Why does the "Nessmuk" or "simi skinner" blade pattern exist?

[Naphtali]

I have handled what Loveless identified as "simi skinner" from Loveless, Morseth (original laminated blade), and Cold Steel. I'm nearly certain that many custom makers also make a version of this knife pattern. The owner of the Morseth knife said its pattern is based on a turn-of-the-twentieth-century knife by "Nessmuk" (spelling??), a well-known outdoor writer.

What is this unusual yet interesting looking blade shape supposed to do better than more conventional patterns? Does the pattern, in fact, do that job better?

My instinctive reaction to the blade shape was that - like fishing lures - it is intended to lure buyers.

[Doug Lester]

The Nessmuck fixed blade knife is part of a trio of camping tools that George Washington Sears, aka Nessmuck, favored of "light camping". The other two tools were a folding knife and a double bit hatchet. As far as the fixed blade knife goes it may or may not be a copy of what he carried. The knife that he actually carried went missing.

As far as does that pattern do a better job than other patterns. That probably depends on what the user likes in a knife. To go back to your analogy on fishing lures, a fisherman's favorite lures are the ones that catch fish for him. An outdoorsman's favorite knife is the one that does the job best for him.

Doug