Drop Point Hunter (Model LR) with Camel Thorn

Product Description for Drop Point Hunter (Model LR) with Camel Thorn

Maker: Stuart Smith, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 103327
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 4.60 in.
Cutting edge length: 4.90 in.
Total length: 9.20 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.06 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.19 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.17 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 6.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 9.8 oz.
Blade: Hand forged, satin finished 52100 carbon steel
Bolster: Bronze
Handle: Hand contoured camel thorn
Sheath: Hand stiched and tooled leather sheath
Description: Getting to meet bladesmith Stuart Smith is a real highlight of my trips 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 hand 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 an heirloom quality hand rubbed satin finish and is distal tapered, ensuring perfect balance.
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 contoured from African camel thorn, also known as giraffe thorn wood. Camel thorn (Vachellia erioloba) grows only in South Africa and can grow to be up to 50 feet tall. The name 'camel thorn' refers to the fact that giraffe (kameelperd in Afrikaans) commonly feed on the leaves with their specially-adapted tongue and lips that can avoid the thorns. The warm toned wood has a nice mix of mid and dark tones. A mixture of hand rubbed tung oil and Danish oil provides a silky smooth, timeless finish.
The knife is accompanied by a hand stitched and tooled leather sheath.
Exceptional work throughout!


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