A few years ago I bought a $8 Old Hickory 6″ butcher knife and it sat around. I bought it because I’d read that it was easy and fun to convert these into camp knives. So finally I went and did it.
I’m not finished with it, but here’s a pic of how far it’s come along from where it started.
I’ve also heard that the skinner knives and maybe the 8″+ butchers have thicker blades, if that’s what you want.
I kinda like the idea of a filet knife for deer—that’s what the classic 6″ boning knife is, with its rather flexy blade and often upswept tip. But this camp knife has a much wider blade. And it’s not like I’m very good at butchering deer but I am getting quite a bit better at it. So, who knows how it will function in the real world. I’ve been REALLY enjoying my Ahti Metsa 3.75″ puukko for whittling, but it seems to have a VERY thick blade—so maybe this new knife will find a range of uses. I didn’t have a sheath knife with a blade over 4″ so this is also part of testing out a bigger knife.
I enjoy how the steel of the Old Hickory “sings” when you whittle with it—it makes a high-pitched “ping,” almost like a chime, when it’s used.
I thought that the OH could use a fingerguard. It dropped from the handle right to sharp blade so I was either going to put a guard on it or dull the blade for a ways. I decided to go with a guard. I really like Osage Orange wood so I whittled and sanded a couple pieces of Osage to make a guard, then I glued them on with the new high-tech West G-Flex epoxy—it’s their hot new uniquely flexible epoxy—I figure it might take repeated shoves and strains well.
When I’ve gotten the Osage guards wet they really glow and look a deep, beautiful yellow-gold. I look forward to putting some sealer on them to make them stand out permanently.
There were some gaps so I thought I’d fair them in and smooth out some transitions with putty. I had some old “Water Putty” that claims to be a great instant water-based “plastic.” I hope it’s tough enough after I stain and seal it.
I really like the “hook” for the little finger on my Ahti Metsa, so I cut one into the butt of the OH handle. We’ll see how that works for helping me hold onto the knife in use.
Next: finish the knife, make it pretty…and make a sheath!
Ya know, the sheath is almost the main thing about a camp knife. I’ve never made a sheath before! I’m thinking that a pocket clip would be a neat way to mount it but we’ll see. I have a couple other kitchen-cum-camp knives that need sheaths also.
