An Exceptional Ralph Turnbull Demascus Folder

[joejeweler]

I've mentioned in a few posts that i had several Ralph Turnbull folders, and thought some of you may be interested in a few of the ones i have aquired.

I aquired this one on ebay, direct from Ralph Turnbull and it auctioned off at $860.00 with shipping. Here is the listing description:

This is another Turnbull Special and is the 1st one to be marked with an S. The S appears below the initials RT on the tang..
The dimensions of the knife are, blade 3 3/16" and 7 3/8" long overall. The blade is made of Devin Thomas high carbon damascus in his seldom produced totem pole pattern. This is a really nice steel and has a beautiful serpentine pattern seen on the top edge. The bolsters are made of Chris Marks mosaic damascus in a pattern he calls Demented Knothead.
The liners are made of pure titanium and they have been fileworked in a stretched vine pattern to match the pattern in the damascus of the locking bar and spring housing. The mushroom shaped thumb stud is inlayed with a genuine black diamond.
The scales are the crowning glory on this knife. They are mammoth ivory in a gorgeous brown crackle pattern. The pictures do not show it, but they are polished to a high shine but still retain a lot of character. The knife is razor sharp and the blade is perfectly centered in the handle, it operates smoothly and locks up with a loud click.
The knife is offered by the maker. I am Ralph Turnbull, 28 year member of the Knifemakers Guild.

The "crackle" mammoth ivory scales are some of the most beautiful i have ever seen, and the demascus blade is the "Totom Pole" configuation by one of the top steel makers,......and i'll try to get you that name once i can find it again!

Here's the right side,.....the only pic i have currently is beside my cut down 3 inch Zero Tolerance ZT 0200 ,......when i get a solo shot of this side i'll edit this post.

 

[joejeweler]

This is my "other" favorite Ralph Turnbull damascus folder,.....and the bolsters are simply exquisite! (tough to photograph, though). They are beautifully multi-colored,.....and you can barely get the idea from the pics....

Here was the eBay listing description:

This is another Turnbull Special and is marked with an S below the initials RT. The blade is 3 3/16" long and is made of Craig Barr damascus, a pattern he calls gator and ladder combo. The knife is 7 3/8" long overall. The bolsters are made of Chris Marks mosaic damascus in his Demented Knothead pattern and they have been heat colored which really brings out the intricate pattern. The liners are titanium and they have been fileworked in what I call a stretched vine pattern entirely around the circumference of the knife. The spring is also titanium which has been anodized in a rich gold color which matches the scales and the tiger eye inlaid into the mushroom thumbstud.
The knife is offered by the maker. I am Ralph Turnbull 28 year member of the knifemakers guild.

Beautiful knife.............ended up at $860.00

Here's a pic without flash with just room lighting, (tends to make photo very "warm").......which is the only way i could get the bolsters to show up.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Both very nice.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I think they are both exquisite. Pleasing designs made from exceptional materials.

 

[joejeweler]

.........and you forgot......"never to be used for their intended purpose".

I amost thought i should carry the 1st one in my pocket as an EDC,......




..........but then i woke up!

I think they are both exquisite. Pleasing designs made from exceptional materials.

 

[ryan9977]

looking good joe....i was just gonna ask if u used either.....they are sooooo beautiful they need to be seen......i'm more and more tempted to get a folder after seeing everyone's great collections here....ryan

 

[joejeweler]

I guess you have to look at knives like this as "Eye Candy Art",.......

...........form & function are there, of course,............but i just can't bring myself to put the marks on them that daily carry would impart.

..but if i ever come across an example of this calibre that someone else has marked up thru use,.......i wouldn't hesitate to carry it!

looking good joe....i was just gonna ask if u used either.....they are sooooo beautiful they need to be seen......i'm more and more tempted to get a folder after seeing everyone's great collections here....ryan

 

[Mokelock]

very nice

mokelock

 

[rosconey2]

i have the opinion that-mammoth and damascus were made for each other-
i dont think ive ever seen the 2 together and it didnt look good

 

[Greg]

I guess you have to look at knives like this as "Eye Candy Art",.......

...........form & function are there, of course,............but i just can't bring myself to put the marks on them that daily carry would impart.

..but if i ever come across an example of this calibre that someone else has marked up thru use,.......i wouldn't hesitate to carry it!

I've got a few "Art Knives" and I carry them in rotation. Because I never have just one knife on me, I can choose how much use the Art knife gets. Usually it's just manicures for me or cutting threads for beautiful women. And I do enjoy using them every time I take one out of my pocket.
Greg

 

[joejeweler]

And here i thought i was a bit unusual carrying more than one knife at a time!
I may consider bringing the 1st one i posted pics on for occasional carry and use it as you describe..........

...just have to leave one of the others behind so i don't scratch it.

Currently i carry my "Baby" ZT 0200 loose in my left pocket,......sometimes as a money clip if i don't have a large number of bills in my pocket. (key ring in right pocket, and a velcroed pellet pouch left side on belt used as credit & business card carrier).

I also carry a full size ZT 0200 inside the front of the right side of my pants with my belt over the clip & my shirt lip over it to conceal it,.....

............and a final ZT 0200ST resides to my back left side on a belt sheath,.....(currently a Buck 397 nylon sheath that fits perfect!).

................so if i move the baby ZT out of my left pocket and carry it left side inside pant lip,.......i can carry the crackle scale damascus there!:thumbup:

........just hope with all that weight i can keep my pants up!

I've got a few "Art Knives" and I carry them in rotation. Because I never have just one knife on me, I can choose how much use the Art knife gets. Usually it's just manicures for me or cutting threads for beautiful women. And I do enjoy using them every time I take one out of my pocket.
Greg