Dave,
Was this knife brought to your attention on a recent nilgai hunt by chance?

To Amflyer: I have sharpened them, although that does not mean quite the same thing as it does with other knives. I've never been able to get one dull; the worst I can do is get it to the point where it won't shave hair. Then I put it on a Crock Stick and get the shaving edge back again. The odd thing is that despite the extreme hardness of the edge, it's no more difficult to sharpen than a blade in the Rc60 range.

To streack: Indeed it was, and not by chance. I watched one gut four nilgai, including cutting through mud-caked stomach fur on three of the four, and splitting the brisket on all four, and then peeling hair off the guide's forearm.

I'm sold...and all for the price of a nice Wal-Mart Tasco scope huh?

Me and my $39.99 are SO calling McMillan tonight!

Oh, and how does one pronounce "Nilgai?"

I think it should be renamed "Nigali," for the sake of elocution.

$495 retail? That not ridicules if the knife really is all that and a bag of donuts.

Have been considering a Randall for a few months but now I am confused. Dave, you are a temptress of the highest order.

Buckhunter,

I own a couple of Randall knives, they are swanky looking, but as far as blades go they are not in the same league as the DiamondBlade. My nephew is totally inept when it comes to putting an edge on even a high quality blade. He bought a DiamondBlade and for the first time is a happy camper who hunts almost as much as I do.

How are your hunting plans coming along?

Dave,

I'm sure that is a fine knife. Your advice has always been spot on.

Hopefully the Ft Leavenworth Gun Club will have my new Weatherby Vanguard 2 in 300 Wby cal. soon. The scope bought for it is a Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16X. Considering the weight and size of that scope and the recoil of that round what rings would you use? Anyone else have an opinion?

to buckhunter: Randalls are terrific knives, but not all Randalls are alike. I have never had a stainless Randall that I could get a decent edge on. The tool steel Randalls (they use 01 at about 55-56 Rc, which is pretty soft) can be gotten very sharp, but they don't hold an edge nearly as well as knives made of more modern steels. Bo Randall wanted something that could be re-sharpened easily in the field, and that's how they make them.

To Del in KS: How much do you want to spend for the mounts?

To focusfront: I'd be very surprised if Diamondblade doesn't have their forging process patented, and I think it's also highly labor intensive. Also, there was a fairly steep learning curve getting this process adapted to knife blades, so I wouldn't look for anyone else coming out with something similar anytime soon.

To PigHunter: I think the Cold Steel San Mai blades are as sharp as the DiamondBlades, and I'd include Helle laminated blades in that, but I've never compared one to the other for edge holding. I think my hand would wear out long before I learned anything conclusive.

I wish it came in a folder.

Dave, Would like to keep around $150.00 or less if possible. However I am well aware that the whole thing is useless without rings and base that will do the job. What did you have in mind?
BTW I was at the Bushnell store a few weeks ago to pick up the scope. They also sell millett rings. The 30mm millets have six screws on each ring and look strong as the gates of hell. What do you think about them?

they are the besst. yesterday you showed the shot hitting a clay. someone mafes a shell woth a load you can see

David, thank you for the response. My wife has a Cold Steel with a San Mai blade. Based on this blog I'll take a serious look at the McMillan DiamondBlade to add to my side of the knife collection. :-)

To Del in KS: I would get the Talley Fixed Rings and Talley bases. The whole thing should come in well under your limit. Milletts are good, but Talleys are pretty much standard equipment on every custom rifle made.

Not a bad looking knife, "friction forged" sounds like marketing to me. Ill stick with High Country Knives.

When will they make a boning knife, for the handful of you guys that gut more than 6 beast a year their is a 5,000 guys that uses one boning knife to gut, skin, and bone a 1000 whitetails, 400 cows, and 250 hogs with a 13 dollar Swiss boning knife, when he buys a diamond blade I will take notice, until then I will take a 350 dollar chainsaw, over a friction forged knife that I will lose before it dulls. I love guys that brag about their knives I let them bend over my game and I go mix drinks instead of get bloody, oh wait, I am the butcher not the mixologist. Cheers, Oct 1st.

Del,

FWIW; Talley, Warne, and Burris Signature rings and bases are all excellent choices. I have also had good luck with Leupolds when properly aligned and lapped. I have been replacing all my bases/rings that have adjustable anything on them for the dual dovetail turn-in style set ups. Like a rock....

Thanks for the info WA Mtnhunter.

Knives are like golf clubs. Can you play a complete round of golf with one club? Not very well anyway. Can you do every cutting, skinning, camp knife chore with one knife? Not well anyway.
Want a great high end folder? http://www.foxqualityknives.com/sog-stingray-20-sogsr05-p-sting-ray-hide...
Or check out a Cold Steel Pendelton Custom Classic with VG-1 stainless blade.
http://www.foxqualityknives.com/cold-steel-pendelton-custom-classic-fixe...