On the lookout for an all-around belt knife that can also be a workhorse?
Take a look at this traditional sample made with the most recent supplies.
by Leon Pantenburg
Enhancing on this traditional design is basically, actually powerful. Just lately, the knife was upgraded with a MagnaCut metal blade. Order yours here.
All it takes (for me to amass one more knife I don’t want) is a historic, traditional sample made with new, improved metal.
This reproduction of a Hawken rifle and the Mountain Man knife match collectively rather well.
That’s what occurred with the brand new Mountain Man knife from Bark River.
Bark River Knives initially made the Mountain Man in 1095 carbon metal after which once more in A-2.
This batch, in keeping with The KnivesShipFree web site, ought to out-perform the older fashions by a really large margin. Bark River Knives has used CPM-3V in a really skinny cross part – identical to the unique thickness of the knife.
Specs:
- General Size: 9.875 Inches
- Blade Size: 5.5 Inches
- Blade Metal: CPM 3V @ 59-61
- Blade Thickness: .093 Inch
- Weight: 5.1oz
- Made in USA
This was the favourite belt knife of the American mountain man in the course of the early to mid 1800s. Most had been made by the Russell Firm and a few had been branded “Inexperienced River”.
The mountain males used the identify “Inexperienced River” as a typical of high quality for something traded. Something completed “As much as Inexperienced River” signified first price merchandise.
The Mountain Man, backside, bears a robust resemblance to the reproduction Russell.
Inexperienced River knives had been made in Greenfield, Massachusetts by J. Russell & Co. The manufacturing facility was began in 1832-34 to make butcher and kitchen knives. Near 60,000 Russell Inexperienced River knives per yr had been shipped to the West for a number of years. Among the many hottest is the Inexperienced River Scalper, Skinner and variations utilized by the American mountain man then.
Nonetheless, the J.Russell & Co. didn’t begin stamping their merchandise with “Inexperienced River Works” till a while in 1837. It’s unlikely any had been even out there to be shipped to rendezvous till 1838 or later. The Green River Knife was a favourite of the emigrant, gold seeker, buffalo hunter, miner, Indian, and settler.
The BR Mountain Man is known as a medium dimension butcher knife. I’ve used the same Russell reproduction for years. The design is stable, no-nonsense and simply flat works.
Right here’s the good things in regards to the Mountain Man:
Dimension: A 5.5-inch blade is about good for butchering and skinning. It’s additionally going to make an excellent kitchen knife, and it is going to be helpful round camp for making ready meals and absolutely anything else you want a knife for.
Blade thickness: Lastly, a working knife with a sensible blade thickness!
There appears to be totally different colleges of blade thickness thought in the case of knives.
Thick blades are sturdier, in fact. However they don’t slice as effectively, and IMO are unnecessarily heavy and unwieldy. Take a look at actual swords and daggers at a museum someday – most of them are fairly skinny.
The unique mountain man Russells and different commerce knives had been designed by recognition and gross sales information. They had been consumer, working instruments designed to promote. Apparently, the Natives and trappers most well-liked skinny blades, or somebody would have made a thick blade knife to compete with the Russells.
I favor a thinner blade. After a number of many years of massive sport searching, fishing, backpacking, canoeing and mountaineering, I’ve by no means damaged a blade within the subject. With immediately’s tremendous steels, I feel the thick blades are finest confined to out-and-out survival/tactical/preventing knives.
Deal with: The unique Russells had been ceaselessly bought with no deal with, and the customer placed on his personal. These handles had been most likely bone, antler or wooden, relying on what was out there.
My Mountain Man got here with a stabilized cabolo wooden deal with, as a result of it appears to be like cool and the knife will mix in with my kitchen knife rack. I discover that the stabilized wooden and micarta turn out to be “grippier” when moist, making for a safer and secure deal with.
I’ve massive palms, and the 4.3-inch deal with suits me effectively. I used the Mountain Man to whittle some pine, minimize greens and meat and carve a cooked turkey. Even with fats on the deal with, the knife was secure to make use of.
Tip: The purpose has an upswept grind with a drop level. That is traditional butcher knife design, and it’s clear this knife was initially designed to subject costume and pores and skin massive animals. It can work effectively for hunters.
Backbone: The sting reverse the sharpened edge is floor at 90-degrees, like an ice skate. This implies it may very well be used to scrape a ferrocerrium rod to generate sparks for firemaking or processing tinder. This may turn out to be useful.
The Mountain Man wants a standard sheath like this reproduction.
Metal: Right here’s the very best half – CPM 3V is an excellent metal, and one among my favorites for a working knife. It resists staining effectively, and maintain an edge like loopy. Apply your honing, and the blade will at all times be razor sharp.
The most recent model is available in MagnaCut metal. I’ve been utilizing knives in that metal because it got here out, and the metal performs actually, rather well. This newest incarnation could also be the very best but.
Sheath: The Mountain Man comes with a sturdy leather-based sheath that may shield and safe the blade effectively. However the knife cries out for a standard leather-based sheath applicable for the fur commerce period. I’ve one, and that’s what the mountain man will trip in.
Made within the USA: All Bark River knives are made in Escanoba, Michigan, by American craftsmen. The knives have probably the greatest warranties in the marketplace, a 100% satisfaction assure. These people pay taxes and help their communities. Let’s help American small enterprise!
Within the wake of Leonardo DiCaprio getting an Oscar for his work in The Revanent” I predict renewed curiosity within the western fur commerce period. I used to be hooked by Charlton Heston in “The Mountain Men” again in 1980, and by no means fairly obtained over it.
I predict this knife goes to do very effectively amongst fur commerce aficionados, or anybody who’s on the lookout for a sensible, usable camp knife.
The Mountain Man is “As much as Inexperienced River.”
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