a picture of others I found with scales that look more like mine than the others posted. They are lookers though.

The Warren is a great little knife made when Al was still using a 7" disc sander (6 months before he got a bench sander) when he was still in Bend, OR (he's in Roseville, CA now). It was the 120th knife he had made since he started in 1978. It was ordered by the Original Maui Divers Shop in the Kona Village Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona on the big island (now Alipaki's in the Keauhou Shopping Center). Maui was a second home for me from the mid 80's to 2005. It's kind of fun to know it's entire history that can be passed on to who ever owns it after me.

I have a first year Ruger OM Super Bearcat that I had David Wayland (Mill Valley, CA) make custom matching Koa grips for in the early 90's. With it's custom cross draw holster they make a great set to carry for small game hunting.

Here's a picture of it with its sheath... (I really do need to take some better pics though - doesn't do the exhibition Koa or scrimshaw justice).

saddlebum · « **Reply #41 on:** June 01, 2011, 05:26:42 PM »

@Ladobe
That is a nice knife. I wish you took better pics too. I'd like to see that scrimshaw!

@ironglow
Just for your viewing pleasure. YELLOW KNIVES!....I love em!
The Schrade knives in the picture are not mine. But I do have the 2nd, 4th, and 5th models from the left. Mine are the older pre 1973 Schrade Walden ones though. They are somewhat hard to come by and sometimes expensive.
The lone trapper knife is my Moore Maker. I forgot to put the 'holster' for it in the picture. I looked on their website and couldn't find a classification for the kind of steel they use. It's not stainless. I just haven't trashed the blades.... yet. It's the one I've been carrying all the time. So far I like it! Moore Maker makes alot of yellows in different styles.

Ladobe · « **Reply #42 on:** June 01, 2011, 09:29:24 PM »

@saddlebum

Not my pictures of the Warren, but scans of some slides that I got with the knife. I'll get some digital pics one of these days of all my custom knives I still have. The inlay is ivory in the shape of the big island very well done with a scrimed marlin and "Kona Coast" in block letters though.

I too like the "yellow" folders and have had a few of them over the years. Probably mostly Trappers and stockmans as they were favorite patterns, although I do remember a fish folder in yellow as well. I gave most of my folders to my son years ago and don't have pictures of any of them. Last folder he took was a limited edition with Damascus blade, with a deep etched full body charging razorback and stag scales still new in the factory box (have no picture). He also got my custom Bowen belt folder with stag scales that I carried for many years. Picked that one up in Jackson Hole in the early 80's. Too many knives to remember, even the customs as I've owned so many.

saddlebum · « **Reply #43 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:19:51 PM »

Funny you should mention the yellow fish knife. I was just poking around ebay and came across a yellow fish knife with a hook sharpener on one side, and saved the pic for future reference. It's a Schrade Walden. I don't have one, but I could get into collecting a few of the different ones and some 'toothpicks'. There just kind of neat.

Ladobe · « **Reply #44 on:** June 05, 2011, 09:25:20 PM »

Well, I couldn't find the knife... finanly figured out I'd given it to my son. He confirmed it as you folks summized, a Schrade Waldon 896K.

inthebeech · « **Reply #45 on:** June 29, 2011, 06:34:21 AM »

Yellow handles are great for another reason. More than once I would have lost forever my single bladed barlow from Great Eastern, if that bright colored handle wasn't showing through the tall grass that I dropped it in. It's just worth considering.

Capt Gary · « **Reply #46 on:** August 07, 2011, 04:31:19 AM »

Wayne Hendrix, South Carolina bladesmith. Wayne makes the best looking, best working knives in the country at a very reasonable price for custom made. He has a huge selection of handle material that is very interesting.
I have one of his drop point hunters with elephant ivory slabs that I have used for everything.

Good luck on your hunt.

Hooker · « **Reply #47 on:** August 07, 2011, 01:47:32 PM »

Here's one I'm working on.
It started life as a very large and not very useful Imperial hunting knife with ugly fake plastic stag grips.
The blade is made from very good steel holds an edge very well. I cut it down on the mill and started reshaping with a belt sander and file.

Here is what it looked like originally

PAT

Capt Gary · « **Reply #48 on:** October 06, 2011, 05:10:08 PM »

Try Wayne Hendricks in South Carolina. Builds the nicest and most reasonable knives I have seen.
Seach is webpage and drool.

mdwest · « **Reply #49 on:** October 07, 2011, 03:31:23 AM »

Im partial to this one:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/707241-Pat-Crawford-Legionnaire

http://www.crawfordknives.com/neck_knives.htm

but thats probably because I was one of the guys that helped design it

super thin, SUPER sharp.. and keeps an edge far better than the vast majority of knives I own..

I've used it on everything from squirrels to deer.. to other things (have carried it all over the globe..)..

pretty reasonably priced for a handmade/custom knife as well...

AtlLaw · « **Reply #50 on:** October 07, 2011, 05:51:50 AM »

Quote from: Hooker on August 07, 2011, 01:47:32 PM

Here's one I'm working on.

Nice job reshaping the blade Pat! Be sure you keep us updated!

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #51 on:** October 10, 2011, 11:19:19 AM »

I use a buck 105. It's a smaller version of the traditional 119 that everyone had growing up. It is still made in America. The stainless steel is of ok quality. It holds a decent edge, but I recomend touching it up with a sharpening steel between game animals. 3-4 strokes and its good to go again. You can get them for around $40.

Pat/Rick · « **Reply #52 on:** October 26, 2011, 08:48:34 AM »

I've taken to shop ebay for older knives. Carbon steel is my favorite and prefer older schrade and western. Barlow knives are still great for small game and fish. Haven't owned a case yet, some day.

Haycock · « **Reply #53 on:** March 01, 2012, 01:40:57 AM »

Knives of Alaska Muskrat & Cub Bear