An Electrifying Experience!

[waynorth]

Couldn't get to Blade this year (again!)!
But my representative went instead - this wonderful tool knife, by Ken Erickson. Some of you saw it at the show, it tells me!
It was the genius that resided in the Empire Knife Company that first produced this pattern, so many years ago, and the genius that resides in Ken E. who faithfully brought it back from obscurity.
Empire made this pattern, and a two blade similar piece, for other companies, as well as its own electrically-inclined customers. Several different shields were used, but the flared banner on this one is Empire's most ubiquitous. Schrade Cut Co referred to the shield as an "Empire" shield in its advertising (after Empire went out of business of course!)

Here are some pictures with an original Empire. Note that Ken stayed true to the original, including the "swelled" handle end for ease in gripping this relatively svelte knife. Beautiful F&F, worthy of the best customs!

Many a time people here have exclaimed "If Knives could talk, what would they tell us!?
This one keeps planting phrases in my brain!!
- - Oh no! Another Coon-Finger!
- - Do all Lawyers grow "portly"? Hazard of the job?
- - Hey, his eyebrows are starting to match his hair!!
- - What'd he say?? sounds like, "Gotta make a three blade one of these days!" ??
- - Whoa, that's one intense Chicken-eye!
- - I smell goats!! Pheww!
Musta been quite an experience on that Blade table!!

Anyway, why buy a run of the mill Trapper, Whittler or Cattle knife when you can own an electrician's multi-tool with only one blade!!?? And maybe the only custom one in the known universe??!!

 

[rprocter]

Charlie very fine and definitely unique. If you ever get out here to the Kootenays, i'll let you wire up the woodshed so you can see if it really works !
Might have started a trend here: "Ask Ken to make most unusual pattern you know of". Got me thinking !
roland

 

[Blues]

Charlie, having had the opportunity to examine that beauty up close, I can say that you are indeed a fortunate man. It's a great knife!

 

[Mike Robuck]

Charlie,

I’m sure there was a lot of residual DNA to wipe off that knife, as well as some beer and whiskey-flavored drool.

Great idea for a custom, and of course Ken nailed it. Not sure if there’s a knife out there that he can’t make. (Maybe he’ll have to work up to Sheffield exhibition knives though.)

Congrats to both of you!

 

[bakerg2g]

Charlie,

I was lucky enough to CE and CF that beauty... It's an amazing, excellent made reproduction
of the original knife. As you well know... Ken did an amazing job, It went to the right
person for sure.... Congrats Sir!



Jason

 

[zerogee]

Charlie, you got it anyway! Good deal. Those old Empire cutlers could do one heck of a job with their hafting - and this pattern is one of their best examples.

 

[supratentorial]

Congrats Charlie! It's a neat pattern. I hope to see more tool knives from Ken and other makers.

 

[SHEBOP]

That is KEWL, Sweetie!

 

[thawk]

Outstanding knife. Very well done Ken. Good score Charlie.

 

[jivedaddy]

Great knife Charlie-must have been like waiting for your girl to get done dancing with all the guys at the dance, while you were at home waiting for her to get back. Now that she's had her fun, you can put her to work

 

[Bastid]

Congratulations Charlie. That is indeed a very special knife. (Don't
t forget to wipe my drool and fingerprints off of it before they set in). Ken did a fantastic job on this knife.

 

[comoha]

That one is beyond cool...may it see many years of wiring work ahead of it.

 

[Steven65]

This one is a beauty Charlie! I had a chance to see it at Ken's table.
I wish you well to own it

Steven

 

[ptradeco]

Very cool Charlie. And after getting to know you a bit I would say, very you! When you finish at Roland's you can bring it down to the farm, I am sure I can find some interesting uses for it.

 

[waynorth]

My retirement just got fully booked!

Thanks for all the nice comments, guys! Ken did a wonderful job on this one!

 

[WA Martin]

That's a beautiful knife. One day I hope to have the finances to add Ken and several other makers to my must have list.

 

[Seals]

That thing is just cool!

 

[joe-bob]

Wow! Very impressive. Anyone would be proud to have such a fine tool.

 

[shaldag]

I didn't get to Blade, so you can blame all these other coots for the drool and DNA, the sweat and slobber, the fingerprints and feel-ups. Hell, I'm surprised you didn't get it with a patina after all that.

But if I had been there, I sure would have participated. That is a fine looking knife, and I would have loved to be able to handle it.

 

[Bastid]

The grinds and function of this knife are very memorable. I keep looking at this knife and smiling. If ever a knife went to the right person, we are lookin' at it.