- Joined
- Mar 5, 2011
- Messages
- 547
First Id like to tell you a little bit of back story o this particular knife, And while I know this may bore some of you, I will say it does fill in some detail about the knife, its significance, and its origins.
This particular knife is made by a Gentleman named Dr. Keith Nelson, a former member of the Army Special Forces, as well as being a Certified Firearms Instructor. Dr. Nelson has been shooting for over half a century with rifles, shotguns and handguns. He was a member of the US Army Special Forces from 1970 1977, and was eventually severely wounded by a land mine. As a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor he has taught the concealed carry course to over 3,000 citizens. Dr. Nelson is also the author of the military action adventure book Shadow tracker. Dr. Nelson made many knives in the 80s, all one at a time and by hand, and sold them in a sporting gods store near Columbus GA, near the ranger battalion. Dr. Nelson hasnt really made any knives in perhaps the last 10 to 15 years though, as others thing shave kept him very busy. You might call him a warrior poet - hes certainly been a warrior, an artist, a writer, a teacher, and a mentor.
Ive had the pleasure, privilege and honor to know Dr. Nelson for several years now and to call him a friend, and over the last year or so weve discovered our mutual respect and love for knives. He decided to grace me with one of his knives that he had started and had not finished - in fact it had sat unfinished for years.
We would discuss knives when we got together, as fellow hobbyists do, and after a particularly lively discussion about various knives he mentioned that he used to make knives. Several days later he showed me some of his knives he had made. They were all very unique and beautiful, all bearing a sort of classic regal handsomeness that seemed timeless, yet still unique. There was one particular unfinished knife that really spoke to me though and I had a hard time putting it down, and even now I cannot tell you why. He smiled and said something akin to well that might mean its yours. I laughed at what I thought was a joke, but over the next couple weeks he mentioned several times that he intended to finish it and get a sheath for it. I thought it great that perhaps this might spark him back into a making a few knives again, perhaps even reigniting his passion. I secretly hoped that perhaps if this was indeed the case that I might be able to buy something like the half finished one I had held.
Today Dr. Nelson gave me that very knife, now a finished knife, much to my shock and surprise. I of course gave him a coin in return as is customary, though Ill be working on a way to properly thank him. When I held it in my hand, the grip seemed to fit me near perfectly, and when I commented on such, he simply said It was made to be. I was - and still am - both humbled and honored that he gave this finished knife to me. This could very well be the first knife from him in 15 or so years, and possibly one of his last. This was a very thoughtful, extravagant and wonderful gift, and I wanted to share it with everyone.
Ive taken some pictures to illustrate the knife, though perhaps my photography skills are not the best. Dr. Nelson cut and shaped the knife using a stock removal method, tempered and heat treated the blade, then polished and finished the blade, fits the handle and then gives it a final buff and polish and its final sharpening, all by hand himself. He explained some of the equipment he uses for this process, much of it going over my head, though apparently it is quite an elaborate process to heat treat and temper this steel correctly, and rather time consuming to make the knife in whole by hand. The handle is one solid formed piece of linen micarta, and the pins and guard are nickel silver, and the blade is made from ATS-34 steel.
Dr. Nelson with the knife
Here is the whole knife, with sheath
This particular knife is made by a Gentleman named Dr. Keith Nelson, a former member of the Army Special Forces, as well as being a Certified Firearms Instructor. Dr. Nelson has been shooting for over half a century with rifles, shotguns and handguns. He was a member of the US Army Special Forces from 1970 1977, and was eventually severely wounded by a land mine. As a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor he has taught the concealed carry course to over 3,000 citizens. Dr. Nelson is also the author of the military action adventure book Shadow tracker. Dr. Nelson made many knives in the 80s, all one at a time and by hand, and sold them in a sporting gods store near Columbus GA, near the ranger battalion. Dr. Nelson hasnt really made any knives in perhaps the last 10 to 15 years though, as others thing shave kept him very busy. You might call him a warrior poet - hes certainly been a warrior, an artist, a writer, a teacher, and a mentor.
Ive had the pleasure, privilege and honor to know Dr. Nelson for several years now and to call him a friend, and over the last year or so weve discovered our mutual respect and love for knives. He decided to grace me with one of his knives that he had started and had not finished - in fact it had sat unfinished for years.
We would discuss knives when we got together, as fellow hobbyists do, and after a particularly lively discussion about various knives he mentioned that he used to make knives. Several days later he showed me some of his knives he had made. They were all very unique and beautiful, all bearing a sort of classic regal handsomeness that seemed timeless, yet still unique. There was one particular unfinished knife that really spoke to me though and I had a hard time putting it down, and even now I cannot tell you why. He smiled and said something akin to well that might mean its yours. I laughed at what I thought was a joke, but over the next couple weeks he mentioned several times that he intended to finish it and get a sheath for it. I thought it great that perhaps this might spark him back into a making a few knives again, perhaps even reigniting his passion. I secretly hoped that perhaps if this was indeed the case that I might be able to buy something like the half finished one I had held.
Today Dr. Nelson gave me that very knife, now a finished knife, much to my shock and surprise. I of course gave him a coin in return as is customary, though Ill be working on a way to properly thank him. When I held it in my hand, the grip seemed to fit me near perfectly, and when I commented on such, he simply said It was made to be. I was - and still am - both humbled and honored that he gave this finished knife to me. This could very well be the first knife from him in 15 or so years, and possibly one of his last. This was a very thoughtful, extravagant and wonderful gift, and I wanted to share it with everyone.
Ive taken some pictures to illustrate the knife, though perhaps my photography skills are not the best. Dr. Nelson cut and shaped the knife using a stock removal method, tempered and heat treated the blade, then polished and finished the blade, fits the handle and then gives it a final buff and polish and its final sharpening, all by hand himself. He explained some of the equipment he uses for this process, much of it going over my head, though apparently it is quite an elaborate process to heat treat and temper this steel correctly, and rather time consuming to make the knife in whole by hand. The handle is one solid formed piece of linen micarta, and the pins and guard are nickel silver, and the blade is made from ATS-34 steel.
Dr. Nelson with the knife
Here is the whole knife, with sheath
