Drop Point Hunter with African Blackwood and Curly Koa

Product Description for Drop Point Hunter with African Blackwood and Curly Koa

Maker: Stuart Smith, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 100380
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.75 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.30 in.
Total length: 8.40 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.91 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.16 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.
Item weight: 3.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 6.0 oz.
Blade: Hand forged 52100 carbon steel with a fuller on each side
Bolster: Phosphor bronze
Handle: African blackwood with a curly koa spacer
Sheath: Hand tooled leather sheath
Description: Getting to meet bladesmith Stuart Smith was a real highlight of my recent trip to South Africa. Smith began making knives in 2000 after he took a class with Mastersmith Kevin Harvey. Stuart was immediately hooked and quite his job working as a salesman by 2004. Only a few years after that, in 2009, Stuart began teaching classes of his own. Among his many students is Neels van den Berg. Stuart has been very active over the years in the Southern African Bladesmiths Association (SABA) and the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa (KGSA). Stuart became a Journeyman Smith in June 2019.
Stuart forged the drop point blade from 52100 carbon steel. This high performing steel is considered to be among the best steels (if not the very best) by many knifemakers and knife users. Makers such as Mastersmiths Bill Burke, Bob Kramer, and Ed Fowler have pioneered this long edge holding steel. It features a hand rubbed satin finish and is distal tapered, ensuring perfect balance. A fuller travelling along each side keeps the knife light and fast.
The handle begins with a contoured phosphor bronze guard. It is meticulously fit to both blade and handle -- joints between materials are virtually impossible to detect. The handle is formed from a solid piece of African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) with a curly koa (Acacia koa) spacer. A mixture of hand rubbed tung oil and Danish oil provides a silky smooth, timeless finish. The combination of woods is particularly dramatic.
The knife is accompanied by a hand tooled leather sheath.
Exceptional work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available