CHB Custom Fillet Knives PHOTO GALLERY
These custom hand crafted, distinctly unique fillet knives begin with the selection of a variety of wood stock including (but not limited to); our signature stock Eastern Red Cedar, Black Walnut, Leopardwood, Curly Cherry, Curly Red Birch, Ambrosia Maple, Spalted Maple, Rustic Hickory, American and African Mahogany, Canary, Wenge, and Purple Heart. Only unique cuts of wood stock are hand selected. NOTE: All stock is relatively limited. Click through some of the examples of our fillet knives below.
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7.25" heat treated hardened stainless steel, polished mirror finished blade with upper cutting edge;
Heat treated hardened 440 C stainless steel, polished mirror finished single edge blade HRC 58-60. This blade IS NOT sold separately.
The Eastern Red Cedar is CHB Custom Fillet Knives, LLC signature knife. The array of changing color and grain even in the same piece of stock is simply amazing! It is not uncommon to find a light, blond/almond coloring on one end of the stock only to find marbling deep red/maroon coloring on the other end. When ordering, you can indicate a preference but it is simply impossible to replicate the same coloring and grain since no two are alike.
In many ways the Black Walnut, commonly referred to as "gun stock," is similar to the Eastern Red Cedar in that there is a wide range of coloring (light almond to dark, deep brown) as well as changing grain patterns. The cool thing about the Black Walnut grain is that it often appears like tiger striping and some pieces are quite iridescent when held at certain angles in the sunlight.
Has a very conspicuous flecking that gives this wood its namesake. The wood itself is a medium to dark reddish brown with grey or light brown rays, which resemble the spots of a leopard.  Leopardwood (Roupala spp.) can usually be separated from most species of Lacewood (Panopsis spp.) based upon its darker color and higher density.
Heartwood color is light to medium brown, often with an olive cast. Paler sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood.  Rated as very durable; often used in boat building and tight cooperage applications. Produces good results with machine and hand tools.
Heartwood is a bright, vivid red. Color can darken to a darker brownish red over time with exposure to light. Applying a thick protective finish, and keeping the wood out of direct sunlight can help slow this color shift. Well defined sapwood is a pale yellowish color, though given the typically large trunk diameters, it’s seldom seen or included in imported lumber.
Spalting is simply a fungal discoloration of wood, and can be found on a wide range of wood species and genera. It is found in wood that has begun initial stages of decay, and is then subsequently dried (preventing further decay). The partial decay, called spalting, can give the wood dark contrasting lines and streaks where fungus has begun to attack the wood.
Heartwood tends to be light to medium brown, with a reddish hue; sapwood is a paler yellowish brown. Boards with contrasting heartwood and sapwood create a somewhat rustic appearance that’s sometimes marketed as Calico Hickory.
Heartwood color can vary a fair amount with Honduran Mahogany, from a pale pinkish brown, to a darker reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age. Mahogany also exhibits an optical phenomenon known as chatoyancy. "CHATOYANCY" (sha-toy-ancy). Derived from French origin meaning, vibrant, translucent, "popping depth" Owning this blade will set you apart from all other fishermen!
Heartwood tends to be a medium to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish or purplish hue; some pieces may have streaks of yellowish or greenish brown. Cumaru has excellent durability and weathering properties. The wood is rated as very durable regarding decay resistance,
Heartwood is a light pinkish brown when freshly cut, darkening to a deeper golden brown with time and upon exposure to light. Cherry is easy to work with both machine and hand tools. The only difficulties typically arise if the wood is being stained, as it can sometimes give blotchy results due to its fine, close grain.
Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black. However, unlike most other dark hardwoods, the heartwood of wenge can lighten (rather than darken) when exposed to sunlight. Can be difficult to work with hand and machine tools. Blunts tool edges. Sands unevenly due to differences in density between light and dark areas. Very splintery!
Drop Point Hunt Blade 9 1/2" overall. 4 3/4" drop point blade. Full tang. Brass guard. Note: knives come with both wooden and leather field sheaths
Drop Point Hunt Blade 9 1/2" overall. 4 3/4" drop point blade. Full tang. Brass guard. Note: knives come with both wood and leather field sheaths
Drop Point Hunt Blade 9 1/2" overall. 4 3/4" drop point blade. Full tang. Brass guard. Note: knives come with both wooden and leather field sheaths.
When freshly cut the heartwood of purpleheart can be a dull grayish/purplish brown. Upon exposure—usually within a few days—the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple. With further age and exposure to UV light, the wood becomes a dark brown with a hint of purple. This color-shift can be slowed and minimized by using a UV inhibiting finish on the wood.
Called birdseye maple (sometimes written out as bird’s eye) because the tiny knots in the grain resemble small bird’s eyes. The figure is reportedly caused by unfavorable growing conditions for the tree. The tree attempts to start numerous new buds to get more sunlight, but with poor growing conditions the new shoots are aborted, and afterward a number of tiny knots remain.
So named for ambrosia fungi, which is found in association with ambrosia beetles. The beetles bore into the trunk of the tree, bringing with them the ambrosia fungi, which subsequently stains and discolors the surrounding wood. The discoloration can be very similar to spalted maple, though with ambrosia maple, the discoloration is centered around the boring paths of the beetles, and their entrance holes can usually be seen.
Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black. However, unlike most other dark hardwoods, the heartwood of wenge can lighten (rather than darken) when exposed to sunlight if unfinished.
Heartwood ranges from pale pink to a deeper reddish brown, sometimes with streaks of medium to dark reddish brown. Colors darken with age. Quartersawn surfaces exhibit a ribbon-stripe appearance. Generally easy to work, though tearout can be a problem if the grain is interlocked. May stain and react with iron-based fasteners in damp conditions. Glues, turns, and finishes well.