I prefer to use good high carbon steel in my blades. This might be harder to take care of but is hard to beat for performance till you get into really spendy exotic steel and Damascus. The carbon steel accepts my acid etching well and is capable of skinning out a moose without resharpening- my standard test. Much of the handle material I find myself- mammoth ivory Dall sheep horn, bone and all sorts of antler. Some of the materials I trade for. I live in the village of Nenana and do much of my work on the homestead- trapline so my work is very 'hand done' with very simple tools. a few power tools -but hand drills, fordom. Designs in the handle are hand drawn hand cut one of a kind made for each knife, and are soldered and pined to the handle material. Guards are soldered to blade as well as pined and are very secure. I spent my life in the wilderness depending on knives so know how a knife should feel and perform. My knives are known for 'feeling good' in the hand and being very useable- even though the fancy metalwork may stop the customer from using this in the field- it is made to be used and can be cleaned and polished after use . I now make my own blades- moslty from tool steel- skill saw blades- cut out with a torch- ground past the heat change- no retempering reqired- by working it slow. Many of the knives shown have sold- making new all the time so this is only an example of my typical (is anything I do typical?) styles. Contact me to inquire what is in stock or have one made.
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many materials here are suitable for knife handles- if you want a custom knife or want to try making your own
Left picture of where some of the steel comes from An old 1800's cross cut saw. A series tool steel
Right brass comes from scrap metal I cast myself. Here are some discards from the local barge line, a bearing and propeller
I've always used knives carried knives and depended on knives since I was a child. But especially when I moved to the Alaska wilderness and lived as a mountain man. In the beginning I could not afford a good knife so began making them myself about 1975. Since then I have made hundreds, if not a thousand or two. Mostly functional but the money is in the artistic side. I try to combine both- creating a good working knife that looks nice and different. Many knife makers I sell raw material to seem to be more engineers then artists. Meaning they work with numbers - straight lines and not work 'freehand' a lot and can not draw. One aspect that sets my knives as �different� is maybe because I am more of an artist. Also �different� is I do so many aspects of the knife myself. I cut the steel, make the blade, etch the blade, harden the blade. I design, cast, use my own guards from local metals. I find, cut, use my own materials in the handles. I make my own sheaths and tool them. The finished product is a total reflection of �me� and my style. I am known for the acid etching in the blade. I also forget the steel a little and hammer copper or brass into the steel in a Moke sort of technique. All my blades get put to the test. I hunt moose bear and spend time in the Alaska wild depending on a good blade.
Hunting - untility knife 01 steel $450
5 inch 01 steel blade weighs 8.7 ounces. Unique in a lot of ways. The forged steel has been laminated with copper and bronze. The handle is cast metal flowers backed on wood and riveted. Custom cast raven guard of two metals- copper and bronze- in a process no one else does. Turquoise inlay between raven and flowers. No other knife even close to being like this. A one time never to be done again made without a pattern .
Some people arrive at my web site and understand it immediately, it all makes sense. Others are confused , - cant figure it out. Here's the quick and dirty version of what's going on (long version = my books). Normal, civilized, and ordinary, I consider insults. I spent 25 years of my life as a savage, alone in the Alaska wilds. I learned how to do things my way. I live in another world. If you like my art- appreciate my raw materials 'different and unique' are a direct result of how I view the world. To do business with me we need to define things the same way. I provide links to explain how I define for sale, special order, raw, soon, business, that might help us sing from the same sheet of music. I've gone through a great effort to avoid misunderstandings.
Cut and paste me a picture in an email of what it is you see here that you like and inquire about. I might have that item or something like it. For various reasons not everything you see is for sale. See my ordering page for 'why'
Alaska birch wood handle, custom cast 2 mewtals copper and bronze whale guard. Forged 01 steel with bronze forged into the steele. Acid etched flower blade pattern. Hand made and tooled sheath
Forged 01 steel with cast bronze handle. Casting is an Indian face with bear face intertwined in hair on one side and eagle head on the other side. Blade 3.5 inches long.Blade as acid etch unicorn on each side. Knife weighs 6.3 ounces. Comes with custom sheath shown with flying goose
01 forged steel in the shape of a whale, acid etched whale mouth handle is body of whale with tail Custom cast raven guard of local bronze. 3.5 inch blade. Knife weighs 4.7 ounces. Handle is exotic hardwood (forget what kind). Turquoise inlay between raven and wood. A quality knife that can be used at a good price. I might have a sheath that fits custom made -$25 more inquire if a sheath is wanted.
Both have local Alaska wood handles and acid etched designs in steel. They are L6 steel , a high carbon simple structure used in knives for 100 years. Very practical functional made to be used. $150 each inqujire if interested. Do not have the half hour right now to set up the pay pal cart for these items Left one sold right one avaliable
If you see something you like, cut and paste me the picture so I know what you are looking at. Instructions how to cut paste on advice page
Contact me! cut paste picture!
Skinning a bear with one of my custom knives
Hunter skinner
Nice Damascus steel blade by Randy at HHH Knives. I finished the grind on the blade and heat treated. Edge extra hard back soft so it cuts keeps an edge but blade is not brittle. I acid etched scenes in the blade. One side is a caribou the other side is a bear. Handle is wild Dall sheep horn. Guard is fossil walrus ivory. There is a brass inlay of a fish that shows when knife is in a sheath. Feels comfortable in the hand. Over all length 9.5 inches. Blade is 4 inches x 1 inch wide.
$320
A K da ho 1210 is the code to refer to if emailing me.
Skinner utility knife
Blade is hand forged 01 high carbon tool steel. Copper and brass was hammered in the steel while forging. Edge is extra hard, while back is soft so blade keeps an edge but blade is not brittle. Handle is Alaskan spaulted birch . Guard is custom cast otter - cast from barge propeller bronze that went up and down the Yukon River for 50 years. Note knife is otter shape. Blade is the tail, not eyes nose mouth metal inlay face. Over all length 8 inches blade is 4 inches x 1 ¼ wide x 1/16th steel So a relatively light weight knife. Could be a kitchen knife all around knife but had 'skinner' in mind when creating it Refer to code A K otter 1210 if contacting me about this knife.
$375
Camp knife Moose leg bone
handle with wild Alaska dall sheep hone end cap that has a brass fish inlay. Steel is 1095 high carbon tool steel. Edge extra hard while back is soft so keeps an edge but blade is not brittle. Steel has been hand custom etched . (see pictures) One side has detailed wolf head, the other side has a tree branch. Guard is custom cast just for this knife to fit and has a raven them - one flying Raven and one sitting raven. There is a ridge in the bone seen in photo natural to the bone and fits had good. Knife is 8 inches over all with a 3.5 inch blade that is 1.5 inches wide. Refer to code A K Bmo 1210 if contacting me about this item.
$375
New page now devoted to just blank blades to buy
Miles of Alaska Custom knives for sale
Custom Knives hunters pocket skinner Damascus stainless high carbon Materials of bone antler ivory horn inlay silver all by Miles Martin of 'Miles of Alaska' Nenana Alaska also selling custom art and raw materials to other artist.
Everything on this page has to do with Miles Martin custom knives
Miles at Miles of Alaska
box 363
Nenana Alaska
99760
1-907-832-5442 miles@milesofalaska.net
Finished knives scroll the page
click here to go to my site directory with links to all my pages. Art - raw materials for sale- book- advice- tips-ordering- info- home page etc
How I got started what kind of steel how done etc. link-
If you see something you like, cut and paste me the picture so I know what you are looking at. Instructions how to cut paste on advice page
Over all length 10 inches - blade is 5 inches. Steel is 1/16th 1085 high carbon hand forged and tempered. Edge extra hard back soft. Copper brass hammered into steel during forging. Acid etch nice flying eagle on one side and a spruce tree on the other side. Handle is Nenana Alaska spaulted birch. Guard custom cast nickel silver with 2 mammoths waling in the woods A K birch 511. $350
Custom made knife weighs 8.5 ounces. Blade is 8 inches long x 1 inch wide x 1/16th thick. Steel is A Tony Metsala Damascus hand forged Damascus steel, roughed out that I finished and did the etching on. Handle is Alaska spaulted birch selected from many board feet for this pattern that matches the Damascus. Hidden tang style allows for hand carving and shaping of the handle to fit the hand well. Guard is designed and custom cast from bronze barge propeller that went up and down the Yukon River for 40 years. End cap is Alaska mammoth ivory, with hint of blues and greens. Utility knife could be a fish knife , kitchen bread or meat knife, camp knife, or just display. $880 Sold pending payment
Utility knife- collectors knife. Blade is custom Tony damascus 8 inches x 1 ½ x 1/16th thick. Forged with small amounts of decorative copper and brass along the back (so does not effect the strength or cutting ability) Custom etched eagle head on one side, wolf head on the other side. Handle is coral (dyed, as real red coral like this is not legal). End cap is purple Charlite stone from Russia. Mexican opal inlay has nice flash of color- good quality opal. Guard is fossil walrus ivory. All the materials fit like they were meant to be together. Coral handle has nice fit to the hand. No knife anything close to being like this. Should stand out proudly in any collection. $950
Lay away option possible inquire
Sometimes a knife has an energy of it's own and 'wishes to be.' I can approach my materials with a blank mind and let the knife develop. When it is done I feel like an observer seeing it for the first time myself - as the instrument, not the designer. This knife is much like that. What is it used for? It can be- something out of the future like a Star Trek kind of creation, coming through the star gate in a dream. A futuristic fighting knife? It's 'story'? Well, oddly, the one who now acquires it may not even be the final owner it is made for. It might go to some little old lady using it for a bread knife-later confiscated during the revolution, available to …… (?) like X-caliber. It's power locked until the rightful owner of it picks it up. 100- 1,000 years from now. For now, held in trust. I do not know and it is not my roll to know. I simply followed instructions as was told. It is… whatever you want it to be. It's well put together, capable of many things.
Custom hunter- utility knife. High carbon 1084. Edge hardened triple tempered. Passed test-shaved a brass brazing rod to a point and still cut paper, edge laid on rod beat back with a hammer to cut through rod, with no nick or damage. Wild Dall sheep horn handle, fossil walrus ivory end cap. Custom cast brass and copper bear guard. Hand freeform acid etched designs in steel cut deep and crisp. Blade 5 inches long x 1 ¼ wide. $350
Custom chef kitchen knife. Sheffield blade . Moose antler handle, iron wood end cap. Nicely etched length of blade with wildlife scenes. 10 ½ inch blade. Custom guard of bronze has 3-D fish on one side, and mink on the other side. Fits well in the hand can be display or regular use. $250
I also sell blank blades so you can put your own handle on and save money or have me build you a custom knife.
Whale shape knife
1084 hand forged high carbon steel blade with ironwood handle. Note the copper and brass forged into the steel for decoration. No other adornments, made as a functional knife. 5 inch cutting edge. Good skinner- camp knife. Can take a lot of abuse. Edge hardened takes razor edge. Back left soft for toughness. $195.
Musk ox horn handle. O1 tool steel blade hand made. Blade is 6 ½ inches x 1 ½ wide and 1/16th thick. Would make a good kitchen knife skinner small bowie. Light in weight, flexible steel. Edge hard, back soft for toughness. Custom bronze cast guard is leaf pattern. Blade acid etched. One side has pintail duck, other side has caribou herd. This musk ox horn has striking unusual pattern. A-K-moo1-911Is the order code if inquiring $375
Fossil walrus ivory handle Fish-- utility knife. Blade is forged 1084 steel. Overall 13 inches , blade is 7 inches x 1 inch wide x 3/16th thick. Guard is custom cast copper bear head. Copper from 1920's water pipes in Nenana Alaska. Fossil walrus ivory is a natural artifact as is, unchanged, unpolished, about 15,000 years old St Lawrence Island Alaska. Unsure what it was- but think a spear rest on a kayak. (other items found nearby were carbon dated). Fits in hand well as a handle. In keeping with the ancient rustic handle I gave an antique old look to the steel when I etched it. Note the copper brass hammered in the steel when forged. Permanent decoration will not affect function of the blade, and is chemical bonded under heat and hammering. Fwi Kfish 1011 is the code if inquiring $395.
Woman's knife. Specifically made for a woman with flowers and humming bird design. 4 ounces. Overall length 5 ½ inches blade 3 inches. 1/16th 1095 high carbon steel. Rockwell 56. A utility knife. Could be a paring- kitchen knife a knife to be carried in the purse, neck knife, camp knife for an outdoor gal.
Copper handle makes it different - interesting. Cast from 1920's water pipes out of the Alaskan village of Nenana. Hand carved in wax them lost wax cast. One side has a swallow bird over several flowers. The other side has a detailed rise with big flowers leaves stem. Both sides have acid etched flowers in the steel blade. Feminine looking and unique. Feels good -comfortable in the hand. $295.
Woman's neck knife- a piece of jewelry. From my series 'Ladies of the night' This is 'the little hummer' (Do you know this tune? Laaaaaa- soprano ) With the chain and sheath it weighs under an ounce at .9 ounces. Knife is over all 3 inches, blade is 1 ½ inches long. Steel is quality 1095, custom heat treated as a serious knife. Sheath is wolf toe bone (the night prowler) with fossil walrus ivory mouth, and turquoise end cap. Copper silver brass flower soldered and pinned on. Can be worn as a piece of fine jewelry. Knife locks in sheath, easy to remove with one hand, and is always there. . Slices string, envelopes, tape, meat, rapists, the usual stuff. $395
Eagle knife. Note the outline of the eagle - blade is a wing handle is a wing. Over all length is 7 inches,- blade 3 inches. A light 2.8 ounces. Forged and acid etched 01 steel. A lot going on with this knife. Unusual handle material. I call is 'skin from the creature from the green lagoon'. Looks like Komodo dragon skin or maybe a huge rattlesnake? Note how the skin patterns looks like wing feathers! Eagle head is mother of pearl shell. "But Miles! Tell us what kind of skin that is!....." And note there is copper and brass hammered into the steel. The copper looks like flecks of blood! Maybe the skin is a dragon or something and that's his blood!! The wing pattern is acid etched in the blade. "yea right Dragons, come on Miles what's the handle made of!" Note the two wolf tracks stamped on the blade wing. From the Beatles song "My mother was of the earth, my father was of the sky, this knife is of the universe, and now you know why…." "And those are not the words to the song and what's the handle material!" And the stand is half a pound of mammoth ivory. That's about the past, 40,000 years ago along the Yukon River. There was a flood and… Oh all right the creature from the green lagoon is an armadillo. I was looking for a dragon when…. The creature approached and I used my trusty….. Anyhow it's $9.99 today only. Oh, that's the stand. It's free when you buy the knife for $349.
'Lady Marion' From my 'Ladies of the Night' series knives designed for women.
Knife is 11 inches over all length with 6 inch blade. Steel is 01 tool steel flexible thin but strong 1/16th. Acid etched with rabbit scene and flowers. Copper forged into the steel gives a distinct look. Handle is natural fossil baby walrus tusk. Custom cast bronze guard is a duck. Made for many uses. Comes with both a sheath and a stand. Show it off when not wearing it - wear it for special occasions, use it as a kitchen knife, a knife on a night stand - desk etc.
Sheath is a work of art in itself. Made of 40,000 year old mammoth ivory. Note the natural incredible colors. I call 'King Eider head green' sometimes found in mammoth ivory. The decorative sterling silver bands help ensure the sheath will not swell and warp. A metal look on back is soldered and pinned to wear on belt, sash or cord. The bronzes fish on the bottom from a loop. This is so if it is worn with cord or sash another cord can go though the bottom to stabilize and arrange the sheath to be worn at a slant across the chest or hip. Or allow adaption to be worn as a ankle boot or garter knife. Dragonfly is pinned on.
Stand is made of Sitka deer and caribou antlers. It looks delicately balanced or weakly glued but is actually securely pinned in 5 places and is very strong and stable. The knife in it's sheath can be displayed or set on the stand separately.
Lady Marion if I recall was Robin Hoods lady. I envision this knife worn with reenactment costumes of renaissance era. In that day knives had many uses. This knife can be a fish knife or woman's outdoor camp knife , or worn when jogging, or as an art piece by candle light, or used to spread butter and cheese on crackers at a gathering, or stashed in a purse, or secretly hidden for a night on the town. Or on the night stand - always on display and handy. Possibly a split personality type knife. Now you see it now you do not. Yesterday it was on the knack knack shelf -today I do not see it there. Hmmm. Raised eyebrows, quiet smile.
The King is on his throne. A harp plays in the background as a fireplace flame throws shadows. Robin Hood is out poaching the Kings deer. Lady Marion waits for a signal from the forest. Surely somewhere there must be a rope to cut? Someone must quiet the jester? And the knife is? Where?
Folder pocket knife. Alligator tooth. AQ nice 4 inch fang from a huge alligator. A way to carry and show off such a fang as something functional. Slip joint style construction 01 steel blade is 2 inches long. Etched on one side with wolf track and the other side with flowers. Has brass fish pinned on both sides Allen screw adjusts blade folding tension. $165
Hunter skinner whale shape of 1084 carbon steel. What is unique about this knife is the handle material is shark skin! I thought a good combination with the whale theme, both of the ocean and the shark feeds on the whale. So a story knife and one of my 'animal knives'. I got the idea when trying to armadillo skin. Someone else had tried it and turned me on to it. I know nothing about 'armadillo', I live in Alaska!. But I was on the phone with a customer down south trying to sell the armadillo idea, and his wife in the background says "No way! Armadillo-yulky, what a nasty animal! You aren't bringing any of that animal in my house!" I went "Huh" and "hmmm". And realized no, there is no come back to that one. I had no idea. I was only looking at the pattern. The pattern looked like snake skin. I wish the armadillo was a reptile- but it would be hard to advertize 'reptile skin' But reptile skin hmmm. But no it would be illegal, nothing big and thick skin anyhow like Kimono dragon! Or a 60 ft python.
What's legal? I got some alligator (soon to try) and some of this shark skin. Now the misses might claim the shark is yulky, but who is going to tell the shark? Sharks and knives really go together! I had some technical issues to face. I soaked the skin in a secret potion to soften it. The potion has glue in it. I did not drill my handle homes in the steel. I soaked the cut out scales. The hide was so hard I used the band saw. But very uneven! While wet and pliable I clamped the hide to the steel and let it dry. I then trimmed the skin and drilled the handle holes and riveted it in place. Now e got a whale of a shark. I did my usual ' hammer copper in the steel' as I forged it, and my acid etch. Certainly a unique one of a kind shall we say 'out of the box' (shark on the loose) kind of knife. $350
From my 'Ladies of the night' series another humming bird. This one rests in a stand to be set on table window sill nightstand etc. Blade is 1080 carbon steel, 4 ¼ inches long x ½ wide at the widest, double edged dagger. The handle is mammoth ivory off the Yukon River and turquoise. Note the hummingbird shape. The stand is deer antler and oak. 'Things from the forest' that go bump in the night. The knife alleviates our fears. Function in that it is a handy letter- box opener, fetching diamond rings that fell down the drain- the usual stuff. This is not meant to be the knife to wear out on the town hidden. (to thick and heavy). It is the more sophisticated woman's blade. I should add I suppose that when I want to get creative, I need to imagine who I am creating a knife for. I need to get a clear image in my head as to who would want this, why, and what features should it have. This one is the 'Wanna-be movie star' Young, ambitious, a little high wired maybe, a tad unstable, a tiny bit nervous. Goodness all those people to deal with, wanting a piece of the action. Good to have a blade handy. Meanwhile, lots of fan mail to open. Oh well hey-maybe that hot chicks old grandmother with no teeth will end up with it. Check out that ivory- really awesome two layers of color, nice high polish. With the stand-- $495
Alligator skin handle knife. D2 steel with 5 inch skinner blade. Acid etched one side has snowy owl, the other side an owl feather. Light in weight. Alligator skin has been stabilized with resin so it is hard and waterproof. Interesting handle, rough, will not slip. D2 steel is stain resistant so would be good around water. Guard is custom cast white bronze with eagle head design. $350
Pocket folder knife slip joint. Using wild pig tusk 4 inch tusk 2 ½ inch blade. Blade is tool steel, custom etch wolf tracks on one side and spruce tree on the other side. Could be worn as a neck knife. Adjustable tension on blade folding resistance. Custom cast bronze cap holding pins. $250
Hunter wolf shape - tail is blade. One of my wildlife theme knives. Steel is forged high carbon 1080. Copper and brass was forged into the blade for decoration. Both sides acid etched one side has leaping wolf the other side a spruce tree. Handle is stabilized and dyed spaulted birch wood, with turquoise. Blade is 5 inches long x 1 ½ wide. Guard is custom made cast copper bear head. Fairly light in weight would be a good camp knife maybe fish knife or kitchen knife. $350
Walrus hunter A Randy HHH Damascus steel with fossil walrus ivory handle. Acid etched with geese and copper brass hammered into steel in last forging. Edge hardened with soft back. 5 inch x 2 inch blade 1/16th thick. Hidden tang. Custom cast guard is a series of swimming fish. Ha good comfortable feel in the hand. A good skinner- camp knife. I use a knife lie this to cut apart moose. Unsure what I am going to do with this one may send off on consignment. I am working on a shark skin sheath for it. If interested inquire. With sheath expecting to be in the $500 range.
Dagger with Eskimo- north theme. 4 ¼ inch blade of 01 steel. Blade has Eskimo them etched into steel . On one side an ear pulling contest on the other side 3 Eskimo faces with parka . Guard is musk ox horn from up north. Handle is custom cast dancing Eskimo of two castings, white bronze and yellow bronze.
Sheath is made of mammoth ivory front, and Alaska spaulted birch back. Silver and brass work is both decorative and helps strengthen the bone between ivory and wood with hidden pins. Knife fits snug into sheath . No loop on back. This is designed to sit flat on a desk top or in a drawer or carried in a pocket. Could also be set in a stand. A clip could easily b added to make this a boot knife.
$650 with the ivory sheath
Skinner camp knife. Overall length 9 ¼ inches cutting edge 4 ¾. D2 steel. Mammoth ivory handle. Custom cast guard is fish design cast in 2 metals bronzes and copper. Acid etching design in blade is mountain scenes one side with duck flying over the other side a sunrise. Has a nice balanced feel to it. Finger groves help with no slip. D2 steel is stain resistant so good around water or acids (tree saps, fruit etc) $530.
