- Joined
- Apr 23, 2007
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2011 marks the second year that I have attended Blade Show. I attended Friday and Sunday. I set out initially to meet with various makers I had an interest in. My first stop was Darrel Ralphs booth, tucked away, but not forgotten, behind the Meyerco brand, the reason being so that Darrel could help not only with his product line (HTM and his customs), but also those collaborations he has with the Meyerco line up. So, I meet Darrel for the first time. We had talked a few times over the phone and corresponded via email about a custom I commissioned from him a while ago. Darrel is as personable a figure as any man can be. I was surprised and honored when he asked me to help out as his booth, which I did on the third day of the show.
There are so many great things about Darrel and his wares that Im not even sure where to begin. As a maker, Darrel truly listens to his customers. If you can dream it up, he will try to accommodate within the constraints of his skill as a maker, not that there are many constraints. In fact, there are none that I can think of thus far. He will entertain your ideas and then provide constructive feedback where he deems it necessary and based on his own experience after years of making knives. He will give his honest opinion and not try to sway you into buying into something that's not, just to make more money.
I remember one particular conversation I had with him regarding blade steel choices. We talked at length about various powdered metals. In the end, I changed my original order to another steel after digging around some for more information about it. He and I both agreed that particular steel choice was better than what I originally wanted...and it didn't even cost an arm and a leg. I was surprised. Hell, it barely cost more than my original choice.
Now about his knives. I must preface that by no means am I fanboy. I just like Darrels handiwork. I will not speak ill of another maker or company that makes knives, and the only time I recommend Darrels work or any work for that matter, is when I feel that Darrels knives can deliver what someone is asking for in a knife. The knives Darrel makes are rugged pieces of kit that give a sense of assurance when used. Its no wonder then that Darrel has knives with national stock numbers that troops use in the field today. If a knife does get broken, Darrel stands behind his product 100%. If it can be fixed, he will fix it.
Throughout his career as a knife maker, he's innovated and evolved his designs as best as he could. I almost feel bad when I buy a DDR knife because I know some where down the road, he'll have tweaked something again. It's kind of like buying a car. You know there's a new model coming out in a year or so. Darrels also been in the business long enough to know that he cannot please everyone. He makes knives after all. Some people like his work; others not so much. What separates him from a few other makers is that he focuses on his own work, and that work speaks for itself. The products really do the talking, and in the end, that is what keeps people coming back to buy more of his knives.
My 2 cents on the man and his knives.
There are so many great things about Darrel and his wares that Im not even sure where to begin. As a maker, Darrel truly listens to his customers. If you can dream it up, he will try to accommodate within the constraints of his skill as a maker, not that there are many constraints. In fact, there are none that I can think of thus far. He will entertain your ideas and then provide constructive feedback where he deems it necessary and based on his own experience after years of making knives. He will give his honest opinion and not try to sway you into buying into something that's not, just to make more money.
I remember one particular conversation I had with him regarding blade steel choices. We talked at length about various powdered metals. In the end, I changed my original order to another steel after digging around some for more information about it. He and I both agreed that particular steel choice was better than what I originally wanted...and it didn't even cost an arm and a leg. I was surprised. Hell, it barely cost more than my original choice.
Now about his knives. I must preface that by no means am I fanboy. I just like Darrels handiwork. I will not speak ill of another maker or company that makes knives, and the only time I recommend Darrels work or any work for that matter, is when I feel that Darrels knives can deliver what someone is asking for in a knife. The knives Darrel makes are rugged pieces of kit that give a sense of assurance when used. Its no wonder then that Darrel has knives with national stock numbers that troops use in the field today. If a knife does get broken, Darrel stands behind his product 100%. If it can be fixed, he will fix it.
Throughout his career as a knife maker, he's innovated and evolved his designs as best as he could. I almost feel bad when I buy a DDR knife because I know some where down the road, he'll have tweaked something again. It's kind of like buying a car. You know there's a new model coming out in a year or so. Darrels also been in the business long enough to know that he cannot please everyone. He makes knives after all. Some people like his work; others not so much. What separates him from a few other makers is that he focuses on his own work, and that work speaks for itself. The products really do the talking, and in the end, that is what keeps people coming back to buy more of his knives.
My 2 cents on the man and his knives.
