John April small fixed blade

[Gary W. Graley]

I picked this up this past weekend at the Ashokan Seminar from John April, also known on here on the forum under his name as well. I noticed him carrying it and asked to see it during the weekend, very sleek small knife, his own personal use knife. Come Sunday, after the morning lectures and before lunch, we have a small show and tell as well as some knives are up forsale, I sat down by John and asked if I could see the small knife again, as the ones on his table were larger than I'd use, nice but too big for me. I asked if he would sell it to me, he hemm'd and haw'd that it was his personal knife, been carrying it for the better part of a year and it was not in sellable condition, I looked past that and figured I could clean up what was needed and make it work for me. But he was at a loss and I could tell he really didn't want to part with it, but, I persisted and we came to an agreement so I took her home, sanded down the bolsters a little as well as the snake wood scales on the nicely tapered tang and cleaned up the 1084 blade as it had patina'd and showed some scratches from a years use. I was very happy with how his heat treat was, the blade took a razors edge and is holding it well.

The blade is almost 3" with about a 3" handle, so it makes for a rather smallish knife, three finger grip, I added my bob tail fob which anchors my pinky making it more a four finger grip, as well as aiding in drawing the knife from the sheath. John had a small kydex sheath but I have since made a leather sheath for it.

Thanks again John, here are some images, handles are contoured really nice, just an overall exceptional piece, everyone where I work at were in awe of it, if John had some of these on his table, they'd not last long...

IMG_6955 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr


IMG_6959 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr


IMG_6960 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr


here are a couple shots I took when I first got home, some sanding and cleaning done, but still looks very nice;

IMG_6950 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr


IMG_6951 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr


Thanks again John, great seeing you at Ashokan this year,
G2

 

[braillediver]

John does exceptional work. Funny we all want a Knife Makers personal knife. I'll keep an eye out to see if you keep it.

Paradise would be one of Johns Chute Knives in a cross draw sheath from you.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

That does seem like something people tend to do, Time will tell just how long she lasts
G2

 

[Win Heger]

Nice write up, G2, glad your persistence paid off.

 

[john april]

thanks for posting, i miss it already

 

[Dawkind]

It’s always nice to know that a ‘family member’ went to a fine home....great score buddy and you couldn’t have got a better knife from a better person.

 

[Scott Hanson]

Very nice knife, and it cleaned up very well for you.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks guys and thanks John, everyone at work, even non knife people, love the looks of that.

John also makes a size larger, same overall design, for those looking for a nice fixed blade that is comfortable to use and sharp!

G2

 

[JParanee]

Great snag Gary

You doing Leather ?

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I just finished up a sheath for this one, but that was because it was mine as I am only taking orders for folders. I don't have the heavier leather that most fixed blade knives require and it's been a long time now that I had changed to just taking folding knife sheath orders.

Which is why I did not post a photo of this sheath here, but, it's pretty nice and works great for this small knife.

G2

 

[Gary W. Graley]

ok well, here's the sheath I made for this one, while it is a fixed blade sheath, I am not taking any fixed blade sheath orders, barely wanted to do it for me

On small knives like this, I usually run the belt loop from the top down to the bottom, that allows the sheath to not be so 'fixed' in one position, but lets the sheath move if you happen to bump into something or when you go to sit down you can tilt/angle the sheath to make it ride better while seated.

Also you do not have stitching inside the sheath, nothing for the blade or handle to rub against the threads.

This one I made has a small cam shape entrance that comes down to a small shelf that the guard strikes and prevents the knife from going any further.

To remove the knife, I hook my pinky around my bob tailed fob and press against the top edge of the belt loop with my thumb and lever the knife out of the sheath in a nice controlled motion.

IMG_1564 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

I used two layers of leather for the entrance of the sheath, this helps to have an open area for the knife to drop down into, and then the one layer of leather is tapered/feathered down thin to blend in.

IMG_1562 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and I chose burgundy oil dye which compliments the snake wood scales.

IMG_1561 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2

 

[JJ_Colt45]

It's a nice looking knife ... actually reminds me of a down sized slightly modified tipped Loveless design.

 

[Hengelo_77]

Nice one, I like smaller knives

 

[fishface5]

I'm confused - that isn't a wharncliffe - what is happening here!?!?
gorgeous knife though!

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Awesome knife, great maker.

Good seeing both of you at Ashokan.

 

[john april]

It's a nice looking knife ... actually reminds me of a down sized slightly modified tipped Loveless design.

thank you, it is a scaled down version/replica of a loveless utility. 2 7/8" blade.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

one more for good measure, processed in sepia for that old timey look

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2

 

[gonebad395]

Really nice knife and a great story with it .

 

[JJ_Colt45]

thank you, it is a scaled down version/replica of a loveless utility. 2 7/8" blade.

It's a beautiful piece and definately captured that influence.

 

[bwlacey]

John's knife is marvelous and your sheath compliments it well, Gary.

Walt