Beautifully and thoughtfully made - Knives of Alaska Light Hunter D2 Fixed Blade Knife

I bought this for a friend of mine who is an avid hunter. I have not had a chance to do so myself, but everyone I know who does prizes these knives highly, and it's easy to see why. The way the stag horn is fit and molded to the full tang is just amazing. There's no looseness to it, no gaps, and no give whatsoever. The tang and back of the blade are so thick, it seems to have been designed by Soviet tank makers. When you hold it in your hand, it has the sense that it will live forever if properly cared for, and probably would stand up to some incredible misuse. I have the Brown Bear model myself (hoping to use it myself, one day), and the fit of that handle is exactly the same: "perfection". The heft of these knives is very pleasing. One can tell immediately the quality of the materials, the unhurried patience that went into crafting them, and the thoughtfulness of the design. KoA makes a set of three, the Brown Bear, the Light Hunter and the caping knife, all in their own, single leather sheath...but this set was out of my price range. This is not to say that it wouldn't be worth it, but all three of those knives together on one sheath would be pretty heavy by the end of a long hunt, so the individual sheaths, even though they require more space, offer more flexibility in placement on a belt. Plus, you might not need all of them, I'm guessing; if you're dressing small game, the Brown Bear is simply too much knife, but the Light Hunter falls into the "just right" category for nearly every task.

There are a few caveats to these exceptionally well-made tools, and while not unreasonable, should be honored judiciously to protect ones investment. First, this is D2 tool steel, and it WILL rust. The blades come with a light coating of oil from the factory. This should be replaced after each use, and right after the knife is cleaned. Also, the sheath is leather, and it will degrade over time. Currently, I don't know of a Kydex or similar sheath made for these blades, but the company would do well to offer that as an option, since long hunts (I'm told) often encounter cold and wet conditions. Also, the knives should be cleaned before re-sheathing (do I even need to mention this part? :) ); otherwise, it will likely be slightly rusted by the time you get home. I could have shaved with the Brown Bear model I have, right out of the box, and if you know a little about the D2 steel, you know it is incredibly strong. That said, if you need a hatchet, buy a hatchet, and don't use these knives as hacking tools. They are designed to slice, and will do so faithfully, but you wouldn't use a screwdriver to pound nails, right? Enough said.

If you are on the fence about this knife, and are looking for one that requires less care, there are good options in the Cold Steel catalog. However, if you are willing to make the extra effort to keep this knife in good condition, you will not be disappointed. I am sorely tempted to keep this one, and just order another for my friend.