Handmade R.H. Ruana Signature w/ Bullwhip 25 AC "Custom Workman" knife 1980

Description

Handmade R.H. Ruana Bullwhip Signature Model 25 AC "Custom Workman" Knife 1980
The Model 25 AC is a modified Bowie knife.
The handmade Ruana leather sheath is included.
DIMENSIONS
Total length:
10 3/8"
Blade length
: 6"
Signature:
left side - "R. H. Ruana" with bullwhip
Stamped bolster:
R. H. RUANA BONNER MONTANA
Handle:
Elk antler with 2 rivets, dove tail cut - gap in antler on left side top, gap in antler on right side bottom (as it was made); molded aluminum with pin visible on base of handle.  I am not sure if I would call the handle gaps "defects."  If we were to call them that, then they would be "manufacturing defects."  I think that's just how they were made.
Blade:
front 2" on top is sharpened, i.e., the front 2" of the knife is double edged
SHARPENING
The knife was occasionally "field-sharpened" with small stone and a honing steel. (I have both a 1000 and 5000 Japanese soaking stone, but would not dream of sharpening this before sale and possibly introduce additional scratches.)
CONDITION
Good.
There are some scratches from use on the aluminum bolster, these are primarily from sliding the knife in and out of the leather sheath.
There are minimal scratches on the blade, some from the original sharpening.
Some scratching on aluminum handle.
The sheath leather is polished from wearing on a belt during hunting.  Oxidation of the brass rivets is visible on the front and a little on the back of the sheath.  The brass rivet on the bottom of the sheath is loose.
RUANA HISTORY
Based on my purchase of the new knife in 1980, I am guessing this knife is what some bloggers call a "retirement Ruana" and hence the signature.  I understand R. H. Ruana retired in the early 80's and had been signing many or all of his last knives.
REVIEW
The Model 25 AC is an excellent hunting knife for both deer an elk.  It is especially nice to have the larger knife size to clean an elk.  In my opinion, the sheath is a great design.  The entire knife is kept protected in the sheath and the knife wears well on a belt. You can see that even with frequent use, the stitching is almost unaffected after 41 years.  I did not see a need to use a string or leather strap to tie the bottom of the knife sheath to the thigh.  When bowhunting, where silence is golden, the loose knife on the side was never an issue, and a leather tie might catch on bushes. I would not recommend putting the knife in a fanny pack while hunting.
The handle grips nice in the "normal" position for a large hand; and what many people just don't do in a hunting knife if to hold it blade side up to check the grip; because this is the actual grip it is held in when you are cleaning a large animal.  This knife (and many of the other Ruana knives) allow you to put your thumb securely down into the bolster and grip the knife in the upside down position without slipping your hand off the handle.
If you ever wondered what elk smell like when you are downwind of them, you only needed to smell the knife handle and remind yourself because it smelled exactly like elk.  The elk smell in the handle lasted at least 25 years.  I can't smell it now, so it's either the knife handle got old or my nose did.
Looking at the current selection of Ruana catalog knives to order, I would still order the 25 AC as my #1 choice.
STORY AND PROVENANCE
Knife purchase
- In 1980, I was working for a mining company performing environmental science supporting coal exploration primarily in Southern Wyoming.  Because of the often harsh and remote field conditions at exploration locations, the company sent us to a survival training course.  The survival teacher had recently traveled to Montana and purchased a small lot of Ruana knives to re-sell as a side business.  He offered knives for sale after class.  I bought the Model 25 AC.
Knife use
- The knife was used solely as a hunting knife for bow hunting and muzzleloader hunting for 14 years in Colorado and several years in Ohio.  The oxidation of the rivets may be due to the time the knife spent on the east coast.
PRICING
The starting price for the bid is 5 which is the price of a new "unsigned" 25 AC Ruana knife.  Priority mail shipping is free.