Description
Night Herder is the dress version. Seven and a half inches overall with a three and a half inch sheepsfoot blade and a notched choil, in D2 tool steel taken to a high mirror polish. The handle is ebony — genuinely black wood, close grained, with almost no visible figure — and the two together are about as formal as a working knife shape gets.
At the front is a stainless steel bolster with a thin brass spacer set between it and the wood, so a single warm line separates bright metal from black. A mosaic pin sits in the scale and there is a lanyard hole through the butt.
| Overall Length | 7.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Blade Length | 3.5 inches |
| Handle Length | 4 inches |
| Blade Steel | D2 tool steel, high mirror polished |
| Blade Style | Sheepsfoot bull cutter with notched choil |
| Bolster | Stainless steel with brass spacer |
| Handle Material | Ebony wood |
| Fittings | Mosaic pin inlay, lanyard hole |
| Tang | Full tang |
| Sheath | Handmade black leather belt sheath with contrast stitching (included) |
Bought by: people buying a gift, mostly. Black and bright silver with one brass line is a restrained combination that reads well in a box and photographs well on a desk, and the mirror flat is the natural surface for an engraving. It is the one here most likely to be given rather than bought for a job.
Ebony, and what it asks in return
Ebony is one of the densest woods used on knife handles. It sinks in water and takes a polish like stone. The cost of that density is movement: ebony is famously prone to checking — fine surface cracks — if taken through big swings in humidity or left somewhere very dry. Keep it out of hot cars and direct sun, wipe it with mineral oil once or twice a year, and it stays closed and black.
The brass spacer
That thin line of brass between the stainless bolster and the ebony does two jobs. Visually it separates two very smooth surfaces that would otherwise blur at the joint. Practically it is a softer material at a hard junction, taking up the small amount of movement the wood makes over the seasons rather than letting the joint open.
What a mirror finish means for the edge
Polishing a flat does nothing for cutting; the edge is a separate job. What it does mean is that the blade shows everything, so you notice a dull edge and a marked flat sooner and maintain it earlier.
Storage and care: wipe the blade dry after every use and keep a light oil film on it; D2 is not stainless. Hand wash only. Store the knife out of the leather sheath, which holds moisture against both steel and wood — how to store knives covers the sensible options.
FAQs
Is the ebony stained? No, the color is natural to the wood.
Is the bolster stainless? Yes, with a solid brass spacer behind it.
Can I engrave the blade? Yes — the mirror flat takes laser engraving well. Add it at checkout.
Does polishing the flat sharpen it? No, the edge is a separate job; honing versus sharpening sets out which one you need.
What is the hard-wearing alternative? The Sage Outrider in green Micarta is the same steel built to be knocked about.
Make it a gift
Tell us at checkout that this one is a gift and we will pack and ship it gift-ready. Every knife leaves our Memphis, Tennessee workshop with a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, backed by over 2,000 verified customer reviews.
Model: BMK-1144
Richard Kelly –
Did not expect this level of quality for the price. Every piece of the fit and finish looks hand checked before it shipped. Already added a few more items from this company to my cart. I keep coming back to Black Mamba Knives because it’s always this good.
Hannah Bishop –
So happy I finally pulled the trigger on this one. Even the small details in the damascus pattern are crisp and clean. Love that this comes out of Memphis and still ships worldwide this quickly. Great buy overall.
Roger Patel –
This knife is a genuine work of art. Came in a nice gift box which made it feel even more special. This has quickly replaced my old go to knife for field dressing. Highly recommend this one.
Margaret Wood –
This knife completely won me over the moment I picked it up. This is my third order from Black Mamba Knives and they never disappoint. Weight and balance make it feel like a real working knife not some cheap import. Exactly the kind of quality that keeps me coming back.
Marcus Myers –
This knife completely won me over the moment I picked it up. This has quickly replaced my old go to knife for field dressing. Handle feels amazing and the balance is perfect. Came in a nice gift box which made it feel even more special. This is going straight into my daily rotation.
Tyler Baker –
It’s alright. Not great not bad. Sheath fit is a bit loose for my liking. Might work fine for casual use.
Alan Hunt –
This is one of those purchases that just makes you smile. This will not be my last order from this shop. You can tell it’s real American craftsmanship out of Memphis. Shipping was quick too.
Olivia Vance –
Wasn’t expecting to be this impressed but here we are. I keep coming back to Black Mamba Knives because it’s always this good.