As a gun nut, one of the things I take for granted is the value of a good blade. Because I am also an avid hunter, I am reminded yearly of this very thing. I have spent years of my life testing various blades, and most of them have left me wanting more from a knife. My current opinion is that a person needs many for a variety of applications, outfits, and events. You know, for specific tasks and fashion demands.
Disclaimer: Graphic Images Ahead
Okay, in all seriousness… I reached out to Tyler Hackbarth and his company, [track-link url=” https://www.facebook.com/wolfriverforge/” campaign=”WR_Fighter” target=”_blank”]Wolf River Forge[/track-link], because I wanted a knife that would make short work of processing game in the field. Because Tyler makes custom knives, we arrived at a design that would be perfect for my needs after a bit of discussion. If you want a new knife, handmade and custom-ordered is the way to go. Let me spoil it now: this knife has proved to be the best blade I’ve ever owned.
About Wolf River Forge
I want to discuss who Tyler is and how Wolf River Forge came to be. Tyler is an American patriot and vet out of Wisconsin who has found his passion in bladesmithing. After completing a 15-month combat tour in Iraq during the surge in 2007-2008, he gained his combat badge… and, unfortunately, PTSD. Luckily, he eventually found an activity that he loved which allowed him to vent his anger and frustration by hammering steel into shape using sheer strength and willpower to form razor-sharp works of art.
Tyler not only enjoys forging blades, but he is good at it! He is 2X champion of Forged In Fire, where he took home this title in the army episode and the Battle of The Branches final. His skill and passion are also exhibited through a blade that he donated to the Infinite Hero Foundation which auctioned off for over $10,000 to help veterans and their families. He plans to donate again this year, so keep an eye open for this great cause and unique blade.
Back to The WR Fighter
As I mentioned, Tyler helped me choose a design that fits my needs for a hunting knife. I had a few requirements: 1) the knife needs to be big enough to cut large quarters of flesh off of a bull elk (the largest of the game that I hunt yearly), 2) it needs to stay sharp, 3) it needs to be sturdy and withstand prying, 4) and it needs to be corrosion-resistant because of the elements that it would be exposed to.
Knowing all of these things, Tyler built the WR Fighter that you see here. It is large enough to break down the largest of game animals in North America, corrosion-resistant and wicked sharp. The blade profile is probably best described as a raised clip point fighter. This design has a false edge, which forms a very precise tip for detailed work. I also found the spine to be straight enough to allow me to leverage the blade against features such as bone to cut through ligaments and tough hide.
Other features to notice on the WR Fighter include the jimping on the spine, which gives the user added grip and a choil that serves to make a clean transition from sharpened blade, to guard, to the tang. The tang extends all the way through the handle, balancing it well and providing further strength.
This WR Fighter features 80CrV2 steel, which is a high carbon chrome-vanadium steel that bears the nickname of “Swedish saw steel.” This steel is extremely tough and takes a heat treat very well. It has properties similar to the popular and well known 5160 steel, with some added perks like it’s workability and ease of grinding. Tyler chose to give this blade a black oxide finish in order to give it corrosion resistant properties. He also used black G10 scales on this knife. G10 was an excellent choice because of its low water absorption and incredible strength.
Using the WR Fighter
Since I have had the WR Fighter, I have used it to process numerous animals out in the field. It’s seen use on elk and deer and will see further use on American black bear and more in the upcoming season. Throughout my use, the blade has held an extremely sharp edge without having to sharpen it once. This edge remained even after splitting a bull elk’s spine in between the vertebrae in a hurried manner. The WR Fighter is also very comfortable in the hand with ample room on the grip for even the meatiest of hands. Because of the unique design of the grip, the WR Fighter indexes rather intuitively and is easily and instinctively handled.
I’ve carried this knife in a leather sheath that Tyler made through fair weather and storms. Even after the leather was soaked, the blade remains rust free and the grip does not get waterlogged, unlike how a wooden grip could.
I used the WR Fighter primarily for processing game, but it would also be a great survival knife that could be used for anything from splitting firewood and chopping brush to scraping a flint or making wooden tools. The cool thing about this custom knife is the ability to have the design modified to make it the best for your application.
Specifications
- blade width: 1.25″
- blade thickness: 3/16″
- Blade Length: 5.25″
- Blade Material: 80CrV2
- Blade Finish: Black Oxide
- Grip Width: 7/16″
- Grip Length: 4.75″
- Total Length: 10.25″
- Weight: 8 oz.
- Price: $450
Conclusion
I am very happy with the WR Fighter from Wolf River Forge. It has filled the role that I needed it to fill as a hunting knife and checks off all the requirements to do so. The cost on this knife is $450, but being a custom knife, the WR Fighter will set you back anywhere from $350 and up depending on different options. Tyler is currently having a website made, so if you wish to buy a custom knife of your own out of Wisconsin from Wolf River Forge he can be reached through [track-link url=” https://www.facebook.com/wolfriverforge/” campaign=”WR_Fighter” target=”_blank”]Facebook[/track-link] and [track-link url=”https://www.instagram.com/wolfriverforge/” campaign=”WR_Fighter” target=”_blank”]Instagram[/track-link] as well as email (wolfriverforge@gmail.com). Let me know what you think of this amazing blade in the comments below!
