- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 45,099
Gotta say I'm pretty excited. Up until today I've emailed and spoken telephonically with Joe Allen several times (a very fine gentleman, by the way) but have never had the opportunity to see or handle one of his knives.
Today, that all changed. I received this new (to me) BackPocket in the mail today from our mutual friend "Durwood".
The 4.5" (closed) knife is based on Tony Bose's BackPocket pattern which Tony was kind enough to share with his "neighbor", Joe Allen, some time back.
Tony's influence is obvious in the images and even moreso when you have the opportunity to inspect the knife in person.
While not quite at the level of fit and finish of Tony and Reese's work, it's not far off either, and that's saying something. :thumbup:
A better value for the dollar would be hard to find.
I would rank Joe's work with other high end maker's such as Ray Cover, Sr., J.B. Moore and other such distinguished craftsmen.
The backspring and liners look like one piece of metal (as Gus likes to say) and the spring is dead flush in the open, closed and half stop positions.
Blade is well centered when closed.
Blade symmetry is excellent and the edge grind well executed.
Spring tension is "Cover-like" which is the way I like it. Firm and authoritative.
The "imperfections", as one will find with any knife if one looks for them, are very minor in character, so much so as to be not worth mentioning. (But mentioned just to keep Joe's head from swelling too much and to reinforce the fact that no knife is completely perfect.)
Stats:
4.5" Closed
4 oz.
Amber Jigged Bone by Joe Allen
ATS-34
Blade Length: 3.5" (Tip to Bolster)
Half Stop
The following images taken by Durwood don't quite do justice to the knife but give a pretty good representation.
You can bet this won't be my last knife by Joe Allen.
Today, that all changed. I received this new (to me) BackPocket in the mail today from our mutual friend "Durwood".
The 4.5" (closed) knife is based on Tony Bose's BackPocket pattern which Tony was kind enough to share with his "neighbor", Joe Allen, some time back.
Tony's influence is obvious in the images and even moreso when you have the opportunity to inspect the knife in person.
While not quite at the level of fit and finish of Tony and Reese's work, it's not far off either, and that's saying something. :thumbup:
A better value for the dollar would be hard to find.
I would rank Joe's work with other high end maker's such as Ray Cover, Sr., J.B. Moore and other such distinguished craftsmen.
The backspring and liners look like one piece of metal (as Gus likes to say) and the spring is dead flush in the open, closed and half stop positions.
Blade is well centered when closed.
Blade symmetry is excellent and the edge grind well executed.
Spring tension is "Cover-like" which is the way I like it. Firm and authoritative.
The "imperfections", as one will find with any knife if one looks for them, are very minor in character, so much so as to be not worth mentioning. (But mentioned just to keep Joe's head from swelling too much and to reinforce the fact that no knife is completely perfect.)
Stats:
4.5" Closed
4 oz.
Amber Jigged Bone by Joe Allen
ATS-34
Blade Length: 3.5" (Tip to Bolster)
Half Stop
The following images taken by Durwood don't quite do justice to the knife but give a pretty good representation.
You can bet this won't be my last knife by Joe Allen.
