In Praise of Muskrat Man
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In Praise of Muskrat Man
Muskrat Man has been fixing and customizing knives for about 15 years. His work shows plenty of talent and much technical skill.
Here is an older '3 eye' Schlieper 2 blade sod buster style knife, 4 5/8" closed. The back tang has "DRGM/1428923" which indicates an 'older' blade but i do not know how how. The handles were yellow plastic. Some of the Schlieper yellow handles are celluloid and prone to complete breakdown & off-gas.
Muskrat man removed the factory plastic handles and hafted the knife with this very fine stag and small, but perfect shield.
I am showing it beside a more recent(late 1990's -early 2000 ?) stag handled Schlieper 'sod buster', one of my main work knives.
I hope others will add their Muskrat Man knives so that this thread becomes a worthy tribute to the remarkable Muskrat Man, aka Kaleb Reynolds.
kj
Here is an older '3 eye' Schlieper 2 blade sod buster style knife, 4 5/8" closed. The back tang has "DRGM/1428923" which indicates an 'older' blade but i do not know how how. The handles were yellow plastic. Some of the Schlieper yellow handles are celluloid and prone to complete breakdown & off-gas.
Muskrat man removed the factory plastic handles and hafted the knife with this very fine stag and small, but perfect shield.
I am showing it beside a more recent(late 1990's -early 2000 ?) stag handled Schlieper 'sod buster', one of my main work knives.
I hope others will add their Muskrat Man knives so that this thread becomes a worthy tribute to the remarkable Muskrat Man, aka Kaleb Reynolds.
kj
Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
No doubt he does great work Roland. I am always impress with his mods and repairs.
Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
That's a great looking mod! Kaleb does great work!
- Cletus Awreetus
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
one day not too long after I'd purchased this '05 S&M Mountain Man Trapper I dropped it and as luck would have it, a big chunk of the really pretty jigged bone broke off. Long story short; Kaleb did such a great job with this giraffe bone and the original shield I seriously thought about dropping another one! Thank you Roland for turning me on to the Muskrat Man back then! He's a true professional in every sense of the word.
While I'm at it, here's my Eye Brand big sodbuster. Some of the prettiest, most well matched stag I've seen on a production knife. 99S-DS. Scored it at a pawn shop for $35, seen them go on ebay for 10x that.
While I'm at it, here's my Eye Brand big sodbuster. Some of the prettiest, most well matched stag I've seen on a production knife. 99S-DS. Scored it at a pawn shop for $35, seen them go on ebay for 10x that.
-the problem with society today is, no one drinks from the skulls of their dead enemies anymore..-
Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
A nice little dog leg Schrade Cut. Co. ........... smooth bone.
Thanks for the opportunity to show these knives off.
Special thanks to Kaleb.
Thanks for the opportunity to show these knives off.
Special thanks to Kaleb.
Joe
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
The Gambler. (GEC Churchill)............Black and White Paper Micarta.
Rick T.
"My knife money maketh itself wings!" mb>
Proud member of the Buck Collectors Club Inc.
"My knife money maketh itself wings!" mb>
Proud member of the Buck Collectors Club Inc.
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
Wow, Joe, you must have the best collection of Muskrat Man knives anywhere. Every one of your knives looks very 'smart', handsome. Thank you for giving this thread such a great start.
Rick i think your GEC 35 with white paper Micarta and the black spade shield is one of the best looking knives i have ever seen. It is what inspired me to ask Kaleb to rehandle a #35 with ivory. It came out very well but i think yours has the greater 'WOW !' factor.
Here are 3 GEC knives that Kaleb has re-handled in elephant ivory;
351217
735108 (liner lock)
721112 (lockback)
kj
Rick i think your GEC 35 with white paper Micarta and the black spade shield is one of the best looking knives i have ever seen. It is what inspired me to ask Kaleb to rehandle a #35 with ivory. It came out very well but i think yours has the greater 'WOW !' factor.
Here are 3 GEC knives that Kaleb has re-handled in elephant ivory;
351217
735108 (liner lock)
721112 (lockback)
kj
Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
Thank you.
Those are three very nice looking knives.
The "Gambler" is a beauty too.
Those are three very nice looking knives.
The "Gambler" is a beauty too.
Joe
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
Cletus, you now have the best looking Queen mountain man trapper ! Good thing the factory handle broke. I sure like the look of giraffe bone. I might ask for some of this when i next send a knife to Mr. Muskrat. Your knife looks as good as if handled with top quality mammoth.
kj
kj
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
Thanks for the kind words guys.
Roland, your Churchill looks fantastic as do the others. You must have had Kaleb add a bolster thread as I don't recall seeing any Churchills with double threaded bolsters. Looks very nice.
Roland, your Churchill looks fantastic as do the others. You must have had Kaleb add a bolster thread as I don't recall seeing any Churchills with double threaded bolsters. Looks very nice.
Rick T.
"My knife money maketh itself wings!" mb>
Proud member of the Buck Collectors Club Inc.
"My knife money maketh itself wings!" mb>
Proud member of the Buck Collectors Club Inc.
Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
The #35 & #72 are 2 of my favorite patterns from GEC and they look great with the elephant ivory handles KJ. Big time nice work on those Muskrat Man, as well on all the others posted here.kootenay joe wrote: Here are 3 GEC knives that Kaleb has re-handled in elephant ivory;
351217
735108 (liner lock)
721112 (lockback)
kj
Greg
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
Yes, Muskrat Man certainly does some fine work, and he should also be praised for the tips he gives out freely to knife repair novices such as myself.
Thanks Muskrat Man!
Thanks Muskrat Man!
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
- muskrat man
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
yall are too kind. guess i've one a few, i don't even remember some of those Joe!
Custom knives, repair, restoration & embellishment
Certified Hubertus, Taylor, & Schrade repairman past and present
http://www.muskratmanknives.com
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Certified Hubertus, Taylor, & Schrade repairman past and present
http://www.muskratmanknives.com
https://www.facebook.com/Muskratmanknives
Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
Kaleb and I started repairing knives about the same time in another forum. I have admired his fearless attitude when attempting new and difficult tasks. It has been exciting to watch him grow in his craft and skills even as I did. It wasn't long until he left me in the dust as far as his abilities are concerned.
I think I can safely say he has surpassed any level that I will ever reach, but that is fine I am delighted to see him succeed. For me this is an old man's hobby; I think Kaleb does this for a living, if he doesn't he certainly could!
I think I can safely say he has surpassed any level that I will ever reach, but that is fine I am delighted to see him succeed. For me this is an old man's hobby; I think Kaleb does this for a living, if he doesn't he certainly could!
Dale
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AAPK Administrator
Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet
Job 13:15
"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
"I think Kaleb does this for a living, if he doesn't he certainly could!
Dale"
My only comment might not be popular: I think Kaleb should up his prices. His workmanship deserves better reward than what he asks.
kj
Dale"
My only comment might not be popular: I think Kaleb should up his prices. His workmanship deserves better reward than what he asks.
kj
- muskrat man
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Re: In Praise of Muskrat Man
I'm not one to turn down "tips"kootenay joe wrote:"I think Kaleb does this for a living, if he doesn't he certainly could!
Dale"
My only comment might not be popular: I think Kaleb should up his prices. His workmanship deserves better reward than what he asks.
kj
Dale, I sincerely appreciate the kind words, however you are an excellent craftsman yourself, so please don't sell yourself short
Custom knives, repair, restoration & embellishment
Certified Hubertus, Taylor, & Schrade repairman past and present
http://www.muskratmanknives.com
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Certified Hubertus, Taylor, & Schrade repairman past and present
http://www.muskratmanknives.com
https://www.facebook.com/Muskratmanknives