Got this beautiful Slim Hunter w/ Elmax from Dale yesterday and he nailed it. The knife feels and handles great. I thought with only one day of deer season left that it might be next year before I get to bloody it...but I was thankfully wrong.

Good job.

How awesome is that schit!? Good deal man.

That's fantastic, congrats dude.

Nice blade as well.

I'd really love to hear how that Elmax steel sharpens, and holds an edge. I read that it is another powder steel, but superior to my favorite S30V.

Always fun getting to try them out.

elmax at 61 rock will usually shade s30 & is tons more elastic.--cranky72

I think you'll like Elmax if you try it. Of course, steels are sorta like cars and guns. Everyone has their preferences. There are tradeoffs with all of them, so I try to stick with the ones that are the best compromise for all around solutions. Most of the differences between the good steels are very subtle and the average guy won't see a lot of difference.

Elmax seems to be the best compromise of all the things you want to look for in a general purpose steel. From the tests, It holds an edge better than S30V, seems to sharpen easier and is tougher than S30V. As you mentioned It's a gen4 powdered steel. One of the things I really like about elmax is the toughness. It's one of the only stainless steels that can stand up when compared to stuff like A2, or M4 or the like. Certainly, nothing wrong with S30V. It's very good stuff and it's one of the other options I offer, but at least on paper (and from my personal experience) elmax edges it out. pun intended.

I waste a lot of time reading about the variations and looking at the tests cause I find it interesting, but you won't go wrong with 154, S30v, or Elmax. (or a host of others for that matter).

for whatever it's worth, Elmax is the one I'm making my personal knives from until i find something better.

Dale

I like this one & I see it brought some luck too

I really like that knife!

I have liked it since the first photos were posted a couple of weeks ago.

I'm a thinking that Mr. Howe has jumped to the front of my list of knifemakers I need to talk to get my dream knife made.

Now if I only knew what I realy wanted or needed!

Better stay tuned in then,I guess

Only one?

Thanks guys, really appreciate all the good comments. Jeff gets a lot of the design credit. I just tweaked a pattern till we hit the mark.

Dale

Im always in for a Dale Howe Group buy. Ill take the first spot

I'm a little too backed up right now to do a group buy. (Wow, can't believe I'm actually saying that), but I'm already a little over committed. Maybe once I get a little caught up we can see about doing something on a group buy on this one. Really do appreciate the support guys.

Thanks,

Dale

If anyone wants a custom knife Dale is great to deal with and is willing to build what you like. The Slim Hunter is my first custom and I'm obsessed now. Already thinking about how I can torture him with something else like I did with this build...I know I was a pain in the ass but he went above and beyond to make me happy. I think I'll go ahead and put another order in. Sorry Dale!

I have one Howe knife that I got from Vince here in our classifieds. It has quickly become my favorite do all knife and I would love to get another knife from Dale. Very good stuff!