Thanks for the video Dave! I found out from the elders that the tighter the hook they used for totem intricate carvings and the less of a hook or smaller degree was for canoes and oars. The wealth of knowledge is amazing. Thanks again brother!
I like your handle modification to my crooked knife. I too tried the hoof knife in the beginning as well as a handmade crooked knife blade made in Sweden. I found that the hoof knife did not fit my needs of a palm up draw knife and also the blade hook did not work very well for carving spoon bowls or rounding wood stock for tool handles. The angle of the blade to the handle and also the blade grind did not make the best wood carving for me. I also tried the Mora but found the Mora and Swedish blade where to short for my needs so I started making my own rather than trying to remake the hoof knife or Mora. Very good demonstration between the two.
Last visit at a flea market i found a similar type of hoof knife. It`s more a mix of a hoof and a Mocotaugan knife and i dont know where it came from. It cost me less then 3 Dollar but since then i constantly find new applications. A true helper!!! Thank´s for Show, i liked it very well! Regard´s from Europe, Jo
Thanks for the video, I've used hoof knives in the past for their intended use and just recently been introduced to the Mocotaugan knife by a man on axe junkies who carves beautiful axe and hatchet handles with them. Seems like a perfect tool for such a job especially in the bush. I'm not ready at this point to run out and spend $100 or so dollars on one and have been thinking about modifying a hoof knife. You have some good information here....thanks for sharing with us. I appreciate the skills you have learned and also your willingness to continue to pursue skills and bushcraft and survival methods and share your discoveries.
Just watched a video of Ray Mears assisting in the building of a birch bark canoe. The main tool that was used was the mocotaugan. It was by far the most used tool. Not only was it used to carve the thwarts and ribs, but it was also used to split the wood.
Dave I do indeed approve this message,thanks buddy. I also much appreciate the way you indorse and credit those to have earned it. As others do not. Thats a character one shows in having honor. Much respect from myself towards those few like yourself. I really do appreciate that...thanks man! ;) C-ya.
Another great vid dave. I have revently watched your jrnal of the yurt series again, and wondered if you have ever tought about carrying tea tree oil. Often conantained in a small conatiner, it has multiple uses that can be used from everything as an antiseptic solution, to using it as a fire accelerant. Putting it on skin it is aso a brilliant bug repelant and kills off loads of skin fungus issues. I know you always insist on on multi function and this is something that ticks those boxes. Loving the vids where Rufus shows up. Great Dog you have there man.
Dave.. So sorry for not responding to the comment on your last mocotaugan vid... I just wanted to give you a few more humble pointers to carving back-handed with the mocotaugan. It looks to me as if you're grabbing the handle too tightly. When you use the it as a drawknife, all the pressure should be on your last three fingers and the crook of your thumb. All the ones I've seen over the years have had that hook-like handle. That "hook" is the there to grab onto the crook of your thumb. When you're drawing it through the wood, it should feel as if it's beeing pulled out of your hand from the tip, and pushed out of your hand from the edge - and you hold it just tightly enough that you have control, but not so tight that you can't comfortably maintain a 45-degree angle to your work (tip pointing away from you, never toward you). Messing around with this tool, and watching Pinock Smith work, has given me new respect for the canoe-builders of old. These guys must've had hands like friggin' gorillas! Tough on the hand and elbow, that's for sure.. But they're so, so incredibly versatile. I mean, they can do most anything a regular knife can, plus a whole lot a regular knife cannot. It's easy to see why this tool in particular, was so prised by the native americans - it was the perfect tool for the environment they were in, doing the things they did. Anyway, pretty good idea with the hoof knife. Although it may not be the real McCoy, it's still a cheaper, easier to make introduction for someone considering making or buying a real one. Hey! Why don't you try and forge one? That'd be wicked cool to watch.. Also it's a simple project: bar stock, grind, heat, bend bend other end, heat, quench, hone, *done*. lol :P Have fun Dave, you deserve it.
For sharpening the hoof knife, or any crooked knife like that, you really need the right kind of diamond rod. The Lansky & EZE-LAP rods are cylindrical in shape and too big to get into the tightly bent hook on the knife. You need a tapered rod like those designed for sharpening serrated knives. You can get these at prices starting at about $9 and going up to over $35 depending upon the features you want. The two that I've used are the Smith's DRET diamond rod ($9) and the Gatco Scepter 2.0 ($35). The Smith's DRET is cheap & as compact as an ink pen. The Gatco Scepter 2.0, on the other hand, is quite a bit larger & more expensive, but it also has a fish hook sharpener, a carbide sharpener and a ferrocerium rod integrated into the design. Both are available on Amazon. There is possibly a 'common man' Mocotaugan/crooked knife available from Mora as the "Frosts Mora Crooked Knife". I don't have one yet, but the description of it reads, "This crooked knife is closer to the Native North American style knife, 3 inch blade, sharpened on one side." Just looking at the picture I can't tell what kind of bevel it has, but the handle looks about right for a Mocotaugan. Better yet it only costs $16, and they're available in both right hand & left hand designs! Here's a link: www.bensbackwoods.com/frosts-mora-crooked-knife-180-rh/ For sharpening the hoof knife, or any crooked knife like that, you really need the right kind of diamond rod. The Lansky & EZE-LAP rods are cylindrical in shape and too big to get into the tightly bent hook on the knife. You need a tapered rod like those designed for sharpening serrated knives. You can get these at prices starting at about $9 and going up to over $35 depending upon the features you want. The two that I've used are the Smith's DRET diamond rod ($9) and the Gatco Scepter 2.0 ($35). The Smith's DRET is cheap & as compact as an ink pen. The Gatco Scepter 2.0, on the other hand, is quite a bit larger & more expensive, but it also has a fish hook sharpener, a carbide sharpener and a ferrocerium rod integrated into the design. Both are available on Amazon. There is possibly a 'common man' Mocotaugan/crooked knife available from Mora as the "Frosts Mora Crooked Knife". I don't have one yet, but the description of it reads, "This crooked knife is closer to the Native North American style knife, 3 inch blade, sharpened on one side." Just looking at the picture I can't tell what kind of bevel it has, but the handle looks about right for a Mocotaugan. Better yet it only costs $16, and it's available in both right hand & left hand designs! Here's a link: www.bensbackwoods.com/frosts-mora-crooked-knife-180-rh/
Dave, would you consider doing a short review on the Colt large moose pocket knife that you sell on your website. It seems to be in the right price range but I would like to see it in action before committing to buy. Thank you Sir and have a great day.
xXxBlackwaterXxX I really only go to towns about 2 times a week for less that an hour, so my EDC is the same as the woods, belt pouch and belt knife, folder and thats about it
good video, i saw a documentary on youtube about amazonian indians and what they used to make their bows to shoot arrows was very similar to what you described, just a rodent jaw probably capivara the largest rodent in south america i think the jaw was the handle and the teeth were the blade, and it was used quite similar to the mocotaugan with a draw towards you motion, i cant remember the exact minute that they show it but it was this documentary "Isolated: The Zo'é tribe (full documentary)" still up in youtube
Compared to the bent knife you had mentioned from Deepwoods Ventures which style would you prefer? I have a crooked knife from William Collins and I really like it, but I was wondering if a bent knife might be worth investing in as well.
Hi Dave, great video, I was wondering if the back side of hoof knife could be sharpened like the mocotaugan is, or is the metal not conducive to sharpening like this, listening to you makes me think that the metal is different, I'm probably wrong but I was just wondering. Keep up the great work that you do, your good at it.
There are many styles and quality/price variations with hoof knives I use one called " The knife" from anvil brand its a bit more expensive but has better steel,curve and bevel. So there is a middle of the road for investments if you go the hoof knife route
Thanks Dave , that was very educational and informative . About the sheath for the mocotaugan is wet leather folded side way hugging the knife then molded into it shaped by using a small wooden mallet then left to dry then snaps can be added or the primitive way by punching holes for leather lace and of course it is conditioned by beeswax or tallow.That is something you already know and can teach for sure . Now about the mocotaugan itself ; I think before the natives were introduced to metal they have used beavertooth like you have said , that is my guessing too. Maybe Scandinavians / Norsemen have a better guess in my opinion that they have used "metal" crooked knife way before Columbus landed on the shore of North America also giving the fact that Wildwood Wisdom was written in the year of 1945 as you said by Ellsworth Jaeger and by that time ........ Anyway both videos you presented were awesome Till the next one , cheers
You know, I've noticed that nobody mentins that the dull knife is still sharp enough to cut you & that's why it's dangerous. I always used to think, "Well, how are you going to get cut if the blade is dull?" Not to split hairs, just thought it's an important thing to point out & I definitely could see some numb-skull knowing what people are talking about, but still being insulting.
Recently on youtube i have been seeing a different side of you! i didn't know you had so much knowledge on little things! But hey dave brother, you should check my channel out haha im cravin' views and could use some support!!!
Thanks for the video Dave! I found out from the elders that the tighter the hook they used for totem intricate carvings and the less of a hook or smaller degree was for canoes and oars. The wealth of knowledge is amazing. Thanks again brother!
I LOVE your honest, unbiased reviews Dave. Thank you again for all you do.
I like your handle modification to my crooked knife. I too tried the hoof knife in the beginning as well as a handmade crooked knife blade made in Sweden. I found that the hoof knife did not fit my needs of a palm up draw knife and also the blade hook did not work very well for carving spoon bowls or rounding wood stock for tool handles. The angle of the blade to the handle and also the blade grind did not make the best wood carving for me. I also tried the Mora but found the Mora and Swedish blade where to short for my needs so I started making my own rather than trying to remake the hoof knife or Mora. Very good demonstration between the two.
Last visit at a flea market i found a similar type of hoof knife. It`s more a mix of a hoof and a Mocotaugan knife and i dont know where it came from. It cost me less then 3 Dollar but since then i constantly find new applications.
A true helper!!!
Thank´s for Show, i liked it very well!
Regard´s from Europe, Jo
Thanks for the video, I've used hoof knives in the past for their intended use and just recently been introduced to the Mocotaugan knife by a man on axe junkies who carves beautiful axe and hatchet handles with them. Seems like a perfect tool for such a job especially in the bush. I'm not ready at this point to run out and spend $100 or so dollars on one and have been thinking about modifying a hoof knife. You have some good information here....thanks for sharing with us. I appreciate the skills you have learned and also your willingness to continue to pursue skills and bushcraft and survival methods and share your discoveries.
Just watched a video of Ray Mears assisting in the building of a birch bark canoe. The main tool that was used was the mocotaugan. It was by far the most used tool. Not only was it used to carve the thwarts and ribs, but it was also used to split the wood.
Dave I do indeed approve this message,thanks buddy. I also much appreciate the way you indorse and credit those to have earned it. As others do not. Thats a character one shows in having honor. Much respect from myself towards those few like yourself. I really do appreciate that...thanks man! ;) C-ya.
Another great vid dave. I have revently watched your jrnal of the yurt series again, and wondered if you have ever tought about carrying tea tree oil. Often conantained in a small conatiner, it has multiple uses that can be used from everything as an antiseptic solution, to using it as a fire accelerant. Putting it on skin it is aso a brilliant bug repelant and kills off loads of skin fungus issues. I know you always insist on on multi function and this is something that ticks those boxes. Loving the vids where Rufus shows up. Great Dog you have there man.
Thanks for the comparison
Happy trails
Are the blades high carbon Dave The hoof knife looks like stainless.. Thanks for all the videos, great job you do keep them coming. Thanks!
Thank you for this video. I had been wondering if this knife could be made easily. I had asked my son about it.
Dave.. So sorry for not responding to the comment on your last mocotaugan vid...
I just wanted to give you a few more humble pointers to carving back-handed with the mocotaugan. It looks to me as if you're grabbing the handle too tightly.
When you use the it as a drawknife, all the pressure should be on your last three fingers and the crook of your thumb. All the ones I've seen over the years have had that hook-like handle. That "hook" is the there to grab onto the crook of your thumb. When you're drawing it through the wood, it should feel as if it's beeing pulled out of your hand from the tip, and pushed out of your hand from the edge - and you hold it just tightly enough that you have control, but not so tight that you can't comfortably maintain a 45-degree angle to your work (tip pointing away from you, never toward you).
Messing around with this tool, and watching Pinock Smith work, has given me new respect for the canoe-builders of old. These guys must've had hands like friggin' gorillas! Tough on the hand and elbow, that's for sure.. But they're so, so incredibly versatile. I mean, they can do most anything a regular knife can, plus a whole lot a regular knife cannot. It's easy to see why this tool in particular, was so prised by the native americans - it was the perfect tool for the environment they were in, doing the things they did.
Anyway, pretty good idea with the hoof knife. Although it may not be the real McCoy, it's still a cheaper, easier to make introduction for someone considering making or buying a real one.
Hey! Why don't you try and forge one? That'd be wicked cool to watch..
Also it's a simple project: bar stock, grind, heat, bend bend other end, heat, quench, hone, *done*. lol :P
Have fun Dave, you deserve it.
Would it be feasible to use the forge to make the hook in the hoof knife more like the hook knife?
For sharpening the hoof knife, or any crooked knife like that, you really need the right kind of diamond rod. The Lansky & EZE-LAP rods are cylindrical in shape and too big to get into the tightly bent hook on the knife. You need a tapered rod like those designed for sharpening serrated knives. You can get these at prices starting at about $9 and going up to over $35 depending upon the features you want. The two that I've used are the Smith's DRET diamond rod ($9) and the Gatco Scepter 2.0 ($35). The Smith's DRET is cheap & as compact as an ink pen. The Gatco Scepter 2.0, on the other hand, is quite a bit larger & more expensive, but it also has a fish hook sharpener, a carbide sharpener and a ferrocerium rod integrated into the design. Both are available on Amazon.
There is possibly a 'common man' Mocotaugan/crooked knife available from Mora as the "Frosts Mora Crooked Knife". I don't have one yet, but the description of it reads, "This crooked knife is closer to the Native North American style knife, 3 inch blade, sharpened on one side." Just looking at the picture I can't tell what kind of bevel it has, but the handle looks about right for a Mocotaugan. Better yet it only costs $16, and they're available in both right hand & left hand designs! Here's a link:
www.bensbackwoods.com/frosts-mora-crooked-knife-180-rh/
For sharpening the hoof knife, or any crooked knife like that, you really need the right kind of diamond rod. The Lansky & EZE-LAP rods are cylindrical in shape and too big to get into the tightly bent hook on the knife. You need a tapered rod like those designed for sharpening serrated knives. You can get these at prices starting at about $9 and going up to over $35 depending upon the features you want. The two that I've used are the Smith's DRET diamond rod ($9) and the Gatco Scepter 2.0 ($35). The Smith's DRET is cheap & as compact as an ink pen. The Gatco Scepter 2.0, on the other hand, is quite a bit larger & more expensive, but it also has a fish hook sharpener, a carbide sharpener and a ferrocerium rod integrated into the design. Both are available on Amazon.
There is possibly a 'common man' Mocotaugan/crooked knife available from Mora as the "Frosts Mora Crooked Knife". I don't have one yet, but the description of it reads, "This crooked knife is closer to the Native North American style knife, 3 inch blade, sharpened on one side." Just looking at the picture I can't tell what kind of bevel it has, but the handle looks about right for a Mocotaugan. Better yet it only costs $16, and it's available in both right hand & left hand designs! Here's a link:
www.bensbackwoods.com/frosts-mora-crooked-knife-180-rh/
Interesting few vids on this tool.
Dave, would you consider doing a short review on the Colt large moose pocket knife that you sell on your website. It seems to be in the right price range but I would like to see it in action before committing to buy. Thank you Sir and have a great day.
Dave, can you ever do an EDC video? Not EDC when you go into the wilderness but days when you're around town etc.
xXxBlackwaterXxX I really only go to towns about 2 times a week for less that an hour, so my EDC is the same as the woods, belt pouch and belt knife, folder and thats about it
good video, i saw a documentary on youtube about amazonian indians and what they used to make their bows to shoot arrows was very similar to what you described, just a rodent jaw probably capivara the largest rodent in south america i think the jaw was the handle and the teeth were the blade, and it was used quite similar to the mocotaugan with a draw towards you motion, i cant remember the exact minute that they show it but it was this documentary "Isolated: The Zo'é tribe (full documentary)" still up in youtube
Compared to the bent knife you had mentioned from Deepwoods Ventures which style would you prefer? I have a crooked knife from William Collins and I really like it, but I was wondering if a bent knife might be worth investing in as well.
Well you answered a question I have been asking myself, thanks... I was wondering if they would work well.
I could have missed it but...does "crooked knife" refer to the blade or the handle, or both?
Good comparison. I have met and chatted to Ben Orford several times. Great knife maker and his wrap method works real well ;)
Жаль не понимаю английский,но думаю общий смысл улавливаю.Нравятся ваши видео.
Will Mora be making a Mocotaugan style blade ?
Hi Dave, great video, I was wondering if the back side of hoof knife could be sharpened like the mocotaugan is, or is the metal not conducive to sharpening like this, listening to you makes me think that the metal is different, I'm probably wrong but I was just wondering. Keep up the great work that you do, your good at it.
Good, informatieve video. Thanks alot.
There are many styles and quality/price variations with hoof knives I use one called " The knife" from anvil brand its a bit more expensive but has better steel,curve and bevel. So there is a middle of the road for investments if you go the hoof knife route
Dave who have you seen who makes them over in the UK? I know Ben Orford makes crook knives.. Cheers, Jack
Thanks Dave , that was very educational and informative .
About the sheath for the mocotaugan is wet leather folded side way hugging the knife then molded into it shaped by using a small wooden mallet then left to dry then snaps can be added or the primitive way by punching holes for leather lace and of course it is conditioned by beeswax or tallow.That is something you already know and can teach for sure .
Now about the mocotaugan itself ; I think before the natives were introduced to metal they have used beavertooth like you have said , that is my guessing too.
Maybe Scandinavians / Norsemen have a better guess in my opinion that they have used "metal" crooked knife way before Columbus landed on the shore of North America also giving the fact that Wildwood Wisdom was written in the year of 1945 as you said by Ellsworth Jaeger and by that time ........
Anyway both videos you presented were awesome
Till the next one , cheers
Do you still have your horse?
Come And Get It Yes
Ruebon Cogburn
That's just a cup-knife. Only good for hollowing stuff out..
Ruebon Cogburn
Wow.. Sorry for breathing over here!
Jerk.
Ruebon Cogburn It would be good for hollowing like bowls, spoons, etc for sure
Talent pure talent
perfect for shaping bow stave...
I want to get a knife I can start carving spoons and kuksa cups with.
You know, I've noticed that nobody mentins that the dull knife is still sharp enough to cut you & that's why it's dangerous. I always used to think, "Well, how are you going to get cut if the blade is dull?" Not to split hairs, just thought it's an important thing to point out & I definitely could see some numb-skull knowing what people are talking about, but still being insulting.
why not get a mora and bend it to profile
Looks like, the blade is too flexible.
Recently on youtube i have been seeing a different side of you! i didn't know you had so much knowledge on little things! But hey dave brother, you should check my channel out haha im cravin' views and could use some support!!!