KNIVES

[>>>---WW---->]

As a knife maker, I'm posting this thread here in the elk section mainly because almost all of my knives are created with the elk hunter in mind.

I do get a wild hair and make a different style blade once in awhile but, for the most part, all my Wild Wapiti knives have the same basic blade design. Some have a little more involved handle design that often takes more time and effort to make. But the basic knife remains the same regardless of handle type. I'm not physically able to roam the mountains like I used to, but I've found making knives helps me dream of elk hunting plus, it is a great hobby and pass time.

So the main purpose of this thread is to find out just what you guys would like to know about general knife making or what type of knife you prefer. Things like what style of blade you like. How long, or how fancy. Maybe you just like a good useable knife that is built for a lifetime of use that you can pass down to your kids and grandkids. How about things like how to care for your knife. How to sharpen it. What do you mostly use it for?

[Tigger]

One of the things I like in an elk or big game knife is a (not sure what it is called) thing to stop your hand from sliding forward onto the blade. When you are tired, your hands are bloody, it is dark and your knife stops for some reason, I don't want that hand to keep going and slice my fingers badly. I have no interest in a knife that doesn't have that type of safety feature. I also like a blade that is not real big. I have a Buck 118 and I love the size and shape of that blade. Might not be the coolest knife, but it fits my purposes perfectly.

[>>>---WW---->]

Tigger: I absolutely agree with you. What you are talking about is often referred to as a finger guard. A true finger guard is usually some type of metal device that is designed to keep you hand from sliding forward when thrusting the point into something. Many knife makers now days have given up on the idea of a metal guard, except for decoration, and have incorporated what is known as a finger choil which is ground into the handle. This provides a place for you index finger to provide a better and more secure grip and also helps to keep your hand from sliding forward. There is a European knife design called a Puukko that has no guard of any type at all. I suppose it is safe if you use the knife properly. It has been around for centuries so it must be OK. But it scares the heck out of me just to look at it.

You mentioned blade length. Most hunting knives now days have a blade length of 3 1/2 - 4 inches. That is plenty long for a hunting blade. Woodcrafters and survivalist may prefer something in the 5" are longer range. A few months ago I made a big honk'n Bowie style with a 9" blade. I call it my wall hanger. It sure is pretty but that's about all it's good for! LOL!!!

[Lefty]

I should put together my knife history .
Starting with the cool scar when I cut my thumb with my moms Cutco bread knife... kept it hidden from my mom for 3 days,,,, when I was 5.

Or when Miss Woods stepped out of the house with lemonade in her fluorescent green bikini ( she was a hot 17 year old, I was 19) and cut off my index finger

the knife I stuck in my butt in my dads truck,, my brother had tossed the knife in through the window,,,,,
Tigger I had and also have a Buck 121,,43 year old?

[Tigger]

My Buck 118 is 43 years old too. Maybe they were bought at the exact same time?

[Lefty]

My Buck 118 is 43 years old too. Maybe they were bought at the exact same time?

I likely bought mine at Shells in Mankato

[>>>---WW---->]

I should put together my knife history .
Starting with the cool scar when I cut my thumb with my moms Cutco bread knife... kept it hidden from my mom for 3 days,,,, when I was 5.

Or when Miss Woods stepped out of the house with lemonade in her fluorescent green bikini ( she was a hot 17 year old, I was 19) and cut off my index finger

the knife I stuck in my butt in my dads truck,, my brother had tossed the knife in through the window,,,,,
Tigger I had and also have a Buck 121,,43 year old?

I think we better take Lefty of the hunting buddy list. If he's that dangerous with a knife, I'll bet every wild goose is scared to death when he breaks out the shotgun.

[RanchoSueno]

[WapitiTalk1]

Posting this for WW. Here is the story behind this little gem. WW's son in law wanted a wood carving knife; this is what Bill came up with for him. The blade is only 2 inches long by 1/2inch wide. The blade is tempered it to a 61 Rockwell hardness and has an edge on it that will split the whiskers on a tom cat . He has never tried putting a tear drop handle on anything before, but the razor-sharp carver feels great no matter how you hold it. Darn nice work (as usual) WW!

WW Wood Carving Knife FEB 2026.jpg (150.98 KiB) Viewed 67 times