The FISK Sendero; A Tribute

[Kevin Jones]

Buddy’s recent thread introducing the pearl handle Sendero he purchased at the recent Fisk Show got me to thinking of all the hundreds of Senderos Jerry has made over the 18 years since he originally came up with the design. It’s one of the most recognizable and copied hunting knife designs in existence. The only hunting knife design that immediately comes to mind as being more well know (I’m sure there’s others) is the Loveless Drop Point hunter. The Sendero is a great “All Purpose/Hunter” in my opinion.

The name “Sendero” (path or trail, in Spanish) came about when Jerry was carrying the prototype as he and Harvey Dean were hunting hogs in the thick Texas underbrush, following trails from the animal.

As I mentioned in Buddy’s thread, it’s pretty amazing that even after creating hundreds of Senderos which have a pretty specific design, Jerry is able to create knife after knife that are interesting and unique. I’m going to post examples in this thread and share information on some of them and please anyone else who wants to posts theirs or their favorites, please do so. And feel free to add anything related to Sendero or hunting knife design in general.

Thank you in advance for your interest and participation.

Here's a few carbon steel Senderos with varing handle materials:

With Redwood Burl and a touch of Jerry's "English Scroll" engraving:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/JERRYFISKEngravedRedwoodSendero-1.jpg

Cow Bone and Jerry's "Running Wheat" pattern:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/JERRYFISKEngravedSendero004.jpg

And a fine example with Amber Stag and "Chain of Fools" pattern:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/457711693_68fb94227f_b.jpg

And an interesting mosaic damascus pattern with fossilized Stellar Sea Cow Bone" and english scroll:

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/JERRYFISKEngravedBoneDamascusSendero001.jpg

[Kevin Jones]

Here's an example of a NLT Sendero with both a frame handel and rear bolster. This piece is particularly rare as it was the first Sendero to have a frame handle/rear bolster and also the first Fisk "small knife" to be designated as a NLT.
Follow this link to a very good and detailed "WIP" of this piece being created back in 2006.
http://www.fisk-knives.com/Progressive_W_pattern_Sendero.html

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/320093531_c31b40af5f_b-1.jpg

[Jim Treacy]

Kevin,

Good thread. At this year's Microshow Jerry explained the benefits of the Sendero verses his other famous hunter his Gamemaster.

Here are my current Fisk Senderos.

"Wolf's Tooth" Damascus and Giraffe with Fisk engraving:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/jjtjr/Fisk%20Knives/Fiskredmed.jpg

"Dog Star" Damascus & Mammoth Ivory also with Fisk engraving:


http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/jjtjr/Fisk%20Knives/MyFiskMicroshowsenderocopy.jpg


Here is a hunter set that I just acquired, a Carbon & Walrus Sendero and a Carbon & an Ivory Bird & Trout, but the dimensions are almost the same:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/jjtjr/Fisk%20Knives/FiskHunterSet4.jpg


I also have a couple of Gamemasters and a clip point hunter, but this is a Sendero thread.

Jim

[Kevin Jones]

I don't own this one and it's owner would most likely never part with it, but it's probably my
favorite of all Senderos.
It appeared in an article (included below) on Jerry Fisk in "Gardens & Guns" magazine along side two beautiful Fisk Gamemaster Hunters.
Garden & Guns is a really cool magazine kind of like a combination of Better Homes & Gardens and Guns & Ammo. I really recommend it as a magazine both man and woman of the house will really enjoy.
They did an article on Daniel Winkler as well.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/FiskSendero.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/Image19.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/Image20.jpg

[Kevin Jones]

Great examples Jim!
As you know, but for others who aren't as familiar with the Sendero design, blade lengths typically run from 4-1/4" to just under 5".
The "bird & trout" version of the Sendero has a narrower or more slender profile as seen in Jim's example.

I love the wolf's tooth pattern damascus on your Giraffe Bone piece. Jerry really uses a very broad spectrum of handle materials on his Senderos.

Any one who has never handled a Sendero please make a point to vist Jerry's table at a show to exam one. Very comfortable and egonomically designed to suit many tasks. Unfortunately, considering the substantial value of these knives I doubt if many are actually used. The most basic model starts at around $1,200 and go up to around $5,000 for a fully embellished NLT (National Living Treasure) designated piece.

[Jon Brand]

I miss mine. :( I took the pic and always liked how it came out.

http://www.jonbrandcollection.com/wp-content/gallery/previously-owned/fisk120enhanced.jpg

[Buddy Thomason]

Here's a Fisk Sendero I shot recently featuring a handsome ram's horn handle:

http://www.fototime.com/15B5C8E5ACA1A42/orig.jpg

An under-appreciated advantage of Jerry's Sendero interpretation of the hunter style is this:
Imagine holding the Sendero in a standard use grip - cutting edge down, thumb on top and in front of the guard. Now, turn the Sendero over - cutting edge UP, thumb against the finger guard. This position is a necessary option for using a hunter style knife on game. If one understands this, then the design of the terminal part of the handle makes perfect functional sense (as opposed to being simply pleasing to the eye). The curve of the back bottom of the handle fits neatly against the swell of the palm under the little finger. Smart! Many, many hunter style knife designs are not so well thought out.
;)

[jerry fisk]

Thanks guys, I really appecaite the good words. There are so many things you can do, that I am still finding new things to do.

[Lin Rhea]

The Fisk Sendero is one of the knives made by one of my fellow makers that I would love to own, just because.

[Kevin Jones]

A little of Jerry's engraving really dresses the Sendero up, however there's many Senderos out there without engraving.
Probably most of them. The last few years Jerry has been making a lot more embellished pieces than plainer field grade Senderos.

Here's a good example of a plainer Sendero. Each year Jerry makes a Sendero and offers it to his show attendees for $8 commemorating his first hunting knives of 30 years ago which he sold for $8 each or 2 for $12.

This is last's years $8 Sendero which is marked 30years on the racasso. It's currently on it's way to a collector in Russia.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/Sendero-1.jpg

[Buddy Thomason]

Here's another image of the little pearl Sendero - 7 inches OAL:

http://www.fototime.com/DF38230A854141F/orig.jpg

And here's a link to the original image I posted in the thread Kevin mentioned at the top:
http://www.fototime.com/A727BEA421EDC61/orig.jpg

[Allen Newberry]

Definitely an attractive design.

[Kevin Jones]

Jerry created this Sendero for the ABS Expo in Reno NV around 2006, or so. The late Bob Neil purchased it for a collector in China. I was told this collector had around 50 Fisk Senderos in his collection.

Anyway, a few years later the collector sent the piece back to Bob and it was sold at one of Jerry Fisk’s Micro Shows. So this Sendero traveled from Arkansas to Nevada to Georgia to China back to Georgia to Arkansas to Mississippi.
It’s really a sweet piece. I like the star Jerry engraved in the top of the guard.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/Fisk_9910_edited-1.jpg

[Kevin Jones]

Jerry created this Sendero for David Darom’s book “Custom Fixed-Blade Knives” in 2005.
I think the unique finger groove or trigger grip is pretty cool. I almost had a chance to grab it at one point but wasn’t quick enough. Natural Sambar stag, chain of fools engraving and raindrop damascus.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/1315949280L.jpg

[Jon Brand]

Oh I remember that last one. Its to bad neither of us got it when it was around!

[Kevin Jones]

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/FordProject2008-1.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/FiskRamhornSenderoCoopOrig.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/Fisk_Sendero02-w.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/FiskAmberStagSendero2.jpg

[Kenneth Springer]

Here is a new (and improved?) picture of the Carbon and Walrus Sendero Jim posted earlier in this thread, which now has a new owner.

http://www.fototime.com/F9E1FAC6F02A2A9/orig.jpg

[Jim Treacy]

Here is a new (and improved?) picture of the Carbon and Walrus Sendero Jim posted earlier in this thread, which now has a new owner.

Ken,

I have to agree that Coop's photo is way better than any photos that I took of the knife.

I'm glad you like it enough to have a great photo made of it.

Jim

[Jerry Manuel]

I have a couple of Jerry's knives but not a Sendero . Seeing so many fine examples on this thread is making me want one :p

[Rob Connally]

You and me both, Jerry. At this point I am sendero-less. At some point that will be dealt with. Wish I had the Sendero that was made to match my Gamemaster!

[Jerry Manuel]

You and me both, Jerry. At this point I am sendero-less. At some point that will be dealt with. Wish I had the Sendero that was made to match my Gamemaster!

I heard that -