Say “Hello!” to the Nomad, the newest addition to the MoonDog Knives line up.
This is a knife to go everywhere with you, whether you’re hunting, hiking, working on the ranch or farm, working around the house… a knife for all seasons. Small enough to be easily carried and handled by people with smaller hands but big enough to do the job comfortably for someone with bigger hands.
The version pictured here has an oak and walnut handle. The blade is flat ground D2 Tool Steel. The bolsters and pins are copper. The overall length of the knife is 71/2″. The blade is 3″ long, 1″ wide and 5/32″ thick. The sheath is handmade specificly for this knife.
This knife/sheath combo normally will retail for $125 but is now on an introductory offer of $95 until the end of November, so get your Holiday Season shopping done early!
Handles can be in a variety of woods so contact me at moondogknives at gmail dot com.
This knife was inspired by a suggestion from a friend who is an experienced, avid hunter. The design is based upon the Cattaraugus from the 1880s. My friend gave many suggestions throughout the development process and I am confident this will be a welcomed addition to any hunter’s collection of working knives. The knife pictured here is the first Kenai Moose Skinner and is already sold. It is a custom build for a client in Alaska. The overall length of the knife is 9″ and the blade alone is 4 3/16″. The blade width is 1 3/16″ and 5/32″ thick.
This knife is made using ‘D-2 Carbon Steel’. I use this steel in the more expensive knives that I make because D-2 is considered by many to be the best carbon steel for knife blades. The combination of superior abrasion resistance and toughness is the result of it’s high carbon and high chromium content.
Unlike the high carbon steel I use in my more economical knives, it is not easy to sharpen so you want to make sure it’s sharp before you head out hunting. On the up side, it holds an edge really well and if properly sharpened should last through the entire animal skinning. Remember that a sharp edge is easier to maintain than it is to put an edge back on a dull knife. Sharpen often.
It is NOT ‘Stainless Steel’ even though it contains chromium, so it needs care and attention to prevent corrosion. This is nothing major, it just means that you clean and dry off the knife after use and put a thin film of rust blocker such as A.G. Russel’s ‘Rust Free’ or some other oil (which I do to every knife before it goes out) regularly. And as with any knife, do not store it in it’s sheath for long periods of time as the chemicals used in tanning process will cause corrosion.
No two knives will be exactly the same because I ‘Electro-Etch’ the blade, which makes every knife unique and the purchaser can choose the wood used in the handle.
For the handle of this knife I used ‘Desert Iron Wood’. For finishing the wood handles of my knives I now use ‘Birchwood/Casey’ gun stock finishing. So maintaining the knifes handle is easy. I also treat each knife handle with Sealer & Filler, Tru-Oil, and Gun Stock Wax to give them a rich, long lasting finish.
You can order your own custom Kenai Moose Skinner for $225 by emailing me at moondogknives at gmail dot com. I accept PayPal, Zelle, Google Pay, and Popmoney and require a 50% deposit on all orders. Approximate wait time on order fulfillment is one month as each knife is individually built.
This series of four knives are designed to be a Day Hike or Light Camp Knife so I’ve named them the ‘Day Tripper’. You get a lot of value for your money. I make affordable, functional, and dependable ‘Works-of-art’ that you can pass down to your children.
The steel is 1084 High Carbon that I’ve electro-etched. These knives are handcrafted from start to finish. I start with a bar of 1084 steel, draw on the design; rough cut it out; grind out the shape; bevel it; sand it; sand it some more; drill holes for the pins; send it off for heat treating; get it back and then decide what etching effects and handle material I want to use. Each handle is hand shaped, sanded, and finished. I am now using ‘Birchwood/Casey’ gun stock products exclusively. I start with the ‘Filler/Sealer, then ‘Tru-Oil’ and finish with ‘GunStock Wax’ (multiple coats of each).
Once the knife is done, then comes the designing of a sheath for it. I use a #8-9 weight leather for the one piece. For the two (or more) piece sheath, I use a #12 weight for the back piece and #8-9 for the front and straps. Stains, designs and stitching are all done by hand by me.
Are they flawless? No. They are not mass produced, laser guided CNC machined by the dozens. Each and every one is unique and no two are exactly the same. So, if you are at all interested in supporting a struggling ‘Artisan’ please PM me for a price.
SOLD – DT001 – American Oak and American Walnut with Cinnamon & Black G-10 liners.
DT002 – This one (above) started out as a very light colored Magnolia but I found that it attracted dirt very easily, so I hit it with a Burgundy dye and used Green G-10 liners.
DT003 – Lacewood with yellow G-10 liners.
SOLD – DT004 – Black and white Ebony with Gray & Black G-10 liners.
You can order your own custom knife by emailing me at moondogknives at gmail dot com. I accept PayPal, Zelle, Google Pay, and Popmoney and require a 50% deposit on all orders. Approximate wait time on order fulfillment is one month as each knife is individually built.
The K-Bar KephartI subscribe to all 3 of the prominent knife magazines and every issue is read from cover to cover… more than once. As I am a custom knife crafter (stock removal) I always pay particular attention to the knife reviews. To be honest I have always wondered whether or not the articles were biased in favor of the maker. One of the magazines did a review of K-Bars new release of the Kephart Knife and I bought the K-Bar ‘Kephart’ based on that review. Sorry to say, I was more than a little disappointed with their product (and consequently decided that there is definitely a bias).
The steel is good (1095 CroVan Carbon Steel) and I really like the finish K-Bar used on it. I also really like the knifes design (designed by Mr. Horace Kephart in 1897) and the thickness of the blade. I was also impressed with the quality of the sheath although it was not true to form for a Kephart reproduction. Unfortunately, ‘my’ review goes downhill from there.
First off K-Bar used nuts and bolts to secure the handle material instead of steel pins. Then they placed the nuts facing out rather than the bolt heads (Very tacky looking and an obvious lack of quality control?).
K-Bar scale above. The knife remade with my own walnut scale below.
The “walnut” grips were not epoxied onto the tang and when I removed them after my testing, the tang was heavily rusted. I am well aware that in Mr. Kepharts time there was no epoxy, but then again there was no rust inhibiting coating like K-Bar used either. I’m all in favor of using modern technological advantages if it improves the quality and extends the life of the knife and is not blatantly obvious.
In that same vein – the walnut scales were not stabilized or finished with anything (raw wood) and I was getting small chips of wood coming off at the finger guard. The handle also ended up being very scarred up from use. Treating the wood with Tung Oil or some other hardener would have helped prevent this from happening. This is the first time I’ve received a knife with an unfinished handle. I also found the knife handle way too thin, which resulted in hot spots and difficulty in gripping it under serious use… and I do not have a large hand. Since it is a reproduction, maybe the measurements taken were of an old and worn handle and that’s why it is so thin?
Given the quality of the K-Bar version, I would have priced it at around the $80 mark rather than the $119 I paid. Having said all that – I really like the knife (thanks mainly to Mr. Kephart) and it will become my EDC once I finish modifying it to my liking.
“….It was a rough looking affair when I received it, neither ground nor polished. Every cent of its value had been put into material and temper, leaving me to beautify it as I might wish.” (Horace Kephart)
So that’s exactly what I’m doing. I am beautifying it as I wish. Thicker stabilized walnut grips with a red fiber liner (both epoxied on), peened copper pins and a Tung Oil/Linseed Oil finish. On mine I did a mustard etch and a partial bluing of the blade, just my own personalization of ‘my’ knife.
Blueing and mustard treatment modification I made to finish on the blade.I added red G-10 liners.My completed modified knife with blueing/mustard treatment on blade, new heftier walnut scales, red G-10 liner, copper pins and my logo pin.
I am in the process of making 4 more that will be for sale in about a month. So if you bought a K-Bar Kephart knife, and are not quite as happy with it as you thought you’d be, and you like what I’ve done with mine, and leave a message or email: moondogknives@gmail.com. And I can “beautify it as YOU wish.”
If you find Mr. Kepharts knife design aesthetically pleasing, as I do, and want to know more about the knife and the man – pick up a copy of Knife Magazine or go to www.knifemagazine.com. They did an outstanding article that intrigued me enough that I went to Amazon and got one of Mr. Kepharts books.
What do you give a woman who has saved your life? The Christie Cutter is one man’s answer to that question. His heart surgeon is not only a superb thoracic and heart surgeon but a woman with children and a very active lifestyle. He wanted to give her a knife that would be as special as she is and that would give her years of use and enjoyment.
The blade on this knife is full tang 416 fold Damascus heat treated to 58-60 RC so it is a strong blade as well as a beautiful one. There are 3 different steels (5160, 203E 52100, 15n20 for those of you who know steel) used to create this type of blade and it is so expensive it is sold by the inch, whereas most blade steel is sold by the foot. The blade is 2 1/2” flat ground and as already stated, full tang. It is 1/8” thick and 11/16” wide.
The handle is unusual in that it is camel bone, dyed green to emulate the look of jade! The person who commissioned it originally wanted a malachite handle, but after researching the properties of that stone, I was convinced it was not a good choice for a knife that will be used regularly. A strictly show piece? Maybe. A working knife? Nope!
The liner is two layered, one green and one cinnamon, of G-10 resin impregnated fiber.
It has a copper guard and pins.
The sheath is made of stamped and dyed cow leather with braided cord lacing and brass rivets.
This series has come about by interpreting the market trend towards a “Non-intimidating” EDC (Every Day Carry) for women. Everyone, including women, should have personal protection on them but many ladies are hesitant to carry a gun. A knife is an excellent alternative. Having a knife on hand at all times is also handy when you are working around the property as well. You just never know when you’ll need one.
The blade is 2 7/8″ in cutting edge length and is made of D2 High Carbon Tool Steel. Although it is somewhat harder to work with, I must say that I am pleased with the edge I was able to get. It holds it’s edge well and is easy to ‘Field sharpen’. I think you will be pleased with it as a handy LEDC.
Each knife in this series is one-of-a-kind custom made with a customized handmade sheath.
The knife pictured here is the prototype for the series. The blade is brushed D2 High Carbon Tool Steel. The liner is black G-10 resin impregnated fiber. The handle is oak and the bolster and pins are brushed copper. The sheath is handmade of leather, stamped design and laced with artificial sinew.
All knives in this series are for sale at $125.00 (Price includes knife, sheath and shipping) unless it is marked sold. If there is a knife you like and it has been sold, let me know and I will see if I have the woods necessary to recreate it. However, keep in mind no two knives can ever be exactly alike.
Every lady needs a little protection. Many are hesitant to carry a gun. A knife is an excellent alternative!
This knife is a custom build for an amazing woman we dearly love. (The pattern will be available for others but I don’t plan to mass produce this model.) She is without a doubt the most truly Christian person we have ever met. At the same time she is a realist and a bit of a survivalist. She is perfectly capable of taking care of herself while she goes out into the community helping others.
The blade on this knife is full tang 416 fold Damascus heat treated to 58-60 RC so it is a strong blade as well as a beautiful one. There are 3 different steels (5160, 203E 52100, 15n20 for those of you who know steel) used to create this type of blade and it is so expensive it is sold by the inch, whereas most blade steel is sold by the foot. The blade is 2 1/2” flat ground and as already stated, full tang. It is 1/8” thick and 11/16” wide.
The handle is truly special! It is olive wood imported from Bethlehem and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The liner is cinnamon resin impregnated fiber. It has a brass guard and pins.
The sheath is a bit different from most I have made. Since it is designed to be carried in a purse, it does not have a belt loop. It has a locking liner like all my sheaths, so the knife does not fall out, but instead of a belt loop, it has a snap closure.
This knife is a custom special commission. It is 7 7/8″ overall with a full tang. Like the Stoneman, the person this knife was designed for needed a good all around, versatile hiking/camping blade. The 3 1/2″ long by 1 1/4″ wide flat ground blade gives him what he would need for these purposes.
The blade is 5/32″ thick D-2 High Carbon Tool Steel, considered by many to be the best carbon steel for knife blades. It has a combination of superior abrasion resistance and toughness. It holds an edge very well for a long time. It is not stainless steel so it will rust if it is not looked after!
The bolster is brass. Liners are blue and green resin impregnated fiber to off-set the giraffe bone handle. The sheath is full cow leather stained dark brown custom handmade for this knife, laced with braided cord.
This knife is a custom special commission. It is 7 7/8″ overall with a full tang. The person this knife was designed for needed a good all around, versatile hiking/camping blade. The 3 1/2″ long by 1 1/4″ wide flat ground blade gives him what he would need for these purposes.
The blade is 5/32″ thick D-2 High Carbon Tool Steel, considered by many to be the best carbon steel for knife blades. It has a combination of superior abrasion resistance and toughness. It holds an edge very well for a long time. It is not stainless steel so it will rust if it is not looked after!
The bolster is nickel silver (white brass). Liners are cinnamon and black resin impregnated fiber to off-set the desert ironwood handle. The sheath is full cow leather stained dark brown custom handmade for this knife, laced with braided cord.
This series – the first – has come about by interpreting the market trend towards a “Non-intimidating” EDC (Every Day Carry). Thus the blade is 2 7/8″ in cutting edge length and is made of ‘High carbon” Stainless Steel – 5Cr15. This is the first time I’ve used a Stainless Steel. I usually use plain High Carbon Steel. Although it is somewhat harder to work with, I must say that I am pleased with the edge I was able to get. It holds it’s edge well and is easy to ‘Field sharpen’. I think you will be pleased with it as a handy EDC.
Each knife in this series is one-of-a-kind custom made with a customized handmade sheath.
All knives pictured on this page are for sale at $125.00 (Price includes knife, sheath and shipping)unless it is marked sold. Payment to be made via PayPal. Email me at moondogknives@gmail.com to place your order.
If there is a knife you like and it has been sold, let me know and I will see if I have the woods necessary to recreate it. However, keep in mind no two knives can ever be exactly alike.
PuP – 08
Purple Heart with Spaulted Poplar. Green G-10 liner. Nickel silver pins and logo.
PuP – 09
Quilted maple with American Walnut. Red G-10 liner. Brass pins and logo.
PuP – 10
Spaulted poplar with Black and rust colored G-10 liner. Brass pins and logo.
Say “Hello!” to the Nomad, the newest addition to the MoonDog Knives line up.
MoonDog Knives 