Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: mcginnis6010 on May 09, 2014, 11:19:54 am

Title: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: mcginnis6010 on May 09, 2014, 11:19:54 am
Well I had picked up an old dovetail saw made in England that had badly wore down teeth for a $1 at a yard sale. The entire blade is HC steel so( tested and throws a good amount of sparks) I thought I would make a fillet knife from it since I'm in need of one. I filed down the teeth and cut out the blank with a hacksaw. I think I need to make it narrower though. What's yalls thought on it? Criticism and advice is welcomed. Oh and i left some of the teeth on the spine to use as a scaler.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: mcginnis6010 on May 09, 2014, 11:24:36 am
Pic of spine
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: mullet on May 09, 2014, 08:33:51 pm
How easy does it bend with it being wide? How long is it?
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: Wiley on May 09, 2014, 10:10:40 pm
For a fillet knife I like mine to be long, thin and be very flexible. My favorite is a kershaw. 9.25" from tip to handle, blade is 3/4" near the handle. It's about right for working up the catfish from the pond big or small.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: mcginnis6010 on May 10, 2014, 12:06:51 pm
Its about 9 in from tip to handle and it flexs well but the tip is still kind of stiff.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: Zuma on May 10, 2014, 12:40:43 pm
What kind of fish are you going to filliet?
I like a stiffer blade for big Drum and Sheephead.
I use my hunting knife.
Zuma
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: mcginnis6010 on May 10, 2014, 05:03:18 pm
Catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill and trout
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: mullet on May 11, 2014, 12:49:54 am
Nine and a half is too small down here if you are fishing salt water but should work for our Pan fish.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: mcginnis6010 on May 11, 2014, 12:56:13 pm
Well i don't plan on fishing saltwater anytime soon so I think the length is fine but I think I wanna narrow the tip some to give it a bit more flex. I'll post more pics of it as I progress.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife
Post by: mcginnis6010 on May 24, 2014, 05:11:35 pm
OK i finally had time to finish the fillet knife. I made the handle from some curly maple logs I had laying around and now I just need to figure out if I wanna stain it or leave it natural. The second pic is to show how thin the blade is.
 
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: mullet on May 24, 2014, 05:16:16 pm
I like that, well done! The curly maple is really nice, too.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: YosemiteBen on May 24, 2014, 07:58:35 pm
Very nice!
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: Zuma on May 24, 2014, 09:35:08 pm
I like that!
I am a maple hound dog. You may narrow the tip as time goes by?
Is that puppy serrated?
Zuma
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: mcginnis6010 on May 24, 2014, 10:29:25 pm
Thanks for the kind words everyone. Those curly maple logs have been sitting around for about a year waiting for a special project I still have three more logs that'll probably be for more knife scales. No is not serrated I just filed down the saws teeth but left enough to use to scale panfish. As far as the tip goes the more I look at it the more I think I want to narrow it. I think I may do it.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: bowtarist on May 29, 2014, 11:39:02 am
Looks good! A bit wide for a fillet knife, but maybe you're cuttin up bigger fish than I'm used to. Like that handle as well! Good work, dp
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: Pappy on June 05, 2014, 08:35:18 am
That's a beauty,love the handle,I would leave as is with no stain if it was mine. :)
 Pappy
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: mcginnis6010 on June 05, 2014, 09:52:07 am
Thanks pappy. I did leave as is and sealed the handle with beeswax.
Title: Re: Working on a fillet knife( updated)!
Post by: Pappy on June 05, 2014, 09:59:14 am
That has to look cool.  ;) :)
 Pappy