Handmade Damascus Skinning Knife: 7.25" Bonfire Pattern with Olive Wood Handle

Handmade Craftsmanship

The billet starts as stacked layers of 15N20 and 1080. Our smiths forge-weld the stack, then work it to raise the bonfire figure; a flowing, flame-like pattern rather than a straight ladder. An acid etch darkens the 1080 and leaves the nickel-bearing 15N20 bright, which is what makes the contrast visible.

Handle work is where this knife takes its character. Olive wood is dense and oily, and it cuts differently than most hardwoods. We shape each scale to the tang, drill for the brass pins, and sand through progressive grits until the surface feels smooth without losing the grain.
Brass pins were chosen over steel for a reason beyond looks. 

Brass is softer, so it sands flush with the wood instead of standing proud of it, and it develops a warm patina alongside the olive over the years.

Blade Performance

1080 carries roughly 0.80% carbon. It's a straightforward, proven blade steel that hardens predictably and stays tough under pressure. 15N20 adds nickel and a finer grain, which sharpens the edge and brightens the etch.

Together they produce a blade that takes a very keen edge, which is what skinning actually demands. Skinning is not heavy work. It's precise work, done repeatedly, where a dull edge tears hide and slows you down. This steel combination sharpens back quickly on a stone, so you can touch it up mid-animal if needed.

The short 3.25-inch blade is the point of the design. Less length means less blade to control, and the curved belly does the cutting while the tip stays clear of the meat. You get more finished pelts and fewer accidental punctures.

Handle & Grip

Olive wood is naturally oily, which gives it a certain amount of water resistance and a smooth, warm feel that plastics never quite match. It's also dense enough to take a fine finish and hold brass pins securely.

The 4-inch handle is longer than the blade, and that ratio is deliberate. Your hand does most of the work in skinning, so the grip needs to fill your palm completely while the blade stays short.

One honest note: wood is not Micarta. Olive wood handles humidity well, but it will benefit from occasional oiling and shouldn't sit soaking wet for hours. In exchange, you get a handle with real figure that ages into something personal.

Ideal Uses

• Skinning deer, hogs, and small to mid-size game
• Caping and detail work around the head and legs
• Trimming and light butchery at camp or in the shop
• Fishing tasks and general cutting where control matters
• Everyday carry for those who want a compact fixed blade
• Gifting to hunters, and display for collectors of natural-handle knives

Sheath & Carry

This knife ships with a fitted cowhide leather sheath. Cowhide is the traditional choice for a compact blade; supple enough to form snugly around a short knife, and thick enough to protect the edge and your leg.

The sheath covers the blade fully and carries on your belt. Because the knife is small, it rides all day comfortably. Store the knife outside the sheath between uses, as leather holds moisture and carbon steel doesn't tolerate that.

Specifications

Knife Care

Skinning coats the blade in blood and fat, and both will spot carbon steel overnight. Wipe the blade as you work, then wash and dry it fully when you're done.

Oil the steel lightly before storage and keep the knife in a dry place, out of the sheath. Every few months, rub a little food-safe oil into the olive wood to keep it from drying out. Sharpen on a whetstone when the edge stops gliding through hide, and stay off powered grinders; heat ruins the temper.

Why Choose Centuries Crafts?

We forge every blade and shape every handle by hand. Materials are selected before the work begins, and each knife is inspected before it leaves. A skinning knife earns its keep in the details, so that's where the attention goes.