- Joined
- Feb 21, 2011
- Messages
- 161
Just a little thread to showcase my newest custom from Dave Beck. First, a quick note on the maker. This is the second knife I've received from Dave and as usual the entire experience was great. I have ordered from a few custom makers before and while every maker is different, the experience has not always been a pleasant one; that is never the case with Dave. I always know exactly what to expect from him in every way, and everything is double checked before the order is complete and shipped with detailed instructions on knife care and warranty as well.
Why I decided to design this knife.
I work in a produce department at a well know east coast grocery store and a fixed blade belt knife is always with me and being put to hard use in a variety of tasks in both wet and dry environments. Also in preparation in a wide variety of organic material; fruit, vegetable, and sometimes meat. Unfortunately, the particular knife that the company provides is pretty sad and I tend to go through probably two of these generic knives a year. They break sometimes for odd reasons and in strange ways. I usually have to sharpen them once a week and steel the edge at least once a day as what ever stainless steel that the manufacturer uses is pitiful in the edge holding department. That leaves the blade material thin and worn down after a while and it makes the knife rater difficult to use. The final problem; as a knife guy I really hate using a generic blade made out of inferior stainless steel day in and day out. It lacks that certain something, and if I have to use a tool every day of my life for my lively hood I may as well love the tool...right?
Dave and I came up with two variants. The one I chose is variant "A". It has a flat ground bottom edge with a reinforced tip and a small portion of the top of the blade is sharpened for a specific purpose. There is gimping to have a nice thumb rest and to help prevent my hand from slipping up on to that sharpened top portion. It's 1/8" thick O1 steel with a wet sanded working finish and a full distal tapered tang. Polished antique ivory scales, the original produce knife has a basic molded plastic grip in white. Loveless bolts, and a lined lanyard hole. The sheath is a standard black leather for right handed belt carry that I believe has been wet molded
Here's the knife:
I plan on putting it through it's paces over the next weeks months and hopefully years. Maybe I'll update the thread with some notes on how well it works out in actual application.
I'd love to hear comments and answer questions.
Thanks for checking it out!
Why I decided to design this knife.
I work in a produce department at a well know east coast grocery store and a fixed blade belt knife is always with me and being put to hard use in a variety of tasks in both wet and dry environments. Also in preparation in a wide variety of organic material; fruit, vegetable, and sometimes meat. Unfortunately, the particular knife that the company provides is pretty sad and I tend to go through probably two of these generic knives a year. They break sometimes for odd reasons and in strange ways. I usually have to sharpen them once a week and steel the edge at least once a day as what ever stainless steel that the manufacturer uses is pitiful in the edge holding department. That leaves the blade material thin and worn down after a while and it makes the knife rater difficult to use. The final problem; as a knife guy I really hate using a generic blade made out of inferior stainless steel day in and day out. It lacks that certain something, and if I have to use a tool every day of my life for my lively hood I may as well love the tool...right?
Dave and I came up with two variants. The one I chose is variant "A". It has a flat ground bottom edge with a reinforced tip and a small portion of the top of the blade is sharpened for a specific purpose. There is gimping to have a nice thumb rest and to help prevent my hand from slipping up on to that sharpened top portion. It's 1/8" thick O1 steel with a wet sanded working finish and a full distal tapered tang. Polished antique ivory scales, the original produce knife has a basic molded plastic grip in white. Loveless bolts, and a lined lanyard hole. The sheath is a standard black leather for right handed belt carry that I believe has been wet molded
Here's the knife:
I plan on putting it through it's paces over the next weeks months and hopefully years. Maybe I'll update the thread with some notes on how well it works out in actual application.
I'd love to hear comments and answer questions.
Thanks for checking it out!
. I'll try to fix it on the thread, but in the meantime I'll be happy to email the pics to anyone interested in having a look.
