Your ideal hunting knife

I'd like to get some opinions on what kind of knives you guys prefer. Let's think about your ideal deer/hog skinning knife. What would you like it to have? I've set up several polls, some with either/or, some with check as many as apply.

Here's the incentive: Next Friday, May 7, I'll draw a random name from those who have responded to this post. Winner will recieve a 6 inch EDC made to order, a $100 value. Happy voting!

Clarification: I had in mind Overall Length, not blade length for the length poll.

Interesting post... Market Research!

Can I get some clarification on the length?
Are the choices listed the OAL, or the blade length?

i voted..

Done.
Great way to get a feel for your
potential customers preferences.

I was thinking overall length.

Thanks.

i must a true Average Guy. Everything i picked was the majority vote.

Thanks for doing this. Very cool!

same here

Done, hope it helps.

Voted. I am surprised at the number of people that chose high carbon steel as opposed to stainless. I'd rather sharpen my knife more often than have it rust on me.

carbon steel drop point

done. looked at your website you do good work.

X2

nice website

done, good luck with the research

Done...When is it going to be ready?

Also gave my 2 cents. I voted with the majority on everything except length.

Nice knives.

Done deal, good luck to me.

x2

Good test.
I did it. Hope it helps.
/Kimmo Lilja

My 2 cents added

Carbon steel - drop point . Thanks

Oops..I thought it was asking about blade length, so I put 6". That's ok too, though.

I am not up on my accronymn what does EDC mean?

every day carry

Great idea....surprised nobody else has asked before.

I picked up that axis edc on your photo gallery last dec. for my sons xmas present and have never seen higher quality work
the pictures dont do it justice
this guy does great work fellows

I voted for ya.

I can also say that. Im a knife maker myself and i got a knife from Jason in a swap last year. His knives is great quality and can recommend him to everybody.
/Kimmo Lilja

Thanks for doing this. It helps clarify things, will help me spend supply money more efficiently, and indicates areas I need to work on. We should do a followup that drills down on the details, like what kind of metal on guards and bolsters, and something about sheaths and how much they matter. Maybe something about hand rubbed v. machine finish too. And definitely something about pricing points. I like where this is going. Oh, and don't put me in the drawing...

I voted.

Done. Thanks for the chance.

Completed survey. Thanks for the chance!

Drop point 4-5" blade stainless prefered with large textured grip made of rubber.

Done. Good luck everybody!

All in!!

I voted. Pretty much went with the majority except for the length. I think a 7" knife is perfect.

Thanks for the offer.

My ideal hunting knife is a giant katana blade that I can lop a hog's head off with.

What is a "clip point?"

I REALY LIKE THE BUCK KNIFE WITH THE GUT HOOK

Drop point is curved downward on the top of the blade. Clip point is straight along the spine, then has an angle from the middle of the spine down to the tip.

Most of these are drop points.
http://www.frycustomknives.com/?p=290

This one is a clip.
http://www.frycustomknives.com/?p=535

Done

I noticed on your website you said your grandmas ranch in Christoval.... where at around Christoval? My grandfather lived there for about 25 years. I spent many a day at his house on the far south side of town walking through the woods with his Benjamin Pellet rifle reaking havoc on squirrels. We hunted a ranch south of town belonged to an old man last name of Craton...spelling probably wrong. I believe it was 13 sections. I'd love to hunt that place again. If you're grandma is still alive ask her if she recognizes the name Lester Rogers. He passed away back in the early 90s.

Voted, thanks for the chance!!

great topic! nice to see what others prefer as well.

Please put me in for a chance at the give-away.

i dont know all of those terms so my vote was a little screwy..my terminology runs out past blade , handle , gut hook

i love any handmade knife doesn't matter to me if it was a kit or a full blown project someone who has patience to build a knife is an artist !!

Count me in for the drawing.

you make some nice knives.

I'm kinda drawn to the Moore-Maker knives..handled a few and I like this one..

http://catalog.mooremaker.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=687341

Great idea on the poll. My next one from you will definitely have a rubber handle. I'm surprised that so many other people voted for that.

count me in, great idea on the poll!

hard not to like Gene's Slim:

submitted

Agreed. Gene makes a hell of a knife that is not only a work of art, but functional.

great idea... good luck to all! especially me!

Well, i added my input as well

Ideal knife.....

Anything made by PANCHO, STIC, FRY bro's, Newf, Big Tony, etc.

you got my vote!

Done deal & very good questions

I have to go with a drop point in stainless with some highly figured and stabilized wood, Buckeye burl, Curly Maple or Black Ash comes to mind.
Thanks for the chance!

Personally I like a gut hook on my knives. That's my .02. I voted with the majority except thtbi like clip points

Two days left! Drawing will be after work on Friday.

Great way to get to know your potential buyers - good luck and will be looking for your results.

I voted, surprised to see many of my favorites were inline with others. Thought I was the only one who liked small knives.

I like small knives, around 4 inches would be fine. Something just perfect for birds. Drop point preferably, with a black canvas micarta handle, that would suit me nicely. Lanyard throng, stainless mosaic pins. The works.

Good Poll

Nothing to big or fancy for me. Just want functional

Great idea. I would love to own one

I like a smallish drop point with antler handles. Steel doesn't much matter, nor guards/bolsters. Just something that looks nice and is sturdy. Paisano

I fell in the majority except for the stag handle vote, I want something I can hold onto so I picked wood.

i could have went either way with wood or stag handle, but i choose stag

Done

Your EDC style an your brothers Smithwick are among two of my favorite knife styles by far. I have a couple of Travis' knives already, one of these days a couple of yours will have to join them.

good poll. i am crossing my fingers for the knife.

Very cool idea. I had never thought about some of these options all at once. Now I have to rethink what I'm looking for in a knife.

Couldn't do them all at the same time Some of them are either/or, like guard or bolsters, and clip or drop.

Looks like I have the same taste as my THF brothers.

Always nice to ask what the customer wants and not what you think they want. The poll is a great idea.

If I win I want the $140 dollar knife u got in the classifieds. That is one beautiful blade.

Cool Idea!

Poll completed!!! I know what I like!!

GREAT IDEA!

voted. Thanks for the chance.

sharpe blade with a good feeling handle for me

x2. Looks like there are many ideas of what is best. Sort of like ice cream. It's all good!

The best of luck and sells to you!!!!!!!

In really prefer the carbon steel.

Did! pick me pick me pick me.......

Cutoff time will be 7 p.m. Central. Drawing to follow pretty soon afer that.

great post!!!!!

Game over, drawing in a minute. Y'all are welcome to keep answering the survey questions, but the contest is history.

The five year old randomly drew....


gljshh


Congratulations! PM coming your way.

WINNER!!!!!

congrats to gljshh !!! And thankyou jkf96a for given us all a chance !!

Cool deal Mr. Fry. gljshh will undoubtedly be pleased with his new knife. Thanks for the chance!

RIGGED!!!


Just kidding. Thanks for putting the knife up for grabs.

voted but I was late. oh well.

Carbon Steel drop point.....

Jason - just got your PM! Am very excited that you drew my name! I just sent you an email. Thanks so much, the last time I won something was at a cake walk at a Catholic fair! Thanks again, Gary

Congrats gljshh, that will be a great knife for a lifetime.

Congrats gljshh! thanks for the poll and giving us all a chance

I prefer drop point, and some heft. I am a minimalist, and do not require a lot of embellishment. Nice wood handle is a plus however.

Added my 2 cents worth

Interesting: Wanted to vote for finger grooves in the design element portion.

done

cool to see the different oppinons

Great way to find out what the majority is looking for in a great product that will last a life time.

All - got Jason's custom mini skinner last week but have been out of town of business, so this is the first opportunity to post. This knife is awesome! Perfect balance - absolutely RAZOR sharp - Texas Ebony handle(full tang)with mosaic pins. He even did Arrowhead filework on top of the blade. Handmade made sheath with barbed-wire etching and of course the mandatory bass logo etched into the sheath. Jason can give everyone the real details, but I can tell you this man makes a mean blade. Thanks Jason for the opportunity to participate! I plan on using this great knife this weekend on a hog. God Bless!

Yes it is - my camera is out of order, but Jason has some pics he can post.

WELL GUYS THIS MINE I PICKED UP IN AFGHANISTAN @ A FLEE MARKET AND IT TAKES A GOOD BLADE AND SOLID AND THE PRICE WAS GOOD. BOUGHT AND MADE IN CRAZY COUNTRY. JUST WOULD LIKE TO GET A GOOD SHEAT MADE FOR IT.

I wish I would have kept this one, I made it out of 1095 spring steel, and used elk for the handle and brass bolsters.
I'll make another one like it this year.

THAT IS A BEAUTY I LIKE IT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK MIGHT GET U TO MAKE ME 1 ONE DAY.

VERY NICE
AMERICAN MADE THAT WHAT I LIKE.

5-6 in carbon blade

Folding with a double spade blade.. locking

Handle, something bright thats easy to find, and not very slippery when wet or bloody