Elephant toenail slipjoint

[kirilov customs]

Happy new year to everybody, health and wealth!
My first knife for this year is this elephant toenail slipjoint. I did my asymmetric, excited owl shield inlay on this, combined with some fine antler ( at least I like it ). This is first no half-stop knife I make, big thanks to Bobby Tole for sharing this pattern with me. Blade is from AEB-L steel cryo quenched at 60HRC and it’s 2” long. Handle is stainless and antler. Inlay is stainless and brass. Spring is flush with handle at open and closed position and blade sits in center wen closed. Closed this knife is at 3 1/4” . I hope you like it!
Thank you!

Elephant toenail slipjoint by Nikolay Kirilov, on Flickr
Elephant toenail slipjoint by Nikolay Kirilov, on Flickr
Elephant toenail slipjoint by Nikolay Kirilov, on Flickr
Elephant toenail slipjoint by Nikolay Kirilov, on Flickr

Video:
Elephant toenail slipjoint by Nikolay Kirilov, on Flickr

 

[brownshoe]

Very nice. Don't see them too often these days. AKA sunffish pattern, Don Hanson used to make them, I believe that's where the name of his shop, Sunfish Forge, came from.

What the eyes made of? Which do you find more difficult, 1/2 stop or no 1/2 stop? One final question , are the bolsters integral?

 

[Bigfattyt]

Very nice. One of my favorite patterns.

AEBL is a wonderful steel choice as well!!

 

[kirilov customs]

Very nice. Don't see them too often these days. AKA sunffish pattern, Don Hanson used to make them, I believe that's where the name of his shop, Sunfish Forge, came from.

What the eyes made of? Which do you find more difficult, 1/2 stop or no 1/2 stop? One final question , are the bolsters integral?

Hello, the eyes are made of brass pins and etched a bit. i think 1/2 stop and no 1/2 stop are same in difficulty to make it good. For the bolsters, they are soldered. Thanks for comments

 

[brownshoe]

Thanks. I was told once by a maker half stops were easier than rounded tangs, but that was one man's opinion. He equated it to a circle being harder than a right angle, but then some people have no trouble with circles.

I took a look at your album and liked the retrospective view. Thanks foor posting here. You have a distinctive style and it appears each knife is unique. Many makers cannot accomplish that no matter how technically competent they may be. That's makes you more of an artist than artisan.