Light Weight Hunting Knives

[TheWeatherman]

Here are two knives that I just finished today that I tried to make super light weight for backpackers but still have a knife that they could depend on.


I make them out of O-1 and they are 3/32" thick.


This one is only 2.3oz (knife only)





This one is a Gannett Ridge model



Both were Cerakoted by Sawtooth Rifles and then I put 5/32" black g10 handles on them.

What do you guys think about knives with Cerakote on them? Would it be something cool to have a knife match your guns?

[ray1970]

Style-wise I like the looks of the second one. The ceracoat is OK but I would be curious to see how it holds up to actual use.

[TheWeatherman]

Style-wise I like the looks of the second one. The ceracoat is OK but I would be curious to see how it holds up to actual use.

Yeah, the coating is just like any other knife that has coating on it. Like a Kabar for instance. It wears away and gets scratched, but it provides an extra layer of protection for some users who don't like taking care of their carbon steel knives. These were an experiment to see if I could make them the way I wanted. I would probably go for a green or grey next time and then think about sculpting the handles....

[StagLefty]

I think ESEE powder coats theirs and it seems to last quite awhile. Is that cost effective for yours ?

[TheWeatherman]

I think ESEE powder coats theirs and it seems to last quite awhile. Is that cost effective for yours ?

I don't know if it really is cost effective yet. I know the owner of Sawtooth Rifles up here in Fort Collins, CO and he Cerakoted them for me so we could see how well it would work. I have heard of other makers Cerakoting their knives, so I figured I would try it out. Powder coating is more expensive and requires some specialty processes, but it would hold up a lot better.

[anomad]

Very handsome knives. Do you make the sheaths as well? I like the look and feel of leather.

I was just thinking about coatings. Are the coatings/cerakote/whatever "food safe" on the various knives? I've probably eaten the teflon lining off a few frying pans over the years and I haven't died yet. But if you use your knife for processing game or general food preparation you are going to eat some of the coating. I like to think about what I eat.

The ESEE powder coating is a little too textured for my taste, it seems to add resistance with certain cutting tasks. Cold steel and kabar paint is pretty slick and doesn't seem to offer any resistance.

[TheWeatherman]

Very handsome knives. Do you make the sheaths as well? I like the look and feel of leather.

I was just thinking about coatings. Are the coatings/cerakote/whatever "food safe" on the various knives? I've probably eaten the teflon lining off a few frying pans over the years and I haven't died yet. But if you use your knife for processing game or general food preparation you are going to eat some of the coating. I like to think about what I eat.

The ESEE powder coating is a little too textured for my taste, it seems to add resistance with certain cutting tasks. Cold steel and kabar paint is pretty slick and doesn't seem to offer any resistance.

Yes I make the sheaths as well. As for the coating (Cerakote being what was used here) being food safe along the lines of what you are thinking, I am unsure right now. I wouldn't expect the coating to come off like that when dealing with game or in the kitchen. Let me do a little more research on that and ask the manufacture and the gun smith that coated them for me.

[anomad]

It's really just out of curiosity. I mean over years you might ingest a few molecules of paint.

[TheWeatherman]

I hear you. I'll let you know. That is a really really good question. I took a look at the paperwork that they have on it and it doesn't seem to be to bad. But that doesn't mean it isn't. I will find out though.

Great question!

[ray1970]

People thought lead based paint was OK for lots of years.