Dan Dugdale - New pivot folder design

[SharpByCoop]

Hey folks,

I got a call from a maker I hadn't heard from in a while: Dan Dugdale. He's a machinist/knifemaker from Walpole, MA, and had a new design he wanted to have me shoot.

History: Dan made a unique knife years ago, which Gerber paid him for the design patents. It's called the Chameleon, and it has a large ID bearing and a finger hole through the pivot. I thought it quite cool and purchased a handmade one directly from Dan at a show up here in the northeast, USA. Here's my handmade one"

Chameleon folder:

OK, so now he created a new flipper design, which has some of the elements he learned in the last version. I'll describe more below...

Goblin folder:

First off, his 14-yr-old son remarked the 'gills' on the side reminded him of a shark-like Goblin, so he paid homage to his son's naming.

The scales are grippy machined hard-anodized aluminum, and the pivot is stainless. Both have button locks. It still utilizes the same roller-bearing pivot, but this time he made the blade connected with two large checkered pins, which can be pinched to open the blade a few ways.

I found the opening methods available versatile, and I tried my hand at a short video to show it off and explain it. (This one deserves to be left on the editing room floor, but it's my portion of 15 minutes of Fame. Hopefully longer for Dan....)

(I mistakenly added that the knife had CNC elements in construction. Not so. Dan did this all by hand machining. It would not matter to me if he did. )

YouTube video:
[youtube]loMHuEVrKRk[/youtube]

Dan can be contacted at dlpdugdale AT comcast DOT net, if you are interested.

So, here's a break from the norm....

Coop

 

[mmmotorcycle]

Very neat....that large pivot must make a for zero play and little possibility of any developing. I like it and best of luck to him! It is hard to find a truly unique folder anymore..... :thumbup:

 

[Lorien]

I remember seeing that Gerber version a time ago. That handmade version is really excellent. Seeing technological innovations like that keeps gear geeks like me very happy!
I'd like to see a ceramic bearing version. The bearings could also be of the sealed and greased variety for outdoorsy applications. Lots of versatility in that design:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Murray White]

Great knife and interesting video Coop. The handle flip is like the Gerber Paul knife of the early 80's. the flipper is the added item to this old design and perhaps the goodies inside. I don't know construction of these things and they are not my interest but the opening of the knife by the movement of the handle makes the knife legal in Canada as did the Paul method at that time because the blade does not move -- only the handle.

 

[Lorien]

ohhhh, really...

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I really like these knives. The first one really appeals to me.

 

[Lycosa]

I like the Goblin! But that handle will have to be Polymer, for me. Thanks for the Post.

 

[David Wesner]

Really nice pics Coop ! Cool Vid ! Great looking knives ! I like both of them but something about that Chameleon really turns my crank :thumbup: :thumbup: I love it Well done Dan !!