Belt Knife for a Friend

[Nick Bachtel]

Here is a belt knife I forged for a good friend and fellow long rifle hunter. This is somewhat of a trade. More than a year ago he gifted me my first rifle, a .45 Lancaster. So to repay him (somewhat) I forged him a blade coupled with a sheath.

Blade is 1080 HC steel, bolister is hand filed iron, and the handle is a piece of Whitetail shed he found himself. I love doing builds with special pieces of antler or wood.

Thanks for taking a look,

Nick

[P.W.Berkuta]

Ah -- more and more nice blades coming from the members -- nice stuff -- but be careful some don't like the look of modern style knives even if they have natural handle materials!

[John SMOthermon]

Looks good!

[Nick Bachtel]

Ah -- more and more nice blades coming from the members -- nice stuff -- but be careful some don't like the look of modern style knives even if they have natural handle materials!

Thanks! I tried to aim for something eastern woodland. I hand sanded the blade and didn't force patina it (with bleach or mustard). The patina will come on its own.

Nick

[webradbury]

Ah -- more and more nice blades coming from the members -- nice stuff -- but be careful some don't like the look of modern style knives even if they have natural handle materials!

Thanks! I tried to aim for something eastern woodland. I hand sanded the blade and didn't force patina it (with bleach or mustard). The patina will come on its own.

Nick

With good old fashioned use! Nice knife. I like you touch mark

[Majorjoel]

Very nice knife Nick!  I know you mentioned it was meant to be a gift and also a trade, so my rule may not apply but I was taught by my mentor to always ask the recipient friend of a gifted knife for a coin. 

Any coin so that your gift will never CUT your friendship!

I really liked that tradition as it seemed to come from a past I strive to learn about!

[axelp]

my grandfather went by the same rule when gifting a knife.

[Joe S.]

Yup,that's the way its done

[Nick Bachtel]

Thanks everyone! I love that old traditional wisdom as well, so thanks again.

Nick

[Gun Butcher]

Good looking blade Nick.

Ron

[Pukka Bundook]

Very attractive knife, Nick!

Nice lines and looks useful!.............not like those silly efforts we sometimes see now with spikes and antler prongs sticking out of the grip all over!
Grandfather back in England had the same tradition re. giving a penny when a knife was gifted.   Back in the 60's that was.

[Curtis Makamson]

That is a nice piece of work.

[steveA]

Very nice Nick!

[Nick Bachtel]

Thank you everyone! I have another knife in the works for my Dad, and perhaps one for sale here soon before christmas.

I find that getting all my proportions correct is quite difficult with these old, petite knives.

Nick Bachtel