Handmade Hunting Knives

A great hunting knife is an extension of the hunter: reliable, sharp, and built for the demands of the field. At Louis Martin Custom Knives, we've been forging hunting blades for three generations, perfecting profiles and steel selections that perform from the stand to the butcher block. Every hunting knife ships ready for immediate hard use.

Characteristics & Construction

These notes describe hunting knives in general. Lot pieces are picked from stock, so features such as blade length, handle material and construction vary piece to piece.

1. 1

   Field clean immediately

   Wipe blood and fat from the blade immediately after field dressing. Acidic blood will etch unprotected high-carbon steel within minutes.

2. 2

   Rinse and dry

   At camp, rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly with a cloth or paper towel. Never leave a hunting knife wet overnight.

3. 3

   Strop before each hunt

   Run the blade 5–10 strokes per side on a leather strop loaded with compound before heading out. A sharp blade is a safe blade.

4. 4

   Oil the blade

   Apply a light coat of food-safe mineral oil before storage. For D2 and high-carbon blades, a thin oil coat prevents surface rust during off-season storage.

5. 5

   Inspect the handle

   Check the handle scales and guard annually for cracks, looseness, or moisture damage. Re-epoxy if needed. Antler and wood handles benefit from an annual coat of boiled linseed oil.