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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Lin Rhea on November 08, 2008, 07:29:00 PM

Title: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Lin Rhea on November 08, 2008, 07:29:00 PM
This Hunter has special significance for me. It dont have any bells or whistles, as you can see. The clipped blade is about 4 3/4 inch of 5160. The gaurd and pin are stainless steel.

The piece of Walnut is one that I cut from a tree that was removed from some property in Little Rock. I took the chunk of tree home and sliced it up with a chainsaw till I got to the curly area. I cut it up in handle sized pieces and stuck them in a drying box I made from plywood and a light bulb. They stayed in there about 4 months and got good and dry.

Believe it or not, this knife won the Clyde Fischer award in Old Washington last weekend. Actually it tied with one made by Terry Vanderventer from Mississippi. Terry and I were pretty happy about it. Lin

  (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2989520101_aee32d1d9c.jpg)
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Squirrel Bait on November 08, 2008, 07:46:00 PM
As with everything you make Lin, it's beautiful!
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: tomh on November 08, 2008, 07:53:00 PM
that is a classic beauty Lin, I like the blade shape a lot.
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: d. ward on November 08, 2008, 08:37:00 PM
Outstanding as always...bd
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: 4runr on November 08, 2008, 08:52:00 PM
Beautiful!!
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Ray Hammond on November 08, 2008, 08:55:00 PM
I believe thats my favorite of your knives, so far, Lin! Wonderful.
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: 2Knives on November 08, 2008, 09:50:00 PM
Oh, thats a beauty for sure!!!!
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Lin Rhea on November 09, 2008, 05:50:00 AM
Thanks guys. I appreciate your encouragement.

Did anyone here ever meet Clyde Fischer before he passed away?

Lin
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: kbaknife on November 09, 2008, 07:46:00 AM
Lin, the curl in that walnut is spectacular!
I never met Clyde, and I can't even spell Vanderventer.
Is that a mortised handle?
Saving some for Silver wire?
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Chris Surtees on November 09, 2008, 08:04:00 AM
:thumbsup:     :notworthy:
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Lin Rhea on November 09, 2008, 08:59:00 AM
Karl,
         I never met him either. He passed away before I started making knives. His knives were mostly hunting knives and made from materials that were easily available or indigenous to his home state of Texas. He is known for making tough, but simple looking knives with few embellishments.
       
     The requirements for the award competition stated that the hunting knife must be of carbon steel, no filework or embellishments, and the handle material indigenous of Texas.
       
     Mr Fischer is an inductee in the Bladesmith Hall of Fame located at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock. If you ever get to Little Rock, it's worth a visit. Lin
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Jon Christensen on November 09, 2008, 10:41:00 AM
Nice blade Lin, it's begs to be used.
Well deserved award.

Jon
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Brad Singley on November 09, 2008, 10:44:00 AM
Awesome Job Lin!  I tend toward the simpler look and that is one beautiful knife
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: tomh on November 09, 2008, 10:46:00 AM
Lin what did you use to finish the handle on this knife? Thanks!
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Lin Rhea on November 09, 2008, 01:27:00 PM
Thanks Jon and Brad.

Tom, good question. When I had the handle 99% to shape, I poured the Minwax Wood hardener to it. I let that dry for a day or so and sanded it with some progressivly finer sand paper till it was ready to wax and put Ren wax on it.

Since this is Walnut and has plenty of color, no stain is necessary. If I was going to use stain (such as with curly Maple), I would have to do that before I seal it with woodhardener. Lin
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: tomh on November 09, 2008, 01:34:00 PM
Thanks you Lin!
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: OconeeDan on November 09, 2008, 01:49:00 PM
Very nice, Lin.  Congratulations on the award!
Dan
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Larry Surtees on November 09, 2008, 07:59:00 PM
Very nice
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: vermonster13 on November 10, 2008, 07:44:00 AM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: TxMoon on November 10, 2008, 11:49:00 AM
Clyde Fischer,,,I am sure I have had or seen one of his knifes.. Did he work with G.W Stone in Richardson Tx or was he from West Tx? I will do some looking into it to be sure.
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: tomh on November 16, 2008, 08:43:00 AM
Lin I never used the wood hardener. What is the best way to go about that? Thanks!
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Lin Rhea on November 16, 2008, 09:13:00 AM
TxMoon, I believe he was from Victoria, Tx, but dont quote me on that. I have an email out requesting more information about him in the form of an article by B R Hughes. It should be here soon and I'll pass it on.

Tom, The wood hardener is by Minwax and it comes in a can. About $10. I apply it by literally pouring it on the material or by cotton ball liberally soaked with it. You have to pretty well flood the material so it can soak as deep as possible before setting up. It is acetone based, so it's fast setting. Let it sit for the prescribed time and sand and apply wax or your favorite finish. Lin
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: tomh on November 16, 2008, 02:26:00 PM
thakns, I will give it a try!
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Ian johnson on November 18, 2008, 10:06:00 PM
Lin, that knife looks awesome, you going back to the blade show next year?
Title: Re: Curly Walnut Hunter
Post by: Lin Rhea on November 19, 2008, 05:46:00 AM
I should be there Ian. Stop by my table. Thanks, Lin