- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 45,040
Audra Draper holds a couple of distinctions in the ABS. First, she's the (forgive me Mike,
)best looking of the ABS smiths, and as you undoubtedly know by now, the first woman to earn the rating of "Master Smith" in the ABS. (When Audra's husband Mike attains that rank in the not too distant future they'll be the first such husband and wife team. Pretty cool.)
All that aside, I've been a fan of Audra's blades for some time and while at the Blade Show this past June I discussed (what else?) the possibility of having her forge a neck knife for me. We kind of left it open as to what it might be, and I'm here to tell you that I am supremely pleased with the result.
Here's what the UPS man dropped off to me last night:
Pretty nice, huh?
Okay, here's the particulars:
7 1/8" OAL.
3 1/4" blade of twisted damascus, 1084 and 15n20.
Brass guard; carved water buffalo horn handle with stag and brass spacers.
Scabbard is leather lined water buffalo horn. How Audra got the knife to "click" in and out of it like it was made of kydex is a testament to her ingenuity as well as artistic vision.
The blade is signed "Audra" near the guard and is barely visible in the picture.
Okay, I'll stop singing her praises, after all, she didn't include anything with which to hang this beauty around my neck.
Luckily I had a piece of Ray Kirk's elk hide left over and it worked perfectly. (Just giving you a hard time, Audra.)
The blade symmetry and balance is great. This is a deceptively light and comfortable knife to wear.
Both edges came well honed. (Much to my liking.)
As I said, I couldn't be more pleased.
...Oh yeah, one last thing. Audra's prices are super reasonable, especially when you consider her demonstrated level of accomplishment. I'd not expect that to be the case forever. A word to the wise.
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
Blues' Knife Pix
All that aside, I've been a fan of Audra's blades for some time and while at the Blade Show this past June I discussed (what else?) the possibility of having her forge a neck knife for me. We kind of left it open as to what it might be, and I'm here to tell you that I am supremely pleased with the result.
Here's what the UPS man dropped off to me last night:
Pretty nice, huh?
Okay, here's the particulars:
7 1/8" OAL.
3 1/4" blade of twisted damascus, 1084 and 15n20.
Brass guard; carved water buffalo horn handle with stag and brass spacers.
Scabbard is leather lined water buffalo horn. How Audra got the knife to "click" in and out of it like it was made of kydex is a testament to her ingenuity as well as artistic vision.
The blade is signed "Audra" near the guard and is barely visible in the picture.
Okay, I'll stop singing her praises, after all, she didn't include anything with which to hang this beauty around my neck.
The blade symmetry and balance is great. This is a deceptively light and comfortable knife to wear.
Both edges came well honed. (Much to my liking.)
As I said, I couldn't be more pleased.
...Oh yeah, one last thing. Audra's prices are super reasonable, especially when you consider her demonstrated level of accomplishment. I'd not expect that to be the case forever. A word to the wise.
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
Blues' Knife Pix
