Don Hanson and Paul Long, both BTTB

canineforge

canineforge

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Nov 21, 2005
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This recent acquisition took place in part to the presence of Al Dippold at the St. Louis Knife Show. Don had three large fixed blades and two fancy folders on his table. The discussion was on sharpness. The next thing we know Al is getting some of his cigarette papers out to test with. "If a blade cuts this with ease, it is sharp." They were all super sharp, but the winner seemed to be the big, bad, machete-like knife Don had forged out of an old, large industrial file. I became intrigued. I went back to this one several times and before the weekend was over, I said I'll take it.
Don said he just had the urge to make something big and mean, which happens to him occasionally after doing the delicate work on a few folders in a row. The file steel acted a lot like W2, high-carbon, low alloy, fine-grained. 1/32nd under 1/4-inch thick, 1 3/4-inches wide, and 12 1/2-inch blade, the knife is 18-inches overall. With the edge finished thin, as in very sharp! Full tang (tapered), Hawaiian Koa wood handle with stainless steel bolts. This one is a bit different from Don's norm, but is quite the knife in the hand.
Just got it back from Paul Long's. Paul e-mailed when he received it and thought I was sending him a shotgun. ;) Here is what the knife and handy work of Paul Long looks like. Fittingly, called this one 'Bad to the Bone'.

BTTB3.jpg


BTTB7-1.jpg


BTTB5-1.jpg


BTTB7.jpg


BTTB9.jpg


Thanks for looking!

- Joe
 
Joe, that's a great story. :thumbup: The mighty BTTB Kamper!

It looks particularly lethal: No Frills. Big Honkin™ blade. Sharp as Hell.

I also like a sense of humor involved in such serious cutlery. ;)

Thanks!

Coop
 
What fun ,Joe. Nothing like a sweet little (12 1/2") drop-point to start a conversation off on the right path....
Good pick.
John
 
Way to Go Joe
Was tormented by that piece ..Glad she went to you
sheath is cool !
 
Outstanding knife and sheath from two of the finest Gentlemen extant.....congrats! :thumbup:

Now if I could only get Don to make ME something like that.....;)
 
That's not Hawaiian Koa wood, it's C U R L Y Hawaiian Koa, and I can't keep my eyes in their sockets. Even Don's utilitarian blades have creme de la creme handles. Would love to have BTTB and Paul's sheath in my elk camp.

Ken
 
Great score and love the sheath. Wish there was a little more hamon action on that blade though ..... LOL. Don's the best!
 
I would not have guessed the blade was THAT big from the photos. :eek: Very cool piece. I like mixing up the fancy stuff with something basic and elemental. This is a very impressive "old-timey" piece.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
I would not have guessed the blade was THAT big from the photos. :eek: Very cool piece. I like mixing up the fancy stuff with something basic and elemental. This is a very impressive "old-timey" piece.

Roger
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was thinking. It helps when a reference point or object is added to delineate size.
 
Kevin, your's may be this sharp, I can't remember, I don't keep 'cig paper' in the shop. Will need to get some for more testing.

Roger, Kevin, it is deceptively Large :D

Gabe, I grind my blades very thin at the edge and when I'm done hand sanding, they are almost sharp. I then sharpen with a worn out 400 grit belt on the slack part of my belt grinder and finish up on a leather strop. This blade steel is ultra low alloy but very high carbon (much like W2) and this with the right thermal cycling, produces ultra fine grain in the steel with very small carbids. All this equals a very high level of sharpness. :)

Ken, Curly Koa it is, good stuff :thumbup:

Thanks muck for the good words, folks :) and very special thanks to you, Joe!
 
Appreciate all the comments, guys. There are two things that are true here: 1) my photography has miles to travel, 2) it IS important to have a reference point/rule of some sort with most images, especially average to poor images! ;)
My poor angles on the whole package images both shortens and elongates to give a false impression.
Here are a couple of shots to try to show the blade activity better and the scary sharp edge.
Plus, the CURLY Koa is some nice stuff, Ken! Sorry my images don't pronounce it better.

BTTB8.jpg


BTTBedge2.jpg



Thanks! - Joe
 
Don this knife is very cool. The photos don't tell how great the feel was on this one.It has great flow in the hand.I loved seeing it at the show.
 
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