2015 East Coast Custom Knife Show (ECCKS) • Knives in living color!

[Cliff Parker]

If it's a slotted screw, it should be indexed....end of story....if a maker cannot seem to make that happen....I do it for them...every time.

STeven, Much more than not I agree with what ya say on these treads but this is one time you are just Wrong otherwise you see a would probably see a little more of it. Ya think?

Cliff

 

[timos-]

Jim, It was an absolute pleasure meeting you and your wife. Thank you very much for taking the time to photo my knife.

I must say I was a bit shocked to see it here with all these other truly world class knives. It sticks out a bit for all the wrong reasons, lol. It is very clear to me how I need to improve.

This show is a great opportunity to meet knifemakers from around the world. I was extremely impressed with the knives of Mr Corrado Moro once again. It was also great to finally see in the flesh one of Mr. Loerchner's masterpieces. Suchat's table was once again full of amazing and colorful pieces. Also was impressed with Mr. Nylund's impeccable fit and finish. I only wish that more Chef knife makers were exhibited, I would really like to see that genre taken to new heights. Oh, and the well intention-ed fossil ivory ban needs to stop. That took too much away from this show..
To me what this show really seems to be about is giving a venue for Makers and collectors to meet and greet and buy and sell and that seems to be a huge success. I spoke with many very happy people. Kudos to all involved and see you again next year.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Cliff, I also agree STeven is Wrong on the index thing. Hi Steven...

Coop, fantastic images my friend!

 

[Kohai999]

STeven, Much more than not I agree with what ya say on these treads but this is one time you are just Wrong otherwise you see a would probably see a little more of it. Ya think?Cliff

Cliff, I also agree STeven is Wrong on the index thing. Hi Steven...

Hey Cliff and Don.....as Don knows, I studied for a day with Bill McHenry and Jason Williams....and we talked about screws a bit, I have learned:

1. You can cross cut a single slot screw with a screw head cutting file available from Brownells, than put a little file cut scallop between the intersecting lines, and can almost always index that way, if not;
2. You can vary the depth of cut of the screw head hole in the handle material until the screws index when full tightened or
3. You can use unslotted heads...cut in a very small "pilot" slot, tighten down hard, orient your reference line and then cut in a slot to full depth.

The reason that we don't see this more often is that it takes a lot of time....simple as that.

Obviously, this is referring to slotted screws only. I don't think I own any knives with Phillips heads, and don't really care if Torx or Allen heads are indexed but it shows phenomenal attention to detail if they are. Handmade screws do the same as well.

Nobody has to agree with me, but don't tell me that it isn't important.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[sheathmaker]

Coop, thanks for the show tour ala your camera lens. It's always a high point for me.

Regarding indexed screws….a 100% perfect knife otherwise with NON indexed screws slips to 99% at best. Now as a maker if you are satisfied with 99%, so be it. To each his own.

Paul

 

[Bailey Bradshaw]

Agree with you Steven, slotted screws should be indexed. It's absolutely expected on fine guns and I spend a lot of time making and indexing screws. It's the extra attention that adds value.

As soon as I saw the picture of the knife in question, it was a breath of fresh air and makes the knife that much better.

 

[drrickso]

Forgive my ignorance here, but what does an indexed screw mean? I had no luck googling it.

 

[timos-]

I believe indexed screw relates to the way the slot of screw is oriented. It should be oriented in a way that is cohesive with the overall design. If thats what indexing means then I dont understand how its even a debate.

 

[Cliff Parker]

Hi STeven,

First let me be clear I in no way tried to say any thing you said is important or not. I had said mentioning my work first then some others that i did not like indexed screws. I do think they look real good on some knives which I also said I also agree with Bailey they look good on fine guns. That being said I do not care for them on most damascus knives with some busy handle material because they tend to make it a little to grid like for my taste. Seem to remove some flow or movement from knife. I would like to think that quiet a few others feel that way also because I have received some pretty specific orders in the past and have never been asked to index the screws and only twice on this forum I was told the screws being indexed would have been better.
Now I would like to say to everyone that came to this tread to see some knives from show and Coops work I'm sorry this it got sidetracked a little.
STeven, No hard fellings I hope.

Cliff

 

[Kohai999]

STeven, No hard fellings I hope. Cliff

We are always good.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Ebbtide]

Forgive my ignorance here, but what does an indexed screw mean? I had no luck googling it.

Try searching for "clocking"
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/w...blog/how-to-‘time’-or-‘clock-your-screw-heads

 

[Kevin Jones]

My good friend Neil Ostroff says Andre Thorburn is 'The best kept secret in dress tacticals!"

Yes, they are outstanding IMO, especially the first one shown.

It's certainly a nice touch, however doesn't drive me nuts when screws aren't indexed.
I've seen folders with indexed screws where I wondered why the maker didn't use the time spent indexing to more get basic elements of the knife right.

 

[brownshoe]

Neat pictures. Thanks again Coop. I love to see truly "world" class knives, sad if someone is stuck on country of origin over beauty and functionality. One of the nice things about international shows and threads is it allows one to see the similarities between makers coming from the same country such as Italy, Argentina, Finland, Sweden, etc. Like any area of art or craft, international differences lead to sweet similarities followed by "cross pollination" with styles moving around the globe.

Needing things "aligned" is part of some peoples art, but it is also intensely disliked by others. Some believe that making something "too perfect" is a curse. Some weirdos even prefer pins to screws

 

[mknife]

Jim, Thanks for sharing! Beautiful knives, great pictures.

 

[SharpByCoop]

I'm learning from the others here. Good discussion, even if it's a sidebar.

My .02¢ on indexed (clocked) screws is: It's value added, not necessarily required.

If the time spent (could be one hour for (8) screws?) requires a cost increase, then the maker has to justify moving to another level of pricing, OR eating this time. They may already be tapped in the hours vs wages area.

I see how some designs predicate timing them (watchmaker precision!) and other want a more organic, less structured feel. Good considerations.

••••••••••••••••••••

Here's a few I have to show you, as I continue:

Attilio Morotti offers a potent array of styles

Gus Cecchini also fills up the senses and dazzles the mind with his VERY distinctive styles.

The omnipresent Todd Begg folder is on everyone's 'must have' list.

Maker AND Engraver: Anders Hedlund. Just WOW!

Michael Walker was also at the show. An icon in our world, and his Liner Lock® now even has a Wikipedia page.

Along with his many OTHER locking mechanisms. So cool!

 

[David Bates]

Beautiful work by many makers. As far as indexing screws, that is something new to learn about. Thank you Coop for the photos.

 

[hardingknives]

most of these are more than just knives, they are advanced complex machines that are awe inspiring to a fixed blade maker

 

[liamstrain]

Most of these are not to my tastes at all - but they are stunning examples of craft and the execution of a personal vision, and for that I respect them. (Well photographed, too, nice work Coop.)

That last Hedlund folder though, wow. Just, wow.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I'm learning from the others here. Good discussion, even if it's a sidebar.

My .02¢ on indexed (clocked) screws is: It's value added, not necessarily required.

If the time spent (could be one hour for (8) screws?) requires a cost increase, then the maker has to justify moving to another level of pricing, OR eating this time. They may already be tapped in the hours vs wages area.

I see how some designs predicate timing them (watchmaker precision!) and other want a more organic, less structured feel. Good considerations.

Exactly! Very well said Coop...

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

I bet Coop, others and myself share a general love for fine knives, regardless their Maker's hometown...
Sometimes when i see some of your comments, STeven, i wish you spend more time indexing other makers slotted screws than hangin' out on the internet

Ok - that made me LOL.

Hey Cliff and Don.....as Don knows, I studied for a day with Bill McHenry and Jason Williams....and we talked about screws a bit, I have learned:

1. You can cross cut a single slot screw with a screw head cutting file available from Brownells, than put a little file cut scallop between the intersecting lines, and can almost always index that way, if not;
2. You can vary the depth of cut of the screw head hole in the handle material until the screws index when full tightened or
3. You can use unslotted heads...cut in a very small "pilot" slot, tighten down hard, orient your reference line and then cut in a slot to full depth.

The reason that we don't see this more often is that it takes a lot of time....simple as that.

Obviously, this is referring to slotted screws only. I don't think I own any knives with Phillips heads, and don't really care if Torx or Allen heads are indexed but it shows phenomenal attention to detail if they are. Handmade screws do the same as well.

Nobody has to agree with me, but don't tell me that it isn't important.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Regarding indexed screws….a 100% perfect knife otherwise with NON indexed screws slips to 99% at best. Now as a maker if you are satisfied with 99%, so be it. To each his own.

Paul

I agree with STeven and Paul 100%.

To all of you arguing AGAINST indexed screws . . . what is the argument? Is there some other particular non-indexed, thoughtful, orientation that you believe is better for some reason or other than when they are timed/clocked/indexed? Please help me to understand what that is - maybe a picture or two of examples would help.

Because I sure cannot imagine that anyone is arguing that a lazy, pseudorandom, haphazard, "just the way it turned out" approach reflects more thoughtfulness, better attention to detail, and better fit and finish than taking the effort to orient the screws the way you actually decided that you wanted them to be (timed or not). THAT makes no sense to me at all.

Then again, I know a long time collector of very fine knifes (you know who you are) who loathes any visible pins or screws. He seems to believe that they reflect a certain lack of skill and/or laziness. And although visible pins and screws (if properly timed) do not bother me the way they bother him . . . I have a hard time seeing why making your pins and screws visible is any sort of improvement over hiding them from view. But, as they say, DSFDF!