Semi-Skinners on their way...

The first of the "new style" Semi-Skinners blades were delivered to the Heat Treater on Friday. I'm hoping to have them back in a week or so and should have a couple knives available shortly after.
Until then, here are the comments that were shared with me by the owners of the first "new style" Drop Point Hunters to leave my shop.

"I received silver and black on Thursday. WOW, beautiful example of functional art. Flawless fit and finish." 
G.M. 02/26/17

Photo by owner

"The knife is sublime."
R.J. 02/07/17

Links to threads on the Accurate Reloading forum where both these knives were displayed:

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5021043/m/1251061922

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5021043/m/1471023922

My goal is to offer the absolute best working knives available to today's hunters. If you are interested in commissioning a custom knife of proven design and construction, used by some of the world's most experienced hunters, I can be reached at: baumgartknives@gmail.com

Lee

Silver and Black

Continuing in the direction laid out in my last post, the latest knife to come out of my little shop.

The specs on this Drop Point Hunter are as follows:
Blade Length- 3 3/4"
Handle Length- 4"
Handle Material- Black Canvas Micarta, Red Liners, Nickle Silver Guard and Pins
Steel- .125" CPM154 61RHC
Included is a hand-stitched 8/9 oz leather sheath

SOLD

My goal is to offer the absolute best working knives available to today's hunters. If you are interested in commissioning a custom knife of proven design and construction, used by some of the world's most experienced hunters, I can be reached at:   baumgartknives@gmail.com

Lee

A Slightly Different Direction

Over the past three years I have designed and made knives of basically the same style. I won't say I have mastered the style, but I will say I got to the point that I didn't feel challenged. This year I am going in a slightly different direction.

The biggest change for me in 2017 is the switch from high carbon O1 tool steel to a "state of the art" powdered metal stainless steel manufactured by Crucible- CPM154. This is a change I have wanted to make for a bit and have finally done it. I settled upon CPM154 after reading the results of a comparative steel test in Blade Magazine and investigating a number of different steels. There are a couple of steels that have greater edge retention than CPM154, but they are extremely difficult to sharpen. I wanted a steel that would retain its edge and perform in the field, but could still be sharpened by the user. Here are the specs for CPM154  http://www.crucible.com/PDFs/DataSheets2010/Datasheet%20CPM%20154%20CMv12010.pdf
The only downside to the switch in steel is the increased cost of the steel and the increased cost associated with heat treatment and cryogenic tempering.

I referenced change number two in my introductory paragraph. This year I am going to focus on what would be considered a Loveless style knife. The designs are my own and feature guards of brass, nickel silver, or stainless steel. This type of knife takes more time for me to construct and requires a number of tasks my previous knives didn't.. Bottom-line, they provide a greater challenge for me. As of right now, I have developed three different designs- a Drop Point Hunter, a Semi-Skinner, and a Caping/Bird and Trout knife. All these knives will be made using CPM154.

Below is my first knife of the year. This is the Drop Point Hunter.
Specs are as follows:
Blade Length- 3 3/4"
Handle Length- 4"
Handle Material- Natural Canvas, Mosaic Pins
Steel- .125" CPM154 61RHC
Included is a hand-stitched 8/9 oz leather sheath

THIS KNIFE IS SOLD

My goal is to offer the absolute best working knives available to today's hunters. If you are interested in commissioning a custom knife of proven design and construction, used by some of the world's most experienced hunters, I can be reached at baumgartknives@gmail.com

Lee

Customer Photo- Washington Whitetail

This photo was sent to me by a customer who purchased some of my very first knives and was the first person to place a custom order with me. The Whitetail was taken in SE Washington by his son-in-law and the Semi-Skinner used, commissioned a couple of years ago, is still performing flawlessly.

R.R., Thank you for sharing the photo.

My knives have been used in North America, Africa, and Asia by an ever increasing group of experienced hunters. If you are interested in purchasing a knife of proven design and construction I can be reached at baumgartknives@gmail.com

This Little Piggy Didn't Make It Home...

Just in from Texas...

Texas hog and a Small Drop Point Hunter

Who says you need a big knife? The blade on this one is only 2 7/8" and its owner said it worked like a charm.

Lee

baumgartknives@gmail.com

Customer Testimonial

I recently received this customer testimonial:

Lee

A year or so ago I bought a couple of knives from you that I had seen on Accurate Reloading. Finally got a chance to put one of them to work. My son and I have been hunting blacktails in western Washington for 20+ years and my son was successful again this year. Attached is a picture of his blacktail buck he shot the second weekend of the season. We gutted and skinned the deer with one of your Small Drop Point Hunters and the knife worked to perfection keeping a razor sharp edge throughout. You make a really nice knife and I've got two of them.

George

A New Drop Point Hunter

Here's a new design. It's a modification of my Large Drop Point Hunter.

Blade length is 3 5/8", overall length is 7 3/4". The handle on this one is natural Mircarta with red liners and mosaic pins.

I have also modified my Semi-Skinner in the same manner and will post an example when it is completed. If you are  interested in purchasing a custom knife, I can be reached at baumgartknives@gmail.com

Lee