Dyed Camel Bone

Von Hagen Knives

Von Hagen Knives

Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
227
Why Just Own A Knife When You Can Own A Piece Of Art?​

My name is Richard Von Hagen Palmer, functional artist and the maker of Von Hagen Knives. I love to make knives and almost every knife I make is for sale. Each original, one of a kind Von Hagen Knife is handmade by me. For me, part of the thrill of being a functional artist is sketching out my ideas on paper and then watching them come to life by my hands and in front of my eyes.
This is just that. I listen to the input from my loyal customers and what I heard from some is that they like the Bush Style Knife but the handle was a bit bulky for their personal preference. I sketched out many versions and came up with this. It fits nicely in the hand and feels like it belongs just there. I am very happy with the way the entire knife came out: the grind, the edge, the proportion, the look of the handle...

Thank you for taking the time to look at my work. I hope you like what you see.

This NEW UTILITY STYLE KNIFE is ground from 1/8" thick 01 TOOL STEEL bar stock. The FULL TAPERED TANG knife is 8 3/4" long. The 4 1/8" blade has a FLAT GRIND. At it's widest part, the blade is 1 3/16". The handle is DYED CAMEL BONE. It has been dyed green and stabilized. This knife also has a BLACK VULCANIZED SPACER.

This is the first time I have used Camel Bone on a knife. I bought this Green Scale back in February with the intention of making a "St. Patrick's Day Knife." Although I didn't make it for St. Patty's Day, I am very excited about the way the material worked. It is hard, it is sturdy. It looks and feels like a polished rock.

The handle is tapered and hollow ground. This assures that the knife is perfectly balanced – not too heavy in the blade, not too heavy in the handle. Have you ever used a knife that was either too heavy or not balanced? It feels awkward. Your hand can tire out faster. You may not even recognize that there is a problem. Once you use a balanced knife, you will recognize what you have been missing.

So, that is what I have to offer... My Best. I call myself a functional artist because for the fifteen years I have been making knives, I have believed that a knife should be a work of art but MUST be functional. You should never be afraid to take it out and to use it. The craftsmanship of the art should be such that it will hold up. I will stand up and say, with confidence, that there may be similar knives out there but there is no other knife out there like this one. If my legacy comes to pass, I believe these knives will be out there long after you and I are gone.

Thanks for looking,
Rick
 
I like your knives as well but can you tell me where on earth do the knife makers find all these odd bones to make the handles ,Camel ,Giraffe.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Love the knife. Not sure what say about the colour you dyed the camel bone.
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Keith (and S),

Yeah, I bought this particular piece of Dyed Camel Bone sight unseen. I had been in a shop and saw the Camel Bone Scales and didn't buy any. I kicked myself in the pants all the way home. A few days later, my wife convinced me that I should JUST GET SOME (trying to shut me up I guess)!! Instead of driving almost an hour BACK to the shop, I called them and ordered a green one over the phone. While I cannot complain too hard, I have learned that the next time I get some (and I will be getting more), I need to get in the car, drive out there and pick out my own scales! The green ones that they had in their shop were BEAUTIFUL!! It's still a nice piece and I am happy with the way it turned out.
Well, lesson learned!!

Rick
 
Tinbasher said:
I like your knives as well but can you tell me where on earth do the knife makers find all these odd bones to make the handles ,Camel ,Giraffe.
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Thanks.
There are a few small shops around here that cater to the "knife making group." I have a few that I will visit semi regularly.

Other times I find things on e-bay. Sometimes I am amazed at the material that I have been lucky enough to find, AND at great prices! In the three or four years that I have been buying and selling on e-bay, I have only had one person who was not up front and honest. Not enough to scare me away.


Thanks again,
Rick
 
Tinbasher said:
Mabe I should have used the term "Exotic" instead of odd.
Do you think he can turn that one into a Bowie by playing with it a little ;)
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I really think it is getting larger, it has been handled a lot, been showing it off to my friends, after they are holding it, I have been telling them what the handles are made of. But now for a dumb question, I have never seen a bowie with blades on both ends, how am I going to throw it?:D
 
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