Tools of the trade
Of the many tools that are a necessary part of the life that we lead as outdoorsmen and fishermen, none is more essential than Knives. And like fishing rods, firearms, boats, and clothes, each has its own application, from the skinning rack to the kitchen. Good knives that stay sharp and last a lifetime are, to me, essential items. You can get away with cheaper knives, but you will eventually have to replace them if you use them frequently. While I am not a knife snob, I do know the difference between finely crafted steel and cheaply made junk. About 8 years ago, I received a skinning knife made by world-renowned Bladesmith Tony Baker, a Member of the Knife makers Guild, as payment for some consulting work. It immediately became my go-to knife at the skinning rack. Made from powdered steel with a beautiful aqua green resin-impregnated handle, the more I used it, the more I recognized the incredible craftsmanship that went into it. He originally built a small handful for himself and his family to use while skinning elk. He said that other knives would just not stay sharp enough to get through skinning and breaking down larger animals. After a couple of years of skinning multiple deer and Hogs without needing to resharpen, I understood the value. When it was time to be resharpened, I called him and asked if I could send it to him. He said, “Certainly,” and as we continued to talk, I knew I wanted to bring his knives to my readers. The knives listed below are one-of-a-kind, handmade in his Oklahoma shop. The Huntfishdine walking-around knife was a Joint effort between Tony and me to suit my purpose: general camp use, bushcraft, scouting, or just enjoying a walk in the woods. It is what I carry. We are now proudly offering his knives for sale.
1. Tony Baker Knots of Nature Chef’s Knife: This knife was a collaboration between Tony and his wife, Amber, a master Craftswoman in her own right, with input from 2 award-winning Chefs. It is my go-to knife for kitchen work. Made from Swedish Sandvik 14C28N: Blade Length overall: 7” Cutting surface: 6” 1/2”: Tanto style tip. Handle Material is a beautiful, stabilized spalted Maple with a very comfortable, slight palm swell, and comes with a lined nylon drawer sheath. Price $400.00 each.
2. Tony Baker Filet Knife: Though I have had many through the years, this has been far and away my favorite. Very light in the hand, I keep it in the kitchen when I have only a few fish to clean and don’t want to break out the electric knife. Also great for slicing fruit, tomatoes, etc. Made from Swedish Sandvik 14C28N Steel. Overall Blade length is 7”: Cutting surface 6 1/2”: Tanto style point. Handle Material is stabilized resin-impregnated Spalted Maple. Comes with a heavy leather drawer sheath. Price $375.00 each.
3. The Huntfishdine Tony Baker Walking around knife is made from acid-washed 3/16 SV90 blade stock, which holds an edge extremely well. Handle material is Black and Grey Micarta. Overall Blade length is 5 9/16” : Cutting surface is 4 5/8” Clip Point. Finger choil and jimped thumb ramp. Comes with a heavy-duty handmade sheath. This is a limited-edition run in SV90 steel; only 12 will be made. I have the 1st, so Thirteen in Total. These are once-in-a-lifetime knives, and you will not be disappointed. Priced at $700.00 each.
To order, send Cashier’s or personal check to Attn: Huntfishanddine 370 Carrollton Avenue Shreveport, Louisiana 71105. We will send an order confirmation once your check clears. We will send an approximate delivery date. Remember, these are one-of-a-kind custom handmade products. Typical time to ship is 8 weeks. If inventory is available, we ship within 5 business days.
