View Full Version : Bernie Garland Nessmuk for sale on ebay
Spikey DaPikey
17-10-2008, 00:24
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/B-Garland-bushcraft-handmade-hunting-NESSMUK-knife-NEW_W0QQitemZ170271293633QQcmd ZViewItem?hash=item17027129363 3&_trkparms=39%3A1|66%3A3|65%3A1 |240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Just thought some of my like a heads up :)
Starting at a hundred quid? That your auction?
Shambling Shaman
17-10-2008, 09:00
Its a nice looking knife, not for me as I'm still mastering my Khukri :rolleyes:
spiritofold
17-10-2008, 09:41
What is a nessmuk?
Wallenstein
17-10-2008, 11:28
What is a nessmuk?
"Nessmuk" was the pen-name of a chap called George Washington Spears.
He was an american outdoors writer and traveller in the 1800s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessmuk
He designed a type of knife which has a very distinctive shape - many people have now made their own versions of the "Nessmuk" knife, but they all share similar characteristics.
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3623/best1vh1.jpg
Lots more details here:
http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/racquette/nessmukbydale.html
spiritofold
17-10-2008, 20:57
Cheers for the explantion! :)
Spikey DaPikey
18-10-2008, 00:18
Starting at a hundred quid? That your auction?
Not mine, found it browsing last night :)
Nessmuk was the pen name of a woodsman called George W Sears.
On page 9 of Nessmuks "Woodcraft and Camping", just after the section where he describes having his double bit axe made for an exorbitant fee, you can find an interesting paragraph about his knife design...
"A word as to knife or knives. These are of prime necessity, and should be of the best, both as to shape and temper. The "bowies" and "hunting knives" usually kept on sale, are thick, clumsy affairs, with a sort of ridge along the middle of the blade, murderous-looking, but of little use; rather fitted to adorn a dime novel or the belt of "Billy the Kid," than the outfit of a hunter."
George W Sears ("Nessmuk")
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/GrampaS/Can%20Special/nessmuk68ra.jpg
spiritofold
18-10-2008, 09:50
Why that shape of knife though? It dont look very practical. Im sure that its a damn good design and it does have its uses and the man himself knew what he was upto, it just looks unusual compared to the bushcraft knives we use today.
I made a few Nessmuks using that picture in his book as a starting point:
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0452.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0065.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/mollygypsy/DSCN0014-3.jpg
It's a really nice knife to make and use.
Uncle Alvah
18-10-2008, 19:31
Very nice, JoJo!!
I like the little knife in the lower pic, in particular.
It dont look very practical.
While I have never used a Nessmuck patter, looks can be decieving.
Consider the "Canadian" belt knife patter. Looks kind of odd to me, but anyone I know who actually owns one seems to love it.
Bernie Garland
18-10-2008, 19:41
Why that shape of knife though? It dont look very practical. Im sure that its a damn good design and it does have its uses and the man himself knew what he was upto, it just looks unusual compared to the bushcraft knives we use today.
The reason its that shape is for skinning out,some animals give there jackets easy,some like muntjac don't,thats why the rounded shape, so you gain more meat and the hide stays intact.:)
Bernie
spiritofold
18-10-2008, 19:57
The reason its that shape is for skinning out,some animals give there jackets easy,some like muntjac don't,thats why the rounded shape, so you gain more meat and the hide stays intact.:)
Bernie
You learn something new everyday :)
I've just never seen that type of knife before, the name i've seen mentioned but never really thought about what it was. Now you explain it makes more sense! ;)
Thinking about it im sure i've seen knives in the butchers that are the same sort of design.
Andy >>>>>------------------------------<>
You learn something new everyday :)
I've just never seen that type of knife before, the name i've seen mentioned but never really thought about what it was. Now you explain it makes more sense! ;)
Thinking about it im sure i've seen knives in the butchers that are the same sort of design.
Andy >>>>>------------------------------<>
You have, that's basically exactlty what it is. Nessmuk didn't invent the pattern, he just liked it and helped to popularise it, in much the same way that James Bowie gave his name to a knife pattern that had been around for much longer than he had.
Take, for example, the Green River type trade knife....
http://pics.livejournal.com/hagerson/pic/0007qatd/s320x240
These types of knives were a common trade item, made by in their bazillion by blacksmiths all over, Nessmuk's illustration is just a variant on a very well worn theme. The knife in the illustration is probably just one he picked up in a trade store somewhere and liked.
Forest fella
25-10-2008, 09:00
Nessmuk just arrived,And it's a Beauty, fair play to Mr Garland.