Drop Point Hunter with Koa
(Journeyman Test Knife)

Product Description for Drop Point Hunter with Koa
(Journeyman Test Knife)

Maker: Towball Weightman (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 100241
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 4.65 in.
Cutting edge length: 4.20 in.
Total length: 10.30 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.08 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.16 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.10 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.02 in.
Item weight: 6.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 10.8 oz.
Blade: Hand forged 52100 carbon steel with a hand rubbed satin finish
Bolster: 416 stainless steel
Handle: Presentation grade Hawaiian koa wood
Description: Australian knifemaker Towball Weightman is a friend of Mastersmith Bill Burke and has spent quite a bit of time working in Bill's shop. Thanks to Towball's high attention to detail and experience working with Bill, he creates some of the highest performance knives found anywhere. He received his Journeyman Smith award at BladeShow 2019. Towball is the fifth person in Australia to receive his JS stamp.
This Koa Hunter was part of Towball's JS test set. When a maker tests to become a journeyman, they create five knives that are the height of their work. These five knives are then judged by established masters to determine if the maker's work is up to snuff. Often, prospective journeymen spend 2-3 times as long creating these five knives as they would generally do, as they know that their work will be poured over by the masters. These five knives are generally considered to be among the most collectable knives of a maker's career.
The drop point blade was forged to shape from 5160 carbon steel. Many knifemakers (including the likes of Bill Burke, Ed Fowler, Bob Kramer, and more) and knife users consider 52100 to be among the best, if not the best steel used in modern knifemaking. 52100 takes a super-sharp, long lasting edge. It has tremendous resilience and strength. A hand rubbed finish provides an heirloom look. Weightman's makers mark is on the left side of the blade.
The handle is made from presentation grade Hawaiian koa wood (Acacia koa) contoured to provide a comfortable grip. Koa is one of the most sought after and expensive woods in the world. Only endemic to Hawaii, koa can only be harvested from dead or decaying trees on public lands due to how rare it is. The handle is fit to a 416 stainless steel guard that is satin finished. Stainless steel and black fiber spacers assist the wood with adjusting to humidity and temperature changes.
Excellent work throughout!


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