I have been looking at a number of the knives made by various members of the forum & so far has caused me to buy 4 custom knives and I have not even broke a 100 post yet. I will be broke by the end of the year. All the knives are very nice , they seem to be all made from thicker stock & the handles width is wider. Not going to break these knives except by miss use or being stupid.

Anyway I acquired a Knife made in S. Africa, and it is slimmer / lighter in weight /feel and balance. Very different than most knives I pick up. also has just a touch of flex to the blade. here is my post on it if interested.

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbth...fe?#Post5673875

My question is would a Damascus blade:8 to 8.5 OAL with a 4 inch blade - .125 to .130 then hollow ground & with a tapered tang ( to help with balance & keep the scales thin) be strong enough and tough enough as EDC & all around hunting knife.

Also any thought's on blade vs. handle lengths. I seem to have big hands not huge but wear L to xl gloves. and always have my little finger seems not to find a good place to rest.

thanks Hetman

I measured my most comfortable to use knife the handle measures 3 3/4 in where you grasp it. My palm is 3 3/4 across so that matches. The knife is 8.5 inches overall 4 in blade. photo The whole point of getting a custom knife is, to get a perfect match for your needs and wants, a comfortable handle is part of that. For my use a drop point with about a 4 in blade works well for field dressing which is mostly how I use it..

If the Damascus is heat treated and tempered properly it should serve you well. I've tested Damascus blades in the .125 thickness range by putting them in a vise and then bending it over with a big pair of vise grips clamped to the tang. I've bent them to over 45 degrees and while they did warp some form that I've never had one break. Now if you try that with a blade that is too hard and not properly tempered it will snap off in the vise with less than a 10 degree bend. 95% of my knives are made from .120-.130 stock.

Thanks Guys now to just get this dude built!!!

Hetman, in field usage Damascus holds up no better nor no worse than any other carbon steel. As MikeC said, it is all about the heat treating.
That being said the thinner blade will do not as well for work an axe should be used for but as far as slicing, thinner slices better but again, that now depends upon the grind of the blade.
On my personal hunting style knives that I might make and use for the year for my own use are always 1/8 or less and a thin grind as well. I have an axe or bowie for chopping.
jerry
www.jerryfisk.com

This one from Mr. Potts is 7/32" thick. Makes a heck of a chopper.