Slotted Tang Hunter with Gut Hook

[Idahomike251]

Temperature has been hovering at low teens for a while, I'm done with bow hunting and fly fishing for now, so it's time to make knives. I watched an outfitter use his knife with gut hook to great effect two years ago in Colorado, and I wanted to make one for me to test on a New Zealand red stag later this spring (if I get lucky, that is). I wanted to incorporate light weight attribute of the hidden tang design into this knife with the look of full tang (when viewed from above).
Mirror polished blade is made of 3/16" D2 tool steel with Rockwell hardness of 60C. Main handle is canvass micarta with stabilized maple burl and red G10 accent stripe.
 
 
 
 

[2treks]

That is really nice. I like how you did the handle/tang/scales.
Good luck on the stags.

CTT

[Lin Rhea]

Interesting design. I've seen some butcher knives constructed with the top tang. I like it.

[Bodork]

Nice job! Good luck on your hunt!

[Rusty Snuffers]

That's about the nicest guthook hunter I've ever seen.  The slotted tang is pretty slick.  How do you get the micarta to shine like that?    

[fmscan]

Mike, That knife took my breath away! Really have never seen anything that complex and beautiful. It must be VERY rewarding to be soooo creative. Just God Given Talent. Congradulations!

[Idahomike251]

Dear fmscan,  Thank you, Retired after 32 years working for a large Electronics company where it required a lot of creativity on my part, I now can channel my need for it through knife and arrow making.  Mike O.

[amar911]

Mike,

As always, I admire the beauty and elegance of your knives, and I know that they are going to be as good at the chores they are designed for as they are in their looks. One thing I like about any artisan is the ability to know from looking at a piece of his work who made it. I always recognize your knives, even when you use such imaginative touches as the top tang. Great idea. You make some of my favorite knives, and your talents, imagination, workmanship and attention to detail always shine through. One other comment is how well you formed the guard from the micarta as part of the handle itself, and the single finger grip that gives control without limiting various hand positions. Nice -- very nice!

Allan

[Kevin Evans]

Looks like that will work
 

[gables]

Great craftsmanship and attention to detail.