David Boye 2" Dropped Edge

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Arguably David Boye's most famous design and one of his favorites -

David Boye 2" Dropped Edge
[Updated image to include sheath March/31/2003 15:25 EDT]
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2.2" blade of BDS - (Boye Dedritic Steel - cast 440C) stabilized birdseye maple (burl) handles, with brass spacers and turquoise insert - 6" overall length.
Francine Martin etch

Who is David Boye?

- only the author of this legendary book:
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Step-by-Step Knifemaking: You Can Do It!
by David Boye
Paperback: 274 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.71 x 8.64 x 7.84
Publisher: Boye Knives; Revised edition (June 2000)
ISBN: 0615116590

I recall persuading David to exhibit at the New York Knife Show in the early '90's - and watching the number of established knifemakers/exhibitors come to his table just to acknowledge their start with his book.
The book also has photos of some stunning Francine Martin etches.........
 
Here's a plain version - the first knife I bought from David Boye.

I asked him which knife was his favorite and most representative - the one most associated with him -
and without hesitation he said the 2" dropped edge.

David Boye 2" Dropped Edge plain
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2" BDS blade, Cocobolo handle, 5 5/8" overall length

Differences between this earlier (circa ~1991) plain and the later fancier custom version above (circa ~1995) is that the blade on the plain is slightly shorter and has a hollow-gound vs. the flat ground of the custom version. Overall the plain is some 3/8" shorter than the custom and there is no lanyard hole on the plain. The sheaths are also different

Here's a side-by-side comparison photo from which the individual enlargements were taken:

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wow, those are beautiful -- I'm a big fan of Boye. I wish they weren't so hard to find.
 
Originally posted by NFMee
wow, those are beautiful -- I'm a big fan of Boye. I wish they weren't so hard to find.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments.

Have you actually tried to contact David Boye to see if he can supply/make you the knife you want?

The fancier "custom" version of the 2" dropped edge was specifically ordered with the materials and etch when I was at the 1995 Blade Show in Atlanta (actually from his gorgeous daughter) and I received the knife a few months later - with everything as specified including the autographed sheath.

This is his web site with details of his contact information:

http://www.boyeknives.com/about_us.htm

Yes, there is "something" about a David Boye knife. I have one of his lightweight lockback BDS folders with Eagle wing design - and it's one of my sharpest and "cuttin'est" knives - I've spoken to David several times about this one - he even made one especially for my son - I think it's because the blade is hollow-ground but does not thicken toward the edge and my one sample is pretty thin.

When I showed the plain 2" dropped edge to a friend of mine who has only a passing interest in knives - he said he could see there was something very usable and elegantly functional about that knife, and could see himself carrying one.
 
Good to see someone still appreciates his work. Here's my little collection.
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Very neat stuff.., and a very talented guy. I've got one of the fixed blades Tony just pictured, and a couple of Balisongs David made. Exceptionally wellmade knives...
 
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