- Joined
- Dec 6, 2013
- Messages
- 2,782
I saw one of Brian Avila's blades up for sale. I contacted him to find out it had sold the day before( bad for me). Brian offered to make a blade based on my specs if i so desired.
First idea was a 5" clip point. Neither of us felt that was quite right for what i envisioned( im blessed with 20/20 vision, but my mental vision is very poor). After exchanging a number of emails, we decided on the blade that i have now.
Specs are: 8" blade made with 1/4" 1084 differentially treated. The handle is micarta and the tang is hidden. Hilt/guard is 416 stainless, spacers are black g10 and copper. The tang is epoxied with g-flex epoxy and a single pin through the handle insuring the blade stays in one piece. I believe this is one of the first blades that brian did that has a sharpened clip. The primary grind is full that gives a distal taper and the clip is ground to zero, no secondary bevel. The leather sheath is handstitched, heavy duty but not overly heavy. The sheath is done very well and looks awesome.
The genesis of the idea for the knife is to have a blade that could handle anything i threw at it. From camp ground duties to fending off wild animals to breeching in an emergency.
Blade failure was not an option. My expectations in my blades is very high, if i cant count on it in a life or death situation, i have zero use for it. I expressed those opinions to Brian and challenged him to produce a blade that fit all of the above requirements. He said no problem, he could get one made for me.
The wait was several months due to the fact that it's custom and Brian was finishing up grad school. Time passed, my excitement waned and i had almost forgotten about it( i have the memory of a goldfish). Brian contacted me to tell me it was finished. The next day it's waiting for me at the post office.
Upon opening the pkg, my first impression was the blade(Brian, do u have a model name for it?) was a close kin to Randall made knives. As i surveyed blade i noticed the fit and finish was above a Randall knife and more closely akin to a production blade. No gaps or fillers, no handling dings or evidence that it was made by hand. Comfy to hold, great balance and feel.
My first "test"was shaving arm hair( if a blades dull, why have it?), and the primary edge dry shaved easily. I figured the swedge would be sharpened, but not that it was popping hairs on my arm. Sharpest edge i've ever had the pleasure to handle or see.
I held in my hand, what i fully believe is one of the finest blades ive encountered or used. Is it flashy? No. Is it done by a maker that very obviously put blood, sweat and tears into(at the very least mine) his blades? Abso-freakin-lutely!
A dilemma starts to form in my mind at this point. Brian successfully built, from the ground up a "bullet proof" blade. He also built a piece of art that i'm still debating Whether i should use.
Many many hours were put into the blade. If i remember right, well over 40 hours. It's evident that Brian's a perfectionist. Every aspect of the knife from design to production to the finished blade was done to the best of his abilities(it shows).
Brian successfully pulled off a design that wasn't the easiest project he's ever had. Many makers produce a blade that's 90% of what they're capable of. No Piddly 90% here.
That last 10% is what seperates the good from the great.
Brian's knife is the knife on the bottom. I apologize for the single crummy pic, my tech isn't wanting to cooperate.
Thanks Brian!!!
First idea was a 5" clip point. Neither of us felt that was quite right for what i envisioned( im blessed with 20/20 vision, but my mental vision is very poor). After exchanging a number of emails, we decided on the blade that i have now.
Specs are: 8" blade made with 1/4" 1084 differentially treated. The handle is micarta and the tang is hidden. Hilt/guard is 416 stainless, spacers are black g10 and copper. The tang is epoxied with g-flex epoxy and a single pin through the handle insuring the blade stays in one piece. I believe this is one of the first blades that brian did that has a sharpened clip. The primary grind is full that gives a distal taper and the clip is ground to zero, no secondary bevel. The leather sheath is handstitched, heavy duty but not overly heavy. The sheath is done very well and looks awesome.
The genesis of the idea for the knife is to have a blade that could handle anything i threw at it. From camp ground duties to fending off wild animals to breeching in an emergency.
Blade failure was not an option. My expectations in my blades is very high, if i cant count on it in a life or death situation, i have zero use for it. I expressed those opinions to Brian and challenged him to produce a blade that fit all of the above requirements. He said no problem, he could get one made for me.
The wait was several months due to the fact that it's custom and Brian was finishing up grad school. Time passed, my excitement waned and i had almost forgotten about it( i have the memory of a goldfish). Brian contacted me to tell me it was finished. The next day it's waiting for me at the post office.
Upon opening the pkg, my first impression was the blade(Brian, do u have a model name for it?) was a close kin to Randall made knives. As i surveyed blade i noticed the fit and finish was above a Randall knife and more closely akin to a production blade. No gaps or fillers, no handling dings or evidence that it was made by hand. Comfy to hold, great balance and feel.
My first "test"was shaving arm hair( if a blades dull, why have it?), and the primary edge dry shaved easily. I figured the swedge would be sharpened, but not that it was popping hairs on my arm. Sharpest edge i've ever had the pleasure to handle or see.
I held in my hand, what i fully believe is one of the finest blades ive encountered or used. Is it flashy? No. Is it done by a maker that very obviously put blood, sweat and tears into(at the very least mine) his blades? Abso-freakin-lutely!
A dilemma starts to form in my mind at this point. Brian successfully built, from the ground up a "bullet proof" blade. He also built a piece of art that i'm still debating Whether i should use.
Many many hours were put into the blade. If i remember right, well over 40 hours. It's evident that Brian's a perfectionist. Every aspect of the knife from design to production to the finished blade was done to the best of his abilities(it shows).
Brian successfully pulled off a design that wasn't the easiest project he's ever had. Many makers produce a blade that's 90% of what they're capable of. No Piddly 90% here.
That last 10% is what seperates the good from the great.
Brian's knife is the knife on the bottom. I apologize for the single crummy pic, my tech isn't wanting to cooperate.
Thanks Brian!!!