Ken Erickson Knives: A Retrospective

That's a treasure Elliott. I'm sure that will be a pleasure to pocket. Congrats to you and Ken on that beauty.
 
That stockman is just awesome Elliott....Ken can't make an ugly knife, that is just gorgeous!!!:eek:
 
Looks terrific, Ken. I particularly like the modified wharncliff blade and the filed liner. Can't wait for the "Blade" to pick mine up.
Our puppies leg was operated on 2-1/2 weeks ago and he's coming along fine. Hope all is well and I want to wish you and your family
a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year.

Jeff
 
That micarta is to die for. Just the right hue, not stare-at-the-sun yellow, but so-mellow yellow.
A most attractive knife.
 
Recently, I had the good fortune of giving up my opportunity to add to my collection of Ken's wonderful knives by deferring to Charlie for whom the particular knife was a perfect match.
(It is the season, after all. ;))

During a subsequent telephone conversation with Ken he asked me what I might be interested in if he were to find the time to build something before the holidays.
(Believe me, the decision is not as easy as one might think.)

After giving it some thought I decided that I'd opt for a full size stockman (4 1/4" closed) and since Ken had never done so previously, I thought it would be neat to have a "shadow".
(As it turns out, this is the first three blade shadow that Ken has built.)

While discussing scale material Ken mentioned that he had some yellow micarta which is purported to have come from the Randall shop in FL. When he showed me images of the material I agreed that it would be just right for this project.

For steel we were both on the same wavelength and opted for CPM-D2. (A steel I've been hot to try for some time now.) Ken told me about a shield that he found interesting and when I looked it up in my references we were both on the same page once again. (Not surprisingly.)

Ken and I spent a lot of time together working out the details of the blades, their profiles and how I wanted them to lay in the frame. Looks like Ken nailed it.

I won't have the opportunity to pocket this knife until Christmas (as it will be a gift from my wife) but I do have some images I can share now while I wait.

The Details:

"Shadow" Stockman @ 4.25" closed
3 5/8 oz.
CPM-D2 @ 60 Rc
"Yellow" Linen Micarta (from Randall Shop)
Bonus: Filed Center Liner (A very nice touch and surprise.)


Needless to say, I can't wait. Hope you enjoy the images. Your comments are welcome, as always.

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When I grow up, I want to own a knife like that.
 
Thanks guys. I was wondering aloud to Ken last night how the shadow pattern would be received since Ken's knives are generally displayed with beautiful scales of his own jigged bone, stag, ivory etc.

I should have known that you'd see the beauty and the qualities that make this knife special and I (and I'm sure Ken) sure appreciate that you do. :thumbup:
 
Love it! What an awesome stockman, Elliott. Ken produced a real winner. And, you will love the steel. It is mighty good stuff. :thumbup:

Congrats and Happy Holidays to you both.

- Joe
 
The subtle class this knife portrays is simply astounding!
A plastic handled shadow birdseye-rivet knife was designed to be a budget user, but the grade of materials and execution of this one brings this baby right to the top of traditional aesthetics, and downright drop-dead gorgeousness!
Ooh La La!!!
Behind some great knife collections there is a great woman!:D
Merry Christmas to you all, Maker, Receiver, Giver, and families!
 
Thanks, Charlie, on all counts. Happy holidays to you and the Waynorth clan. :cool:
 
I call it........Singing in the rain with my Erickson!:thumbup:
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I love, carry and use this knife:)

Trevor, I am really glad you like the knife and giving it pocket time, thanks!




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That micarta is to die for. Just the right hue, not stare-at-the-sun yellow, but so-mellow yellow.

I really like the color and feel of the Micarta also. Great material.



The subtle class this knife portrays is simply astounding!
A plastic handled shadow birdseye-rivet knife was designed to be a budget user, but the grade of materials and execution of this one brings this baby right to the top of traditional aesthetics, and downright drop-dead gorgeousness!

Charlie, as always, somehow you put into words what I was trying to achieve with this knife. My main concern when Elliott and I first talked about the knife was that I was afraid it would come across as a "budget user". We had talked about an alternative Micarta material (green canvas) and I am really glad Elliott gave the go-ahead on this yellow Micarta.

Thanks for the very kind comments everyone. They are very much appreciated!

Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones,
 
Thank you, Rob. I think Ken might have a future with this whole knife thing...you never know. ;)
 
I forgot to add a telling anecdote about our friend Ken in the original post.

After Ken and I decided on the scale material and shield, he cut out and fit a shield into the mark side scale a couple of nights back.

True to form, Ken spent a restless night agonizing over whether the shield he had inlaid was too large for the knife and properly positioned in relation to the "birds eye".
(He had been trying to get it sized properly as there is a lot of scale material to work with and didn't want it looking out of proportion.)

So, naturally he got up early the next morning and set to work doing the scale and shield over again.

These are the (not so) little things that often go unmentioned and overlooked but are the traits so fully appreciated by those of us who have come to admire both Ken and his work. No detail is too small to merit his attention. :thumbup:
 
For the record; there is no better shield or placement of same in that big boy!
It can be amazing what a shield will do for a knife, and this one does it!!
(subject deserves a thread - after Christmas. . . .)
 
That is one of the best looking "yella" knives I've seen, the lines following the swedge and contour of the blade just amaze and inspire me.

You really capture the essence of the cutlers of old in every piece you make.
 
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