Bear Femur Knives

Tatersalad · December 06, 2011, 08:27:00 AM

Hey Guys
Thought you might enjoy a peek at two knives i'm having made for my son and myself. I was fortunate enough to take my son on a bear hunt this spring and take a nice bear with my bow. I took the femur bone and am having Ben Tendick (with BRT Bladeworks) and Charles Sinclair (aka snakewood) build me two knives.

Here are some pics - one of the mockup of the blade next to the aged bone and the other of the finished blades waiting to be hafted to the bone.

Charles will post more photos when they are done.

Enjoy

Michael

Over sized pic Michael...

srtben · December 06, 2011, 09:13:00 AM

Here you go...

Tatersalad · December 06, 2011, 09:20:00 AM

thanks Ben...can't seem to master the size restrictions.

Michael

tippit · December 07, 2011, 07:40:00 AM

Bear bones make great knives and really help you remember the event. Bear Quest has provided me with many moments over the past decade with a dozen bears. Here's one from Stubby the biggest bear of that Quest year. He had a paw taken off in a snare. The radius & ulna were callused at the stump...tippit

Tatersalad · December 07, 2011, 07:45:00 AM

That cools Tippit...it always amazes me how tough and resourceful wild animals can be. I'm sure i would have bleed to death or died of infection in a few days, but not Stubby....he apparently thrived.

Thanks for the post.

Michael

BAO · December 07, 2011, 10:41:00 AM

"...apparently thrived." Until he met Tippit! LOL

snakewood3 · December 07, 2011, 01:59:00 PM

Looking forward to continuing this project, should have blades tomorrow. I enjoy utilizing a bone or other part of a special creature, something most modern hunters would discard.

snakewood3 · December 11, 2011, 02:01:00 PM

Hafting blades, using a heavily fibred mix of west epoxy due to the porous nature of the bone near the joint balls. This will strengthen the bone as well.

Tatersalad · December 11, 2011, 02:20:00 PM

Looking good Charles! Thanks for the build along. My son and i are followng it closely!!!!

Michael

snakewood3 · December 12, 2011, 04:26:00 PM

Let epoxy cure at least 24 hrs.. Grind haft and do a little rawhide work, Elk and Mule deer...

Tatersalad · December 12, 2011, 11:00:00 PM

Looking great Charles! Looks like my son will have a new skinning knife in his stocking on the fireplace.

Michael