Joel, I have respected this forum greatly from the beginning here and have refrained from any such postings that might be construed as "commercial" and I assure you this is NOT! one of those.
I just really wanted to share this here on GB, as this knife has a lot to do with the shooting world's history.
I hope you allow me this as others may find it interesting.
This is the post I put on a couple of the knife forums:
Well, I am apparently about 1 year back on my knife orders.
A good customer of mine came up to my table last year at the Janesville, Wisconsin, Badger Show with a drawing of an Elmer Keith knife, and asked me if I'd make my rendition of it.
I just got it done, and we're only five days from the next! Badger Show. (Just in time for delivery!)
It's not a knife for everyone.
In fact, I wasn't sure I even wanted to do it.
At first glance, it looks like a brick with a handle on it.
But, I went ahead and proceeded with the project regardless.
I am amazed that I actually, along the way and right up to this point, acquired a bit of affinity for the knife designed for Elmer Keith by Gil Hibben.
It's actually called the Elmer Keith Skinner.
From Wikipedia:
Elmer Merrifield Keith (March 8, 1899 – February 12, 1984) was an Idaho rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum, as well as the later .44 Magnum and .41 Magnum cartridges.
Keith was a prolific writer, writing both books and magazine columns. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was especially well known for his regular monthly columns he wrote for Guns & Ammo magazine, and American Rifleman typically exploring the performance of the latest new gun offerings, especially those firing large, heavy bullets pushed to high velocities.
In fact, the Elmer Keith Skinner was given in the 1960s as a premium for a subscription to Guns and Ammo magazine.
As I researched this knife, I began to discover that it had/has quite a following and any of the originals are highly sought. And Hibben Knives still, to this day, has this knife as one of the most sold knives from the company.
Do a quick Google search on Elmer Keith Knife and click on IMAGES to see many originals and custom renditions.
As an aside, Elmer Keith, who spent most of his life in Idaho and Utah, had a hunting cabin in the mountains. When they cleared out the cabin after he died, they found an Elmer Keith Knife in the cabin that had seen PLENTY! of use in all of his hunting and outdoor activities.
So, I was asked to build this knife as an Andersen Forge Take-down.
Damascus blade - 1095/15N20.
Hot-blued fittings
and Stabilized figured Walnut.
Not something we see often around here.
I hope you all appreciate my efforts creating my rendition of a cutlery icon:
