Ken Erickson Knives: A Retrospective

I don't have any use for a horseman's knife, Ken, but I'm delighted to see you take it on. Not least because I never thought to see a custom knife with a fleam before.
 
Seeing the parts evolve is Way Fun, as my grand-daughter would say!
Making that knife is a brave undertaking!!
 
It's being clasped to the bosom of Marcy the Mailwoman, and I eagerly await the arrival!!;)

Of course it will not be mine until it is pictured with the Yellow background. Soon I hope!
 
rprocter said:
Ken, make sure when the corkscrew is closed, the pointy tip points downward. I have a very nice HSB OVB Bottle Opener Jack(likely made by New York Knife Co) in which the corkscrew tip is exposed when closed and it snags on everything.
But, who am i to give you advice ? Almost certainly you have already considered this.
respectfully, roland
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Roland, duly noted! I did consider this as I was/am making the corkscrew. Just one more detail that most take for granted on the old vintage knives. Roland please feel free to give advice anytime you want:thumbup:

JAlexander said:
I don't have any use for a horseman's knife, Ken, but I'm delighted to see you take it on. Not least because I never thought to see a custom knife with a fleam before.
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Richard Rogers just finished a 3 thick horseman's knife in the last couple of months that features a fleam. Richard has been kind enough to give me some advice, pointers on this one. (let me know if you want me to pm you a link to Richard's knife. It really is a fine piece of work).

supratentorial said:
Ken, Wow! Can you share a little about how you shaped that corkscrew?
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Jake,

I roughed this out on my belt grinder then used a rat-tail file. I am between lathes right now in my shop. I sold a lathe I was not happy with, own one in storage down in Quincy, but looking for a micro lathe.
 
Ken,

Do you think you could incorporate this shield?:

Shield_Vic_1.jpg



:p;):D

(Seriously though, I'm looking forward to seeing what you achieve with this great project. :thumbup:)
 
Blues said:
Ken,

Do you think you could incorporate this shield?:

Shield_Vic_1.jpg



:p;):D

(Seriously though, I'm looking forward to seeing what you achieve with this great project. :thumbup:)
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Funny you ask Elliott. As I am working on this knife I think of it as one of the original multi-tools/Swiss Army knives! It always amazes me , how we view these objects today as more art than tools, which was what they were,are.
 
Ken, I was thinking that you must have used a lathe. It's hard to imagine how someone could make something like that by hand! :eek:

Elliot, I think it would look better with my initials on the shield. :p
 
supratentorial said:
Ken, I was thinking that you must have used a lathe. It's hard to imagine how someone could make something like that by hand! :eek:
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Jake, I did make this one by hand but in the future I would want to use a lathe to rough out the round sections first.

I did manage to get my heat treat done on the blades, fleam, corkscrew and awl. I also fit up the implements with the springs and real happy so far. I still do not have the steel for the hoof pick yet. That is ok though as the hoof pick would be fit last as it is dependent on the cap end of the knife to be finished for proper fit and function.

This picture shows the springs installed and everything under tension.

IMGP9267_1084_edited-1.jpg
 
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Lookin' good Ken! As someone who barely has enough patience to sharpen my lawn mower blade, I can't imagine the patience it took to do file that corkscrew.

Did you decide on including some slide out tools?
 
Mike,

On this one, I am going to keep it pretty much true to the Geo. W pattern I used. I will say this, there will be more horseman knives down the road. I really enjoy this type of build as a change of pace from less complex patterns.
 
Wow Ken, that knife has blown my mind. I'm here struggling to just build a single blade. I can't even fathom how complicated and technical that horseman must be. Great job!!
 
Looking good Ken. Have fun grinding the bevels on the fleam. Nothing says fun like a tapering double grind to a zero edge on a .050" piece of steel. :)
 
RichardRogers said:
Looking good Ken. Have fun grinding the bevels on the fleam. Nothing says fun like a tapering double grind to a zero edge on a .050" piece of steel. :)
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You guys must have enormous patience! I can see me turning that fleam into a glowing puddle in no time!!
 
I can only imagine how much time you spent doing that corkscrew with no machine tooling, its really coming along! thanks for posting these WIP images.
 
Every step I take now, gets me closer to seeing a horseman's knife! I have the grinds done, milled the frames/bolsters. Time to start refining things, still waiting on my steel so I can complete the hoof pick.

IMGP9272_1089_edited-1.jpg

IMGP9273_1090_edited-1.jpg
 
Watching, watching - just totally fascinating. All the details that go into that knife are brain-boggling!
It's gotta be 3-4 times as complex as say, a Cattle knife!?!?
 
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