Images of Jimmy Chin knives

Keith Montgomery

Keith Montgomery

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May 9, 2000
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In the thread titled - Who is testing for JS & MS in Atlanta? Thread - Ron Newton mentioned a maker by the name of Jimmy Chin from Taiwan. Here are photos of the knives he sent to Ron.

Hunter- 5.5" long blade by 1.375" wide. 1/4" spine. 5" Ironwood handle with mosaic pin and 416 stainless guard.
mvc-277f.jpg


Bowie- 10.5" long blade by 2.062" wide. 5/16" spine. 5.5" Ironwood handle w/mosaic pins and 416 guard.
mvc-278f.jpg


Raised Clip Fighter- 8-1/4" blade by 1-3/4" wide. 1/4" spine. Ironwood handle w/mosaic pin and 416 guard.
mvc-279f.jpg


Clip Point Fighter- 8-3/4" blade by 1-3/4" wide. 1/4" spine. 5" Ironwood handle with 416 guard and mosaic pin.
mvc-280f.jpg


Take down bowie- 10" long by 2" wide blade. 1/4" spine. 5" Ironwood handle with stainless guard, buttcap and finial knob for take down.
mvc-281f.jpg


Clamshell S guard take down bowie- 10-1/4" x 2" blade. 5/16" spine. Forged 416 stainless clamshell guard. 5" Ironwood handle w/stainless buttcap and finial knob for take down.
mvc-282f.jpg

mvc-283f.jpg


All images and descriptions by Ron Newton. I did a little editing and photoshopping.
 
WOW!

Jimmy is one heck of a character, and I truly enjoyed his company at the northwest ABS hammer-in.

His knives are VERY clean and he has a good eye for clean lines as well.

I am very impressed! :cool: :D

That clamshell is extremely well done! What a load of work that had to have been.
 
Very nice examples of those styles.:thumbup:
Looks like an excellent maker.
Keith did Ron say steel used?

Doug:)
Hey Nick!:D
 
I think the steel was an Asian version of 01.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jimmy get an award of some sort. I see alot of people "over working" their knives, but I'm not sure this is what the judges want, particularly at JS.

Then again, Matt Roberts seems to understand this very well, too...
John
 
The knives look really well made, and I like the clamshell. However, the others lack a bit of personality and variety for my taste. Also, I generally find the type of guards that he has on the 3 bowies somewhat uncomfortable - often they have sharp edges...
 
Joss said:
The knives look really well made, and I like the clamshell. However, the others lack a bit of personality and variety for my taste. Also, I generally find the type of guards that he has on the 3 bowies somewhat uncomfortable - often they have sharp edges...
Click to expand...

Pretty much ditto what Joss said, the knives are certainly clean, but have an almost sterile presentation to them. I particularly did not like the Sheffield clip, but it was well done.

That said, I like this style much better than the "average" Brazilian bowie that we have been seeing, it seems to encompass the western style more completely (ie fighting knives that look like fighters, rather than butcher knives).

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I like the last bowie quite a bit, and the hunter. These knives are very clean and look to have excellent fit and finish. They show a talent for making a good knife. We will see over time what kind of artistic flair Jimmy has. This is something that usually takes time to develop.
 
Very clean looking work. The only thing that bothers me, speaking from a judges perspective, is that the knives lack any variety, which is something that we harp on, especially at the JS level (usually by the time someone tests for MS they have the "variety" thing figured out.)

The other question in my mind is... it was mentioned that Ron has these knives? Is Jimmy not going to be at the show to stand with his knives? I ask because generally an extraordinary reason is needed for an individual to be allowed to have someone else present his/her knives for judging. According to the rules governing JS and MS testing, the Chairman of the ABS is the only one who has the authority to grant this. I'm not trying to be a butthead, just curious. :jerkit:
 
My understanding is that Mr. Chin wanted to attend, but got hung up on Visa issues.
 
I'm a bit surprised at the responses. While I agree these knives are quite similar in style... I've been hearing everyone say for a few years now that the judges want to see simple, clean, well-executed knives. Jimmy made them just that way (from what I can see here and what I've seen of his past work).

I do understand Ed's point about variety though, as I must admit that at first glance I thought Keith had accidentally posted the same picture a few times. :foot:

Anyway, I just wanted to add that Jimmy is a really great guy, super hard worker, and I (IMHO) think Jimmy has the ability to go very far as a bladesmith. :cool: :)
 
this is my exposure to Jimmy's knives, and i have to say i really appreciate the simple, clean lines. the clamshell one is probably my favorite though - the little added details really makes it stand out.

i understand Ed's point - and would like to have seen more variety in the submissions as well.

that said, like Nick mentioned, a couple of the makers I've talked to that are going for JS or even MS think they're more likely to get it by staying as simple & clean as possible. so i wonder if this selection doesn't represent that.
 
After I wrote what I did, I got to thinking that there might be some visa issues involved...several overseas clients have emailed me telling me that they were having issues with getting a visa to attend the show.

Anyway, I'm not fussing or whinning, I was just curious about the circumstances as to why Jimmy wouldn't be at the show. Nick is right about the knives being presented for judging being "Clean and Simple", I'm not at all saying these knives aren't worthy, they certainly are. But like Nick, when I first saw them I thought that the photos were multiples of the same knife.

I'm not judging the JS knives this year, but if I were, I would question why the knives are all so similar... almost a "cookie cutter" effect. All the same style, all the same handle materials, etc. It's not that the workmanship wouldn't pass, (from what I can tell in the photos), it's just that I would question an individuals ability to work with differing styles and materials, which is part of the judging criteria.
 
I have seen some of Jimmy's other knives and they show much more diversity than what what shown here.

My guess is he is trying to develop and promote a particular, unique style.

The clamshell is probably the best I have ever seen from a JS or apprentice level smith, FWIW. I would love to own that knife.
If that was the ONLY picture Keith posted, people would be going ga-ga over the maker!

These knives remind me a lot of Russ Andrew's handle/guard work and Jason Knight inspiration on the blades. Whatever it is, it works for me.
 
That clamshell number really floats my boat. :) Best of luck to Jimmy on the test!

Roger
 
Ed,
Let me put your mind at ease so that you can quit worrying about Jimmy's issues as to why he can't attend. Since this whole thing "bothers" you: Yes I am representing Jimmy's work for judging and I'm not ignorant as to the written content of the ABS judging rules. I do my homework when I'm taking care of matters for someone else who needs help. There are many visa issues in Asia right now concerning SARS matters. Jimmy is caught in the middle of it. I have obtained written approval from the Chairman of the ABS to represent Jimmy's knives in the judging. Don't take offense at these facts. They are written because you are the one that said you had a concern.

As to your comment about him not having "ANY" variety. Open your eyes a little more Ed. Variety is there. Jimmy followed the conservative advice he was given from several mastersmiths:"Keep it clean and simple and show the judges you are capable of building more than just a hunting knife." Unlike many smiths who show up with no guards on their knives. ie... bolsters and ferrules or neither, Jimmy has proved he knows how to install a precision fit hunting knife guard, an oval bowie knife guard and a complicated forged and very immaculately finished clam shell guard in his group of knives. (Not ANY variety??)

He has demonstrated a variety of clip grind arrangements on his hunter, fighter and large bowie blades. (Not ANY variety?) Come on, give the guy a break.

He chose the Ironwood on all his knives because of expansion and contraction issues involved with transporting knives halfway around the world. He was very wise to NOT use sheep horn, ivory or any other quirky materials that will shrink on you in a heartbeat. If you can make a knife with ironwood you can do it with all the other woods too. They are not going to fail him for using ironwood on all his knives.

He has installed ferrules behind his guards which you don't see a lot from beginners. Heck, you don't see ferrules on a lot of seasoned veteran bladesmiths knives. I recall when I was judging one year a certain smith from the big sky country passed his judging with 5 hunters that all looked like clones. No guards. Just handle slabs. Now there's a case where you can say "not ANY variety".

Jimmy has built permanantly glued up knives and also takedown knives that will withstand harsh abuse. I took the clamshell bowie completely apart to inspect his progress and it intimidated me because I'm the one who taught him how to do takedowns in a handles and guards class. But I must say his takedown method is better than mine now. After putting the clamshell bowie back together the fits were immaculately tight. (Not ANY variety??) And I doubt that you will find a takedown clamshell guard bowie of this quality anywhere else with such a low pricetag.

On some knives he installed a mosaic pin. On some he didn't. (Not ANY variety??)

And to top it all off... his fits and finishes are better than many knives that have an MS stamp on them. I admit my photography sucks and doesn't capture all of the variety that Jimmy has put into his knives. But don't blame Jimmy for that. Blame the photographer. That's why I pay Coop to photo my knives.

Jimmy will only get better and better. A lot of mastersmiths some day will hear a big sucking sound.That will be the sound of Jimmy Chin passing by them so fast that a huge vacuum will occur.

Ed, you need to give the guy some slack. He is a beginner. And a darn good one. And he does already have the variety thing figured out. It's not like he is submitting his mastersmith knives. But when he does...watch out for the sucking sound. He may just pass you and I up.
Ron Newton
 
Ron,

One ABS MS questions this situation, which you made public, something he has every right to, and you jump down his throat?

You didn't even post these pics yourself, but had Keith Montgomery do it for you.

Real "gentlemanly" Ron.:(

Best Regards,

Steven Garsson
 
Personally, I like them all. I think this guy's work is very clean. My only problem/complaint would have to be the style/shaping of the handles. Only a preference, mind you, but I would like to see more in the way of curves and flares towards the rear of the handle. Maybe a bit more palm swells, too. Other than my personal preferences, I give the knives a :thumbup:
 
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