Hey Pathfinder!

First of all, congrats on the bear.

Glad you enjoy your semi skinner. I personally think it is a great design!...:)

Your used to this then! And you don't know when you did it?
https://i.imgur.com/e0zWAX6.jpg

lol!

Kind of on topic since sharpeners have come up a few times, Thunderbird Gear is now a Canadian dealer for Hapstone (Ukraine) sharpeners and accessories and their prices are cheap with free shipping, especially when compared to Gritomatic in the US with higher prices and paid shipping. They have a 10% off code as well until the end of May.

https://thunderbirdgear.ca/collections/hapstone-1

The Hapstone RS is the smaller "takedown" unit, meant for knives 8-9" and below with a spine thickness of 6mm and less. It can be taken apart and stored in a case for easy and compact storage. Compare that to the much worse Work sharp Professional Precision Adjust which is $100+ more with bad stones that are hard to find/replace in Canada. Also similar is the KME sharpener, both of which only have a single clamp option.

Quick youtube review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC735T-t20E

The R2 is their full size unit for knives 12" and below with a spine thickness of 8mm and less. It is meant to stay assembled.

Quick R2 review. Note that it is from 2021 so the prices quoted are quite off now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlV70pMwaFI

Hapstone has a variety of attachments (not yet available at TG) such as flat magnetic tables, scissor attachments etc for the R2 which are shown in the video above. They will likely start getting them in with their next order in a few months.

The "Premium" CBN and diamond stones will last most of us our lifetimes and will easily sharpen thousands of knives. They will likely require an initial lapping to expose the grit to make them perform as they should due to how they are produced. The boride stones will last from a few dozen (low grit) if you heavily profile a lot of blades to a few hundred. The "Start" CBN/diamond stones are likely around the same range depending on use.

The Crotts Semi Skinner at it again. What a great knife!

https://i.imgur.com/L5738i2.jpg

It certainly is and nice work on the bears. I love the colour on that last one.

James just told me my loveless is done and now I see your still using the Crotts. No love for the Sponaugle?

I used the Sponaugle all last fall and it’s in my pack today. I just hate not to pack something that has been so lucky on bears. Maybe I should pack both. My luck is going to need all the help it can get. I’ve used up three lifetimes worth on these two kids. lol.

Sponaugle:

https://i.imgur.com/cRJeTlZ.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/QUQP34c.jpeg

Crotts:

https://i.imgur.com/IP68BcM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tJ6hObR.jpg

Very nice Chuck. I’m pretty sure my kids increase my luck, seems yours are likely doing the same although I’ll leave room for the possibility you know what your doing.

I hope it’s a value adding addition but even if the Sponaugle isn’t the blade my Crotts is, there will always be room for a Loveless in my safe. They're such a timeless design. Now that the marlin fishing is over it’s time to get the rifles out and put the hurt on some deer and pigs. I missed the rut last month because we had family here but the next six months will be dedicated to hunting and I’ll see how they compare.

Dad of the year! Great job!

BW

Agreed


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They are a really nice knife. I would happily carry it anywhere. I really look forward to your honest assessment.

But it's not 200$ knife

$200 left the building on about page 3 of this thread:)

We have determined that all knives are priceless.

The third skinning job with the Crotts Semi Skinner this spring. Have I mentioned that I like this knife. :-)

https://i.imgur.com/PSIFzMA.jpg

What steel did you end up liking best. IIRC you have both d2 and sv30?

The one I’ve kept is the s30V. I’ve been super happy with it.

I had two made with that steel and gave the second one to my oldest son for graduation.

Nice bear!

x 2! It's a beautiful colour. Good job!!

Recently finished this one for a fellow AO member.

AEB-L Stainless Steel blade. HRC62, and sharpened at 25 degrees. OAL about 8 inches, with a 3 3/4" blade.

Handle is from a nice piece of curly black walnut, and a finger choil was integrated into it. Finished off with brass pins. Black Kydex sheath included.

https://i.imgur.com/bxXZKkP.jpg

He will be a happy guy! Looks great! :)

That’s a great looking knife. Nice work.

Nice knife Mr McCracken!

He was definitely VERY HAPPY!

My new “stepping out,” slip joint pocket knife arrived today. Father’s Day gift. Lionsteel bestMan. M390 steel. Titanium bolsters. Micarta scales. Sorta traditional design, but with modern materials. Fits in the pocket nicely. Fit n finish is real nice.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f0168f6936.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9ac38707ce.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9ec1686000.jpg


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Looks great! Used for every day use? Thanks!

Everyday use for me consists of letters, packaging, and a bit of cardboard. Not too taxing. Lol. If I think I’m gonna need more, I pack the Spyderco.

Great!

Good for him or you! He does make nice knives!

Well, James didn’t want to mail it across the pond so it went to my mom in Alberta. I’ll have my sister bring it over in September.

From the photos his fit and finish is spot on.

Magnacut and maroon micarta.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e05ddcc89d.jpg


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7bbdc958d7.jpg


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cedf63efaa.jpg


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b9c69b304b.jpg