Many (so many!) years ago, my father gave me a knife to celebrate my first successful big game hunting (which was a red deer)...

That knife was (and still is) a Puma White Hunter which was, up to then, his own hunting knife... needless to say that that knife has a very special place in my heart (and soul)...

A lot of time passed since the last time I went to hunt with my father and I started to think to have him his hunting knife back (sort of remembrance and nostalgia, trying to bring alive all those wonderful days we spent together) .... but at the same time I didn't want to "loose" my White Hunter (he wouldn´t accept it back anyway), knife that has already gained its own value, both in my father's hands as well as in mines - and hopefully, in the near future, in my son´s (he is just 5)

But then I had the luck to meet two wonderful bladesmiths ... and I realized the perfect solution: to make a "replica" of that knife, completely handmade, with some small arrangements (mainly in what the handle concerns) and in damascus steel ...

The selected steels were W1 and L6, the chosen pattern was “ladderâ€, the defense made of nickel-silver, and the sheath made as similar as possible to the original one...

I had it finished just two days before last Christmas, so that was what Santa gave my dad!!

While my dad was admiring (he was so pleased !) this replica, moving his wrist while he was handing it, checking the grip, the edge, the weight, how it performs, and so on, I had a flash of remembrances when I was a boy and he was leading and teaching my first steps and movements in the hunting world - many of these moments long forgotten and remembering them for the first time in many years... and a glance at his face made me realized he was also remembering those times - and suddenly me and my father found each other in another world and time long gone .... away from our current obligations and limitations, sharing the remembrance of a life of joy and pleasure we shared ... I think that he appreciates my gift as much as I did (and still do) with his, both knives having the magic necessary to transmit such a moving message without using a single word....

Absolutely beautiful, the story as well as the knife. Bravo

Very nice looking knife and a great sentiment.

You are a very special person, Martin.

Ronin thank you for sharing with us this emotive post,Nick you are rigth Martin is the most generous person you can meet and a brave hunter and warrior .Martin ill be in la patagonia a couple of weeks then came to hunt boars with knife at la verdecita.THE KNIFE IS BEAUTIFUL who make it.Juan

A work of art it is Martin, nice too see tha the great white hunter can be made with damascend blade.

(oh my poor bank account )

I got a Puma bowie a month ago, and that will be used on wildboar hunting with Juan...

A beautiful knife and a wonderful gesture.

Thank you for your comments, gentlemen !!

Really pretty and the handle design changes are only for the better. Great story and a great gift. Both father and son are blessed.

Thank you, "Fat Cat"

Indeed the changes in the handle design (IMHO) make this knife much more confortable than the original one... in fact I would even change the handle of the White Hunter aswell ... just that I don`t want to change its original look - besides when I asked my father for his own opinion he exercised his right of veto telling me that "I wouldnt change it at all ... but do as you please"

Martin IKI competed in the national shotgun championship today.We have been hunting pheasnts and ducks all the week end .Im searching for your new dogo wait a week.Juan

Thank you, Juan !!Send my congrats to Iki !
Perhaps I might even go to visit you and bring the dogo with me (he is supposed to replace the old guardian of my house, a twelve years old german shepherd who died last week ... I am missing that wonderful dog... sometimes I do wish a heaven to exist for these unique companions ...

What a great knife.
The handle on your new and improved version looks better then the original one. Looks like the Bark river handles.
Beautiful work.

Congratulations and thanks fpr sharing the pictures and the story.

Cheers,

André

What a great knife and story . The puma whie hunter was my first purchase as a young man.What a great knife, I wore it out chopping and abuseing it. I wouuld love to have one made. Please PM me with the cost and who did the work.
Thanks
JD