Darrel Ralph

Joined
Oct 4, 1998
Messages
696
I must say that I have had the pleasure to spend time with Darrel and his family this last weekend. It never ceases to amaze me at the ability of custom knife makers to share there time, warmth,lot's of patience and knowledge with folks they met with the same common interests.

I learned to make folders a little over a year ago with Kit Carson. I have a few dozen under my belt now and was looking for help with the finer points of spring steel. I have met and talked to Darrel at past shows and he has always offered friendly advice to a new knife maker. He invited me over for a lesson or two!

I arrived on Thursday late afternoon and stayed until Monday early evening. There was alot to learn in a short period of time. I had sent him the autosketch CAD of my latest drawing and he worked it to accomidate a leaf spring. We worked for 4 days from 8 am to 2am each of the first 3 days. I bet Darrel is glad I left!
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I tell ya that it will take me a while to get back to normal.

The outcome was well worth the time and effort! The knife we built together was a rocker lock auto with colored and textured Ti bolsters. White pearl scales with a gold overlay on the rocker. Pearl scales are file worked right now and the liners and backspacer will be down the road. Ran out of time. Blade is 440V with a satin finish. Picture to follow.

My heartfelt Thanks goes out to Darrel, Sharon,Bob,Ian and Bruno!

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Fantastic looking knife. I will be doing folders by the end of the summer, and I will be into autos within 8 months. I can't wait. I hope they turn out as nice as that.

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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
 
Beautiful work CJ and Darrel. CJ, I second Darrel's opinion. Seems like you have impressed two of my favorite makers and Blues too!

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"Life is too short to carry an ugly knife." Steve F.
 
Darrel,
Good to see the plan worked. Work him till he falls. Glad it was your turn. Took me a week to get over his first visit.
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Great looking knife, CJ. I assume you will have it at the Blade Show?
 
CJ, thats one sweet looking folder!
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It must have been a blast spending the time with Kit and Darrel. Kit has always said you were a quick learner.
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Pop into chat some time in the evenings, we miss having you there.



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Ray 'md2020'

ATKI member #A001042
 
Quiet, Gus!!!

It'll go to his head!
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Seriously though, CJ shows much talent and promise as a knifemaker. Plus, with makers like Kit and Darrel helping along the way, his odds of great success are only enhanced.

I'm proud to own one of his earliest pieces and to count him amongst my friends.

Blues

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Live Free or Die

Some Knife Pix
 
CJ did a great job .
Kit I know what you mean. We worked like a normal knife maker hahaha. Hell I miss days of our lives and all the good shows on tv for several days. I give CJ some tough tasks that only talent can overcome.
He flew (get it) right through them..even when he was tired haha..
He has the passion of a knife maker..
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I did find out though that CJ likes listening
to the blues channel on the radio.
He is a blues man for sure.
We made up a song from the tunes we heard. We had the "ano ti spring steel blues down to our shoes". By BLIND MELLON SHYTLIN
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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
New Web at www.darrelralph.com

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 05-03-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 05-03-2000).]
 
CJ - great job! That's a great looking knife you got there. You show me that knife in Atlanta and I'll show you my new Carsons
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AKTI Member # A000005
Living life "on the edge"
 
Thanks for the great comments guys! I couldn't have done it without the help of Darrel and Kit doing alot of spoon feeding thru my thick skull! It has been a childhood dream come true for sure. I have lots of new ideas and will take my own path on some upcoming knives. I will be at the Blade show and hope to see you all there and drink a few brewski's and tell a few lies!
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"I have da leaf spring Ba-lues for shore"
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[This message has been edited by CJ (edited 05-03-2000).]
 
Nice job CJ, Congratulations.

Looking forward to getting together as one big happy knife family and swigging some brews at Blade. To all you makers attending, keep on makin um! Its right around the corner.

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Sincerely,
Outdoor Edge Cutlery Corp.


David Bloch

See our Online Catalog at: http://www.outdooredge.com


 
CJ & DDR,

Why did you use CPM-440V and not Darrel's famous CPM-420V?
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" Knife Collectors Are Sharp People - Most of the time that is! "
 
Because I had the pieces already cut to shape before I went to Darrel's and thats all I had in stock. It was 440V,440C or Stellite. Darrel thought 440V was the best choice or the 3.
 
I sent Darrel an email the other evening, he responded immediately. We traded a few emails, then I called his place today.

Without question, Darrel is one of the easiest guys to talk to that I have ever met. Darned helpful, and just a wealth of information. What a nice guy. After talking about several of his knives, I ordered an auto.

This is one of the great ones folks.

Thanks Darrel.
 
AN AUTO! LUCKY GUY YOU!
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DDR lives and works in oHIo and is able to make AUTO's legally, but they are illegal for the common citizen to own & carry here....that's not fair!
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Hey DDR, see what you can do about getting that law changed here in oHIo, you got some pull, I know you do & I know you can
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" Knife Collectors Are Sharp People - Most of the time that is! "
 
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