Description
Part of our 250 Anniversary run: a twelve-inch hunter with a seven-inch Damascus blade, gold plating on the fittings, engraved bolsters and buffalo horn scales. This is a presentation knife first. Everything in the specification says so, and pretending otherwise would waste your money.
| Overall length | 12 inches |
| Blade length | 7 inches |
| Handle length | 5 inches |
| Steel | 1095 + 15N20 Damascus |
| Hardness | 58–60 HRC, oil tempered |
| Handle | Premium |
| Included | Hand-stitched leather sheath |
Built for: giving and keeping. Retirements, anniversaries, a milestone that deserves an object rather than a card. The blade beneath the decoration is a genuinely forged hunter at the same hardness as the working knives we sell, so it will cut if you ask it to. The question is whether you want to.
Gold plating is thin, by definition
Plating is measured in microns. It sits on the surface and wears wherever things rub, so the edges of the bolsters, the guard, and any spot a thumb rests. Hard use takes it off within a season, and it cannot be patched at home. Owners who use these knives end up with worn gold that reads as age. Owners who display them keep it intact for decades. Neither is wrong, but decide which one you are before the first hunt rather than after it.
Buffalo horn
Horn is keratin, layered, and slightly hygroscopic. It looks dense and behaves like something organic, which it is. Inside a dry, heated house it can develop fine surface checks along the grain over several years, and a wipe of neutral wax once a year prevents nearly all of them. Color runs from almost black to streaked gray, and no two sets of scales match. Horn also warms in the hand faster than wood does, which is one reason it has been chosen for presentation pieces for centuries.
Care
Treat the plated parts and the blade as separate problems. The blade is bare carbon Damascus and needs the usual discipline: dried after any contact with moisture, thinly oiled before storage. The plating needs no abrasive whatsoever, which rules out metal polish, scouring pads and polishing compound, because all three cut straight through it. A soft dry cloth is the entire routine. Keep the knife out of the leather when it is not being carried, since long contact between hide and plated metal is a poor combination. Our guide to storing knives covers display options that avoid a sheath.
FAQs
Is the gold solid? No. It is plating over the fittings, and this listing does not claim otherwise.
Would it work as a real hunting knife? Mechanically yes, and our Damascus hunting knife guide sets out what the blade has to do. Cosmetically it will show every day of that service.
What if I want something to actually work? Buy plain. A satin-finished D2 bull cutter costs less and takes abuse without looking sorry for itself.
Model: BMK-1101
Emma Ortiz –
This is one of those purchases that just makes you smile. Steel has a gorgeous pattern that looks different in every light. This seller clearly takes pride in their work.
Paul Parker –
Absolutely beyond happy by this knife. Telling everyone I know to check this maker out.
Gary Garcia –
Wasn’t sure what to expect but this knife nailed it. This has quickly replaced my old go to knife for field dressing. Made in the USA right in Memphis, and it shipped worldwide without any long wait. Can’t say enough good things about this purchase.
Jeffrey Smith –
It’s a fine knife. Nothing extraordinary though. Handle material felt a bit different than pictured. It’s fine but I expected a little more for the price. Could go either way on recommending this.
Anthony Lewis –
Stellar craftsmanship on this one. Blade holds a razor edge right out of the box. Handle feels amazing and the balance is perfect. Shipping was fast and everything arrived well packaged. Good to know real Memphis craftsmen are behind this, and shipping was quick too.
Eric Johnson –
Photos don’t do this knife justice at all. Edge retention has been great even after regular use in the field. Already added a few more items from this maker to my cart.