- Joined
- Feb 29, 2016
- Messages
- 3
My name is Tom Stone. For the last three years I have been making custom designed one of a kind knives and giving them to friends and customers of my main business, Environmental Spill Control. I use high carbon steel, example: files, reciprocating saw blades, 24 inch diameter saw mill blades, lawn mower blades, leaf springs, and repurposed discarded stainless steel knives, which I pick and choose carefully. A few examples: Sheffield, Rogers, Westminster, Tramontina, etc.
I confess I am an environmentalist. I repurpose whenever possible because I hate seeing good steel go to waste. For my handles I use American and exotic woods. Examples, American Walnut, White and Red Oak, Cherry, Maple, curly Maple, burled Beech, and Chestnut Oak which produces unbelievably beautiful handles. Exotic woods, which are becoming very hard to get such as IPE, (Brazilian Walnut), Cocobolo, Osage Orange, Lacewood and a few more. I prefer not to use any rivets or pins. I have taken over 200 knives apart. Some relatively new and some probably 100 plus years old. Every knife has rust on the metal where the handle made contact with the tang. Instead of rivets or pins I cut a slot in the wood wider than the blade and secure the tang to the wood with industrial strength epoxy. I have made 228 knives since beginning and yet to have anyone tell me their knife has failed them. After super fine sanding I coat each knife a minimum of six times in clear gloss polyurethane. Each knife is signed, numbered, dated, and I print the type of wood and what the knife was prior to making it into a knife. This way the owner has a history of the knife, which they can share with friends. Recently I was very fortunate to trade a friend a beautiful knife for some aged Black Walnut with burling, which is very rare and oh so beautiful. I have also been fortunate enough to obtain a few deer and elk antlers, so I will be adding these to my inventory.
I just turned 69 in January. They told me, that makes me an old fart. I have been on this earth long enough to have learned a few things. If one pays attention through life one is suppose to get older, wiser, and hopefully smarter. I consider myself above average intelligence and fairly wise. Add to this a bit of art talent and you should have the makings of a decent knife maker. I realized I would need sheaths so I bought some leather, thread and needles and added that art to my inventory. Turns out I took to it well. I'll let you be the final judge of that.
Please take a few minutes of your time and visit my website, www.tomstoneoneofakindknives.com. I enlisted the help of site experts in building this site. It is suppose to be attractive and easy to navigate. I have posted as many photos as I have available at this time. These photos are as large as allowed on this site, however one can hover over the image for an enlarged view. If you would be so kind, I would appreciate reading your opinions.
This past December I decided to rent a table at the Charlotte, NC Dixie Gun and Knife show. I was prepared to pay my dues. I am aware most of the time it takes about three years to put a new business in the black. To my pleasant surprise I sold six knives at my first showing. It wasn't much, but it was a start. I have tried to show in a gun and knife show every weekend since beginning. My record sales were the week before Christmas at the Dixie show in Raleigh, NC. I sold 16 knives. Of course this gave me a much needed boost in self esteem. I have posted a list of shows I will be attending on my site. If you are in the area, please drop by and say hello.
As soon as I learn the ropes here I will post a few pics, so keep an eye open. I think you will be impressed. Not bragging, just passing along what I have been told by those who have purchased my knives.
I hope you have found this thread informative and interesting. I am in this for the long haul. I would deeply appreciate any and all help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Tom Stone
One of a Kind Knives
I confess I am an environmentalist. I repurpose whenever possible because I hate seeing good steel go to waste. For my handles I use American and exotic woods. Examples, American Walnut, White and Red Oak, Cherry, Maple, curly Maple, burled Beech, and Chestnut Oak which produces unbelievably beautiful handles. Exotic woods, which are becoming very hard to get such as IPE, (Brazilian Walnut), Cocobolo, Osage Orange, Lacewood and a few more. I prefer not to use any rivets or pins. I have taken over 200 knives apart. Some relatively new and some probably 100 plus years old. Every knife has rust on the metal where the handle made contact with the tang. Instead of rivets or pins I cut a slot in the wood wider than the blade and secure the tang to the wood with industrial strength epoxy. I have made 228 knives since beginning and yet to have anyone tell me their knife has failed them. After super fine sanding I coat each knife a minimum of six times in clear gloss polyurethane. Each knife is signed, numbered, dated, and I print the type of wood and what the knife was prior to making it into a knife. This way the owner has a history of the knife, which they can share with friends. Recently I was very fortunate to trade a friend a beautiful knife for some aged Black Walnut with burling, which is very rare and oh so beautiful. I have also been fortunate enough to obtain a few deer and elk antlers, so I will be adding these to my inventory.
I just turned 69 in January. They told me, that makes me an old fart. I have been on this earth long enough to have learned a few things. If one pays attention through life one is suppose to get older, wiser, and hopefully smarter. I consider myself above average intelligence and fairly wise. Add to this a bit of art talent and you should have the makings of a decent knife maker. I realized I would need sheaths so I bought some leather, thread and needles and added that art to my inventory. Turns out I took to it well. I'll let you be the final judge of that.
Please take a few minutes of your time and visit my website, www.tomstoneoneofakindknives.com. I enlisted the help of site experts in building this site. It is suppose to be attractive and easy to navigate. I have posted as many photos as I have available at this time. These photos are as large as allowed on this site, however one can hover over the image for an enlarged view. If you would be so kind, I would appreciate reading your opinions.
This past December I decided to rent a table at the Charlotte, NC Dixie Gun and Knife show. I was prepared to pay my dues. I am aware most of the time it takes about three years to put a new business in the black. To my pleasant surprise I sold six knives at my first showing. It wasn't much, but it was a start. I have tried to show in a gun and knife show every weekend since beginning. My record sales were the week before Christmas at the Dixie show in Raleigh, NC. I sold 16 knives. Of course this gave me a much needed boost in self esteem. I have posted a list of shows I will be attending on my site. If you are in the area, please drop by and say hello.
As soon as I learn the ropes here I will post a few pics, so keep an eye open. I think you will be impressed. Not bragging, just passing along what I have been told by those who have purchased my knives.
I hope you have found this thread informative and interesting. I am in this for the long haul. I would deeply appreciate any and all help. I look forward to hearing from you.
Tom Stone
One of a Kind Knives
