My sister and brother-in-law sent me a very special gift. Last year I had described to Gary just what I wanted in a skinning knife, something similar to a Buck 103 Skinner, but with a straight back and a deep belly, no clip point, and maybe a bit shorter. I thought we were just making conversation but here it is! He bought a blank blade from Jantz Knives (3.5" full tang), along with the brass bolsters. To top it off, he had some heirloom ebony and made the scales (he's a high-end cabinetmaker). The steel is CPM 154 stainless, with a lot of carbon and a hardness of 59-60. I'm not sure where he got the scabbard, but he shrink-formed it to a perfect fit. Should hold up really well. No elk will be safe

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You have a great BIL. I really like that knife. It's good looking, but it's made for "using" and not for show.

Don

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A real beauty with everything you need and nothing you don't. An heirloom for sure.

Congrats,

Al

Yeah, while I admire the custom knifemaker's craft, that is not my thing. My thing is a useful tool. I'll be taking this to the range tomorrow LOL. Actually, I just used it to slice my grilled brats. BIL says he finished the sharpening with 8000 grit. No cylinder play.

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BIL must like you. Or Sis had some influence on him. Either way it's a win for you! Congratulations!

Looks great and very sturdy. What a gift to treasure!

That looks like a very nice functional blade. Any elk/deer would be proud to have his hide peeled with it!

Buck makes a very similar knife. I have one, its a 112 Skinner I think it's called but I haven't looked at mine lately. It comes with options as to steel and handle materials but the handle is the same thickness as the as the brass bolster, not thicker like yours. Very similar sheath design also. Great little knife, full tang, blade is about 3&1/4".

Excellent job ! A great looking working knife. Nice wood. It will be a great hunting companion that can be handed down for generations. Keep some Ren wax on the blade.
I have seen the Jantz Supply Catalogue and it looks like nice stuff. He probably got the sheath blank there and wet formed it.
They offer a knife making class “Handcrafted Knives” at the local High School for Adult Ed. I took the class the first time in 2012. I have since taken it 5 more times and have made 11 knives. Made of 01 tool steel and hand wet sanded to finish down to 800 grit. We make the sheaths also - wet formed and hand stitched. Here are the two I made last fall and gave one to my wife for Christmas. Rams Horn for me and lacewood for her. Hopefully mine will clean a deer next fall. I did file work on the top spine for finger placement when skinning The instructor calls these small knives “deer zippers”. No Elk around these parts.

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Your sister made a good choice!

Now that is something really Special ...
Beautiful Work ...
Your Brother-in-Law did an excellent job !
I know you will enjoy using it ,
Good Luck on the Hunt !
Gary

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Not sure which one I like better, the knife or the sheath. What a great gift.

That’s just right. Nice brother in law!

Very nice indeed!

Another skill in a gift of love! What a fine piece of art. Very nice.

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