Four

P. McKinley

P. McKinley

Joined
Jan 27, 2008
Messages
2,010
I've built 78 knives worth speaking about. This is the first time I've duplicated a design.
The blades/tangs are about as exactly the same as I can make them. The wood selection is just some of slab sets I have on the shelf in front of me.

I needed a few knives for a new high-end outdoor/camping/water sports store recently opened here on the island. I hope they like these. I'm currently working on a few "camp knives" to go with this set.

Thanks for looking. Please give me your thoughts.

Thanks,

Peter

Blades: 5" x 1/4" of 1095 (Aldo), clay quenched, flat ground, with an 800 grit hand sanded finish then etched and polished to show a prominent hamon.

Handles: 4 3/4" of Redwood burl(Its A Burl), figured American Walnut, figured, Red Maple, figured Purple Heart, stainless steel pins and a buffed Tung oil finish.

Sheaths: 6/7 oz veg tanned leather(RJF Leather) lightly wet formed, hand stitched, with a corresponding wood maker's mark tag on the belt loop and a buffed Mink oil finish.


http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/

Figured American Walnut:

http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/

Figured Red Maple:

http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/

Redwood Burl:

http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/

Purple Heart:

http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/


http://postimage.org/
 
Last edited:
I think you have some great fixed blades there for the new store. "Upscale" is right. And those sheaths with the mink oil finish look really superb.
Very nice work, sir.
 
I like 'em - especially the purple heart. I especially like the way the sheathes are each matched to one of the knives.
 
I also like the way the sheaths match the knives.

Guards are a good thing, they are even better when it is a complimentary material,(copper, bronze, mokume gane, stainless, damascus....) If these are to be high end knives, they would be MORE high end with a metal guard/bolster thingy, imo. I have a preference for tapered tangs, and lined lanyard holes. If you have never had the opportunity to handle a well-made Loveless style knife, you are missing out on some excellent tips for shaping handles.

I might like domed pins more on these knives, and if not domed, definitely mosaic.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I'd be very interested to hear which store, and how much the knives will go for at full retail price.

If it's $500 or slightly less, then dudes will be getting a great knife at a fair price, (you US folk, keep in mind this is Canada we're talking about).
$350 or thereabouts, and killer deal for the shoppers!

The shoppers might not know about pricing, or aware of what kind of money crappy, (relatively speaking) production knives fetch, but educated sales staff with help them to understand why.

Folks will decide to buy the knife for the copper thingie on the sheath, I'll bet on it, and I'm not a gambling man.

You need to go in there, though, and educate whatever staff they might have about your knives. Materials used and their value, how much time it takes, what kind of service, (sharpening) you can supply. Very important. A great many successful knife makers built their success upon repeat sales and good relations with sporting goods retailers, one of whom has been mentioned.

If they're worth dealing with, the owners will supply pizza and beer for an after hours 'Product Knowledge' session for their staff and you. Bring any other knives you've made that you have in hand, invite them to your shop for a day...whatever. Learn from the staff- if you can supply product that is in demand at the right price with integrity, you might receive a 'knifemaker's subsidy'.

This is a good opportunity I guess is what I'm saying. And you did great with the knives, they are very utilitarian and appealing.
 
I like them (knives and sheaths). And they are not only very well executed, but also really nice user grade knives.
I agree with Steven in that tapered tangs, dome pins, lanyard's, perhaps inducing a guard into the design give you opportunity to evolve these to higher levels if/or as you see fit.

I expect these will be perceived as "high end" knives by this store's clientèle even though we may not consider them as "high end custom" knives.
 
I just read Lorien's post and agree with his after hours "meet the staff" session, however you and the store may get even more mileage from a customer "meet and visit with the knifemaker" session. The store's clients most likely know nothing about custom knives, however I bet they would be pretty interested.
 
Thank you everyone.

STeven -
....they would be MORE high end with a metal guard/bolster thingy, imo
Click to expand...
The "camp knives" I'm building for the store will all have guards or bolsters for exactly that reason. I wanted these to be on the "user grade" side of the pricing so I left these rather simple. You're right, a lanyard hole/attachment would have been a nice touch. I thought about it, but......

If you have never had the opportunity to handle a well-made Loveless style knife, you are missing out on some excellent tips for shaping handles.
Click to expand...
I never have had that opportunity. Please, lend me one of yours for a good fondling... please? :p
I do skeletonize the handles of these full tangs though. I tried to get the pre-handle balance point of these right at the ricasso which, I believe, accomplishes the same balancing objective as tapering. However, I like those sleek lines that tapering achieves. I've not yet tried to do a tapered tang. Soon.

Lorien - http://www.escapeoutdoors.ca/index.php

These will be in the $350.00-385.00 range.

You need to go in there, though, and educate whatever staff they might have about your knives
Click to expand...
Already planned.

Thanks again folks.

-Peter
 
Last edited:
Kohai999 said:
I also like the way the sheaths match the knives.

Guards are a good thing, they are even better when it is a complimentary material,(copper, bronze, mokume gane, stainless, damascus....) If these are to be high end knives, they would be MORE high end with a metal guard/bolster thingy, imo. I have a preference for tapered tangs, and lined lanyard holes. If you have never had the opportunity to handle a well-made Loveless style knife, you are missing out on some excellent tips for shaping handles.

I might like domed pins more on these knives, and if not domed, definitely mosaic.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

I agree with this. It is rare for me to buy a fixed blade knife without a guard. And a little dressing up with a lined lanyard hole and dome pins could go a long way.
 
The Virginian said:
I agree with this. It is rare for me to buy a fixed blade knife without a guard. And a little dressing up with a lined lanyard hole and dome pins could go a long way.
Click to expand...

Wait about...........ohhhhh....... four days or so for the lined lanyard hole :p

Virginian, STeven, others - The domed pin; is this preference driven by pure aesthetics, or is there a more functional reason for domed vs. polished flat. Or, peened?
Is this a longer term concern possibly of handle material movement exposing sharp edges?

Thanks all.

-Peter
 
I find the set very attractive and spot on as far as aesthetics.
Just the right amount of eye candy with the hamon and very nicely done sheaths.

My personal favorite is the figured red maple.

Nicely done!
 
Bigblue17 said:
Wait about...........ohhhhh....... four days or so for the lined lanyard hole :p

Virginian, STeven, others - The domed pin; is this preference driven by pure aesthetics, or is there a more functional reason for domed vs. polished flat. Or, peened?
Is this a longer term concern possibly of handle material movement exposing sharp edges?

Thanks all.

-Peter
Click to expand...

Domed pins just look AND feel nicer, imo, and do allow for some material movement, in my experience. If you had only wanted to do flush pins, that is why I recommended mosaic pins.

e-mail me your address and I'll see what can be sent to you.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Nice set of knives. Beautiful woods - and the "wood" detail on the sheaths is really cool.

I like 'em!

Kind regards,

Jos
 
Kives and sheaths combine for an appealing package. The matching wood tabs on the sheaths are a very nice touch. I expect they will present very well at the store.
 
Peter, I hope I didn't step on my d*ck with my comments. My enthusiasm for others' potential for success sometimes gets the better of me to the point where I don't know when to shut up:o

Sounds like you got it all well in hand!
 
Great looking knives. perfect using knife, I like the purple hart of the four the best. The sheaths are very nice.

Steve
 
Lorien said:
Peter, I hope I didn't step on my d*ck with my comments. My enthusiasm for others' potential for success sometimes gets the better of me to the point where I don't know when to shut up:o

Sounds like you got it all well in hand!
Click to expand...

Lorien - I'm not sure whether to cringe or be extremely jealous at that thought. :p

Thank you all for your comments.
I never would have thought Purple Heart would have been the favorite.

-Peter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top