The irony is that these simple, "primitive" knives will see years of use and be worked into the ground whereas so many ultra modern titanium, magnacut flippers will spend their lives as safe queens.
Sad fact bro, I have a Microtech Spartan and Eric Oches small batch with ti and sv steel. They were both a tip from a client I worked for... Those beautiful blades sit on a display shelf and a 1940s case barlow sits in my pocket with a 70s Shrade Sharpfinger sits on my hip. Interesting what sees use and what is set aside and honored.
@TheWatcher60401 even my winchesters are not safe queens. I'm using my greatgrandpaps 1894 3240. Rifle this year in deer season. I inherited when I was 8 years old. It was made in 1898. I finally found how to reload for it. The rifle is amazing accurate. If I miss a deer it's on me.😊
Made right here in my hometown! I worked there for awhile in secondary. We had a pegboard in my department with reference patterns for probably 200 different knives and tools that they made over the years. The 2212 is still a very popular pattern, I had thousands of those blades pass through my hands while I was there.
20 years ago, i found an old green river knife, in a leather sheath, in a river bed in the southwestern Utah desert. i used it for survival classes for years. still have it
It was your channel that first exposed me to Green River Knives a few years back. Otherwise, I'd never heard of them. It is to my understanding that a lot of these earlier knives were without handles and shipped out from the manufacturers a such. It was then up the merchants or buyers to put on the handles for the knives. I appreciate your research and historical insight. Along with that, your channel is one of the very few that actually does real-world, out in the field testing to include game processing when it comes to knife reviews. This really sets you apart from the rest. Keep up the great work, bro!
I bought my Green River hunter as a knife blade only at a rendezvous over 30 years ago. I made the handle scales out of a cherry tree limb, and the sheath out of some old Latigo leather from the 1970s. I love this knife.
Thank you for a great video. These knives actually work, unlike a lot of the modern stuff. Here in Europe, knives like that are still made in Sheffield and Solingen.
Thank you James for showing a great knife review, I own several of these old knives, plain old carbon steel, easy to use an sharpen, the new stainless knives have their place, but are hard to sharpen, the carbon steel knives just sharpen on a smooth stone out of the river, easy to maintain an use.
Way back when you asked subscribers to give you ideas on knives that we would like you to show on your channel here James , I was the one who recommended the green rivers to you because you liked classic knives and you used them to clean and cook game or fish you caught and thats what I do with mine. They are pretty close to a all around knife be it cleaning game or bushcraft camp chores ect they do it all and at a very modest price point.
I've carried a Green River 2022, over 30 years. It looks like a vegetable or paring knife. I made a neck knife sheath for it, and used it for big game, birds, and fish, every chore. Thanks for the video.
Wow!! Thankyou . The first ever info I have seen on a truly great knife . I too used Maple for a handle on mine ,however I used Birdseye Maple . Can't say enough good about the Green River that Mountain Men used to pay 25 cents for and then complained about the price increase . 1095 gets as sharp as a razor and Old Hickory can't even stand in it's shadow . If that 1095 gets any moisture on it don't turn your back on it though as it will rust quickly . Thankyou again, as this 77 year old dude really appreciates your knowledge .
Ive got my great grandpa's old hickory green river knives. About 8 or 10 of them. Dexter Russels these days are the knives that you let the 18 year old prep guy use in the kitchen. Ive cooked and been a meat cutter for 30 years and the industry standard is the forschner victorinox brand of knives.
I love when I find one of their knives at a yard sale. It makes my day. I've made micarta and wood handles for mine I have also reshaped a couple to make a belt knife. Fantastic blades...
I’ve been using Green River trade knives for over 50 years. They used to have thicker blades with jimping on the spine close to the handle for thumb placement.I still have one of those and it’s a much better knife than the Old Hickory knives.I have a couple of the more recent Green Rivers that are thinner blades that are great knives as well.The Old Hickory knives are really good knives, but they just don’t compare to the Green River knives in my opinion and experience with them.
This is a great video, thanks. This Green River hunter is a design I'm thinking of making. The blade shape lends itself to woodworking as well as slicing, so having a full height convex grind, half height saber convex, and scandi grind would all be applicable with it. Legendary shape.
Great shoutout. I have to concur I have never seen any other youtubers cover this brand. They do deserve more love. The tip style on the hunter (along with the smake eater which followed suit) is pretty much the only tip I like just as much as a traditional drop point since it behaves the same but has a nice twist on the formula.
I found an old green river hunter blade blank rusted to hell in the bottom of an old boat. Cleaned off the rust-left the pock marks-and added a catalog handle. One of my favorites
Hey Mark I totally agree ; I've had my "Green River" for close to 50yrs now. I received it as a kit for Christmas when I was a young kid, where it became one of the first acquisitions in what would become a life time of knife collecting. In all these years I've never seen an advertisement, and this is the first time I've ever seen them mentioned on you tube, and I've been following follow the bushcraft community for a very long time. I think it's long past time "to give them there due". Thanks for the great content.
Oh come on James, 0000 steel wool cleans them all! Edit: Dexter has ambassadors for their fishing line, and bbq line, maybe you could request being an ambassador to the hunter/heritage line.
It's a shame to erase the character off of a good carbon steel knife! The patina & not rust shows it is used unlike so many drawer queens out there. I hate seeing naive or ignorant people actually use their knives for a change & then whine when there may be a speck of surface rust, patina, or a ding on the scales. I love coming across an old knife somewhere & wondering the story behind it when I see a dark grey blade, often worn due to years of sharpening and a well used handle.
Yahoo for green river knives! This type of knife, well made for a, good price, used on this continent for centuries simply works. A well used knife with a patina speaks to my heart. Stay out of the cholla!
After waffling back and forth for several years, I finally broke down and bought a Green River knife a couple weeks ago. After reading reviews about the knife, many commenting on how crudely finished the handles on the current models are finished, I decided to give one a try, hard to pass up such a legendary knife for $25. The scales, as expected, are finished pretty roughly and have lots of loose fibers, especially in the cut grooves, but a bit of light sandpapering and work with an xacto blade has cleaned it up some. I'll leave the rest to wear away over time with use. Otherwise, it's a very nice useable knife. I look forward to testing it out in the outdoors.
Hey James, excellent video. I was kinda missing seeing you out and about with your Green River Hunter. But I get it, you had a great opportunity to make your own custom designed knife, the Snake Eater, and I really love the design elements from Green River that you put into it. The Dadley I sent to you has orange osage handles, but they do look like olive wood. Anyway, I absolutely enjoyed this video. Thanks my friend.
i love the blades youve sent us, they are my go to in the kitchen, i just made a pork stew with them last night. we appreciate all your love and support james. new cuervo negro video coming soon
I got into Green River knives in the late 1980s. It's all I've ever used. I use the file work on the Dadley for scraping my ferro rod. The Dadley is my EDC.
Ordered mine and sanded down the scales to fit my hand better then l forced a nice dark patina on the blade with warm white vinegar to help prevent rusting and then coated the blade with warm olive oil. Great little knives! Mine came very sharp but I cleaned mine up with my warthog sharpener and stropped it on my leather belt and it absolutely shaves!! For a $15 buck knife you can’t beat them!
The knife with the green scales is the Green River SHEATH knife. Robert Duvall used one while filming "Lonesome Dove". I have one with a paracord handle and another in 10 GA. copper scales.
Thank you for introducing me to another knife I need to get now. I’ve always have seen them in catalogs but they never really appealed to me until this video. Keep up the good work.
Hello from the U.K. I have 2 of these knives, one of which lives in my bedside table or nightstand, just in case, you understand! A fishing buddy bought one and I was so impressed that I bought one too and a few years later, bought a second. They have been a reliable tool for me since I was 14 ( what was then the minimum age to buy a knife in the U.K. at that time, shock, horror). A simple, forgiving good quality item. The second Green River I bought has the serations on the spine and I found this one after a geography lesson with a lady supply teacher who served on an arctic expedition as a young woman. Yes, inspite of the make-up had to source their own food. Good kit!
@@robertfandel9442 That's what mine are. Bought mine through Cold Steel's Special Projects, back in the 90s. Been buying and using Cold Steel since the late 80s, including 12 years US Army. Tough dang knives. Bought 3 more a week ago. Lol
I could not agree with you more. I have a green river shinner. I bought as a blade. I put my own oak handles on the knife. The blade sharpens so well and keeps an edge very well. I carry hunting and camping. God bless awsome video. 😊
THANK YOU for this review! My grandfather was a cook and I inherited quite a few old hickory from him. I am aware of green river, but have no direct experiences………. Will DEFINITELY be changing that after such a wonderful video!
Green River knives are old school perfection. I have scaled many for family and friends they all say they keep a super edge, are easy to maintain and develop a nice patina with use. Scaled a skinner for my brother years ago and his wife took it and is still in her kitchen to this day.
I have been buying these for 20 years. Track Of The Wolf sells them. $12.99 for the Camp blade. I am pretty sure Nessmuck and Kephart knives were a improvement on the basic over the counter Green River. The Green River design was common and the same style blades were made in Sheffield England. Green River were a domestic and mass produced so the regular guy could buy them. I don't think there is a definative reason for the scalops on the Dadley except as decoration. Remember many of the Sgian Dubh had them as well. The handle might be a bit smaller than knives today but they are the same as my old Puukos ans most of the modern ones. I like them better than the Old Hickory because they don't have those stamped marks in the blades. Old Hickory were popular because they were sold everywhere. Any department or dime store sold them. Green River had to be ordered.
I have had green rivers for years got most of them from Track of the Wolf , made all but 1 from a kit , the mini butcher is called the Belt knife it is a 4 1/2 inch butcher style I like to round off the sharp top corner of the top of the pommel and make that a radius as I have big hands XXL. I also grind a Kephart style finger groove in the belt knife so that I can index it very well without lookin. good size for skinning deer , also perfectly at home slicing and pitting avocados, makes a great sandwich. My first green river was a Hunter Kit , historically we know tens of thousands were made and sent west. yet we seldom see any as any museum pieces I think the ones we do see have been used and sharpened so many times they are hardly recognizable as a hunter. To me that indicates it was a USED knife and not something that looked good when purchased then sat in a drawer to be a museum piece a hundred and fifty years later. The Kephart had a very similar effect in the early 20th century we know a lot were made and sold but finding any originals is a very rare thing indeed. The Daddly was also a very used knife with a little bit more written about it. using the hunter on traditional game cleaning tasks I just kept finding myself saying yeah that geometry is perfect for that , opening cuts , gutting , skinning and breaking down deer and cooking. those were knife tasks and the hunter also sometimes called the Camp knife was just a really good and does so many knife tasks very well. I like a full flat grind it works in meat. to me you split firewood with a hatchet or just lay the stick over the fire and let it burn in half you don't beat your knife through it when you put the effort into making it. a LOT of the Green Rivers came west as Blanks you could get so many more knives in a case as blade than with scales already on. These were trade knives they aren't flashy but they sure work well. I really like your snake hunter I think you kept all the right geometry giving it a modern steel and that combo grind is nice. I have been doing cherry scales I cut from a tree I harvested on the last batch of rippers I made and they have been really nice. unfortunately I lost my first one on the Wisconsin river after years of use, sad day and that happens with knives I came home and bought a few more blanks even today 12.99 for a blank. Dexters primary business is kitchen and meat processing knives for packing plants , restaurants and food service as well as specialty fishing industry knives. People should check out Dexter's other offerings in boning , chef , bread , cleavers and paring knives.
Thanks. I’m a real knife nerd and have never heard of Green River. I love the old timer knives and am a restorer of vintage Western and Scandinavian knives. I will have to pick up one of the Green River blanks to customize. 🔪🎸
I purchased two green river blanks ,15 or so years ago. I put a cocobolo handle on the hunter ,and buckeye wood scales on the buffalo half skinner ,two awesome knives
Love my old Dexter, R. G. Wood, Wilson, Goodell carbon steel knives. Years ago I found a terribly rusted, deep pitted large butcher blade. I cleaned up only slightly and gave it a sharpening. Wow! The sharpest blade I've ever experienced. I do like your Snake Eater design but would only want it if it was 1095 and possibly a little thicker.
I have several green river (Dexter-Russell) knives. I made traditional Native rawhide sheaths for them with beads, tin cones and hair as accent pieces.
Awesome video, James! I have a couple of Green Rivers because you introduced me to them. Dexter Cutlery should make you an ambassador and cut you a check 💰💰💰
I like the simplicity of the high carbon steels. I like cleaning my baldes and then sticking them into a potaoe for a couple of days, wipe down, oil and use. I have made a couple of Green River kits and have a few other blanks to complete. They are thin and therefore they are great cutters.
that Snake Eater is a nice design mate 👍 I've been having the same thoughts with the scandi-into-flat grind myself, surprised that it isn't a more common grind haha
Hey James, thnx for the video, good job Bud. I was looking for a sorta different, good value hunting knife and some how came across Green River Hunter. What quickly drew my attention was its historical frontier nostalgia. Love the old school rawness, simplicity, ease of sharpening carbon steel and the price point. They were made to be a work horse and do it well! Still around after almost a century and still made in the US of A. Whats there not to love! A knife you can use and not have to worry about! Thnx. James
Great video, friend! Have several Russel, Dexter, Forgecraft and Ontario carbon steel knives.. Some old imports, too! No Green Rivers, but like you, I know and appreciate their history and significance! Glad you are encouraging others to buy/build these. Will keep looking for more of your good content, Blsds, gg
I've been using Green River / Dexter Russell knives for 30 years, and you are right they deserve more credit. I agree they are superior to Ontario / Old Hickory knives. It surprises me more American sportsmen don't recognize these knives. Even old timers have asked me "why did you bring that knife hunting?" Great video. Liked and subscribed. Thanks!
First knife I had teaching skills was a 'fish knife' green river had the scale drilled out to be a bearing block. I don't own a green river anymore I think I'll pick a dadley next. The 'sheep skinner' is also a very cool knife. It led to the mountain man saying "to the mark" was from going all the way to the trademark by the hilt.
I have the hunter and the bullnose mini butcher; just the basic models with the wood scales. I did need to sand the edges for comfort, but that took little effort. They are excellent knives for the $, which = value. My hunter and a tomahawk are all I need for edges for a few days in the woods.
Dexter, Russel-Harrington, Green River is a commercial restaurant knife company, so I don't think they worry about a couple of woodscraft people. You probably could pick up an old used one at a flea market, put new handles on it. I used to sell these and newer ones over 50 years ago.
I have a Russell made IRT (Indian Ridge Traders) branded 6 inch Green River Hunter. Ebony handle with 3 rivets. I also have an IRT companion piece that is a 6 inch skinner with a 3 rivet ebony handle. Both are 1970s or 1980s vintage. Russell also made some similar knives as Bi-Centennial editions with special brass shield on the handle. I like mine but haven't used them on a deer yet. They are robust knives with very thick spines. Typical of this type of knife, the handle scales could stand sanding and contouring to be more hand friendly.
I think Dexter Russell Green River knives get a lot of mileage in the commercial use sector with stainless steel blades and synthetic NSF dishwasher safe handles. I would venture a guess that the classic wooden handle carbon steel types are only a tiny part of their business these days. If I wanted to outfit a kitchen from scratch it would be modern Dexter hands down. They are good and the blade patterns are legendary.
Those are interesting knives! I like all three of those designs, I especially like the kit option. I've been saving some sections of wood from some of my fruit trees for a few years with the idea that I might make file handles, and maybe some knife handles as well. It almost looks like one could split an old broom handle and it would fit the Dadley blank perfectly! For cleaning deer and hogs, I really like my Grohmann GR1-BRK Original. They aren't budget knives, but they won't break the bank either. The handle and blade geometry are very comfortable to use and they hold a good edge. The Grohmann GR4-BRK survival knife vaguely resembles your knife design. If you squint a bit. Lol! The blade is wider near the tip, and it has a deep belly and a decent point. Puma makes a hunting knife with a blade that widens near the tip. It's good for skinning, but in my opinion, the tip is too rounded, which makes it hard to pierce the skin when you want to hang a deer by the back legs on a gambrel or you're working around the tail for instance. It's even harder to pierce a wild hog's hide. I'd like the Puma better if it had a tip more like the one on your design. I like 1095 steel, the surgical type steel in the Grohmman knives, 440C, and even the 14-whatever on Moras, which seems to hold up pretty well for the price. I guess I like D2 also, but it rusts easier than the other steels, but no more so then 1095 I suppose. All these steels can be sharpened in the field w decent quality stones. When you get to D2 and beyond, diamond stones because a lot more desirable. Although I've also become a huge fan of using a strop to bring back an edge a few times before I have to put it on a stone. I have some folders w higher end steels, but they aren't on blades that I have to sharpen in the field. The BPS Knives out of Ukraine vaguely resemble an Old Hickory that was heavily modded. Their sheaths don't look bad either. I don't own one, but several Tubers have reviewed them in a positive light. Same for David Canterbury's knives. Thanks again for making an interesting and useful video.
Ontario Old Hickory quality control went down the tubes, my Fish and Game knife came with loose scales. Green River knifes has been top make your own knife & sheath. Top rate steel for Bushcraft use. Green River and Old Hickory both in everybody price range.
I bought my 2212 " sheath knife " blade from Jantz supply and overhauled it. I gave it a swedge, reshaped the tang a bit, and drilled 6 holes for 1/16 brass pins instead of modern cutlers rivets. I went with some basic red oak for the handles. I took heavy inspiration from period knives with som X's carved into the handle for grip.
I must admit, that I have a few Old Hickory knives, but I'm yet to own a Green River. I do believe that it's time to rectify that ,. Great video James!
The more i used knives to create things like bows, arrows and pump drills that were more than just functioning pieces of equipment, the more i started to appreciate a traditional thin low edge angle knives.
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We need more GREEN RIVER KNIFES let's do everything we to keep green River knifes around for another 180 years
The irony is that these simple, "primitive" knives will see years of use and be worked into the ground whereas so many ultra modern titanium, magnacut flippers will spend their lives as safe queens.
very true
Sad fact bro, I have a Microtech Spartan and Eric Oches small batch with ti and sv steel. They were both a tip from a client I worked for... Those beautiful blades sit on a display shelf and a 1940s case barlow sits in my pocket with a 70s Shrade Sharpfinger sits on my hip. Interesting what sees use and what is set aside and honored.
I love my green river, the best knife is the one you have with you all the time.
I'll never understand the safe queen mentality, if I buy it, I use it.
@TheWatcher60401 even my winchesters are not safe queens. I'm using my greatgrandpaps 1894 3240. Rifle this year in deer season. I inherited when I was 8 years old. It was made in 1898. I finally found how to reload for it. The rifle is amazing accurate. If I miss a deer it's on me.😊
I'm in my 60's and remember my mom having a Green River butcher knife. I wish I had it now. It looked old back then. Great video.
Made right here in my hometown! I worked there for awhile in secondary. We had a pegboard in my department with reference patterns for probably 200 different knives and tools that they made over the years. The 2212 is still a very popular pattern, I had thousands of those blades pass through my hands while I was there.
that is awesome!
Had my Green River for 10-15 years and basically use it daily. The best knife I've ever owned and scary sharp .
Thanks!
than kyou so much, my friend!
20 years ago, i found an old green river knife, in a leather sheath, in a river bed in the southwestern Utah desert. i used it for survival classes for years. still have it
thats awesome
I own modern knives but I own old school knives like that your right about needing more videos like this. Great video
These are copies of Sheffield trade knives as far as I know. They were exported in barrels, packed in sawdust without sheaths.
I have this Green River knife. I got it in the mid 1980's. It's a great knife for preparing food, skinning animals and other basic outdoors tasks..
When you pick up your dadley in the dark and feel the ridges you definitely know where your edge is... Built my own and love it👍🏻
Absolutely ...me too . Those ridges really help out .
The one you showed looks like the knife Doc Holiday used on his card playing friend to help his indigestion.
It was your channel that first exposed me to Green River Knives a few years back. Otherwise, I'd never heard of them. It is to my understanding that a lot of these earlier knives were without handles and shipped out from the manufacturers a such. It was then up the merchants or buyers to put on the handles for the knives. I appreciate your research and historical insight. Along with that, your channel is one of the very few that actually does real-world, out in the field testing to include game processing when it comes to knife reviews. This really sets you apart from the rest. Keep up the great work, bro!
😅😢😢
appreciate the love my friend. i have a new knife review coming soon
I bought my Green River hunter as a knife blade only at a rendezvous over 30 years ago. I made the handle scales out of a cherry tree limb, and the sheath out of some old Latigo leather from the 1970s. I love this knife.
Nice!! That's the kinda knife I'd love to getta gander at😎👍
Love all my Green Rivers. They are part of my regular rotation.
Thank you for a great video. These knives actually work, unlike a lot of the modern stuff. Here in Europe, knives like that are still made in Sheffield and Solingen.
Thank you James for showing a great knife review, I own several of these old knives, plain old carbon steel, easy to use an sharpen, the new stainless knives have their place, but are hard to sharpen, the carbon steel knives just sharpen on a smooth stone out of the river, easy to maintain an use.
Way back when you asked subscribers to give you ideas on knives that we would like you to show on your channel here James , I was the one who recommended the green rivers to you because you liked classic knives and you used them to clean and cook game or fish you caught and thats what I do with mine. They are pretty close to a all around knife be it cleaning game or bushcraft camp chores ect they do it all and at a very modest price point.
Own both Green River and Old Hickory as well and like you I prefer the Green River. I have a 6 inch hunter model that is one of my go to woods knives
I've carried a Green River 2022, over 30 years. It looks like a vegetable or paring knife. I made a neck knife sheath for it, and used it for big game, birds, and fish, every chore. Thanks for the video.
I just got one of these and it’s pretty awesome
I love green rivers and they are all I carry while in the woods.
Thanks James,
Great Blades, great history. I would not want to see Green River slowly fade away.
Wow!! Thankyou . The first ever info I have seen on a truly great knife . I too used Maple for a handle on mine ,however I used Birdseye Maple . Can't say enough good about the Green River that Mountain Men used to pay 25 cents for and then complained about the price increase . 1095 gets as sharp as a razor and Old Hickory can't even stand in it's shadow . If that 1095 gets any moisture on it don't turn your back on it though as it will rust quickly . Thankyou again, as this 77 year old dude really appreciates your knowledge .
I suspect that Dexter Russell is so prominent in the restaurant industry that they don't worry about the advertising.
its such a shame, they dont embrace their rich legacy and actaully put some effort into promoting their old knives, such a missed opportunity
@@JunkyardFox Agreed
Ive got my great grandpa's old hickory green river knives. About 8 or 10 of them. Dexter Russels these days are the knives that you let the 18 year old prep guy use in the kitchen. Ive cooked and been a meat cutter for 30 years and the industry standard is the forschner victorinox brand of knives.
I love when I find one of their knives at a yard sale. It makes my day. I've made micarta and wood handles for mine I have also reshaped a couple to make a belt knife. Fantastic blades...
I’ve been using Green River trade knives for over 50 years. They used to have thicker blades with jimping on the spine close to the handle for thumb placement.I still have one of those and it’s a much better knife than the Old Hickory knives.I have a couple of the more recent Green Rivers that are thinner blades that are great knives as well.The Old Hickory knives are really good knives, but they just don’t compare to the Green River knives in my opinion and experience with them.
Good knife kit to assemble your own.
One thing is for certain, someone raised this young man right, with common sense in blades and no sugar in his tank!
This is a great video, thanks. This Green River hunter is a design I'm thinking of making. The blade shape lends itself to woodworking as well as slicing, so having a full height convex grind, half height saber convex, and scandi grind would all be applicable with it. Legendary shape.
Great shoutout. I have to concur I have never seen any other youtubers cover this brand. They do deserve more love. The tip style on the hunter (along with the smake eater which followed suit) is pretty much the only tip I like just as much as a traditional drop point since it behaves the same but has a nice twist on the formula.
I found an old green river hunter blade blank rusted to hell in the bottom of an old boat. Cleaned off the rust-left the pock marks-and added a catalog handle. One of my favorites
Hey Mark I totally agree ; I've had my "Green River" for close to 50yrs now. I received it as a kit for Christmas when I was a young kid, where it became one of the first acquisitions in what would become a life time of knife collecting. In all these years I've never seen an advertisement, and this is the first time I've ever seen them mentioned on you tube, and I've been following follow the bushcraft community for a very long time. I think it's long past time "to give them there due".
Thanks for the great content.
Oh come on James, 0000 steel wool cleans them all! Edit: Dexter has ambassadors for their fishing line, and bbq line, maybe you could request being an ambassador to the hunter/heritage line.
It's a shame to erase the character off of a good carbon steel knife! The patina & not rust shows it is used unlike so many drawer queens out there. I hate seeing naive or ignorant people actually use their knives for a change & then whine when there may be a speck of surface rust, patina, or a ding on the scales. I love coming across an old knife somewhere & wondering the story behind it when I see a dark grey blade, often worn due to years of sharpening and a well used handle.
Really? ill have to reach out to them. id love to be an ambassador for them
Your knife is absolutely stunning. Your design is just perfect.
I got my first one in 1977 very worn but still in use
Yahoo for green river knives! This type of knife, well made for a, good price, used on this continent for centuries simply works. A well used knife with a patina speaks to my heart. Stay out of the cholla!
The audio seems good, so far.
I've always been a fan of the Dadley pattern knife.
After waffling back and forth for several years, I finally broke down and bought a Green River knife a couple weeks ago. After reading reviews about the knife, many commenting on how crudely finished the handles on the current models are finished, I decided to give one a try, hard to pass up such a legendary knife for $25. The scales, as expected, are finished pretty roughly and have lots of loose fibers, especially in the cut grooves, but a bit of light sandpapering and work with an xacto blade has cleaned it up some. I'll leave the rest to wear away over time with use. Otherwise, it's a very nice useable knife. I look forward to testing it out in the outdoors.
I have the BK62 (Becker Kephart) and it reminds me of these knives. Fantastic designs that are practical and super comfortable.
Hey James, excellent video. I was kinda missing seeing you out and about with your Green River Hunter. But I get it, you had a great opportunity to make your own custom designed knife, the Snake Eater, and I really love the design elements from Green River that you put into it. The Dadley I sent to you has orange osage handles, but they do look like olive wood. Anyway, I absolutely enjoyed this video. Thanks my friend.
i love the blades youve sent us, they are my go to in the kitchen, i just made a pork stew with them last night. we appreciate all your love and support james. new cuervo negro video coming soon
My Green River is fantastic for processing wild turkey, underrated hunting knives.
Thanks for the great video !
I got the Dadley 2 yrs ago and love it. My only knife I use in the kitchen,, on an every daily use!
Great video! I have the Dadley and the green river. I put bone handles on the Dadley.
Very cool!
I got into Green River knives in the late 1980s. It's all I've ever used.
I use the file work on the Dadley for scraping my ferro rod. The Dadley is my EDC.
THANK YOU, JAMES! 🎉
Very nice knives. Keep pumping out those informational videos . Can't wait for some catch and cook videos.
More to come!
Thank you sir@@JunkyardFox
Ordered mine and sanded down the scales to fit my hand better then l forced a nice dark patina on the blade with warm white vinegar to help prevent rusting and then coated the blade with warm olive oil. Great little knives! Mine came very sharp but I cleaned mine up with my warthog sharpener and stropped it on my leather belt and it absolutely shaves!! For a $15 buck knife you can’t beat them!
The knife with the green scales is the Green River SHEATH knife. Robert Duvall used one while filming "Lonesome Dove". I have one with a paracord handle and another in 10 GA. copper scales.
I use a 1940s shapleighs old hickory. Family heirloom... hammer forged, spring steel can't beat it, green river knives are good quality ...
Thank you for introducing me to another knife I need to get now. I’ve always have seen them in catalogs but they never really appealed to me until this video. Keep up the good work.
I have a couple of either Green Rivers and Russell Knives. Still find them at yard sales and tail gater sales! I find one I keep it.
Thanks, they are very good knifes. I have many of those knifes for many years.use them for cooking an game cleaning etc.
PS mine look much better😅
Hello from the U.K. I have 2 of these knives, one of which lives in my bedside table or nightstand, just in case, you understand! A fishing buddy bought one and I was so impressed that I bought one too and a few years later, bought a second. They have been a reliable tool for me since I was 14 ( what was then the minimum age to buy a knife in the U.K. at that time, shock, horror). A simple, forgiving good quality item. The second Green River I bought has the serations on the spine and I found this one after a geography lesson with a lady supply teacher who served on an arctic expedition as a young woman. Yes, inspite of the make-up had to source their own food. Good kit!
Years ago Cold Steel made versions and i use them every year to skin deer. They are in Carbon V with pinned wood handles. Awesome knives.
I have a red river from cold steel. Very good blade.
@@robertfandel9442 That's what mine are. Bought mine through Cold Steel's Special Projects, back in the 90s. Been buying and using Cold Steel since the late 80s, including 12 years US Army. Tough dang knives. Bought 3 more a week ago. Lol
I could not agree with you more. I have a green river shinner. I bought as a blade. I put my own oak handles on the knife. The blade sharpens so well and keeps an edge very well. I carry hunting and camping. God bless awsome video. 😊
THANK YOU for this review! My grandfather was a cook and I inherited quite a few old hickory from him. I am aware of green river, but have no direct experiences………. Will DEFINITELY be changing that after such a wonderful video!
Thank you for telling me about these knives. I'm going to get one and try it.
Green River knives are old school perfection. I have scaled many for family and friends they all say they keep a super edge, are easy to maintain and develop a nice patina with use. Scaled a skinner for my brother years ago and his wife took it and is still in her kitchen to this day.
Great video James and thank you for showcasing the Green River Knifes and the history of the company. I was not aware of this brand until today
I have been buying these for 20 years. Track Of The Wolf sells them. $12.99 for the Camp blade. I am pretty sure Nessmuck and Kephart knives were a improvement on the basic over the counter Green River. The Green River design was common and the same style blades were made in Sheffield England. Green River were a domestic and mass produced so the regular guy could buy them. I don't think there is a definative reason for the scalops on the Dadley except as decoration. Remember many of the Sgian Dubh had them as well. The handle might be a bit smaller than knives today but they are the same as my old Puukos ans most of the modern ones. I like them better than the Old Hickory because they don't have those stamped marks in the blades. Old Hickory were popular because they were sold everywhere. Any department or dime store sold them. Green River had to be ordered.
I have had green rivers for years got most of them from Track of the Wolf , made all but 1 from a kit , the mini butcher is called the Belt knife it is a 4 1/2 inch butcher style I like to round off the sharp top corner of the top of the pommel and make that a radius as I have big hands XXL. I also grind a Kephart style finger groove in the belt knife so that I can index it very well without lookin. good size for skinning deer , also perfectly at home slicing and pitting avocados, makes a great sandwich. My first green river was a Hunter Kit , historically we know tens of thousands were made and sent west. yet we seldom see any as any museum pieces I think the ones we do see have been used and sharpened so many times they are hardly recognizable as a hunter. To me that indicates it was a USED knife and not something that looked good when purchased then sat in a drawer to be a museum piece a hundred and fifty years later. The Kephart had a very similar effect in the early 20th century we know a lot were made and sold but finding any originals is a very rare thing indeed. The Daddly was also a very used knife with a little bit more written about it. using the hunter on traditional game cleaning tasks I just kept finding myself saying yeah that geometry is perfect for that , opening cuts , gutting , skinning and breaking down deer and cooking. those were knife tasks and the hunter also sometimes called the Camp knife was just a really good and does so many knife tasks very well. I like a full flat grind it works in meat. to me you split firewood with a hatchet or just lay the stick over the fire and let it burn in half you don't beat your knife through it when you put the effort into making it. a LOT of the Green Rivers came west as Blanks you could get so many more knives in a case as blade than with scales already on. These were trade knives they aren't flashy but they sure work well. I really like your snake hunter I think you kept all the right geometry giving it a modern steel and that combo grind is nice. I have been doing cherry scales I cut from a tree I harvested on the last batch of rippers I made and they have been really nice. unfortunately I lost my first one on the Wisconsin river after years of use, sad day and that happens with knives I came home and bought a few more blanks even today 12.99 for a blank. Dexters primary business is kitchen and meat processing knives for packing plants , restaurants and food service as well as specialty fishing industry knives. People should check out Dexter's other offerings in boning , chef , bread , cleavers and paring knives.
Thanks. I’m a real knife nerd and have never heard of Green River. I love the old timer knives and am a restorer of vintage Western and Scandinavian knives. I will have to pick up one of the Green River blanks to customize. 🔪🎸
I purchased two green river blanks ,15 or so years ago. I put a cocobolo handle on the hunter ,and buckeye wood scales on the buffalo half skinner ,two awesome knives
Both of those types of wood are harder than woodpecker lips, not recomended for being easy to work with
Love my old Dexter, R. G. Wood, Wilson, Goodell carbon steel knives.
Years ago I found a terribly rusted, deep pitted large butcher blade. I cleaned up only slightly and gave it a sharpening. Wow! The sharpest blade I've ever experienced.
I do like your Snake Eater design but would only want it if it was 1095 and possibly a little thicker.
I bought a custom knife at a gun show made with a green river blade. It has become one of my favorite skinning knives.
I like your new and improved design James you hit it out of the park, only thing for me is the price Ima poor boy but highly recommend it to anyone
What a awesome collection. Great knives
Very much look forward to all your videos. Seems we have many of the same interests and they're always very informative thank you.
Thanks , I own a few OKC knives and will definitely purchase a Green River , stay safe
Right on
I have several green river (Dexter-Russell) knives. I made traditional Native rawhide sheaths for them with beads, tin cones and hair as accent pieces.
Awesome video, James!
I have a couple of Green Rivers because you introduced me to them. Dexter Cutlery should make you an ambassador and cut you a check 💰💰💰
i may have to email them, id love to be an ambassador for them
I like the simplicity of the high carbon steels. I like cleaning my baldes and then sticking them into a potaoe for a couple of days, wipe down, oil and use. I have made a couple of Green River kits and have a few other blanks to complete. They are thin and therefore they are great cutters.
Great information, James! I've had one in my cart for a while. Might have to go ahead and pull the trigger on it. Great price for it!
you wont regret it!
My go to bush knife, had it for 45 years plus. Cheers
that Snake Eater is a nice design mate 👍 I've been having the same thoughts with the scandi-into-flat grind myself, surprised that it isn't a more common grind haha
Me to Green River knives I always used them great blades
Old Hickory has two pins on the handle instead of three, and that might be important, but they look similar and my Old Hickory slices great.
One of my sharpest knives, moose antler handle.
I have always loved the Dadley knife.
Hey James, thnx for the video, good job Bud. I was looking for a sorta different, good value hunting knife and some how came across Green River Hunter. What quickly drew my attention was its historical frontier nostalgia. Love the old school rawness, simplicity, ease of sharpening carbon steel and the price point. They were made to be a work horse and do it well! Still around after almost a century and still made in the US of A. Whats there not to love! A knife you can use and not have to worry about! Thnx. James
Great video, friend! Have several Russel, Dexter, Forgecraft and Ontario carbon steel knives.. Some old imports, too! No Green Rivers, but like you, I know and appreciate their history and significance! Glad you are encouraging others to buy/build these. Will keep looking for more of your good content, Blsds, gg
I've been using Green River / Dexter Russell knives for 30 years, and you are right they deserve more credit. I agree they are superior to Ontario / Old Hickory knives. It surprises me more American sportsmen don't recognize these knives. Even old timers have asked me "why did you bring that knife hunting?" Great video. Liked and subscribed. Thanks!
They do need more attention they are just as good as the old hickory.
Better in my opinion
I love my Green River Knives. I have one that was my was my grandfather's. ❤
First knife I had teaching skills was a 'fish knife' green river had the scale drilled out to be a bearing block. I don't own a green river anymore I think I'll pick a dadley next.
The 'sheep skinner' is also a very cool knife.
It led to the mountain man saying "to the mark" was from going all the way to the trademark by the hilt.
I have the hunter and the bullnose mini butcher; just the basic models with the wood scales. I did need to sand the edges for comfort, but that took little effort. They are excellent knives for the $, which = value. My hunter and a tomahawk are all I need for edges for a few days in the woods.
Great video. I really like that first knife you showed, I like old looking blades like that. Thanks for helping me spend money😂😂😂
Dexter, Russel-Harrington, Green River is a commercial restaurant knife company, so I don't think they worry about a couple of woodscraft people. You probably could pick up an old used one at a flea market, put new handles on it. I used to sell these and newer ones over 50 years ago.
im always on the lookout for a good old butcher knife when shopping at a thrift store, sadly havent forund a good one yet
I like the design of the green river camp knife. It’s useful
Beautiful knives. I have a 1970s era CVA trade knife like this.
You sold me and hear I come. Grean River I come.
I have a Russell made IRT (Indian Ridge Traders) branded 6 inch Green River Hunter. Ebony handle with 3 rivets. I also have an IRT companion piece that is a 6 inch skinner with a 3 rivet ebony handle. Both are 1970s or 1980s vintage. Russell also made some similar knives as Bi-Centennial editions with special brass shield on the handle. I like mine but haven't used them on a deer yet. They are robust knives with very thick spines. Typical of this type of knife, the handle scales could stand sanding and contouring to be more hand friendly.
I believe that knife with the green liners is known as the "belt knife" pattern.
The "crushing pommel" is an interesting concept on a general purpose field and camp knife.
I think Dexter Russell Green River knives get a lot of mileage in the commercial use sector with stainless steel blades and synthetic NSF dishwasher safe handles. I would venture a guess that the classic wooden handle carbon steel types are only a tiny part of their business these days. If I wanted to outfit a kitchen from scratch it would be modern Dexter hands down. They are good and the blade patterns are legendary.
Those are interesting knives! I like all three of those designs, I especially like the kit option. I've been saving some sections of wood from some of my fruit trees for a few years with the idea that I might make file handles, and maybe some knife handles as well. It almost looks like one could split an old broom handle and it would fit the Dadley blank perfectly!
For cleaning deer and hogs, I really like my Grohmann GR1-BRK Original. They aren't budget knives, but they won't break the bank either. The handle and blade geometry are very comfortable to use and they hold a good edge.
The Grohmann GR4-BRK survival knife vaguely resembles your knife design. If you squint a bit. Lol! The blade is wider near the tip, and it has a deep belly and a decent point.
Puma makes a hunting knife with a blade that widens near the tip. It's good for skinning, but in my opinion, the tip is too rounded, which makes it hard to pierce the skin when you want to hang a deer by the back legs on a gambrel or you're working around the tail for instance. It's even harder to pierce a wild hog's hide. I'd like the Puma better if it had a tip more like the one on your design.
I like 1095 steel, the surgical type steel in the Grohmman knives, 440C, and even the 14-whatever on Moras, which seems to hold up pretty well for the price. I guess I like D2 also, but it rusts easier than the other steels, but no more so then 1095 I suppose. All these steels can be sharpened in the field w decent quality stones. When you get to D2 and beyond, diamond stones because a lot more desirable. Although I've also become a huge fan of using a strop to bring back an edge a few times before I have to put it on a stone. I have some folders w higher end steels, but they aren't on blades that I have to sharpen in the field.
The BPS Knives out of Ukraine vaguely resemble an Old Hickory that was heavily modded. Their sheaths don't look bad either. I don't own one, but several Tubers have reviewed them in a positive light. Same for David Canterbury's knives.
Thanks again for making an interesting and useful video.
great suggestions. i may have to pick up the Grohmann GR4-BRK survival knife to test out!
Ontario Old Hickory quality control went down the tubes, my Fish and Game knife came with loose scales. Green River knifes has been top make your own knife & sheath. Top rate steel for Bushcraft use. Green River and Old Hickory both in everybody price range.
thanks to you I picked up a hunter and a Skinner with bone handles
I bought my 2212 " sheath knife " blade from Jantz supply and overhauled it.
I gave it a swedge, reshaped the tang a bit, and drilled 6 holes for 1/16 brass pins instead of modern cutlers rivets.
I went with some basic red oak for the handles.
I took heavy inspiration from period knives with som X's carved into the handle for grip.
Hi James, we’ve chatted before. That crazy crow maple blade of yours is my work. I’m the guy who does them for crazy. Nice to see them being used.
I just love green rice knives
I must admit, that I have a few Old Hickory knives, but I'm yet to own a Green River. I do believe that it's time to rectify that ,. Great video James!
The more i used knives to create things like bows, arrows and pump drills that were more than just functioning pieces of equipment, the more i started to appreciate a traditional thin low edge angle knives.
I definitely agree, these simple blades are oustanding workhorses