Alan Davis of Texas Knifemaker: San Mai and Maple knife

L

Luis G.

Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
1,855
Alan Davis Knifemaker, San Mai and Maple knife​

AlanD (BF Knifemaker), or Alan Davis of Texas, recently posted a knife for sale in our very own BF Knifemakers Subforum upon looking at it, I knew it was something I had to have. The extra heavy acid etch, the scales, the filework, the maple handle all interested me. The sheath was also nice. So I had to have it, luckily he lives in Texas so I figured quick movement once it was shipped.

Sent payment on Thursday, shipped out Friday, got it on Monday. Gotta love a faster shipper, and the fact we both live in Texas. He had warned however since he is from a small town, packages could take a while I think I was lucky and the pick up truck passed by that day.

Now the knife, sorry I don't have a more illustrious background, I work as a tech and my #1 passion are of course the lovely binary workhorses we call computers. So I figured I'd use one of my favorite Model laptops as the background for now. Pics from maker are better set imo.

Knife specs:
Steel material: San Mai Steel, 1095 Core unknown outershell
Knife Shape: Drop point with full flat ground blade
Knife Length: 5.35"~ Measure from beginning of handle on Spine to tip, and 5.30"~ from choil to end of knife. Perfectly legal for carry in Texas. :cool:
Handle Material: Spalted Maple Burl
Handle Length: 4.75"
Liners: Black
Total Length: 10"-10.10"~
Width of Spine beginning blade: .187"'
Width of Spine 1cm down from tip: Approximately .0625" 1/16th of an inch
Taper begins at around 2.75" into the blade, measured from the end of handle on the spine.
Width of Blade: spine to edge at end of handles: 1.375"
Width of Blade: 3" from handle. 1.187"

Beautiful knife. First 1 1/2" came shaving sharp, the rest was acceptably sharp. Sharpness is not something I value too much, after all once you use it it's gone. Only potential flaw I found was the tip was "slightly" rounded, but still functional I think it was designed that way by Alan, as his grinding work on the knife is very good. A nice feature I dont see often, or at least maybe isn't brought to attention often? is a small carving of the leather sheath for the spine to be guided into. Along with a secure edge, this allows for minimal contact on the sides of the blade with the leather for rust prevention.

Blade shape
Good general purpose use knife, not really a specialist tool but a good workhorse for general purposes, cutting rope, boxes, carving, eating, food prep etc.

Ergonomics
Very good handle shape and contouring. Great for regular grip, choking up, reverse grip, tactical reverse grip, etc. Very minor discomfort in using the plan of the other hand for extra support on the back of the knife, but not a problem what so ever.


100_0181 by crazysur123, on Flickr

100_0183 by crazysur123, on Flickr

In sheath close up, and a little pulled to show mosaic pins and handle.

100_0220 by crazysur123, on Flickr

Here is the ridge:

100_0188 by crazysur123, on Flickr

The blade, what a beauty. My sister said it was badly designed, and looked old. Silly kid.

100_0192 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0214 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0225 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0212 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0211 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0211 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0209 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0206 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0208 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0214 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0215 by crazysur123, on Flickr

Balanced? Oh yes.

100_0224 by crazysur123, on Flickr

Makers mark:

100_0196 by crazysur123, on Flickr

Rope filework on spine:

100_0195 by crazysur123, on Flickr

Handle:

100_0197 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0200 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0203 by crazysur123, on Flickr


100_0204 by crazysur123, on Flickr
 
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Oh my looky at that timber there! Blade's a great addition to that handle too. I'm curious on the sheath though. Did Alan do that as well? Nice either way.

Thanks for sharing it.

STR
 
I believe Alan did make the sheath, it says "from maker" so I am sure he meant he made it himself. Great stuff.

I just finished sharpening it, it keeps an incredibly fine edge as I have found 1095 to do quite well.
 
STR said:
Oh my looky at that timber there! Blade's a great addition to that handle too. I'm curious on the sheath though. Did Alan do that as well? Nice either way.

Thanks for sharing it.

STR
Click to expand...
Yes STR, I do make all my own sheaths. I know, no where near what some of the sheath makers do, but I try.
Alan
 
Quick update. I've been using the custom San Mai and Maple knife for several things, boxing cutting food prep cutting of some wood (although not a good idea given the geometry).
It takes a very fine edge, enough for hair whitlling and also keeps it fairly well.

I went through perhaps 3-4 large heavy duty laptop cardboard boxes (this is pretty much premium grade thick dense cardboard. Approximately 200~ feet. While it lost it's shaving sharp edge, it still push cut paper with little resistance.

Sharpening is not very difficult, I use a worksharp knife and tool sharpener and it works well enough to get a hair whittling edge, most of the time just sticking to the 6000 grit.

Here's some food I prepped today. Nothing too fancy.
-Supermarket Sirloin steak for three (still have some in freezer). B lack peppercorn, ~ steak seasoning.
-Romaine Lettuce salad, with tomatoes. Lemon, black peppercorn, and salt only. No dressing.
-Fresh cooked green beans, not from a can. Some black peppercorn, a little salt. Doused in steak juice.
-Cooked Green onions, bathed in juice from the steaks.
-Raw Red Pepper and raw red onions, salted and glazed with lemon.

Total cost: $22.40~ (Buy 1 get 2 free Sirloin special at Albertsons).
Fed: 3 people, with left overs for another 2 maybe 3 people. Eating budget, eating good.



2011-09-25_20-28-54_320 by crazysur123, on Flickr


2011-09-25_20-29-14_759 by crazysur123, on Flickr


2011-09-25_20-29-03_261 by crazysur123, on Flickr


2011-09-25_20-28-58_204 by crazysur123, on Flickr


2011-09-25_20-29-06_78 by crazysur123, on Flickr
 
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