Coffin handle Self lock folder

Bailey Bradshaw

Bailey Bradshaw

Joined
Sep 13, 2001
Messages
816
Still engraving the other side, but it will be the same pattern, so I am showing it any way.

This is a coffin handle folding bowie with the Self lock, or Sawby lock as some know it. The blade is S30v, ground in what I call and English clip point. The combination of the blade shape and coffin handle have kind of an old west look to me.

The handle is 416 stainless with the shell inlay carved from copper, and the scroll stems have raised 22k gold inlays. The background relief is pretty deep on this one. I checkered the front bolster with 32 lpi.

The closed length is 3 1/4", with the blade length of 2 7/8".

Thanks for looking!!
 
Bailey, maybe you should get your eyes checked?

Start by looking at Scott's work again. See how nicely it flows? See how decidedly NOT chunky-looking the handles are?

Sorry.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I like it. I think the bolster area could be a bit smaller (but that would mean more engaving). But all and all, I think it's very graceful, and the carving is different from what I've seen before.
 
Now there you go again Garsson!! I just want to use Scott's lock, not his designs! :-)

I do apreciate your opinion, but I rather like this pattern. Not that I came up with it. It's been around .....oh....a dozen decades or more.
 
Not really my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the artistic element of this knife. The carving and checkering is beautifully done.
 
Knowing how reasonable Bailey's prices are for what you get, I bet you'd normally pay more for the engraving alone than this knife would cost you. I guess on a collector piece, I'd have preferred a forged blade, either carbon steel with a Hamon, or damascus, but, I think this knife with S30V and the Sawby lock would make a fancy, but very convienient, upscale user. I like the dropped choil, which at least gives it that forged bowie look. Overall, if I were going to get an engraved user, I'd like something just like this.
 
I appreciate the comments, both good and otherwise. I amone of those makers who is a realist about my work. I understand it is a constant drive to improve and one of the elements is honest opinions, not just slaps on the back. This knife is obviously not for everyone, but I really enjoyed making it, and it's new owner is thrilled to have it.

Steve Garsson and I have had numerous lengthy disucssions, and just so everyone knows, his comment didn't bother me in the least. Steve's opinion is of value to me, and his honesty is something I appreciate. I have an ex-monster-in-law who could put him to shame on his....shall we say....discreet way of making his feeling known:rolleyes: , so it's not even close to offensive to me.

This is a piece that he would probably call self endulgent for me. He would be right. I wanted to make this one solely based on my desire to bring this idea to fruition, and hope I could sell it. Not the first time I have done it, and this one is better than some other...thats for sure.
 
Bailey,
Quick question for you: I don't see your MS stamp on the blade and the one my wife bought for me at Blade didn't have your maker's mark/MS stamp either. Are you changing how you mark your knives or just these with the Sawby lock?
Thanks.
 
Bailey Bradshaw said:
This is a piece that he would probably call self endulgent for me. He would be right. I wanted to make this one solely based on my desire to bring this idea to fruition, and hope I could sell it. Not the first time I have done it, and this one is better than some other...thats for sure.
Click to expand...

Well, here's hoping you keep giving in to the ocasional bout of self-indulgence. :)

Roger
 
Bailey Bradshaw said:
Steve Garsson and I have had numerous lengthy disucssions, and just so everyone knows, his comment didn't bother me in the least. Steve's opinion is of value to me, and his honesty is something I appreciate. I have an ex-monster-in-law who could put him to shame on his....shall we say....discreet way of making his feeling known:rolleyes: , so it's not even close to offensive to me.

This is a piece that he would probably call self endulgent for me. He would be right. I wanted to make this one solely based on my desire to bring this idea to fruition, and hope I could sell it. Not the first time I have done it, and this one is better than some other...thats for sure.
Click to expand...

You are right, I consider it incredibly self-indulgent.

It vexes me, because I have a hard time wrapping myself around the concept.

We are friends, and we are both artists, in the physical and graphic sense. I don't have any mouths to feed with my artwork anymore, so I can AFFORD to be self-indulgent.

WHEN you get the bills paid and food on the table is when you can afford to gamble with what you WANT to do. I'm not much of a gambler, so I only do it for fun, not when I need to make money. I would definitely say that your balls are bigger than mine, and your need to do it YOUR way is more pressing than my need to do it my way. That is what makes a horse race. I'm really glad, though, that you continue to be able to gamble and sell your work. I would be seriously bummed if you were going broke!

We'll talk about it at Huntington Beach.

Fondly,

STeven Garsson
 
You bring up a good point Steven.. about being artisits. It's both a blessing and a curse to have artisitc needs ( some call them urges, time has taught me it is more a need than an urge). I do enjoy almost every facet of my work,but sometimes I get an idea and I just can't supress it. Mind you, I have a bunch that I can and do have to wait on....like the single shot break action rifel I have been designing for five years now, and my own shotgun that I want to fully engrave in sculpted scroll work, french greyed with gold inlays ( It's a blued receiver Ruger red-label 20ga with flame grain walnut). Those are just a couple.

The dirk I have pictured is one of my more unsucessful pices of self endulgent art. I spent more than 100 documented hours on this piece, while paying a huge rent bill for my shop and many other expenses I no longer have. I made this piece back in 2000, just before I recieved my MS stamp. I carried it for almost a year, and ended up selling it for $1800. It later changed hands for $4000, as the customer called me to brag about his windfall profit. In case some of you don't know, a shop needs at least $35 an hour to make any money at all. One man or not. Needless to say, I took a bath on it, but it stands as one of my significant works.

To get to the point, I learned more and furthured my skills more on this piece than almost any other.

I can't do pieces like this any more due to my family commitments and resposabilities as Steven mentioned, but as an artist, I would suffocate under making only "generaly accepted" pieces that didn't push my boundries as an artist. It can be a gamble, but I have learned to find someone interested before proceeding, so I at least have someone who is a candidate to own it. The folder in this thread was done like that. Still a risk, but more calculated and restrained. Every now and then I can plan one of these self endulgent ventures WITH a customer who is commited with me. Thoses projects really let me stretch my legs. The tachi picture is one such cooperative piece.

I would like to hear others thoughts on this as well....

David,

Yes, on my more presentation type pieces, I am engraving my signature on the edge of the frame. Yours is signed like that along with my MS.
 
The scroll work is very nicely done. I like the blade shape as well. My first impression was that it wasn't actually a coffin shape. I'm noone to judge what defines a coffin shape whether it be a slight resemblance or something more immediately recognizable, but it's definitely an interesting piece. I'm also glad to hear that as an artist you have the ability and drive to pursue unique endeavors as well as the norm. Well done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top