Blackwood Custom -- Tell me about 'em??

J

JTurner

Joined
Jun 21, 2001
Messages
429
My first custom -- always thought it would be a folder. But it is a Blackwood small tac/utility I bought from a formite (thanks Brian).

I have been buying up high end production folders this summer and sold the one I was going to use for camping/mt biking/hiking. So I thought maybe I should go with a good fixed blade. Before I could answer myself, I came across this Blackwood small tac/utility on the for sale forums. When I saw it -- I was like perfect.

Now that I have it in hand, wow... great knife. Don't know much about fixed blades and didn't know what half the things meant on the specs for this one -- mosaic pins, 5/32 inch steel, D2. All I have to say is I did some searching on the forums and it all sounded good to me. Especially, the high praise for Mr. Blackwood, who I now know as Dr. Lathe. Oh yeah -- the mosaic pins, very nice.

My question is -- in searching I mostly came across reviews from people who had just received the knife, what about now? What does everyone think after using it? How is it holding up and what is your primary use? Also, I wonder why this knife didn't get snatched up sooner -- Is it because it is a D2 version and not the fancier stuff Dr. Lathe works with (talonite/stellite).

Thanks...JT
 
Well, for tiawanese stuff, I liked the hyabusa I purchaced from blackwood. Great grip and hair poping sharp.
 
Oh don't get me started on the Doctor's work! :D The man knows how to grind a blade!

I picked up a wonderful knife from Neil a little while back that we affectionately call the Sniperboy proto (the knife was a prototype for a custom project Neil was working on with fellow forumite Sniperboy). This knife, also in D2, was quite possibly the sharpest knife I'd ever held.

Here's a pic (the one on the top).



I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet, but my small tac/utility in Stellite has seen some good use and it doesn't show it at all. It's very well built and I have the utmost confidence in the other knife as well. I know I won't be disappointed once I put it to use!

Enjoy your new knife! It's pretty hard not to when it says "Blackwood" on the side. :)
 
JT- I have one of Neil's small hawksbill's in D2 that is an excellent performer! It gets used, not abused, and in about 2 yrs. all I've ever had to do is touch up the edge on my ceramic sticks. I think you'll find that Neil is one of the people that has the heat-treat of this steel down to a fine science. And once you recover from the trauma of putting the first scratch on the blade:eek: you'll be using it all the time.:)
 
Mr. Mayo... I did what you said -- hammered out the beautiful mosaic pins and pryed up the black g-10 with red spacered scales, but I didn't see a "Made in Taiwan" symbol. All I found was a Harley Owners Group stamp. I hope Dr. Lathe can put this thing back together again.

BTW...Mr. Mayo, I see you sure have a lot of posts on this forum. Do you make knives, too?

JT
 
Hey JT.....I have a Tac/Ute I snagged on the forums myself. Got it right from The Doc. Mine's Stellite. I carry it a lot in a horizontal belt sheath in the wee hours of the morning while I'm throwing morning editions. It really bites into the dozens of tough plastic straps used to wrap the newspaper bundles. The handle is maybe a bit small for my big mitt, but that's alright. That funky alloy just goes "cut" long time... I have 3 Blackwoods, and hope to get in line for another here before the holidays.
 
I have a stellite small hunter from Neil. Very well made and comfortable in the hand.

I carry it fishing/ hiking in one of his neck sheaths. I also have a belt sheath that I never use as it is so handy as a necker. Despite the fact I have carried it >100 times it still looks great and has needed no edge maintenance (maybe the fact I mainly catch and release helps with that :rolleyes: :p ). It is slightly large for me to wear around town except when wearing bulky or loose clothing. Hmmmm might need to get a smaller one......
 
Heck ya, he saws out my blanks, DRILLS THE HOLES and stamps the country of origin on them:)

I appreciate the kind words and encouragement over the past year!! For those of you not on my Email list, let me share part of my last "Blackwood Knives Update" with you!!

The past year has been PURE HELL!! Deaths in the family, family problems and job related BS has made it VERY difficult to focus on knives. I would like to once again thank many of my customers for their patience as some orders fell behind schedule. I'm expecting a Stellite order VERY soon so the last of the past due orders (3 in total) WILL be caught up in about two weeks.

Since the first of the year, I've changed full time jobs about a dozen times. Manufacturing in Central Florida has taken a nose dive! At this point I'm still not ready to go full time with knifemaking but will probably do so untill the begining of next year. Because I'm not sure of what my work schedule might be, I really don't want take any custom orders. I will be making and offering for immediate sale, many of my popular models. In some cases, I will be glad to take a small deposit to reserve a knife in process. I have this recurring nightmare that I have a BUNCH of deposits and no time to complete the knives
:eek:

Things are just starting to SMOOOOTH out here at Blackwood Knives and I look forward to getting back into BUYING a nice knife or two again.....UH HUMMMM.......Mr. Mayo??????

Thanks Ya'all!!


Neil

PS: Mr Turner, you have mail!
 
These are 2 of my favorites :D
View
 
Oh, I get it now. This is SHOW and tell!!;)
fe244c97.jpg.orig.jpg

My small hawksbill with the INCREDIBLY RARE AND EXTREMELY VALUABLE rag micarta!!:D
 
Ahhhhh the Talonite "MID" Ninja and Juniper Burl Grifter....... As a maker AND a KNIFE NUT, there are certain knives I've hated to part with:rolleyes:

Show and tell??? Here's the last two Medium Hunters I finished. YES I know the grind lines are different, they come off two different size contact wheels........a little R&D ;) The wood is stabilized maple burl, light and dark from whe same piece of wood!
 

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Small Tac/Utility in white micarta and talonite.
Where are the folders? I'll take a Mid Ninja D-2 frame lock.
:cool:
 
One thing that doesn't get enough mention...
The good Dr. does some of the prettiest filework around!
Just look at the last 2 that he posted...gorgeous :)
 
Ebbtide mentioned filework and this is the best picture I have of it so far. Santa better HURRY with my digital camera or NO beer and munchies on the fireplace for him :)

James,
That white paper Micarta is becomming more and more popular. If it wasn't for my old Randall #1, never would have tried it in the first place.

Neil
 

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Originally posted by samhell
Where are the folders? I'll take a Mid Ninja D-2 frame lock.
:cool:
Click to expand...

Make mine a tac/utility frame lock, D2 is fine with me as well!
 
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