My Ruanas

These were posted in another forum, but now that there is a Ruana section, I am putting them here too.

first

It is special and the only one in this configuration so far.
A 28 D blade with 20 B handle with ironwood inserts instead of Elk.
and second a 21 A 6 inch with ironwood inserts too

Peter

Many thanks, Peter, for being the first to post to the new "Ruana Knives" forum. You have some excellent Ruanas.

A couple of very unique Ruana'a for sure.

Pap

Although I love the Elk Stag handles, I think that I need to get at least one Ruana with the Desert Ironwood handles. They look nice, and I bet they feel nice, too.

I'd like one of these #19-B's in stag but they come with other handle materials, too.

Boy Tom, you've been holding out on me.

Pap

Pap, those aren't mine but I'm lusting over the top one. That's a pic from the Ruana Shop.

A good place to find photos of Ruana knives that are not shown in their catalog or on their website is their Facebook page. See: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruana-Knife-Works-Inc/108507099177121

OK Tom, you're forgiven. Keep lusting.

Pap

Very glad to see this here. I hope we get enough people here who can actually appreciate something in a more raw form or function over beauty. Not that Ruana can't make works of art, but you have to custom order most of them. But they make a lot of non catalog knives and still the occasional one off. Sometimes small is good.

My Ruana is a Model 14-B:

There's alot of Marbles Woodcraft inspiration in that blade, nice.

awesome
I didn't know there was a Ruana thread

Sharpi

Sharpi,

That is a well used great Ruana!

Tom Flynn

Nice Ruana. Love their knives.

Ruana's are a quality Knife.

Nice Ruanas guys

Boy
I forgot about this thread, here a couple more of mine
One is a one off fighter and the other is a custom brass camp knife with ironwood supplied by me rather than elk

Peter

Peter those are great looking Ruanas. I had a few done up with Ironwood as well.

Really nice Camp knife and love that sheath.

Pap

Mick,

A few Ruana's; great knives from a great shop!

Tom Flynn

Tom
Nice bunch of Ruana knives, I really like the crown stag CBCK,I hadn't see one before like that

Peter

Very nice collection and I like the black sheaths as well.

Pap

Peter,

I think that is their standard configuration CBCK. Polished crown end makes a nice finished look too! Their sheaths like their knives are simple and the black is a nice finishing touch.

Tom Flynn

Tom
All of the ones I had seen had elk with a brass butt cap, but they will what you want within reason. Mine with the ironwood might have been the first with a wood handle

Peter

Peter,

All of your Ironwood handles were awesome! Mike and the guys are great craftsmen. They put fingergrips on most of my handles even though they were not standard configuration.

The Smoke Jumper & Hatchet Combo are my favorite, the combo sheath looks great.

When they legalize T-Rex hunting I will be able to use the two 19B Skinners for their intended purpose LOL!

Tom Flynn

All really great Ruanas in this thread. My only 2 old ones get used whenever possible. The filet lives in the kitchen knife drawer right beside 3 #10's.....between the fishing outings. The Hunter had an identical twin that I sold few years back for some durn reason (like $$???). Wish my pics were better.....oh well.

Can't downsize the Hunter enough. And no, that isn't rust on my filet knife.....whether I should've or not, pickled the blade about 6-7 years ago, not sure when, mainly because my NC Outer Banks fishing trips are 90% from the sand, 1-2 weeks at a time and it or the 5 or 7" Randall live on my side every day, with the little Randall with the tackle box & bait at the truck. Anyway, turned out interesting. Otherwise it's thin-sliced GOD knows how many country hams, turkeys, venison roasts, etc. every holiday.
And.....thanks for looking.

This is my first post on the forum. Thought I'd share a couple of photos of my Junior Bowie

Well.... That's a good way to jump in the pool Peterson! Welcome aboard!

Very nice!

Yes, a good one. The parry strip is the bomb.

Pap

That is a great looking Bowie!

Deluxe 21A Sticker 7 1/8 inch Blade. Early 1970's. The Elk slabs just keeping getting darker.

Don't see many Ruana stickers with a long blade and especially not in minty condition. Over the top. Great post.

Pap

Thanks Pap, This one was never stored in the sheath.

Looks great. That elk is mellowing very nicely.

Thanks Steven. Mellowing is a great description. I never read it myself, but I heard that Mr. Ruana stated in his catalog that the "Sticker" model was a Serviceman's favorite emergency weapon.

When I was in the Army I saw a few Ruana bowies, can't recall any stickers, but I'm sure they were there. Eric yours is very nice.

Steve, 8 years in the USAF, and I never saw any Ruana's.

Sorry don't know a thing about Ruana's. Could someone tell me what the M stands for just ahead of the name?

Let me join Rob in saying I know nothing about Ruana's.

This belongs to a fellow that may even be a lurker here. It was made 1939-1942?

It has shared DNA with a #4.

I did not realize there a Ruana thread, period. A quick shot, good little workhorse, a tool made with all the care lavished on a same era 1963-1983 Crescent wrench. And just as trustworthy. Likely bought at same store, too.

One of the better handling tools, too.

Rod, first earliest knives were not marked. Later came the RH Ruana stamp, small marks added to show temper, there was an S for salt temper, and a little knife for knife temper, I think.

Steel was Studebaker springs, and also saw blade steel. In 1962, he settled on outsourced regular 1095, and stamped an M for medium temper. That year only, all he had was a large M stamp, by 1963 he had a smaller M stamp, and those markings continued until 1983 when he retired and sold the shop/rights to his loyal s-i-l Vic (with him since '64) /daughter and his grandsons, where it became just Ruana rather than RH Ruana, and the M went away, as well.

This should be fairly close, and others free to correct, especially Pappy.

I've only had a few Ruanas. I too always wondered what the M stood for. This all documented somewhere? Never heard this before.

Should be in their book, and pretty much broadcast webwide, as for the M use, the size, etc. Lacking the book, anyone is free to correct, but Behring was saying same on knives he has sold, if you google Ruana model numbers and Treeman.

As for dating, they mainly use the book and Vic's memory at the shop. There is a newer book out now, which may correct things. But generally, if a small M, that 20yr range is best anyone can do. I read of one guy asking about a rough one, and him saying he was told maybe in the 70s when Rudy's eyes starting to go, which is pretty vague. Rudy had various family members (including grandsons from sons) in and out, but Vic and his grandsons on that side apparently were the ones who stuck with it in that shop, and ended up with rights to the shop and name.

Right on Lofty. The scarce Ruanas are not marked or have the small knife stamp. The last of the Rudy made knives had the R.H.Ruana stamp but no M stamp.

On a side note, I gave my grandson a newer Ruana stamp a few years ago. He was with a buddy of his that shot a bull moose in North Idaho this past fall. There were 4 different knives in the group, but they all wanted to use the Ruana when it was their turn to carve on the moose.

Pap

Pap, I imagine it DID take several guys if they were trying to carve up a moose with a Ruana stamp (sorry, could not resist).

Thanks for chiming in, as I only go by the media echo chamber of the internet, being no Ruana collector. I have only one other, a newer 14B.

When I was quite a bit younger, Randalls started at $25, and a Ruana started at $10, and all I knew was that they were cheaper, they were rougher, but that the old guy in Montana was respected by every other knife maker in the US (all 12 of them!), and I knew I wanted a knife from this mysterious guy who was so well respected, despite rougher knives.

So, I treasure the little skinner made when Rudy was still in the shop, and which pretty much seems able to do most anything a larger skinner does. Very secure, index or thumb forward, just a little hoss. And also greatly admire the folks there, all three of them, still chugging along just like Rudy's old handmade milling machine.

If anyone has yet to see these, check them out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBKnLe7tYmU

http://bigskyjournal.com/Article/local-knowledge-ruana-knives

Quite frankly, my admiration of them is why I bought a newer knife and have another on order, it seems like a donation to a living history museum and getting a knife as a thank you.

Couple more mediocre shots of old smokey....





Hey, Pappy, did you read the older knife book (title unrecalled), where the author was discussing Ruana, and mentioned a 1961 hunting trip where his guide was using a Ruana to skin an elk? The writer was so impressed, he offered to buy the knife, and the guide replied, "gitcher own...I'm busy."

I didn't read that book, but sounds about right. My first Ruana was bought in Missoula, Montana in June 1965. I was a junior in Forestry school at Louisiana Tech and in those days, all forestry schools got 15-20 Forest Service summer jobs in western states. I was picked to be a lookout tower ranger on Pat's Knob in Plains, Montana. There were 6 of us college boys from different parts of the country. Our Fire Control Officer told us to go into Missoula and buy 2 things, a pair of White's logging boots and a Ruana knife. All 6 of us did just that.

Pap

Pappy, if my niece was not graduating today, and then headed to grad school/med school (can you spell M-E S-E-L-L K-N-I-V-E-S?), I would be posting a pic of the 14B, but morning light is bright, and busy this afternoon/evening paying too much for great seafood fresh out of the Gulf. So will post tomorrow.

But will say, still organic curves, still hollowground transitioning to convex edge, still thickens to tip, still rather vague lines (no matter what camera seems to suggest). In short, still a Ruana, only a far cleaner final finish. A truly great knife of suprising general purpose stoutness for a skinner. I could hit the woods with it, and it alone, no problem.

What the heck. One or two quick bad photos.







I really like the handle, great for med. hands, and if I squeezed a lump of clay in my hands, it would be small at bottom, bigger in middle, and medium sized at top, just like this handle design.

Two more at graduation center parking lot, and then time to scoot.

I bought my first custom made knife from Rudy Ruana 2 years before I bought my first Randall in 1967. Back then as a student, I was on a "work study" program that paid $1/hour with a $15/week limit. Paying $25 for a knife was a big deal. I went for a double major in Forestry and Animal Science, as such, I took numerous Animal Science classes that required butchering various farm animals. I had my Randall Model 1-6 and my Ruana skinner. I used both and my classmates gave me hell about my custom knives while they had to use the standard Case semi-skinner.

Pap

I can see that now, in mind's eye.....what a great thing, your hard earned dollars on a good knife for knife work, how.....radical. I am suprised you did not add that a few smarter folk brought granny's thin old butcher knife.

The 14B as obvious has not yet been used to cut even a string...well, I sliced paper one cut and removed hair just once, when it arrived. One of two knives owned which have yet to be used. Just a gorgeous finish which nearly appears hand sanded, but is not. But it is obvious from the first fingerprint ridge it grabs and removes that it is a heck of a butcher knife.

Old smokie is another matter, a hard used pocket butcher knife, and the original neck knife. I think about all the trendy large blade/small handle small knives on market, and none are half the real knife of the 10B.

Would like to add a close-up of the 14B finish, but it seems postimage has crashed today, but maybe it will be back up soon enough to add the photo to this post.

Thanks again for all the insight and experience, Pappy.

ahh...here we go, site back up. What's not to like?



Sneaking in one more the next day, purely for those wondering as to more details on knife design.

Thought I would add a comparison shot for old vs new knives. The old one lifted from Treeman site archive.

It is clear the hollow grind more precise, and carried further out on newer knives, but still they have avoided hard line facets (no matter what photos suggest, as lines shift depending on light and viewing angle), which I applaud. The changes likely simply to make it a better knife out front. They still leave it thick enough at edge to convex, and still leave it thicker out at tip, just not so much as old. If anyone curious as to how thin the edge on this skinner, I actually would put it in the class of an older Model 5-6 by way of description.

This is a 17A vs newer 14B, so, comparison not precise.

Beautiful knife, Lofty. That has got to be the only knife ever photographed on a Catholic bulletin.

I appreciate the compliment on the finest of backgrounds, I should say I am selling add space and get a commission from the bulletin company, as well as throw fuel on fire of subtle attempts at mind control.

Thanks also for compliments on the knife, mainly posting these for educational purposes for those as ignorant as I was in buying. I mainly bought as a rugged tool per their own mindset, and was suprised how much nicer they are, today. My only previous experience being with old smokie as a daily utility knife.

Still waiting for handling cobweb scratches to finally equalling just using the darned thing, as I hated the new car scratch syndrome on this one. Which is rare with me, and I need to see a shrink about that.

As John Taffin once posted on a query as to whether to use a new in box collectible gun, "Who are you saving it for?", is normally my motto.

PS-OK. After writing that, I could not stand it. Immediately commenced carving on some clean dry hardwood deadfall. Again, it handled that pretty much as an old 5-6. Really more set up as for edging as a skinner, anyhow. But handled the hardwood and small knots with no problem at all.

Proof positive that it is still a Ruana. A tool. I could groove to these handles on my kitchen knives.

Just a few shots to show the Kauhavanpuukko influence on Rudy's design.

And Holmberg, Hellberg and other from Eskilstuna

I would have no idea how many Swede factory knives he would have been exposed to in the USA at that time, but certainly Suomi in the Finn enclaves in the states in his youth, and later in Finn Town area of Bonner/Missoula, the Finn there as numerous as the Irish working the mines and lumber mills.

As for the design of THESE above Ruana blades, as already commented, the resemblance to a Marbles blade outline is certainly there.

Also, Rudy got into business and also went with the unitized cast aluminum design because hunters were tired of factory knives getting loose or coming to pieces, and everyone with old American knives can attest to this tendency.

Although he may have independently designed the blade, he may also have simply had a hunter hand him a Woodcraft coming apart with broken gutta percha pommel or rattling aluminum and loose guard from shrunken or rotting leather, and asked if could he make one of these, but more solid.

Either way, make it he did, informed by Finn tradition of what a handle needs for pulling cuts.

Swedes, Finns, Norwegians, Germans, the British - all very much imported knives to US.
kostenlos bilder hochladencertificity.com

Moreover, all their countries are close by, and there is a good mutual influence.

Ruana, in any case, a great master!
Before him I saw cast handle only on old table knives,
knives of bronze era, 1 and 2 WW (but there it was rather
a necessity). The fact that he introduced cast on a regular basis is cool.

I really like his model steelhead and smokejumper,
someday I'll find her

This shot simply thrown out for scale, of both old smokie and the new knife, both to each other, and to a known size object, I had to work without any of the above and would save someone else the guesswork.

No award nominations for lighting, backdrop, props, cleanliness of articles, key grip, or best director, please.

Thank you for this photo!
Comparison with zippo is very helpful in understanding the size

The Smoke Jumper Model is about the same overall size as the Randall Model 10-3, but has a wider blade and a thicker handle. You can get the Jumper with the famous flap sheath for a little extra. Makes a very nice EDC.

Pap

The 14B is no giant, either, a 5", but deep, blade and short small diameter handle (about same as old smokie at thickest), and more like a turn of last century boy scout knife.

Which is to say, if your hands run larger than MED/5-6, you might give serious consideration to one of their larger handles. They offer a couple of knives where only difference is handle size/style, the 14B being one of them. The 20B is its larger handle otherwise twin.

The larger handle (normally) has finger grooves which often enough do not fit me, no matter the maker, so I opted for the smaller which turns out to be Goldilocks just-right for what I wanted (including option of IWB where large handles ruin it for that purpose).

These two previous (10/14) are pretty much normal and mini version of same knife.

Just for informational purposes, for those unfamiliar with the shop, it is a three man operation, Rudy's son-in-law Vic coming aboard 1964, and Rudy's grandsons Mark (1976) and Mike (1984). It never had more (in the late 1970s/early 1980s), in addition to those three, than Vic's other boy, Matt, and grandson from a son, Dave, working there for any amount of time, as far as I know.

Vic is now about 80, and who decades back left a solid phone company job because he wanted to keep his young family out of large dangerous cities, loved hunting/fishing/floating the rivers (passed on to his sons), and admired his father-in-law working with hands, is back to enjoying sheath making, rather than playing "the best hammer man I have ever seen," as Rudy said late in life.

Mark is circa 59, married/childless, and has been the blade man for decades, and Mike in his early 50s has a daughter in mid-teens, and a son of near 10yrs old, and does the handles and books (he left MBA job offers to work the shop).

What I am getting at, is that this seems an end of an era is approaching. Only time will tell.

Interesting information and you might be right on the Ruana shop coming to an end in the not too near future.

Pap

I had done a little reading, outside of either of two books which probably tell most everything about the shop, reading such as magazine articles, etc, written over the years, as mainly was wondering if I could ever find out how much Rudy maybe worked on my old mail ordered smokie.

In a nutshell, Rudy was by himself until Vic asked if Rudy might train him. Rudy was skeptical an electrical guy could be trained in smithing and took him on for a provisional year. Vic really wanted this. Watching Rudy work just called to him.

Before then, in the 50s, especially early 1950s, in that area, one could hardly give away a handmade to your average guy, probably same struggle most knifemakers at local shows today feel. Late 50s, and Rudy was buying a single micro typed classified space ad in Guns Magazine buried under "other", saying simply "Ruana Knives, send stamped envelope for list and prices, to:etc", which was nearly all advertising ever done.

Vic started off on light finishing, then grinding, then the forge etc, while his wife took another job as fall-back.....within about 5yrs, Vic was doing the forging and Rudy was doing the finishing as Rudy's 65th approached, and passed, and planned retirement which ended up put off another 15yrs.

Within a couple more years, Vic had dealers in Alaska, and word was spreading like wildfire, and they honestly had just too many orders flowing in, no matter how much bounce Rudy had added to his step as he returned from the post office. The decision to expand, or not, was made, and not made lightly, and they made a conscious decision to keep it small, and keep it family. And so it has stayed.

Two of Rudy's three sons were military pilots. Not interested/not there. One would assume his grandsons of remaining son were ones who worked there Saturdays in the mid 1970s while in school, simply because by 1980 they had tried their own short-lived hand with "Ruana Bros" knives. One of those, Dave, kept at it a few more years on his own, then dropped out, and then came back to the trade in the last 5-8yrs and has won numerous awards in Denver at shows.

Again, this documentary video link, showing just how small, how old, that shop is. We are talking a milling machine made with Model T parts and a grinder made from a washing machine motor, the original coal fired forge and Rudy's old anvil which was on the trailer which broke down in Finn Town/Bonner in 1938. Mainly so one can see there just never was room for more than a couple of people there. Even one person trying to train would be a major headache.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBKnLe7tYmU

Vic was out with health issues when the documentary crew came by, but was able to return and is still stitching sheaths. Their total annual production is on the order of 750-800 knives, when everything and everybody working as hoped.

A major "take-away" to me from all this info, is that the shop and Rudy would have been retired well before 1970, had not Vic stepped up to the plate for love of the smithy.

PS- having gone through a great many internet threads, one subject which gripes me is folk griping as to increased price of knives over the years.

As with my same commentary as to Bill Bagwell, people need to keep in mind that these knife makers are self-employed. They pay their own taxes, health and business insurance, Social Security and Medicaid FULL contributions, etc, and have families to care for and cover, as well. All of these costs have skyrocketed, and the choice is easy, costlier knives, or no knives at all.

scrounged these up off the net. Rudy's daughter, Ilona, her husband Vic, and sons Mark and Mike. Good shop views and the players, taken this past Nov/Dec 2016.

Great video I had not seen that one.

Pap

Pap,

Spot-on, great video. Now the milling machine is something that I can relate to. That shaft bearing completely worn out and wobbly "but" it still works. Nothing wasted in that shop either.

It is one of the better outside (state run?) truly artful documentaries I have seen in a very long time. They captured "old shop" of any variety better than most any film of late, and seems somebody on the film crew also knew and loved old shops. It could have been filmed in Europe both for the quality and the grimy small paned shop and workers. Watching that documentary had me smelling oil and metal for an hour after the video ended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBKnLe7tYmU

Sadly, the mortise cutter for the stag which Rudy built by hand finally died a year or two back, the twin cutters finally lost too much tooth.

Rudy was not just "clever with his hands", he was a mechanical genious, building his own equipment. I would imagine the cutters started as plow discs, or from a piece of mine equipment, or maybe even something from a sawmill. If he needed it, he made it.





I guess you guys caught the hi-tech guards on the grinders? Shows in the still shot above, as well. I think their Singer dates from something like 1899. And the row of files, with artful worn stag handles.

Very cool!

As an older fart, who remembers those 3-line tiny classified ads in the back of Guns Magazine, I find it poingnant, almost sad, as the confluence of a Depression-era 6th grade education runaway to the Army at age 16 Cav. farrier mechanical genious, his old shop, and his grandsons still carrying on the trade, simply is not happening anymore. It simply can't.

And now, aging people, aging equipment. Am so glad that documentary was shot to preserve the history in more than stills and written pages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBKnLe7tYmU

Lofty
Thank you for the information and I apologise for not getting back to you sooner.
Very informative.

Rod

An obscure old thread, apparently originally it's own area, then relegated to "knife photo" status in the corner for some reason, and folk still manage to stumble across it and it be brought to light.

Such was my finding it, and I imagine yours as well, so, no apology required for also stumbling across a query reply.

As for obscure, so is a thought which will not go away.

If Vic had not come aboard for love of the craft in 1964....if Rudy had spooled down production and finally shut down NLT 1968.....if Vic had not gotten actual dealers and demand exploded, and widespread attention to the name developed.....

Would anybody remember this obscure knifemaking name today?

Some would. But it seems quite possible that today's demand for their knives, and especially the early ones, might not ever have been.

Point being, a "real Rudy" knife being desirable today owes much to Vic and his sons. And they have done nothing but truly improve the knives in every way, and without doing away with classics, but only making them better. They hunt elk, they use these knives, they know what makes a good cutter.

So, I do not feel I am getting a second class knife at all from these folk. Quite the opposite. I am getting a knife from the people who helped make the legend. A knife that cuts. A tool.

If there were two words I would use to describe them, they would be "solid, smooth". If it were three words, it would be "solid, smooth, symmetrical".







PS- if four words were allowed, I would add "sharp".

Sharp - this is a good word.

I found on the web, I do not remember where,
the instructions for sharpening from Ruana.
This is one of the most understandable and effective
instructions from the manufacturer.
All explained very clearly. People love their work.

If no one mind, I'll put it here.

I like how they deal with wire edges and too acute an angle, which many instructions rarely bother to mention, and the folded or dented wire edge the cause of more disappointment, resharpening, and calling a knife "no good/won't hold an edge" than any other cause.

HOWEVER, as with most old old sharpening advice, they assume all anyone has is a stone. Most folk today in the USA own not one stone, and use some gizmo. And the assumption one has only a stone leads to a convex edge (which Ruanas have) being flat stoned, which is ok for a touch-up, but counterproductive to the convex edge when used for much more than that.

Stropping removes a wire edge, and stropping fine for most touch-up at home, as is a smooth steel being used to iron out small dinks and dents in the edge, prior to stropping.

Both stones and strops have their fans for everything from initial grind to finest final edge, and I will stay out of that, but, no sense sharpening and removing steel when a smooth steel and strop is all it needs.

My "steel" is actually the smooth polished shank of a large diameter titanium bolt, but, same thing as for use, and it does not rust in the middle of nowhere, along with the blade.

Back to Ruana, rather than sharpening, I would discuss their grind and edging as done currently on the newer 14.

The hollowgrind is more a flat angled grind for lower half of primary grind, leaving edge strong, and the convexing is actually done by multiple straight passes down the edge on both sides with a wheel, gradually curving edge in to centerline.

It leaves one able to strop or stone, pick one. I like the strength of the edge as supplied, especially on a heavy skinner seen more as a general chore knife, and have no intention of weakening it with a flat grind sharpening job to fine edge.

OH!.....so much concentration of late info on shop, details of actual newer knife might be good...

Spine and ricasso bottom are rounded, same multiple lengthwise passes arching those surfaces as used in edging.

Weight is 7.1 oz bare, 11.1 (or somesuch, under 12 for sure) oz. in the heavily built heavily protective flap sheath which would be right at home on a brown pre-War USMC Sam Browne set. It may not be lovely, but as with knife, built to last and do its job, carry and protect. Small brass nails are for safety to prevent knife cutting through welt, which it could do, real easy. Retention is quite good even minus flap. This sheath for outdoors outdoors.

Will throw one other quick one out. The "mundane" 1095 used by the Ruana shop since 1962.

It actually is a trickier steel to work than several popular steels, as it must be quenched within seconds of coming from the heat. This leads to rushing, knocked over oil, and dropped knives which immediately cause an uncontained oil fire in a shop. Not a good thing. This steel generally not recommended for guys starting out in forging.

My experience with old smokie is quite positive as for edge holding, pretty much as good as any. In the main, there are no magic super steels, no matter the brand name, only steel with good heat treat and bad, and a steel chosen properly for a task, or a poor steel chosen for the use.

If shearing large rolls of paper continuously in a papermill, the hard abrasion resistant steels cannot be beat. But make a bowie of that steel and it breaks.

1095 is a high carbon steel, and a tough steel with good edge holding, when done properly. End of discussion from my end.

Anecdotally, one guy wrote of using his Ruana to skin a buffalo and needed to touch up the edge 4 or 5 times, which he thought pretty darned good.

A more proof positive, and even a fitting test, is this one regarding a knife which might have inspired my larger, heavier, more solidly made newer skinner.
http://www.knivesillustrated.com/putting-marbles-knives-to-the-cutting-test/

In the main, my advice is do not worry about the steel. Worry about the knifemaker.

And what would an ABS Master such a premier knifemaker, Ed Fowler, make of Rudy, his 1095 knives and his shop? Below are a few lifted quotes...


"Rudy's knives were made to use. I have cut with them and they do very well, better than most of knives being made today.

I have never seen a broken Ruana, considering that he made them for working men in working country this speaks very well for them. They were made and sold as users. 

Had Rudy decided to go for more expensive knives he certainly could have done so. I have seen some of his knives that knew excellent fit and finish and still maintained the honest strength through design and materials that a working knife needs to have.

Rudy forged his blades on a 50 pound Little Giant and did his own heat treating. I have never sought to know how he heat treated, but there is no question that he knew what he was doing. Next time I talk to his grandsons I will ask.

I am told that he made his own milling machines out of parts from other machines. A friend of mine told me that he knew Rudy well when he started making knives, he was also a pretty good machinest and was there when Rudy set up his milling machine for handles.

Rudy had a knife throwing set up behing his shop and liked to throw his bowies. When you study his designs, the probability of damaging one is very remote. The elk antler is very very effectively protected form damage should the handle striking an object or be pounded on to add force to the tip. 

As Rudy's "art knives" come to the surface, we gain a greater appreciatiion for his knowledgable workmanship. In my book he was one of the best makers in our history."

Also, from same....will leave his typos intact on below.

"My opinion of Rudy Ruana as a maker has changed greatly in the past 6 years. I feel that he stands alone when it comes to knowledge of cut and design of lady knife when it comes to function. Rudy also made an individual and creative statement of origonal design, the intregity of all his blades was as good as it gets and made a living doing it. Very few makers have been able to achieve these objectives.

I remember a time when new makers criticised Rudy's knifes as crude and laughed at his 'lack of craftmanship'. Most of those 'superior' makers are no longer making knives. Looking at his early knives he could have gone after the high ticket market had he chosen to do so, (the Bowie that I have written about and this latest $10,000 knife are examples of superior craftmanship) instead he identified the market he wanted to serve, designed a great knife and brought pleasure to many men who needed a knife.

Rudy was in complete command of all the materials that went into his knives, they were his, he understood them well and made it work. These are the hallmarks of a true master."

Next time anyone asks for opinions on Ruana, just point them to the above quotes.

Lofty, thanks for resurrecting this thread and posting the Youtube video, which was terrific. How often can you see truly gifted artists and craftsmen at work?

I had read "Hear The Hammer", but the video really brings home how small the shop is, and how well the knife-making equipment still function 80 years after Rudy Ruana conceived and built it, apparently with parts from a wide variety of sources.

I just picked up my first Ruana knife, a 28-CD Skinner, as I really like the 'fat belly' blade profile. It is beautifully made, and fits the hand perfectly. I absolutely adore the hand-hammered pins in the elk horn handle inserts; they are a perfect reminder that the knife was made by hand by smiths who are supremely skilled. I'm looking forward to using it, maybe this summer.

I actually found the thread, which in reading first posts was actually its own subforum until buried in knife photos for some reason, already resuscitated recently by someone else, which is the only reason I found it.

As for the documentary, I adore good craftsmanship documentaries, and this is one of them, even if it covered a cobbler or wheelwright.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBKnLe7tYmU
A knifemaker, even better!

However, as with most stuff on the net regarding Ruana, actual info was sparse, and I thought it would be good for folk to actually KNOW something about Ruana. I think most folk think it some sort of factory which turns out second rate crude cutlery, and simply pass along that assumption. Nothing could be further from the truth.

They are just solid, good, Sarah plain and tall, in their standard stock offerings. The custom orders another matter.

I have a "custom" sheath due in this week, small shops so easy to deal with, with answers to questions easily answered in a simple yes or no. All I had to do was ask, mail a check, and sheath is on the way. All I asked for was a normal sheath minus loop, flap, and snap, a simple blade cover so that I can carry far more often simply stuck under belt or IWB.

The knife has been used daily since posting of giving it a whirl, first rate cutter for woods work, strips bark with alacrity, powers through stripped limb stubs taking four hard tries and three screeching halts with not a glint yet to edge, and still zips open mail as if a box cutter.

Good solid knife. I have the 21A on order, along with a modern 10B old smokie, as it appears my old one might be getting too valuable for a utility knife, anymore.

They do a good job filling the "user" market, as they always have. Personally, I have renewed appreciation for them after reading Ed Fowler's comments. The knives have actually progressed as for cutters since Rudy's time.

Vic, Mark, and Mike love to hunt and flyfish, and use the knives, keeping in mind the ONLY knives they came of age with were old ones of which they had plenty of experience using....so, they simply continued making them, but made them cut even better. Not as if they make a secret line of older style for own personal use, and foist a new version on outside buyers, nor are the later style of grinds less labor intensive, but instead, take much more time.

Personally, I am suprised by how tough the skinner. Usually, if it says "skinner" from most anyone, stripping limbs is an excellent recipe for chipped or busted edge. I originally ordered a 21A as an all purpose, but was called and asked if I wanted an available 14B. Glad I took Mike up on the offer.

As for materials, such as elk, it says not only totally made in USA, but made out west, in Montana. Provencial in the best sense of the word.

(I still have a great amount of trouble keeping A, B, AC, alpha suffixes straight, so please excuse mistakes).

On a side note, my last Smokey that I ordered I added a "brass pary strip" and a wrist thong hole. To my knowledge, there were only 2 made, mine and whomever bought the other one.

Pap

Pics Pap?

Pappy, the only side notes here have been my posts. It'll be a month or so before I have another knife to show, so any other cool knives or discussions thereof would certainly enrich the place.

BINGO....old thread titled (strangely) "Cast Handles"...as Pappy might say, the parry strip is the bomb.
Here also the link to that thread for viewing pleasure of other Ruanas scattered on this site...
http://www.knifetalkforums.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=106210&page=1



And, Pappy, I had noticed you mentioning neck sheath in the old thread. My only problem with those being always the fear of cutting the straps over handles, no matter the maker. Otherwise, I DO like a lighter sheath for city driving. This goes for either neck sheath, a leather one actually around neck, or the old sheath with neck and straps around handle.

One other addition.

Unable to wear the manly man rugged outdoors outdoors sheath much to stores or church without alarming the church ladies, I asked Mike if their dad could make me a quickie-for-them base sheath minus loop/snap/flap.

This for sticking under belt or IWB, the trim handle amicable to hiding. They were kind enough to do so, and it arrived almost as fast a mailing check/mailing sheath. Am pleased the knife now can be taken places daily.

Anticipation is that it will also fit the ordered same length blade 21A.

It COULD have been requested to be 1" shorter up top to cut down bulk, but handle is quite trim, request would have been complicated, higher top prevents immediate sweat soaking of handle, and one hand draw still works, so, it is quite good as it sits.

Lofty
Good idea, could you also post a photo of the knife in the new sheath so we can see the handle

Thanks in advance

Peter

This is with it jammed in sheath as far as possible (not required), and still middle finger can hook under pommel. Ideally for fast draw, it would be a bit shorter, but I like idea of keeping summer sweat from under stag. Also, it can be left a little high when sheathed, and same effect as if a shorter sheath.

AND, those three guys are really busy in their little shop, and I was trying to keep any extra work at minimum for them.

I have such sheaths for every knife I care for. So they actually go places. Hate leaving things I like at home.

The wider mouth of sheath should obviate any need of a frog stud to prevent slipping from under snug belt or falling when IWB. This should hold true even when knife withdrawn.

Much more Suomi-looking, now. (except for sheath already starting to twist from conforming to body, and will continue to do so, and why I prefer leather for IWB, even if it becomes soaked with sweat, they become more comfortable with use.)

Extra Value Truth In Advertising Statement:

For those of uze who have been carrying a sidearm for 50yrs, there is no getting around a gun on one side, and a knife on the other, pretty much feels like wearing a corset. I just live with it and gracefully accept compliments as to my girlish figure.

Looks great and it would work right hand or left hand

Peter

Great idea. Thanks for posting.

Pap

oh, horrors, NO!!

Then the stamp would be on the wrong side!!!

I hope neither you or Pappy are left handed, as then we would have to figure out how to do a left-handed stamp!


(yes...a joke)


There would be several ways to still make it wearable as a belt knife with loop, everything from full blown leather laced frog, to simple paracord dangler cinch noose around neck.

I am indeed left handed, but since I don't wear clear pants, no one is likely to see that the stamp is on the inside :-)

Peter

I am not sure how comfortable I would be, admitting in a public forum, that I did not wear clear pants....after all, doesn't everybody?

Now.....where are my pants? ...I can't find the #$!&!! things...


ANOTHER Truth In Advertising Statement:

As one who has worn such rigs for decades in various climates, it worth mentioning that in tropics, and outdoors most always, and lots of exertion, the sheath will be absolutely soaked, and heavy crust of salt on exterior next morning after drying (some).

It does not seem actual body salt percolates through leather, but, rather condenses on outside, much as with boots. However, no suprise in that knife freckling brown by end of day in a hot, wet sheath, and vegetable/oak tannic acids not much help in that.

Clear pants. That would pose a problem for concealed carry.

THAT'S why everyone stares when I wear them!....They can spot the......wait.....they stare anyhow.....wonder if I've blown my cover?




If a lefty ordered the sheath as mine, and had the far side stamped, they would be the very first, and probably only, such sheath ever ordered, past, present, future. I will leave to posterity if that a good thing. This rig was ordered as is because it was quick for me, and easy for them, but am not especially sure I would change a thing. (and it's "Ruana" rather than from somebody else.)

Could not find a really appropriate place to insert this photo in my posts, so will simply stick it here. I like it.

Uncharacteristic color shot, along with a genuine smile and twinkle in eye. The founder of the feast. A real human, instead of "dour historical figure".

Great picture of Rudy. Thanks for posting.

Pap

Considering he turned 65 circa 1968, my guess would be this taken near same time when you first bought from the shop. Could be way off, but would assume the man and the shop very much as in 1965.

I just wanted to add an update on my wierd little sheath.

Knowing the leather needed time to soften and start to conform to body, could not make an initial call.

It is working out fine, and what I would term "excess" is actually starting to more function as a paddle holster, and it will only get better as edges/corners soften and round.

If I ordered another, personally would not change a thing, which surely would make Vic happy, and not slow down their routine by much. Postive results for me totally dependent on body type, personal tastes, being accustomed to IWB carried objects, etc etc...

On topic again, I just received this from Bonner MT
It is the V. N. Hangas special knife, which Mike and Mark have made to honor their dad. This was made as a limited edition with individually numbered knives with special sheath, case and paperwork. I was on the waiting list and fortunately I am good a waiting and scored #89. It would be a great carry knife if it weren't so collectable, but I believe they will be making some without all of the bells and whistles. Also attached is a group photo of all of my Ruanas, pardon the photo, but most have wax on the blades.

Peter

Nice going and a super collection of Ruanas Peter. How many limited are they making?

Thanks Warren
I believe about 100 including a prototype that will likely stay in the family

Peter



V. N. Hangas Special Knife
To celebrate and honor Vic Hangas and his 52 plus years of contributions to Ruana Knife Works, we have created the V. N. Hangas Special knife. This knife was designed with functionality in mind and the prototype and first 100 will be extra special and collectible with numbering, special logos used on the knife and sheath, a zipper case and letter of authenticity included only with the first 101 knives and sheaths made with these specs.

The Blade:
• The blade is hammer forged, flat grind 4” 1095 carbon steel blade from 3/16” stock.
• The non-catalog shape is a hybrid between the Custom Finn and Steelhead blades. It has thumb notches at the hilt and would work well for hunting or an everyday carry knife.
• Each blade is engraved with a special logo from a drawing by Vic of an anvil and include his initials VH.

The Handle:

• The 4 ½” cast aluminum handle with elk antler inserts and aluminum rivets is a shop favorite of all of us in terms of comfort and functionality.
• The top of each handle is engraved V. N. Hangas Special with its own unique number.

The Sheath:
• We have used the retro color leather for the full length boot style sheath. It also features never before used iron nails and antique nickel colored snap.
• The special logo used on the blades is combined with our promotional logo and both are engraved to make a unique sheath logo


Extras:
• Each knife will come with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity that corresponds to the engraved number on the handle.
• Your purchase of this knife will give you the right of first refusal to the same number knife in any subsequent numbered editions.
• A zipper case shown below and made specifically for this knife will be included for preserving this heirloom quality knife and sheath.

Collectible:
• A knife and sheath with these exact specs and extras has never been made before at the Ruana Knife Works shop
• Since we like this design so much, after the prototype and first 100 our made we may make a similar knife but it would be without all of the bells and whistles that come with this special edition.
• You will have the option to keep this same number if any numbered knives are made in the future.
• This is most likely the last numbered edition that will be worked on by Vic, Mark and Mike Hangas

The anvil is a really fitting tribute. Great get Peter. Wonder if they're all spoken for?

Warren
As I was on the waiting list, I don't think there might be many left. The only way to know is to send them an email with the special knife in the subject line. see custom non-catalog knives on their website

I didn't have high hopes for me, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I got an email to send money
Good luck
Peter

Will check it out Peter, thanks.

Peter,

That's a great group of Ruana knives. Congrats on scoring the LE V.N. Hangas Commemorative.

The top one looks like Ironwood and the bottom one black micarta. Ironwood on the 3 in the middle? The 4th one looks like Ironwood, but the other two possibly Cocobolo?

What model is the third knife from the top? Looks like the shorter stouter cousin of the RMK Model 19.

Thanks.

Bob

Bob
thanks for the comments
The top one has ironwood supplied by me, the other three wood are ironwood from Ruana
Top is CBCK
the next group are one offs
second is 28D blade with 20 B handle
third is 21A with 6 inch blade
fourth is 95 AD with 4.75 inch blade
fifth is custom fighter with blasted black micarta handle

Peter

Thanks for the info Peter.

An exceptional group of Ruanas. Your Custom Brass Camp Knife is just killer!

Bob

For those interested, I sent an email to Mike at Ruana requesting more information on the commemorative knife. Here's his reply.
"Thanks for your inquiry about the V. N. Hangas Special knife. We have made a prototype and 100 of these numbered knives. The attachment shows detailed information about the knife



We gave customers who bought our last numbered series (the 75th Anniversary Knife) the right of first refusal to keep the same number with the V. N. Hangas Special knife. Most customers did and the numbered knives are all spoken for at this time.



The design of this knife was so well received that we may add it to our regular production but without all of the bells and whistles which means no: special sheath, engraving, numbering, zipper case and certificate. The knife will come with a full sheath and the price will be somewhere in the $ 400 - $ 425 range plus shipping. If it does become available down the road and you’d like to be notified about that reply back to this email."

The attachment was all the pics from Peter's earlier post.

Okay, you guys sold me. For a while now I have been thinking about getting a Ruana based on especially the quality and tradition. Just sent in an order for a 21A. Pretty sure I will not be disappointed. Thanks.

Sorry for the late reply, been busy moving, again. You will like it very much.

Ruanas were always the answer to sportsmen who had a Case or Union Cutlery or Marbles, etc break or come apart in the field, or have stacked leather get all shrunken, and pommel/guard get all rattley. The knives very much the same base design, but with Rudy's flair, strengthened, and handle attached which would never shed a pinned pommel, etc.

The 21A is the answer to all those who have admired the straight classic American field knife as still mass produced to this day, but who always wished it were built stronger in every way. Your boyhood likely will flash before your eyes when handling it, and you will start to wonder who started that 6" knife silliness when this knife can clearly do anything a 6" can do, and it a heck of a lot easier to wear.

Have not seen a Ruana post in a long time.

It is just over eight years since I went to the Ruana Shop; I quickly became a lover of their style, comfort in the hand and their sheaths.

After having them tucked away in storage and without seeing them regularly. I took it a step further and did a Walnut/Maple display to show and view them all of the time. When friends would came over they always admired the unique style of the Ruana models.

Tom Flynn

Tom
here is another post, it seems like I may have not posted these Ruana's
80th anniversary axe and Reliable Ruana, serial numbers 89

Peter

Peter

Never saw those. Wow 80th Anniversary; looks good without the fingergrips.

Tom Flynn

Very nice, y’all. Thanks for posting!

Beauties, all Peter. I bought my first Ruana in 1965 at a sporting goods store in Missoula, Montana when I worked that summer for the Forest Service. Great display and photos!

Pap