Gary R Akin

While out at camp alone recently, I was reading a few stories in Outdoor Life magazine when I came across an article that really intrigued me. It provided instructions on how to make a knife from common materials. I decided to make a Memory Knife for my brother Rich who has been my hunting partner for nearly twenty years. It would consist of materials that have helped forge the bond that we share. . . and here it is.

The blade: I cut the blade from the old circular saw blade that Rich and I used when we built my cabin in St. Lawrence County nearly 20 years ago. I rough cut it using a hand grinder and shaped it using a table grinder.

The handle: The handle is part of the antler from a buck I shot on Rich’s and my last hunt in Maine, back in 2006. I cut it using a cutting disc and the hand grinder. I secured it with epoxy and post bolts to the blade.

The sheath: I made the sheath from my old belt that I used to wear on my gray wool pants. I was wearing that belt when I shot the biggest buck taken from my camp.

And finally. I burned the “3 Shoe’s” logo onto the sheath. This is the name of the camp that our Dad built back in the 1960’s and left to Rich and me when he passed away. That camp holds a lot of GREAT memories!

Common materials yes, but special meaning and memories. I really enjoyed making it. And I’ll soon be making another “Memory Knife”. For Me!

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