How about a little RENO preview?

RogerP · Jan 20, 2005

A better idea would be a BIG Reno preview, so makers please post up pics of your Reno knives, or e-mail them to me and I'll post them for you.

Here are a few to get things started.

First, a pair of integrals from Jerry Fisk (pics from www.fisk-knives.com):

You know that big one is really going to float my boat, but then again the lines on that little stag number are sooooo right, plus it's got an engraved butt cap.

Next up from Bailey Bradshaw:

This is a model FB2 (folding bwie) interframe. The frame is 240 layer ladder pattern with ivory inlays. The blade is a three bar composite "Explosion" pattern. The knife also has 24k gold vine scroll inlays. Look for more from Bailey including a hunting sword and some medium and large bowies.

Okay guys - gather up some more and let"s see what's going to Reno!

Roger

RogerP · Jan 20, 2005

Here's a neat bowie by Mike Williams. The blade is 8 1/2" of 8670M steel. The amazing cloud-like hamon is the result of a water quench. No clay was used. The handle is ebony and all fittings are 416SS.

Roger

C-Camerer · Jan 20, 2005

Those are all sweet knives but I fell in love with the hamon on the Williams bowie!!!! Simply amazing!

Joss · Jan 20, 2005

I have never seen a hamon like that.

Megalobyte · Jan 21, 2005

RogerP said:
Here's a neat bowie by Mike Williams. The blade is 8 1/2" of 8670M steel. The amazing cloud-like hamon is the result of a water quench. No clay was used. The handle is ebony and all fittings are 416SS.

Roger

I came across this Hamon, a few months ago, from a guy named J. Baron, seems similar.

Joss · Jan 21, 2005

Meg' & Roger, could you tell me what the steel is on those knives with the smoky hamon?

Thanks,

JD

RogerP · Jan 21, 2005

Hi Joss,

The info I have on the Williams is that the steel is 8670M. Not a steel with which I am familiar.

Roger

Danbo · Jan 21, 2005

If I'm not mistaken, that's what John Greco uses in his good ole high carbon utility knives.

RogerP · Jan 21, 2005

Hang onto your hats folks - here comes a Ron Newton preview.

All pics by Ron.

First up is a carved mammoth ivory gents folder. Damascus is feathered W's on nitre blued blosters and matching blade. 24kt. gold inlays in bolsters, gold anodized vine fileworked titanium liners, engraved 416 backspacer. Spiral fileworked screws and thumbstud.

Next is a sweet little hunter with about a 4" W2 blade, nickel silver guard and more outstanding amber India Stag scales with, to use Ron's phrase, "enough popcorn for two movies."

The next knife is something new called the "Japandero" - the name is an homage to the Sendero hunter - made famous by a guy named Fisk - from which this knife takes its inspiration. It has about a 3.75" blade of textured O1 tool steel with hamon, white oak handle, burgundy stingray underneath silk cord wrapping and a "turk head" knot which functions well as a guard. The knife will not be for sale, but donated by Ron to the ABS for their auction after the banquet Friday night.

Finally, we have an outstanding ladder pattern damascus bowie with a 11-5/8" blade of 1084/15N20. A mouth watering popcorn India Stag carver with a damascus ferrule and buttcap either end and a nickel silver guard.

In case you think the mouth-watering part is an exageration, prepare to wreck your keyboards:

Ron also has in the works a trick function art folder that promises to be something real special. I have had the opportunity to play with a number of Ron's high-end automatic folders and have been consistently amazed by the intricate, close-tolerance and ingeniously-disguised mechanisms he comes up with.

Roger

RogerP · Jan 22, 2005

Stuff like this makes my Saturday.

Heres a sampling of the knives that will be gracing the table of Ed Caffrey at the Reno show. All pics and descriptions are from www.caffreyknives.net where you can see the entire selection.

First, a pair of folders.

"Ruby Gent" My Gentleman's pattern folder of all mosaic damascus. Hot blued/fileworked/textured 15N20 liners, heat colored screws, dual anodized titanium thumb studs, lightly textured handles with a total of 6 inset rubies.

"Blue Ice" This folder melds "Tactical" and "Dress" together in a very beautiful folder. The liners are 6AL4V Titanium, Scales are CP Titanium with a White Mother of Pearl window frame and subtle "krackle" finish. Back spacer and liners are carved/textured. The wharncliff blade is twisted radial Mosaic Damascus. with dual anodized titanium thumb studs.

Then we have just two of the handful of terrific hunters that will be available.

"Fossil Walrus Hunter" Blade of 52100. Nickel silver guard and spacers. Fossil walrus ivory handle which shows colors on the left side and "tapioca" on the right side.

"Olive Wood Hunter" Drop point blade of composite mosaic damascus, Nickel Silver guard, and European Olive handle.

And finally, my favorite category awesome bowies!

"Fossil Bowie" 11" blade of "Fossil" mosaic damascus, hot blued mild steel guard, ferrule, & finial. Handle of Carved/textured African Blackwood

"Point of Light" Bowie
11.5" blade of composite mosaic damascus. Mosaic damascus guard, butt cap, and finial. Black lacquered ferrule, carved/textured fossil walrus ivory handle with inset ruby on each side of handle.

Cheers,

Roger

RWS · Jan 22, 2005

Wow, this is going to be some show.

RogerP · Jan 22, 2005

One more reason for me to cry like a little girl about not being able to get to Reno. :grumpy:

It's shaping up to be bowie heaven!

Exhibit A: Fisk NLT damascus bowie.

Roger

RAN · Jan 22, 2005

It Is getting more harder and harder to come with superaltives and adjectives to describe incredible level of talent on display on these pages.
we are living in a Golden Age of knifemaking and Bladesmithing.

RogerP · Jan 22, 2005

RAN said:
we are living in a Golden Age of knifemaking and Bladesmithing.

Amen to that!

Roger

RogerP · Jan 24, 2005

Here is a pair from Nick Wheeler:

First, is slick fighter with jelly-roll damsacus blade, 416 guard, and mortised handle of primo ironwood with2 - 1/16" pins.

And next is a really useful-looking ironwood full-tang hunter.

Roger

RogerP · Jan 24, 2005

Next is that Newton ar folder I mentioned earlier. It is a Sheffield antique reproduction with trick opening and closing mechanism. This is called a "Balloon Pattern" because of the carved rear bolsters resembling a hot air balloon. Convex fluted mammoth ivory scales, solid sterling silver blosters front and rear, 416 stainless coin edged liners, cold forged 154CM dagger and sheepsfoot blades, ATS-34 backsprings, 24 kt. gold plated backsprings, and several hours of tedious English scroll engraving. The sheepsfoot blade is slip joint and the dagger blade is lockback.

The dagger blade has a whopping 4-1/2" of length. and opened up is 9-1/2" overall. The folder rests in a curly maple exhibition case.

Roger

Danbo · Jan 24, 2005

Ooooh, that Jelly Roll damascus Wheeler fighter is supah shweeet!

Megalobyte · Jan 24, 2005

Roger, nice post, but, I think you do know you made one glaring error...

This interframe folding bowie by Bailey will not be attending the show, as it's making a permanent appearance in my collection.

ptgdvc · Jan 24, 2005

I am just going to have to console myself, that I have some serious goodies on the way and will just have to resist these temptations.

I guess that I am a peasant at heart, that little Stag Hunter from Ron, really floats my boat! And I could probably find a little space for that Fisk integral!

RogerP · Jan 25, 2005

The bowie hits just keep on rolling...

Here's a Farr / Knight collaboration damascus bowie that will be part of the ABS auction (blade by Jason, handle by Dan):

Roger