David Stifle Ideal Custom... meet Elvis

Codger_64

Codger_64

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ELVIS is back in the building! My new knife arrived today, a custom recreation of the 1902 Marbles' Ideal by knifemaker David Stifle. I could not be more pleased with the knife or with David. He was great to collaborate with on this project. In fact, the friendship as much as the knife is a blessing. The knife itself is a beaut. Very well made and even with so many grind details on the blade, the left side matches the right pefectly. And no "wavey gravy" to the final blade polish either. The stag handle and pommel are drop dead gorgeous in texture detail, fit and finish. There is an engraving on blade left as well. "In Honor of Gene W. Little U.S.N. WWII". A fitting heirloom tribute to my personal hero, my father who finished his work here 25 years ago next month. Thank you David.

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Apologies for cluttering the photo with so many objects. Most pertain to my Father and the inscription.

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I can't believe how nice that came out. The stag is absolutely gorgeous. Nicely done David.
Congrats on the beautiful knife Codger.
 
I'm really glad you like it, Michael. I like making the old classic patterns, and the Marbles are some of my favorites.

Mack, thanks for the compliment.
 
I am bumping this one with good reason. I want David and everyone else to see what I found, a new home for Elvis Ideal. Rummaging in the boxes and cabinets of my long-closed-off spare bedroom, I found a special custom sheath made for me back in 2005 for one of my knives which was stolen. Out of curiosity I tried it on Elvis for size. Perfict fit! Elvis has a new Graceland!

Made by Sheathmaker, Paul Long, it is custom tooled Herman Oak leather, hornback alligator inserts, doeskin lined, and nicely hand tooled. The back, with Paul's cartouche is my name and the date, a perfect match heirloom sheath for this heirloom knife!


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Is this one that was stolen from you Roger?

It looks great, a great project all around!
 
A Justice said:
Is this one that was stolen from you Roger?

It looks great, a great project all around!
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Michael here. No, the knife that was stolen, that this sheath was made for, was a limited edition Schrade 165UH. This knife, made for me by David, was post-theft.
 
the radiused plunge is a great feature. Nice knife!
 
Codger_64 said:
Michael here. No, the knife that was stolen, that this sheath was made for, was a limited edition Schrade 165UH. This knife, made for me by David, was post-theft.
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lol sorry Codger, I wasn't paying attention and put a real name in place of your handle. I thought this might have been a knife that you couldn't find a replacement for after the theft so you got one made just like it. The Sheath is awesome, and goes great with the knife - it looks like it fits this one better than it would a 165UH. It almost makes me want to go hunt and skin an Alligator!!
 
Michael,
You have a very Beautiful Knife and a Great Tribute to Your Father.
There is no doubt that David Stifle put his Heart and Soul into this knife.
Your Paul Long Sheath looks like it was made for this particular knife.
Your photos that you took are very meaningful, Thank You for sharing them with us.
I would like to know about the pocket knife with Our Flag.
 
All I can say is DAMM , What a great rig Michael. The fact that you still had the sheath means its been waiting all this time for that knife to come and fill it. (you are my density. )
So I take it this set up will not be in the Jarbenza GAW as a 3rd prize?...:)
And as far as "clutter", what clutter? Those are your memories Michael. The travelars and summer walkers believe that as long as one is remembered then they're never really gone. You enjoy your knife and it's revived sheath and all your good memories. God Speed....
1 Corinthians 11:2 ..now I praise you brothers that you remebered me in all things and keep the traditions as I have taught them to you...
billy...
 
Greykilt said:
Just noticed the Gene Autry watch dial. Pretty cool Codger!
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My father's "Your Pal Always" Gene Autry watch. The 7.7 Arisaka rifle he brought back from the Pacific in WWII. His signed Zippo lighter which Zippo repinned for me back in '94 for free. The little flag knife is a boy's "nickel knife" from 1910, made in Germany and imported by Adolph Kastor.

Ad from 1910 jobber catalog.

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Michael,

Congrats on a great package, I'm with Lorien on the radiused plunge.
David and Paul's craftsmanship are to be commended, at the very least.
So cool to have this tribute/homage knife to your father.

Those original Marbles were the cat's @ss when they were around.
I managed to pick up a stag crown Marbles Ideal before they sold the company and the quality dropped.
Got it from AG around 10 yrs. ago, one factory knife that was screamin' sharp right outta' the box..

The little flag knife imported by Adolph Kastor is pretty cool, too.
I'm half Kraut, half Mick and my last name is Castor, from my father's side.
Was told the forebears dropped the K and added a C to Americanize the name.

Now we know each other's names. :)

Doug
 
In fact, Adolph Kastor's German name, his father's name was Koester. Which his uncle Aaron anglicised to Kastor when he immigrated to Vicksburg in 1847. Adolph did like wise, and so did his brothers Sigmund, August and Nathan in turn when they each immigrated from Wattenburg. One of their import brandings was "J. Koesters Sons".

Oh... and the eight point rack in the top picture was from a buck killed my my grandfather in 1959. The mount had deteriorated so badly there was no saving it, but I kept the antlers.

Indeed I was thrilled that the Stifle knife fit the custom sheath so well. Paul, long familiar with knives and leather, constructed it so that the leather does not abrade or tarnish the knife and many leather sheaths do.
 
I found the matching Paul Long Sharpfinger sheath and, lo and behold, it makes a perfect home for the Ryan Weeks SPK rendition of the Sharpfinger! Two classic customs with natural handle materials in matching custom sheaths!

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Codger_64 said:
I found the matching Paul Long Sharpfinger sheath and, lo and behold, it makes a perfect home for the Ryan Weeks SPK rendition of the Sharpfinger! Two classic customs with natural handle materials in matching custom sheaths!
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That is just too cool. Pretty fancy pants on those tried and true workhorse patterns, but I like it!
 
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It just doesn't get a whole lot better than that.
 
Nicely done, and a great style of knife to be making in my opinion. :D
 
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