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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
John White Hunter
- Thread starter Will York
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 2, 1999
- Messages
- 9,910
Sweet hunter goodness John.
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 2,401
Great knife! Love the damascus. -Burton
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2000
- Messages
- 8,888
The incredible technical quality of Coops large file on this photo (over 10 MB) allows you to see every minute detail, including Johns beautiful domed, facet-peened pins, cropped from the photo here at 100% of original size.
This closeup also shows the hair like structure of sheep horn which, like rhino horn, is made of keratinthe same substance hair is made of. This horn structure is super strong and has to be to survive the pounding rams give each other during the rut, going head-to-head at full charge, horn-against-horn. Since sheep dont shed their horns like members of the deer family shed antlers, ram's horn has to last the animal's lifetime.
Side view of pin:
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- Joined
- Oct 23, 2006
- Messages
- 4,098
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 414
Such a nice hunter...
Love the detail on the peened pins.
Love the detail on the peened pins.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2000
- Messages
- 8,888
Just got the knife in from Coop. Stunning.
First, the damascus pattern obviously cannot be done justice by any photothe control exerted over the layers, bars and abutments/joints in this steel is only evident in hand. Just head-shaking.
The quality of grip with the sheep horn handle is like nothing else Ive experienced. The combination of Johns execution of the design contours, adding in a slight mid-handle swell that tapers back to a thickness at the butt which is a little less than at the guard, plus his decision to leave the finish at 400 grit rather than go for a glamour polish job, makes the knife stick solidly and comfortably in hand wherever it is gripped. And yet, shifting the knife from position to position is satin smooth. Light and quick in hand, presenting exactly as intended. Perfect.
The knife is less glitzy in hand than I had imagined from some of the photos, which is actually a relief to me.
The file-worked collar is a tasteful and beautiful counterpoint to the damascus pattern, and gives just the right touch of elegance for my eye. Such a handsome pieceif I didnt own this one, I know I would be compelled to order its twin. But Im not sure its twin could be truly achievedso much in this venture seems to require a certain serendipity. Luck was with us this time.
Finally, the leather colors in the sheath are unlike any of the photossubtle differences that I know Paul must have noticed right away from the photos. But he said nothing, knowing Im sure that once I had the package in hand I would appreciate what he achieved with color matching and harmony in a way I could never get from a photo. The tooling is more intricate than the photos show, and more handsome. Lastly, the sheath fit to the knife is dead perfect. The pouch lightly grips the knife much as you would grip the knife in handsecure, but with no undue effort required to remove the knife from the sheath. This is a very critical and often un-addressed feature with a pouch sheath, and can make the difference in whether the sheath is truly usable with the knife when carried on a belt, or whether it must be carried in a pack or other means because it fits too loosely to be secure or too tight to remove the knife efficiently with one hand.
This is a professional package all around, artfully rendered in every detail, and one Im sure I appreciate primarily because Ive experienced so many knife/sheath combinations in my life that did not come up to the mark.
This one is more than the design, more than it appears, and more than I expected.
Thanks so much again to John and to Paul, and to Jim for capturing the best possible images to give the viewer here at least an idea of what a supreme accomplishment this truly is.
Will
First, the damascus pattern obviously cannot be done justice by any photothe control exerted over the layers, bars and abutments/joints in this steel is only evident in hand. Just head-shaking.
The quality of grip with the sheep horn handle is like nothing else Ive experienced. The combination of Johns execution of the design contours, adding in a slight mid-handle swell that tapers back to a thickness at the butt which is a little less than at the guard, plus his decision to leave the finish at 400 grit rather than go for a glamour polish job, makes the knife stick solidly and comfortably in hand wherever it is gripped. And yet, shifting the knife from position to position is satin smooth. Light and quick in hand, presenting exactly as intended. Perfect.
The knife is less glitzy in hand than I had imagined from some of the photos, which is actually a relief to me.
The file-worked collar is a tasteful and beautiful counterpoint to the damascus pattern, and gives just the right touch of elegance for my eye. Such a handsome pieceif I didnt own this one, I know I would be compelled to order its twin. But Im not sure its twin could be truly achievedso much in this venture seems to require a certain serendipity. Luck was with us this time.Finally, the leather colors in the sheath are unlike any of the photossubtle differences that I know Paul must have noticed right away from the photos. But he said nothing, knowing Im sure that once I had the package in hand I would appreciate what he achieved with color matching and harmony in a way I could never get from a photo. The tooling is more intricate than the photos show, and more handsome. Lastly, the sheath fit to the knife is dead perfect. The pouch lightly grips the knife much as you would grip the knife in handsecure, but with no undue effort required to remove the knife from the sheath. This is a very critical and often un-addressed feature with a pouch sheath, and can make the difference in whether the sheath is truly usable with the knife when carried on a belt, or whether it must be carried in a pack or other means because it fits too loosely to be secure or too tight to remove the knife efficiently with one hand.
This is a professional package all around, artfully rendered in every detail, and one Im sure I appreciate primarily because Ive experienced so many knife/sheath combinations in my life that did not come up to the mark.
This one is more than the design, more than it appears, and more than I expected.
Thanks so much again to John and to Paul, and to Jim for capturing the best possible images to give the viewer here at least an idea of what a supreme accomplishment this truly is.
Will
sheathmaker
Custom Leather Sheaths
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Messages
- 4,650
Will, I know I speak for John and Coop also when I thank you for your words of praise. It was a genuine pleasure to work for you. Your input with me was more of a concept and you allowed me the artistic license to flow within that concept. The results of that kind of freedom are generally positive and makes for a labor that is loved rather than a "job of work". Thanks again for your support.
Paul
Paul
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2007
- Messages
- 2,142
Will,
Thank you for a collaboration that was a joy from the beginning. Working with you and your design, and with my buddies Paul and Coop made the days.
Your bringing this one to the folks here at Bladeforums was the icing on a very tasty cake for me.
Now go out and skin something!
John
Thank you for a collaboration that was a joy from the beginning. Working with you and your design, and with my buddies Paul and Coop made the days.
Your bringing this one to the folks here at Bladeforums was the icing on a very tasty cake for me.
Now go out and skin something!
John
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2000
- Messages
- 8,888
Thanks again, John!
Also, I'd like to clarify something from my last post.
I really appreciate Coop's images—they are beautiful. I realize now with the knife in hand what a bear it must have been to photograph.
I hope my remarks about photographs not capturing all you see in hand with this piece aren't taken as a slight to Jim's work. I had no idea the twist damascus would have the shimmer and movement it does, putting it in the upper echelons of movement from what I've seen first hand in other blades that stand out in that area. I really thought the twist was more of a 2-dimensional surface effect, but it has all kinds of light play going on--no way to catch that movement in a static image. And the flat matte sheephorn really doesn't show detail without the oil Jim put on it to get the image, but of course the oiled surface doesn't look exactly like the natural surface, either. Also, the gold/brown shades in the croc inset in Paul’s sheath present a problem all their own in terms of reflecting different depths of shade with light coming from different angles. This was a very tough photographic assignment from several aspects, and Jim did a remarkable job with it. :thumbup:
Also, I'd like to clarify something from my last post.
I really appreciate Coop's images—they are beautiful. I realize now with the knife in hand what a bear it must have been to photograph.
I hope my remarks about photographs not capturing all you see in hand with this piece aren't taken as a slight to Jim's work. I had no idea the twist damascus would have the shimmer and movement it does, putting it in the upper echelons of movement from what I've seen first hand in other blades that stand out in that area. I really thought the twist was more of a 2-dimensional surface effect, but it has all kinds of light play going on--no way to catch that movement in a static image. And the flat matte sheephorn really doesn't show detail without the oil Jim put on it to get the image, but of course the oiled surface doesn't look exactly like the natural surface, either. Also, the gold/brown shades in the croc inset in Paul’s sheath present a problem all their own in terms of reflecting different depths of shade with light coming from different angles. This was a very tough photographic assignment from several aspects, and Jim did a remarkable job with it. :thumbup:
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
- Messages
- 13,363
Yep, those LARGE file images can make a knife look really good (as in this case) or really bad.
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
No surprise at all that you are well pleased with this piece Will, but good to hear all the same. I'm glad that we all got to enjoy the process and the images of the completed piece. You are fortunate to be able to enjoy it on a whole other level.
Roger
Roger
OUTSTANDING in EVERY way and it was a pleasure watching it come to fruition.
Congrats to ALL involved, and thanks for all the dialogue Will.
Lastly, are you going to put that beauty to work Will? If so, i'll be VERY interested to hear how well it cuts.
Peter
Congrats to ALL involved, and thanks for all the dialogue Will.
Lastly, are you going to put that beauty to work Will? If so, i'll be VERY interested to hear how well it cuts.
Peter
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2000
- Messages
- 8,888
Thanks for those kind words, Peter, and thanks to all who posted here.
To answer your question about using this one, as you know this is one of several knives in this same pattern I’ve requested from top makers over the past few years, and I still have a few orders for the pattern out to makers I admire.
As I said in an earlier post, the particulars designed into this knife form a composite of all the little things I’ve enjoyed from different knives I’ve used over the years, so I can assure with confidence that every one of these knives will be a delight to use—whether or not every one gets carried into the field, or whether some become gifts to loved ones and hunting companions, or whether some simply give me a few minutes pleasure now and then as objects of supremely functional art.
In terms of pure cutting, this one will not disappoint as John heeded my request for a strong distal taper and a fine zero edge--I haven't mic'd the edge on this one, but I asked for something in the .01" edge thickness range and this one is certainly among the finest I've received in terms of edge thickness. The point is a needle with a whisper of edge below it, and will be a delight for getting into nooks and crannies. As we all know, cutting effectiveness is primarily a matter of geometry, and this one has high-performance cutting geometry in spades. :thumbup:
Edited to add: Mic'd just behind the edge, right at the beginning of the belly curve: .008"
Now THAT's a cutter.
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