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Hunting Knives

  • 06-02-2009 6:41pm
    #1
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭


    Hi Folks I'll keep this short as I don't want to offend if this post is not wanted or allowed.

    I'm from Co. Clare, I'm a Custom Knifemaker and I make knives for the bird and deer hunting community . Deer Skinners, Stalkers, Trappers, Bird & Trout Knives etc.

    I was wondering if I might be allowed to discuss with your group the knives that you prefer to use whilst hunting, why you use or prefer them, their good points downfalls etc. And if so then perhaps sometime down the line offer some of my knives for sale or on commission.

    If this thread is not suitable for this area please feel free to delete.

    Thanks for taking the time to read

    Regards

    Davy Moore


«1

Comments

  • #2
    bunny shooter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,096 ✭✭✭bunny shooter


    any pic's ?


  • #3
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    I do have Bunny and a website too, but I think perhaps I'd rather wait a while to post same till a Mod or some Senior member of this group gives the go ahead to discuss the topic. I don't want to seem like I am spamming.

    I hope you understand

    Regards

    Davy


  • #4
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,596 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055161139

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055314513

    Theres two largish knife threads. Most features discussed.


  • #5
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,596 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    The knifes look very nive Davy, but to be honest, for me personally. I rather a cheap and cheerful knife rather than a crafted piece, for the field. Purely because i'd only lose it


  • #6
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    You found the site then ?

    Ok I agree with your point on the cheap loseable knife. But I bet you don't carry a cheap loseable gun and why not ? probaly because you want the best most reliable performance from your weapon, dog, wetgear etc. why skimp on the knife ? Have you ever shot a deer on a wet cold morning only to have your cheap knife break or go dull just when you needed it. If not you are lucky, but chances are that it will eventually happen.

    I suppose this is why I wanted to start the discussion was to get a feel for WHY Irish hunters don't put so much emphasis on the quality of the knife they carry compared to all of the other kit they use or carry

    Regards

    Davy


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  • #7
    J.R.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,366 ✭✭✭J.R.


    davymoore wrote: »

    WHY Irish hunters don't put so much emphasis on the quality of the knife they carry compared to all of the other kit they use or carry

    Regards

    Davy

    Davy,

    I never use a cheap knife for hunting - I find a cheap knife dulls easily and can be very dangerous then...putting pressure on blade to cut...a good knife holds its edge well & can be relied upon.

    I have a buck lock knife since 1979 (present from USA) and it's still as good as the day I got it...the new Buck knife (made now in China) are no comparison to the originals made in USA.

    I also use a Meula fixed blade skinning knife (another present 4 years ago) and find it very suitable to my needs.

    I gather that you are trying to find out what Irish hunters are looking for in a knife.....I like a stainless steel knife with a curved (skinning) blade about 4 - 5'' long. I use both lock & fixed blade and both have their own advantages & disadvantages. On a fixed blade knife I like the finger guard (probably psychological!!) but I feel more confident with the 'fingers guard'

    Like my gun I like a good knife that I intend to keep for a very long time .

    Found your site by 'googling' Davy Moore knives Clare - some nice pieces there.


  • #8
    foxhunter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 468 ✭✭foxhunter


    Fair play Davy you have some beautifull pieces there .
    We should be promoting more of this type of work in this country .
    I hope it goes well for you great work.
    I for one will be back to your site anyway.


  • #9
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    I'd ask you all to throw your support behind the proposed Blades forum (link in my sig), but as far as I'm aware, most of you already have...!


  • #10
    Grizzly 45
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,070 ✭✭✭✭Grizzly 45


    Davy ,whereabouts in Co Clare are you?? I collect custom knives and have attempted to make a few.PM me if you want to,as I am always intrested in meeting fellow blade makers.
    As for what kind of blades I carry.Nothing worse than a crap blade when you need a decent edge to do the job.The cheapest I carry is a Cold Steel Bushman,the only reason is the steel,it is exellent for edge holding.The most expensive Tops Armageddon,which is more a camp knife than a hunting knife. More a combo of knife,axe and machete.But it's steel is again fantastic.[pity about the sheath though].
    I think the reason most Irish hunters use el cheapo knives's because there was nothing better on the market here.Ireland never really had any custom knife makers,or anyone that handled top marke knives here until the Celtic Tiger.

    "If you want to keep someone away from your house, Just fire the shotgun through the door."

    Vice President [and former lawyer] Joe Biden Field& Stream Magazine interview Feb 2013 "



  • #11
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,596 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    Cheap was probably a poor choice of words.
    I didn't mean poor quaility. I meant, basic. Decent steel, and nothing else. Hold an edge, but no embelishments. Something I can lose.


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  • #12
    mightymouse311
    Registered Users Posts: 37 ✭mightymouse311


    Mate im droping some very heavy hints to my girlfriend to buy a knife of you for my birth day fingers crossed cos that is some nice work you turn out


  • #13
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    Melor
    Hope you werent offended or felt cornered never meant that,
    Druss we have talked and I value [so far] your opinions

    Thanks everyone so far on your comments re my knives

    I'm not looking for compliments regarding my knifemaking [not yet anyway] I am trying to find out what makes the Irish hunter ... tick.. or not tick when it comes to knives ... AND why?


  • #14
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    Davy ,whereabouts in Co Clare are you??

    I live in Quin & you ?


  • #15
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    I gather that you are trying to find out what Irish hunters are looking for in a knife

    Exactly!

    Tell me what you guys want ,,,, don't want,,, why, why not,,, you dont mind spouting off to your gun dealer,, so give me hell,, I wanna know

    I've been there when the stupid plastic handled knife slipped through my fingers and the blood of the kill mixed with my own. Ive seen the whiteness of the bone realized I couldnt cut it and wished I had a chainsaw, I've carried the 40lb doe 2 miles to the f**n truck when I only needed 15lbs of meat.

    I have a good trade in the UK, USA, Germany etc but why not here in Ireland?

    Are we conditioned to be wary [afraid] of knives ?

    Davy


  • #16
    Traumadoc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,523 ✭✭✭Traumadoc


    I think everone is different, like rifles some like a custom made mauser with a turkish walnut stock, others like a stainless ruger with a plastic stock.

    I dont think you should aim to please the Irish hunter- there are too few with broad tastes.

    I carry a puma buddy for skinning and a nieto 20 euro knife that is brilliant at holding an edge.


  • #17
    jwshooter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,612 ✭✭✭jwshooter


    a cheap knife is grand for a back up i have a few opinel knife in the jeep, kit bag but there a pain to open when wet . noting but noting is as bad as a knife that has a dull edge .
    i have a rory connor fixed blade its a handy little knife but the blade does not go into a point the way i like . to my mind the best knife for stalking is the buck 110 folder ,i have one from the time i started stalking ,i broke the point killing a stag this year but the blade was gone narrow anyway .
    i rang buck in the us ,for 10 dollars they will put a new blade in it and post it back to me .it cost me 3.75 to post it .
    a good knife is money well spent
    can you pm me the link for your site davy .i might commission a knife if we can come up with a design i like .


  • #18
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    Traumadoc wrote: »

    I dont think you should aim to please the Irish hunter- there are too few with broad tastes.
    I do understand where you are coming from, but as a custom maker this is exactly what my job entails, it's why I love it, hate it

    regards

    Davy


  • #19
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    i have a rory connor fixed blade its a handy little knife but the blade does not go into a point the way i like

    I know and respect Rory, I am pretty sure that if you wanted your knife re-profiled that he would have absolutely no problem in helping you out


    Regards

    Davy


  • #20
    Grizzly 45
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,070 ✭✭✭✭Grizzly 45


    Well, I divide my knives up into either collectables,big blade workers,medium blade workers,fighting, military issues,tactical carry folder,"Spook" knives IE weird &wonderful knives built into pens,plastic knives,disguised as other object, etc. And then day to day utility carry,IE leatherman,Swiss Army.
    At the mo I am maxxed out on big blades and medium blades.I have a couple of concepts for a survival knife,but that issimply a hunk of easily sharpenable steel wrapped with paracord.:)
    What I would like is a nice custom collectable piece.I have a hunk of antique ivory which is in a nice shape for a knife handle.I just need somone to make it,possibly with a Damascus blade and possibly do some schrimshaw work on it.Intrested?:)

    "If you want to keep someone away from your house, Just fire the shotgun through the door."

    Vice President [and former lawyer] Joe Biden Field& Stream Magazine interview Feb 2013 "



  • #21
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    Always :D

    PM Me


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  • #22
    fish slapped
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭fish slapped


    Davy,
    I use a Victorinox Fibrox 5" curved boning knife. The reason 16 years as a beef/pork/horse/donkey and ostrich boner! so I am kind of use to it and find it an excellent knife which takes an edge very well, if push comes to shuv an F. Dick 5" Curved right handed knife but I find the blade is too hard for my liking and can take a lot of work to get the edge I like. Hope this helps.

    FS.


  • #23
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    Where are you in Offaly Fish ?


  • #24
    .243
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,265 ✭✭✭.243


    here's my custom baby,could never fault it an alan wood in o1 steel
    26072008002-1.jpg


  • #25
    fish slapped
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭fish slapped


    davymoore wrote: »
    Where are you in Offaly Fish ?

    just outside Edenderry, But worked all over the place and germany.


  • #26
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    I like that Alan Wood, The Woodlore is probably the most copied fixed blade knife and with good reason. It is a great all rounder and thanks to Ray Mears it has become one of the most sought after knives in the world today.
    I seen some examples of this fetch up to £800 sterling on the bay.

    Alan is a very well respected maker and an absolute gentleman to boot you are right to feel proud to own such a knife.

    Davy


  • #27
    trapmando
    Closed Accounts Posts: 59 ✭✭trapmando



    Hi Davy,

    Seen some of your pieces at the show in Birr yesterday.

    My first impression was '€400 for a small hunting knife, is he crazy?...rip of Ireland etc...' especially when I could get one for €20 somewhere to do the same job. I heard you saying that approx 40 hours goes into each knife and that each sheath is custom made to that knife and remember thinking he probably gets them in bulk from China for a tenner a piece and puts his sticker on them and sells them to us for 400!

    However, reading up on it on this thread and looking at your website, it's only then that you realise how specialised your craft is. I dont use a knife myself but if I did regularly, one of yours would be a must. The wood in the hand pieces was amazing.

    So to address your original query re Irish hunters, I'd say most dont realise the quality of your product, probably cant see why you are selling one at €400 when a €20 one is available. The quality of the steel, the blade staying so sharp, the uniqueness of each piece, the man hours involved, are lost on the majority of Irish hunters. I dont know how you go about changing this, I suppose Game Fairs are a good starting point!


  • #28
    davymoore
    Registered Users Posts: 563 ✭✭✭davymoore


    Thanks for that.

    I suppose it's about awareness. Some people really do NOT know what quality truely is. It's not their fault, I suppose most people myself included are not lucky enough to be able to afford the very highest quality cars, clothes, guns etc. It's not until you are exposed to something bespoke that you can get a proper sense of it's quality.

    Fairs like Birr certainly do help to build awareness though


  • #29
    clivej
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,061 ✭✭✭clivej


    trapmando wrote: »
    Hi Davy,

    Seen some of your pieces at the show in Birr yesterday.

    My first impression was '€400 for a small hunting knife, is he crazy?...rip of Ireland etc...' especially when I could get one for €20 somewhere to do the same job. I heard you saying that approx 40 hours goes into each knife and that each sheath is custom made to that knife and remember thinking he probably gets them in bulk from China for a tenner a piece and puts his sticker on them and sells them to us for 400!

    However, reading up on it on this thread and looking at your website, it's only then that you realise how specialised your craft is. I dont use a knife myself but if I did regularly, one of yours would be a must. The wood in the hand pieces was amazing.

    So to address your original query re Irish hunters, I'd say most dont realise the quality of your product, probably cant see why you are selling one at €400 when a €20 one is available. The quality of the steel, the blade staying so sharp, the uniqueness of each piece, the man hours involved, are lost on the majority of Irish hunters. I dont know how you go about changing this, I suppose Game Fairs are a good starting point!
    davymoore wrote: »
    Thanks for that.

    I suppose it's about awareness. Some people really do NOT know what quality truely is. It's not their fault, I suppose most people myself included are not lucky enough to be able to afford the very highest quality cars, clothes, guns etc. It's not until you are exposed to something bespoke that you can get a proper sense of it's quality.

    Fairs like Birr certainly do help to build awareness though

    It's likened to getting a custom car built. Quality never comes cheap.


  • #30
    cavan shooter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭cavan shooter


    I chatted to you at the fair Davey and really admire your work,I have a nice hand made Finnish hunting knife given to me as a present it would retail at about €250-€300 so I do not think your too far out with the prices.

    http://www.kellamknives.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_38_105

    look at this site above

    I have the following knifes all workers:

    Marttinni (rubber handle) black great blade
    Leatherman skeletool dinger but messy to clean
    Jack pyke excellent

    The Sami knife im scared to use. But You could shave with it

    I dont stalk deer but rabbits and pheasants I tend to tackle with a small bladed knife or a filleting knife.

    I am lousy at posting up picks but i'll try there is a makers stamp on it all I have is the first name of the maker. "Kimmo ??? which is a very popular name"


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  • #31
    homerhop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,953 ✭✭✭homerhop


    Its just a personal oppinion but those saami knives dont look a patch on the ones Davy made.


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