Hello, fellow Guardians. I hope you will forgive my relative silence - I don't keep up with things nearly as well as I used to be able to. That said, I am always close by.
I have a pretty special project to share with you all. Some time ago, I acquired a fairly unique Lambsfoot - a decidedly Lambsfoot blade on a swell center (coke bottle) frame. Though I have seen the frame paired with other blades, I haven't seen this particular combination anywhere before or since. Jack, I believe, has a similar knife but with a spear blade, which (from what I understand) is a more typical combination.
I have a fondness for the coke bottle shape and so it was much to my delight to have found this example and I had to make it mine. However, the blade was used and treated rather poorly and despite it still having the ability to perform as a cutting tool, I was left with a small sense of wanting. I had reached out to a couple of makers to possibly embark on recreating this unique piece, only to largely be met with crickets.
I became aware of Rhidian's work through Charlie's lavish (and well deserved) praise here on the forums and so I tossed the dice and reached out. Much to my surprise and delight, not only was
Rhidian
receptive to the idea, I was able to meet him at the Oregon Show, give him the subject knife and seal the deal.
H
herder
also took the opportunity to examine the knife and he made some keen observations - dating the blade to around the '30s (if I recall correctly) and believing it to be all original, despite me thinking it might have been a re-blade at some point.
I was expecting a bit of a wait but Rhidian wasted no time. He gave me permission to share some progress pics - I'm also including pictures I took of it after its arrival today. Just an incredible knife that captures absolutely everything from the original piece that I had hoped would carry over.
A2 steel with steel hardware and ebony covers - an absolute beauty that melts in the hands and practically sings with its walk-n-talk. I couldn't be happier with my first foray into custom slipjoints.
The original subject knife:
Some in-progress pics of the project:
The finished knife!
Here next to its inspiration.
I am very, very pleased with this one - it's going to get an enormous amount of mileage.
I know it's hard to have fun in a place like that but maybe just darts next time...
He is truly a special guy.
. 20 year old paul speaking.
