Cosa Nostra, part due

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
12,554
1. I don't believe in lost friends, only lost communication. If we had it back then, we have it now. If you have any questions, write, e-mail or call me.

The following reflects my opinions based upon experience....please feel free to share your own.

2. Cases-All my knives live in them, as this is an active fire zone...they are not on display. I use and recommend Bill's Custom Cases, as I have found none better. There is an endorsement from me on Bill's site.....I was not paid for it, and I don't get a discount. There can be a short wait for your made-to-order case, but it will be worth it. I prefer the kidskin or goatskin for the better knives, and usually order very closely to the dimensions of the knife.

3. Sheaths;Kydex and Leather-I don't much like kydex, but for a neck knife it makes more sense than leather. For these kydex projects, I go with Kiah S. from the Forums....he makes sheaths, not excuses, has a quick turnaround, EXCELLENT workmanship and reasonable prices. Leather-Paul Long and Kenny Rowe. Paul is sheaths only, quick turnaround, excellent workmanship and probably some of the higher prices. He is worth every penny, and sets the bar for leather. I use Kenny's work because sometimes I want a Pinloc, and Paul won't do that. Kenny takes a while to turn them around, but I have some great sheaths from him. Any of these three sheatmakers will leave you with nothing but smiles.

4. Said it before, but I am having a banner year in knife sales....sold three in the last week. It isn't necessarily the economy. Don't know what it is. If you aren't selling, you aren't trying hard enough....take this to heart.

5. I am seeing makers slide on production, and am not sure why. If you are a maker....and you aren't making knives....why? This is a GREAT time to experiment, and take chances. My good friend Josh Smith took some major chances at the Boston show, and it paid off. He and I disagree about The Path often, but I am proud to call him friend, and proud to see him walk paths that are not trampled smooth. Emulate Josh, and ask questions of yourself, him and the rest of us in that order....some amazing answers might be revealed.

6. Not only are we all in the human condition together, but we all suffer the affliction of knifeitis. We suffer this together, or we surely suffer this alone.

I wish you all well, and peace with the upcoming Holidays.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
i agree with everythimg you said

on storeing knives i only use cases on the ones i carry because they are layed out so i can pick up the mosty aplicable blade for the day

the rest are in display cases or in display cabinets. Swords on racks kuks hung from hooks

leather rules kydex does have its application like you mentioned
 
Agreed on pretty much all points STeven.

For leather, most of my pieces get Paul Long handiwork with our own Stuart Branson occupying second slot for representation in my collection. I've been very pleased with the sheaths I have received from Kenny Rowe and Chris Kravitt (Tree Stump Leather) as well. I don't do Kydex - not my thing.

I have also had good sales experiences this year - but far more buying experiences. :)

Bill's cases are tops.

Brett - good to see you here.

Roger
 
Don Hanson III said:
Very Good stuff, Steven! I'll second the Bill's Cases...
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Thanks,

I realize it comes across as a bit scattered, but the 5 statements come from the questions that I have gotten asked most often in the last 6 months.

I also think that R.W. Loveless's passing will have a profound and long term affect on the knife community....but am not entirely sure how it will play out....no one that I know seems to know which way the wind is blowing.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Although I have all my knives on display I do own and use Bill's cases and they are indeed the best. I also have a few other cases but they come a distant second.

When I still owned fixed blades I had the pleasure of owning sheaths from both Paul and Kenny. I like them both, but Paul is a slight favorite.

As for sales, I had a great year and just as Steven sold three knives in the past week. All to make room for some new and exciting knives!!

Marcel
 
Bills cases all the way. Well, I keep my knives on display but when they are packed in the closet or shipped I think bills are padded the best and just feel the most secure.

I also agree that if you are selling a knife and run in to problems, just keep trying. Everything finds a home eventually. Unless you are selling junk, but even junk sells.

For sheaths, ( I am kinda new to this area) but I think Paul Longs quality and LOOK is unbeatable. They are nicer then any other sheaths I have come across in my travels. Well maybe with the exception of a super fancy throat and tip fuegen..

I also agree that Josh Smith is the man and is really pushing his horizons.
 
Kohai999 said:
1. I don't believe in lost friends, only lost communication. If we had it back then, we have it now. If you have any questions, write, e-mail or call me.

The following reflects my opinions based upon experience....please feel free to share your own.

2. Cases-All my knives live in them, as this is an active fire zone...they are not on display. I use and recommend Bill's Custom Cases, as I have found none better. There is an endorsement from me on Bill's site.....I was not paid for it, and I don't get a discount. There can be a short wait for your made-to-order case, but it will be worth it. I prefer the kidskin or goatskin for the better knives, and usually order very closely to the dimensions of the knife.

I use/own several makes of cases, however have limited use except for shipping and travel. Bill's cases are extremely well made and the sheath carry straps are way cool. If I has to suggest an improvement, it would be slightly less and softer padding.

3. Sheaths;Kydex and Leather-I don't much like kydex, but for a neck knife it makes more sense than leather. For these kydex projects, I go with Kiah S. from the Forums....he makes sheaths, not excuses, has a quick turnaround, EXCELLENT workmanship and reasonable prices. Leather-Paul Long and Kenny Rowe. Paul is sheaths only, quick turnaround, excellent workmanship and probably some of the higher prices. He is worth every penny, and sets the bar for leather. I use Kenny's work because sometimes I want a Pinloc, and Paul won't do that. Kenny takes a while to turn them around, but I have some great sheaths from him. Any of these three sheatmakers will leave you with nothing but smiles.

Kenny Rowe and Chris Kravitt make some fine sheaths, however (for the reasons you mentioned) I feel Paul Long offers knifemakers and collectors the very best "all considered" in the purchase of custom knife sheaths. I feel that Larry Feugen is the "ultimate artist" of leather and leather/metal sheaths and their embellishment.


4. Said it before, but I am having a banner year in knife sales....sold three in the last week. It isn't necessarily the economy. Don't know what it is. If you aren't selling, you aren't trying hard enough....take this to heart.

As others have stated, I've had great success in selling custom knives this year while getting what I wanted and still providing good value to my buyers. As I stated in my recent thread http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=774281 , I feel it's a great time to be a custom knife collector.

5. I am seeing makers slide on production, and am not sure why. If you are a maker....and you aren't making knives....why? This is a GREAT time to experiment, and take chances. My good friend Josh Smith took some major chances at the Boston show, and it paid off. He and I disagree about The Path often, but I am proud to call him friend, and proud to see him walk paths that are not trampled smooth. Emulate Josh, and ask questions of yourself, him and the rest of us in that order....some amazing answers might be revealed.

I agree that Josh, among quite a few others I could mention, are pushing the industry/community forward in the design and creation of custom knives. Without their contributions and "what if?" way of thinking the community would become stagnate and embark on a downward spiral.

6. Not only are we all in the human condition together, but we all suffer the affliction of knifeitis. We suffer this together, or we surely suffer this alone.

We could most definitely suffer from worst. ;)

I wish you all well, and peace with the upcoming Holidays.

And the same to you Steven, and good thread.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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*************************
 
Kevin Jones said:
Bill's cases are extremely well made and the sheath carry straps are way cool. If I has to suggest an improvement, it would be slightly less and softer padding.
Click to expand...

Kevin,

Pretty sure Bill uses the firmer batting in the case to "lock" the knife into place. Yes, the case feels like a stuffed sausage when new, but if you drop one on concrete(I have:eek:), you learn to appreciate that heavy batting.

Kevin Jones said:
I agree that Josh, among quite a few others I could mention, are pushing the industry/community forward in the design and creation of custom knives. Without their contributions and "what if?" way of thinking the community would become stagnate and embark on a downward spiral..
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, I was rather blown away by the pieces Josh made for Boston, and it was fresh in my mind when I wrote this. Don't mean to hold Josh up as some icon, there are surely other creative and risk-taking makers active at this time, but I am mostly concerned by the bread-and-butter makers NOT taking risks and mostly NOT producing at this time....and if they need a pep-talk, Josh is good at that.
Kevin Jones said:
Kenny Rowe and Chris Kravitt make some fine sheaths, however (for the reasons you mentioned) I feel Paul Long offers knifemakers and collectors the very best "all considered" in the purchase of custom knife sheaths. I feel that Larry Feugen is the "ultimate artist" of leather and leather/metal sheaths and their embellishment..
Click to expand...

Larry makes a GREAT sheath, leather or tip-and-throat, and imo, as well as many others, makers and collectors included, Larry is the greatest maker alive right now. The only way to get a sheath from Larry is to get one of his knives to go with it. There are a number of makers that excel at sheath work.

Burt Foster does a great basic sheath, he does a great fancy sheath, and he makes a fine belt as well. Tim Hancock makes a fine sheath. The sheaths that came with my Nick Wheeler knives are so clean and well executed that their simplicity is quite zen-like. Karen Shook makes such fine sheaths for husband Daniel Winkler's knives I have been seriously tempted to purchase the knife because the sheath was so stunning.

The pair that really, really gets me......Curt Erickson and Julie Warenski-Erickson. Have the opportunity to run my mitts all over Phil Lobred's collection just about any time, and gotta say, if anyone ever created a whole new category it is Curt and Julie. The metal sheaths that Curt makes and Julie embellishes are the BEST that can be had, the best that I have ever seen.

Yeah, there are a lot of great knifemakers who make great sheaths, but if you already have the great knife, and just need the great sheath to go with it, Paul Long is the man. Sometimes, I just hold one of his sheaths, lately it has been the Loveless style that he built for my Bruce Bump chute, and gaze at the bevels in the leather and the sure, tight stitching. Paul does more with one row of stitching on a welt than many other sheath makers do with two rows.


Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Wow. That is very high praise and I really do appreciate the compliment Steven and I appreciate our friendship even more. I enjoy our conversations greatly.
 
Pretty sure Bill uses the firmer batting in the case to "lock" the knife into place. Yes, the case feels like a stuffed sausage when new, but if you drop one on concrete(I have), you learn to appreciate that heavy batting.
Click to expand...

No better way than to ship a knife than in a 'stuffed sausage' :D
 
Here's my take on all this.

First, Bill's cases - nothing better. Period. Yup, concrete-proof. "You're beautiful, don't ever change", as the Hollywood saying goes.

Second, sheaths - no leather sheaths ever looked as beautiful and oozed quality as do those from Paul Long. I only own one leather sheath (Paul Long, of course), but that's because of part two to this point - metal sheaths. STeven, you know you won't get any arguments from me about what Curt and Julie produce. Top o' the heap.

Third, Josh Smith - although I haven't met Josh, we've communicated, and I've said the following more than once before. It's obvious that Josh is one of the outstanding communicators in the knifemaking community, whether it's communication of message or product. He is great at marketing his products. Almost everyone could learn from him. And I absolutely loved what he did for Boston. Over and above.

Finally, friends and communications. This is a great community we have. Sometimes silence is golden. Sometimes being loquacious draws us out of shells. Sometimes it gets us into heated discussions. But it seems we all come out better off somehow and with more perspective than when we began.

Great topic, STeven. Importance highly placed on friends and communication is what drives these threads and those behind them.

Best,

Bob
 
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great thread, Steven. I've read your post several times, and there is a lot to be had there.
:thumbup::cool:
 
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your comments on my work. I am most appreciative of your continued support of my "habit". I try to make each sheath I produce the best I've done to that date, while maintaining my dedication to a speedy turn around.

I am a little concerned about the lack of new blood coming up behind me, and to that end I, in collaboration with Chris Crawford, have made two instructional DVDs which I hope will be of some use to the new guys coming up.

There are three makers out there that I am happy to recommend for the quality of their production. They are Dave Kelly, Stuart Branson, and John Horrigan. Each of these makers can produce a sheath that causes me to look at twice just to be sure I did not make it.

Again, thank you all very much and I'll keep on keepin' on just as long as I can.:)

Paul
 
sheathmaker said:
There are three makers out there that I am happy to recommend for the quality of their production. They are Dave Kelly, Stuart Branson, and John Horrigan. Each of these makers can produce a sheath that causes me to look at twice just to be sure I did not make it.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that. I have a Branson knife and sheath sitting on my desk right now. The sheath is the closest to a Paul Long that I have seen that didn't have Dave Kellys name on it. And the knife is pretty sweet, too.

I knew John made terrific knives but I am less familiar with his sheath work. Good to know.

Roger
 
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