Thread: Custom knives

Originally Posted by scoped

if that top one is a zedteq, they are nice knives. i was impressed at how long it held its edge

I think that he has stopped making them. The steel is L6. Average stuff, but good enough. O1 that John often uses is better. But it comes down to the heat treat really.

hi guys cheers for the comments . tahr the steel is N690 with my standard heat treat and cryo. works good.
nearly got the new workshop up and running just having a light problem got them wired up and they wont go to dark now to chase the problem
cheers john

Originally Posted by john worthington

hi guys cheers for the comments . tahr the steel is N690 with my standard heat treat and cryo. works good.
nearly got the new workshop up and running just having a light problem got them wired up and they wont go to dark now to chase the problem
cheers john

Can't go wrong with N690. I've tried it on deer. A nice modern fine grained steel, and I think quite stainless? Holds a good edge and not difficult to sharpen. Probably tougher and more forgiving than Elmax which can chip a bit.

Zedteq still makes them. Have one here at moment that is recently made and requires some nice leather work

Sent from my E2353 using Tapatalk

That skinner is n690, as is the one currently in production;-)

Sent from my E2353 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by HNTMAD

That skinner is n690, as is the one currently in production;-)

Sent from my E2353 using Tapatalk

mate ya dreaming at least until i get the lights going

Originally Posted by john worthington

mate ya dreaming at least until i get the lights going

You not got candles :-D

Sent from my E2353 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by john worthington

mate ya dreaming at least until i get the lights going

can sort that lighting problem out for you , got two low pitch sky lights that can sell/ install for you @ very good price ( new , but where replaced with different spec ones , so want them gone ? Perfect for a workshop ?

A recurve is the blade shape that Hamish posted at the top of his post, it's a shape characteristic of the khukuri blade, it has two curves, this gives it more length in a shorter blade if you lay a string along the blade length, they cut very well and once you learn how to sharpen them, not too difficult just a tad different.

L6 and O1 are both tool steels, in that they are steel made to cut steel as opposed to tool steel which is steel made to cut wood, this means that with the right heat treatment they make brilliant blades, L6 tend to be very hard, which means the edge will hold but is tough to resharpen, O1 is probably a better steel (the best of both is Swedish-less impurities), it is both strong, holds and edge but not too hard to resharpen, however both are high carbon and will rust or stain almost as soon as you start cutting, this can be countered by oiling or you can just let it stain which will prevent it from rusting, but still a good idea to oil it regularly.

Next depends on how much you want to spend, Johns stuff is mint but you pay for quality, if you just want to try a curved skinner you can pick up a svord curved skinner with a plastic handle pretty cheap and it's a good blade, Hamish made a nice sheath for mine.

Another option is Ludwig from nzhandmadeknives.com

He just made another knife for me and it is brilliant!!!

And another

Martin Custom Knives
Nelson, New Zealand
New Zealand Travel ~ New Zealand Tourism ~ NZ Information
+64 3 546 5595

Originally Posted by Scouser

And another

Martin Custom Knives
Nelson, New Zealand
New Zealand Travel ~ New Zealand Tourism ~ NZ Information
+64 3 546 5595

My stanely knife has a bigger blade

Originally Posted by Gibo

My stanely knife has a bigger blade

It does/did the job.......

Bill Nikl makes beautiful knifes as well. I have one on my hunting belt, pricy and chances are you will have to wait for it but it is a beautiful, practical knife - well made and with a well made leather sheath.

I find a few knifes these days are a little shorter in then blade then I like, particularly for doing red deer. I prefer a slightly longer blade ~5" when doing around the arsehole and cutting throats... personal preference I think.

Originally Posted by Gillie

Bill Nikl makes beautiful knifes as well. I have one on my hunting belt, pricy and chances are you will have to wait for it but it is a beautiful, practical knife - well made and with a well made leather sheath.

I find a few knifes these days are a little shorter in then blade then I like, particularly for doing red deer. I prefer a slightly longer blade ~5" when doing around the arsehole and cutting throats... personal preference I think.

Totally agree gillie.
Not sure how I would get on doing a heifer for the house or old cow for dogs with a short (4") blade.
After all this knife will be used dog Tucker, muttons and hunting