Sunrise River Custom Knives
Impressive From the Start
I've tested a number of hunting-related products and reviewed them in these pages. Some have shown very impressive results, others have not. None, however, have struck me quite like a hunting knife I have been using for some time now.
A fellow by the name of Jay Maines owns & operates Sunrise River Custom Knives, located in Wyoming, MN, USA. He builds all of his knives himself; the only step he does not perform is the heat treating of the blade, which he has done by another company that specializes in this. He builds everything from strong working knives to beautiful display-quality knives to cutlery sets for the kitchen. One man, working alone at a craft to produce a superior product; it's the American way!
When I discovered Jay's Web site, I first took a look at the price list, which included a description and a link to a photo of each knife. I was a bit taken aback at the prices (I've been accused of being cheap), but then I took a look at some of the pictures of his knives. From the pictures alone, I could tell that these knives were good stuff, and that I needed to have one. This decision was made even easier by the guarantee for life (details on this are on the Sunrise River Introduction page) which applies to these knives.
Choosing a Model
After long and careful study, I decided on a Model no. 15, "Hunter/Camper" (now called Model 201). When I Emailed Jay to inquire about availability, I asked him to recommend a durable handle material, as I expected to work this knife hard. Fortunately, he had a Hunter/Camper built and on hand, with white Micarta handle scales and blue liners (liners are the thin layers of material between the handle & the knife blade and bolster).
I didn't know a thing about Micarta, but Jay informed me that it has been around since the 1940's and is extremely durable. To quote him, "Micarta is impervious to just about everything; like solvents, fuel oils etc. It will not shrink or expand with humidity or climate changes, it will not crack, chip, dent or melt from normal use, it will not turn yellow with age. For a good, strong working knife, that's going to be dropped off cliffs, thrown into the back of pick-up trucks, or run over by your wife driving the SUV, this stuff is the handle of choice." What more could I ask for?
On my choice of the Hunter/Camper model, I was told, "You will find that #15 hunter/camper has some heft to it, it's not a lightweight by any means. It is a great all around field knife, good for slicing the breakfast bacon, whittling a tent peg, and field dressing the deer, to boot." At that point, I was positive that knife was meant for me.
What I Got
Less than a week later, I had the knife in my hands, and I could tell I had made the right choice. The knife does indeed have "some heft to it," and is built to be very strong. The tang and the top of the blade measure almost 1/4" thick, which is plenty strong for most butchering/quartering tasks. As with any quality knife, it is built "full tang;" the steel extends throughout the handle, with the handle material, or "scales," on either side, rather than the handle surrounding a small protrusion of steel.
The simple yet graceful design of the handle fits my hand very well. To quote Jay again, "each handle is hand sculpted and designed for a comfortable grip with effortless control." This is certainly true of my knife. Likewise, I found the Micarta handles to be all he claimed, highly durable yet very attractive.
A logo is etched into the blade, and a very shallow scrollwork it etched into the bolsters. These are tasteful without being impractical; a deep etching or engraving would be prone to collect crud and tough to clean, but these pose no problem.
A handmade leather sheath was included with my knife; others of his knives come with sheaths of either leather or matching wood. The design of my sheath is practical and good-looking, it is made of good, thick leather that should last for years, and it has a professional, quality look. Mr. Maines builds the sheaths also, and the leather ones are of water buffalo hide, available in brown, black or natural tan.
Trying it Out
By the time I discovered Sunrise River, deer season was over. So, the task of field-testing my knife fell during small game season. With the edge that was on the knife when it arrived, I cleaned several squirrels with no problem whatsoever; even going through bones was no problem at all. After a few minutes on my Honesteel sharpener (unfortunately I think these sharpeners are no longer being made), I had a shaving-sharp edge back on the knife.
After another batch of squirrels, the knife was still sharp enough to shave with. I have used this knife skinning squirrels for my nephew Rusty, quartering them up for the skillet, skinning a raccoon, chopping tough oak brush out of the way of a setup while coyote hunting, and a few things I have probably forgotten. It's not a small knife (the blade on mine is a little over five inches) but it handles tasks both large and small with ease.
The Best!
This knife is probably the best all-around hunting knife I have ever owned. It's a good-looking knife that can take heavy use and still hold an edge (after chopping that oak brush, it'll still shave my arm, which is my shaving-edge testing ground). The 440-C stainless steel (standard on most of Jay's knives) cleans up very well and easily, as does the Micarta handle. This is a knife that will last longer than I will, with reasonable care (to both me and the knife). I'd hate to be without it! I feel very comfortable recommending Sunrise River Custom Knives to fellow hunters & outdoorsmen.
- Russ Chastain
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