The Knife That Killed A Lion (You Can Make It!)

Рет қаралды 21,051

Жыл бұрын

A famous African knife was used to defend its owner from a hungry lion. In this episode of "Pops Project of the Month," bladesmith Walter Sorrells demonstrates the making of a knife inspired by that historic blade. The story of the original knife can be found in the book "Memories of a Game Ranger" by Harry Wallhuter. The blade now resides in a museum at Kruger National Park, where Harry Wallhuter was a ranger.
The blade demonstrated here is made from S30V stainless steel with vintage micarta handles held on by brass Corby fasteners.
Pops Knife Supply - popsknife.supplies
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FREE PDF! Five Killer Tips for getting started as a knife maker: waltersorrellsblades.mykajabi...
Check out Walter's videos about making Japanese swords! www.waltersorrellsblades.com
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Twitter: @WalterSorrells

Пікірлер: 86

@STUFFWEDO Жыл бұрын

I am South African and Love that story. Thank you for a great video. Have a great weekend

@RedBeardOps Жыл бұрын

Nice layout fluid! That thing is bullet proof

@duartduplessis1046 Жыл бұрын

As a South African and a knife enthusiast i am very fortune to live about 80km away from where the actual event took place! And yes every knife guy must own a Wolhunter😂. Her by us there is a couple of guys who makes boutique Wolhunter with all sorts of fancy steels and handle materials. Pretty cool knife

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Cool that you live near where it happened! Thanks for the note. Would love to see the knife!

@henniebasson515 Жыл бұрын

@@WalterSorrellsBlades You will probably see it if you google skukuza in the Kruger National Park. Kind regards.

@michaelsewell3706 Жыл бұрын

After watching this video I pulled out Harry Wolhuters book Memories of a game ranger, I had to read the section again where he describes the lion attack and also buying the knives in London, brought back memories from my youth of seeing the actual knife and lion skin in the museum at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park. A fee years back I found a broken antique plow disc and I forged a similar knife that has served me well on many camping and hunting trips.

@jeffsherk7056 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video! I keep plugging away at knife making, and gradually my blades are getting better. I always find your teaching helpful.

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks ... keep plugging away, and great that you see progress. That's what it's all about.

@user-cs3hi8zp7p Жыл бұрын

Such a good looking blade...and that micarta is stunning😍

@andrewsmith1520 Жыл бұрын

Such a cool story and awesome knife. Thanks for sharing both!

@starkparker16 Жыл бұрын

That's a beautiful, clean knife.

@Jakkals99 Жыл бұрын

Back in Wolhuter's day it was just a regular Pipe brand kitchen knife...

@kevinmorgan6382 Жыл бұрын

Cool story... How about a Ben Lilly Bowie build and backstory for a future video?

@ozarked2363 Жыл бұрын

I've never been attacked by a lion either, but I once annoyed a gray squirrel to the point it actually growled at me.

@trynsurviven2440 Жыл бұрын

Great story thank you for sharing. I really like the profile of that blade and yes it does resemble a couple of kitchen knives I have.

@the_fafologist Жыл бұрын

Very cool story and knife. Great job!

@mattthescreamer177 Жыл бұрын

Your work is an inspiration for me and your videos are very much appreciated. Thanks for posting such great content.

@chrish1585 Жыл бұрын

I made one a few years ago. I forged mind out of a very old rail spring clip, either old school 1084 or 60Si2crA hand forged and ground and polished to the exact specifications per the official South African Museum sight. African black wood handle scales. Great "cheese" knife! really cool that this thin rather delicate knife was used as a bush craft blade and killed a lion.

@paulwiggins183 9 ай бұрын

Very curious to know steel thickness of the original knives... and were they considered high quality or working class?

@timrodriguez1 Жыл бұрын

That’s a beautiful knife with an amazing story. Thanks for sharing the knife and the story…🤘🤠

@stevenlittle2896 Жыл бұрын

Great video and POPs is a great place

@StuartSmithHandForgedKNives Жыл бұрын

I've made a few of these too. Interesting side story on the knife. Before the incident Wolhuter had gone to the general store in the loacl town to buy supplies. When he was in the produce section he saw a cheese platter with samples. On the platter was a knife, similar to his, but much better quality. Carefully he swapped knives and went on his way. In short he killed a lion with acheese knife.

@willempretorius6700 Жыл бұрын

Great project!!! Love the pronunciation of the name "Wolhuter" 🤣🤣

@user-ww4od4jl1f Жыл бұрын

Beautiful knife, Walter. I wish I had your knife!

@hawintherknives4386 Жыл бұрын

Love your work You have inspired me for years

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Can't tell you how much I appreciate that!

@courtneesdad Жыл бұрын

Beautiful knife Walter 👍

@scottbluewaspknives2300 Жыл бұрын

got my 1st POPS order the other day. thanks guys..this knife is a very close profile to a few ive made in the past. that i call simply a "utility steak knife"

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it - they are great guys and know a lot.

@anncannon1797 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful knife I think it's perfect ⚡⚡⚒️🗡️⚔️

@barrylilley6392 Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed that 🙌

@JohannSwart_JWS Жыл бұрын

Nice build. Greetings from SA.

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks, and nice to see SA well-represented in the comments!

@Sharkdog11b Жыл бұрын

When I was guiding hunters in the alaska range one of the other guides told me a story about a fella that got in a knife fight with a brown bear and killed it. Nearly killed him but I’m pretty sure it’s mounted in the airport or something I can’t remember anymore

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Wonder what it was? That's a tough guy ... and a tough blade!

@brain4154 Ай бұрын

duuude yes, i heard this story like 15 ago on a podcast or some shit.. i always wondered what the famous "kitchen" knife looked like, and now i know! 😀

@iamshredder3587 Жыл бұрын

Nice work Walter. Clean grind. It's been awhile but I see you still got the old belt grinder going. 🙂 There's something to be said for these basic clean simple pointy bladed designs with good steel and simple handle contouring in tactical situations... against man or beast, or a combination of the two. )) Also nice to make from time to time instead of the more complex stuff that takes forever to complete. ))

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks - appreciate your comments and all the views. And yep - old belt grinder's still grinding!

@georgekuzmickus959 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful! I remember that story from an article in Field and Stream ages ago. Just got the pattern, gonna see if I can do it justice

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks - good luck with it, and share your finished result!

@georgekuzmickus959 Жыл бұрын

Will do!

@simonhengle8316 Жыл бұрын

Great video

@thewaylonandjoeshow9540 Жыл бұрын

It was a fun project. I put a little extra flare into mine! Great video Walt

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you had fun - and extra flare is always good!

@RobanyBigjobz Жыл бұрын

Knife making? Great! Knife making with a good story? Awesome! That groundhog has met its match...

@danunger3240 Жыл бұрын

I've got a nearly finished damascus blade that looks very similar to that one. I basically copied one of Harvey Dean's fixed blades.

@TylerSnyder305 Жыл бұрын

This reminds me of the Russell green river ripper , but the green river ripper has a 4" blade.

@ThatOneOddGuy Жыл бұрын

I think I made this blade profile but I buggered the tip so issues there but It's thick BTW I've from south africa you can live in the bush areas where you're allowed to hunt animals but not in the national park reserves which there are a lot

@Tr_facas Жыл бұрын

you can give me the size in metric (centimeter)?

@ryanblystone5153 Жыл бұрын

Thank you

@ironized Жыл бұрын

Recognised the knife from doing some training at Heaven Forge!

@xandervandermerwe316 Жыл бұрын

The original knife is displayed next to the skin of the lion that attacked him in the museum at Skukuza Restcamp in the Kruger National Park. The whole museum is about the history of Kruger, I always recommend it to my guests.

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Cool - love hearing from people in South Africa - lots of viewers from there. If you haven't, go to Pops website - they did a great job of the story, and doesn't hurt that Dirk is from South Africa!

@jbyrd3304 Жыл бұрын

Pops already stay sold out! Now with your videos they are really going to be sold out lol!! Thank You for all the help in your videos!!!!

@ilmbutton Жыл бұрын

Gotta watch out for ground hogs:) this was a fun video, I might have to try to make a lion killer too!

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Yeah, dive in there and give it a try.

@grahamwoolaston5609 Жыл бұрын

Love a link to pops do they post world wide I live in Australia 🇦🇺

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Pops link is in the description - and yes - they ship to Australia. Thanks for watching!

@rpc717 Жыл бұрын

I hope that groundhog knows what's up.

@geeblaze984 Жыл бұрын

Do you have a book? If so can you point me to it? Thanks 👍🏾

@simonsteyn8957 9 ай бұрын

In 1986 a family friend of ours Paul Bekker also stabbed a lioness to death that attacked him at Mana Pools one evening. My mom’s cousin passed him the knife as the lioness was busy mauling him.

@WalterSorrellsBlades 9 ай бұрын

Wow - great story. Thanks for sharing - and good for your mom's cousin!

@simonsteyn8957 9 ай бұрын

Only a pleasure - I guess there are many untold stories out there from days gone by.

@18deadmonkeys Жыл бұрын

i've found acetone removes epoxy squeeze-out better than ISO

@LYLEWOLD Жыл бұрын

Groundhog - Lion tomayto - tomahto

@spydercolover100 Жыл бұрын

My wire wheel grabbed a bowie out of my hand and sliced through my finger to the bone. I had to put 2 tendons back in and the third was stuck out so it had to get cut off then it healed around itself.

@FBDerringer Ай бұрын

That groundhog is screwed!

@georgijgeorgij6528 Жыл бұрын

Хароший и правельный нож .

@Acuteknife Жыл бұрын

Did you guys see his groundhog skin shoes? We all know that groundhog did not get away from Sensi Walter.

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the vote of confidence!!!

@GibClark Жыл бұрын

👍👍👍👍👍

@mulepowerforge Жыл бұрын

i made a knife thats based off a rondel dagger (cause daggers are illegal to carry in canada, whoever made that law needs a good punch to the head) thats tied on my backpack strap in case a mountain lion does the same thing to me and my mule. thats the only reason it exists is to serve as a quick defense stabby thing to protect us from predators in the bush since a rifle in its scabbard would most likely not even be an option in this scenario.

@orale_ Жыл бұрын

But will it work on a bears?

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

I don't think I"ll test it!!!

@Wreckz_Tea Жыл бұрын

Oh no thank you. Stainless lol. Could you imagine?

@philochristos Жыл бұрын

It's good to know the knife design is proven in the field.

@dirtfarmer7472 Жыл бұрын

I’m kinda disappointed, you are making a knife but not forging. I really like the forging.

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment. You'll definitely see more forging - but since most folks don't have a forge, it helps them make one. Hope that helps, and appreciate you watching.

@stephenland9361 Жыл бұрын

I've heard of people killing grizzly bears with a knife, so why not a lion? That said, the smart money would bet on the bear... and the lion. 🤣🤣

@chrish1585 Жыл бұрын

Corby bolts? really? 4 pins boss. two small ones in the front and 2 larger down the center.

@tylerkrug7719 Жыл бұрын

A ground hog,lol

@tymz-r-achangin Жыл бұрын

So more mere heroic tales to promote a video, and your story telling lacks better theatrics to help encourage people to want to make that knife Bottom line, any knife with a long enough blade can kill a lion.

@grghndy Жыл бұрын

Phenomenal Story of Harry Wolhuter. You can see a pic of the knife here: www.lionroarsafaris.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Harry-Wolhuter-knife-200x250.jpg And a pic of the lion skin and knife here: www.lionroarsafaris.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Harry-Wolhuter-lion-skin-and-knife.jpg

@user-cs3hi8zp7p Жыл бұрын

Great stuff! Thank you👍

@WalterSorrellsBlades Жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting - and watching!