Neck knife blanks..FINAL PIC page 6

[the Ferret]

Neck knives are real handy. Old time black powder shooters mainly used them for cutting off the patch behind the ball, but traditional bowhunters have found many uses for them...wearing around camp for cutting meat, opening packages,cutting cheddar cheese blocks, pepperoni sticks and apples for lunch while out hunting (my favorite use for one), even gutting critters if ya get lucky from quail to deer               They are always in a handy place and don't weigh your pants down.

Commercial neck knives are rare, and even rarer are good blades for making your own. Recently Wingnut took over Helle blades here in the states and knowing my fondness for neck knives called me up when he found a neat blade from Helle that would make (pardon the pun) "one Helle va neck knife" LOL. So I ordered a couple sight unseen. Cost is negligible, about $20 shipped.

Came in today. All I can say is these are NICE. Here's a pic of my usual neck knife (made from bandsaw blade) and the Helle blade along with a Magnus broadhead for size perspective. Blade is 2 1/4" long and the tang 3 3/4" long for 6" overall.
I'm going to shorten the tang a bit and mount one in a piece of deer horn.Should make a dandy hunting/camp tool.                

       

[vermonster13]

Nice looking blade

[wingnut]

Dang,  I know idea a Magnus BH was that big.  LOL

Yep that little guy will find a home with me this year too.

Mike

[BigRonHuntAlot]

VERY Nice looking blade.      

[BigRonHuntAlot]

Yours Too Mickey      

[Dryrot]

Added to my wish list...'bout page ten though, its a big list...  :p

[4runr]

Can't wait to see the finished product Mickey!

[the Ferret]

Ron the only difference between my blade and the Helle is..well.. a lot!    

Oh yea and the Helle is really sharp already..I mean REALLY sharp    :eek:  

Thinking about doing a build along on this, so people can see how really easy it is to build your own knife with one of these blades.

[W.Tim]

i really like the design.........and just the right size..........a build-a-long would be GREAT  

[tippit]

Mickey,  Those Helle blades are hard to beat...but as you say:

Yea I build my gear with my own hands, keep it simple that's the plan, some of you will understand.....

Some of my unfinished neck knives plus a forged trade point...Doc


 

[the Ferret]

Now Tippet don't go tempting me with cool hand made stuff. Love looking at your wares, cool blades, awesome sheath, neat trade point.If I only had that kind of talent.

[Shell]

Beautiful knife Mickey! I can't wait to see that Helle finished    

Dazzling once again, Doctor!  

[tippit]

Mickey,
Finished products of things to hang around your neck.  Dall Sheep horn & TX Sweat Ranch Dump bone...Doc

 

[Carbon Caster]

Doc that quill work is amazing!!  Your work isn't to shabby either.  LOL!!!

Look forward to the buildalong Micky.  I have never built a hidden tang knife, so it would be VERY helpful for me.

[tradtusker]

great looking blades there guys i recon im gonna have a go at making something like that!

[sticshooter]

I love BIG knives and small knives. And I like med size knives. They are great knives and ya don't even know ya got one on. <><

[ber643]

I likes knives - of all kinds!!!

[wislnwings]

I vote for a build a long.  I waslooking at the Helle blades and never having built a knife before makes me kinda gun shy on a project like this.

[the Ferret]

wislnwings..it is really an easy project. First tape up your blade with masking tape or painters tape. Take your handle material, drill a 1/4" (if memory serves me) hole deep enough for the tang. I like to score the tang some with  a file to give the epoxy something to bite into. (You could drill some holes in it I suppose).Mix up some 2 part epoxy and put a bunch in the hole you drilled in your handle material. Slide your tang down in until it bottoms. Take more epoxy and stuff it down in the hole. Use a tooth pick or blade from a broomstick and work it up and down in the epoxy to get rid of any air bubbles. Keep adding epoxy and working out the bubbles until the hole is filled. Let dry.

Been a few years since I did one but that's how I remember doing it.

Others who have made them please feel free to add your methods.

[wislnwings]

That sounds easier than I thought.  I'll have to give it a try as soon as I'm done moving.  Thanks.