Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Chama" Hunting, Utility, Collector's Knife

The Chama is one of my early patterns, designed with the help and input of a professional hunting guide whose specialty is the great American Elk. The Chama was named for a mountain town in New Mexico that is near elk habitat, and home for many professional outfitting companies and lodges. He wanted a knife that could be used to field dress several of these huge animals without needing sharpened, and could get inside the animal to work. So the Chama is designed as a three-fingered knife, with a handle that is only large enough for three fingers so the handle butt does not protrude from the palm. The blade is a wide, stout dropped point, for skinning and dressing with a deeply hollow ground blade that provides plenty of belly and a razor-keen cutting edge with great serviceability and longevity in the design.

I made this Chama with a mirror polished 440C high chromium stainless steel blade, hand-engraved low carbon steel bolsters, and rich, dark black matrix Sodalite gemstone handle scales. To match the knife, the sheath is made of black Ostrich skin inlays in hand-carved leather shoulder, dyed deep blue, hand-stitched, lacquered, and sealed.

A beautiful older design that is still a pleasure to make and to see.