- Joined
- Sep 11, 2002
- Messages
- 3,548
I promised Dale I would post a review of this knife once I received it. Photos of it are here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308833
For one, in person, "Callie" is beautiful. The silver roses are exquisite, the sculpted ivory handle looks like fresh cream. Dale filled the scales with black dye to emphasize the natural cracks in the ivory. The subtle cable damascus bolster blends perfectly with the handle, and the 2000 grit hand polish blade is really delightful to behold; nothing gets that warm glow to it like a fine hand polish. The gentle recurve of the forged 1095 edge and spine slims to a wicked point, with no swedge. The balance is an inch forward of the guard, and the knife is very quick in the hand, with good power for snap cuts.
It came with a black leather sheath, tooled with a handsome flower and vine pattern, and set with an ivory stud for IWB or through the belt carry.
This is one of those knives that when you pick her up, you don't want to put her down.
First I tested the edge, which shaved hair off my arm as readily as a knife I'd just sharpened on my Edgepro Apex. I held up a piece of paper lengthwise and sliced through it vertically in one swipe.
As promised, I took Callie out back to work on some branches. Some were green, some were on dead trees. I'll admit, I was reluctant to use such a pretty blade. But I buy knives for use, and Callie wasn't going to sit in a drawer somewhere.
I started with 1/2" saplings and worked my way up. Utilizing the recurve design to full potential, I used quick machete like swipes and a drawing cut. She sailed through the 1/2" and 1" branches like they weren't there. The dead ones would snap at halfway through, but the living branches were cut completely through.
So I moved up to a 3" branch on a tree that needed pruning. Callie sunk in deeply and took it down in a half dozen chops. I ran my fingernail along the edge and felt no nicks, rolls, or dents. It was smooth as silk, and the patchy hair on my arm is testament to the fact that the edge remained razor sharp, as it should.
Now I'd like to say I chopped a cinder block or cut open my car door with her, but I'm not crazy
That's what Busses are for!!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that Dale makes a great knife. The balance and feel are impeccable, and the hand finish on the blade makes it my favorite custom knife. She performs well, and looks spectacular. The only slightly rough spot is the bolsters at the blade, there is a slightly rough corner there that could have been rounded. Overall, this is excellent work by a talented Journeyman Smith, who is worth checking out. Dale's website is at http://www.baxterknives.com/ and he has a nice gallery of blades there. Dale was mentored by Don Fogg, and has certainly learned a lot from the master.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308833
For one, in person, "Callie" is beautiful. The silver roses are exquisite, the sculpted ivory handle looks like fresh cream. Dale filled the scales with black dye to emphasize the natural cracks in the ivory. The subtle cable damascus bolster blends perfectly with the handle, and the 2000 grit hand polish blade is really delightful to behold; nothing gets that warm glow to it like a fine hand polish. The gentle recurve of the forged 1095 edge and spine slims to a wicked point, with no swedge. The balance is an inch forward of the guard, and the knife is very quick in the hand, with good power for snap cuts.
It came with a black leather sheath, tooled with a handsome flower and vine pattern, and set with an ivory stud for IWB or through the belt carry.
This is one of those knives that when you pick her up, you don't want to put her down.
First I tested the edge, which shaved hair off my arm as readily as a knife I'd just sharpened on my Edgepro Apex. I held up a piece of paper lengthwise and sliced through it vertically in one swipe.
As promised, I took Callie out back to work on some branches. Some were green, some were on dead trees. I'll admit, I was reluctant to use such a pretty blade. But I buy knives for use, and Callie wasn't going to sit in a drawer somewhere.
I started with 1/2" saplings and worked my way up. Utilizing the recurve design to full potential, I used quick machete like swipes and a drawing cut. She sailed through the 1/2" and 1" branches like they weren't there. The dead ones would snap at halfway through, but the living branches were cut completely through.
So I moved up to a 3" branch on a tree that needed pruning. Callie sunk in deeply and took it down in a half dozen chops. I ran my fingernail along the edge and felt no nicks, rolls, or dents. It was smooth as silk, and the patchy hair on my arm is testament to the fact that the edge remained razor sharp, as it should.
Now I'd like to say I chopped a cinder block or cut open my car door with her, but I'm not crazy
That's what Busses are for!!Anyway, I just wanted to say that Dale makes a great knife. The balance and feel are impeccable, and the hand finish on the blade makes it my favorite custom knife. She performs well, and looks spectacular. The only slightly rough spot is the bolsters at the blade, there is a slightly rough corner there that could have been rounded. Overall, this is excellent work by a talented Journeyman Smith, who is worth checking out. Dale's website is at http://www.baxterknives.com/ and he has a nice gallery of blades there. Dale was mentored by Don Fogg, and has certainly learned a lot from the master.
