458 SOCOM loads by Carson Specialty Development are plain cast lead, loaded either full strength for hunting or 10% under for plinking. The advantage over jacketed or machined alloy loads is the price, some 40% lower. Ballistics match 45-70 Govt. but 458 SOCOM uppers fit on .223 AR15 lowers and use the same magazines. Recoil is comparable to 20ga birdshot.
My friend Nikolay makes these by hand in his smithy. This example is high carbon spring steel, holds an edge really well and fits the hand perfectly. I noticed that his wife and his friends all had some variant of it with them. He makes a wide variety of knives that all have one thing in common: they look rough, yet they perform better than any mass-produced competitors. Thick spines, well-considered blade shapes and masterfully done tempering makes very practical tools.
For example, his knife for field-dressing deer uses wire grip wrapping so the whole utensil may be easily sterilized in boiling water. The knife has a sharp point, but it’s obscured in the photo above.
If you would like a knife like this, let me know. Complete with the hand-made sheath, it runs $44 delivered within US. I will post photos of his other designs soon. Nikolay is a true artist of a tool maker: his knives make functional and unique gifts.
Typically, the sheath is worn under the jacket with only the wrought handle loop visible. With Kydex sheath, it may be worn upside-down for quicker and less obvious draw. I found the handle to sit equally well in hand in either straight or reverse grip.
Update: eleven orders for one or more knives as of this morning. Most for the model shown, one for kitchen choppers, one for a fancy dress knife. That’s the beauty of custom work, you can get exactly what you want.
