Ken Erickson Knives: A Retrospective

[Blues]

Nice one, Ken, and I'm not even particularly fond of peanuts! (Except for the kind you can eat.)

I'm sure your customer will be thrilled with it.

 

[waynorth]

I thought I smelled a Peanut!!
Nice one, Ken. Those Remingtons are especially yummy!!

 

[pertinux]

Here is a peanut just finished up(not available) that is based on a Remington peanut.

What a fine knife!

Its jigging is wonderful-- distinct, non-uniform, yet not overpowering the knife given its smaller size-- the divots(?) and pattern are perfect for the knife's size and visual (and, I'd imagine, tactile) presentation.

Wow, do I like this one. Well done!

~ P.

 

[bakerg2g]

Great job Ken! I'm not into peanuts, But if
I were that would be the one I'd want for sure.
Congrats to you and the new owner...

Jason

 

[rprocter]

Ken, wonderful small Serpentine Jack (aka "Peanut"). I really like smaller knives. I'm fascinated by them and believe that a small multiblade demands the most skill from the knifemaker.
I have a few exquisite vintage multiblade Henckels in pearl in the 2" range and wonder how the cutler could even hold the parts as he worked on them. I mention this because i sense that you like challenges.
roland

 

[Mike Robuck]

I agree Roland. Not sure if "the devil is in the details" or "God is in the details" on a knife like that but either way it's another fine piece by Ken.

 

[kamagong]

Here is a peanut just finished up (not available) that is based on a Remington peanut.

Now that's just wrong. Ken, you're such a tease...

- Christian

 

[ken erickson]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Making these small knives definitely has its own challenges. Proportions are the hardest to get right.

Ken

 

[pertinux]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Making these small knives definitely has its own challenges. Proportions are the hardest to get right.

Ken

Ah-- there's the word I was grasping for, in my attempt! To me, the proportions of the jigging pattern are perfect for this knife.

~ P.

 

[ken erickson]

I thought I would post a short video of three knives going to Blade, including the Horseman's knife. Its fun to do these and you get a look and feel for a knife that your not able to get by a still picture. Thanks for taking the time to view.

[video=youtube;T5K3JFSkj7Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5K3JFSkj7Y&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[seadweller]

Thanks for sharing! The Horseman is really impressive!

 

[John L]

Ken: That was just a great explanation of your knives from very simple to very complex. Thanks.

John Lloyd

 

[richstag]

Thank you very much for putting that together Ken. All three are very nice.

 

[waynorth]

I was Chicken-eyein' and Coon-fingerin' 'em right along with you!
Thanks for the flick! The stuff dreams are made of. . . . . . . .
Three real nice ones, Ken.

 

[sextant]

Ken, the Horseman's knife is really impressive.
Thanks for letting us have a glance at the Blade beauties

 

[supratentorial]

Thank you for sharing the knives with us. Beautiful work on all three but that Horseman's knife is a KO.

 

[2Dead]

Wow that peanut looks great Ken!!

 

[ken erickson]

I have been working on knives for the upcoming Blade Show this June and thought I would post a few pictures of something new that I will be doing on select knives. Tony Bose has popularized the use of pivot bushings in his knives so what I am doing here is nothing new to slipjoints, just new for me. Many fine makers are using pivot bushing construction. Thanks to Tony for his online tutorial and hints and advice from Keith Johnson.

I make my bushings out of oil impregnated bushing bronze and will be fitting them to select knives such as this "Junior Michigan Pen". This knife features CPM D2 and I plan on halfting in stag. (knife not available)

 

[Peregrin]

That looks like it's gonna be a humdinger, Ken! I like that stag too!

 

[rprocter]

Ken, this is something i have wondered for some time now: with the ultra-precise machining and high skilled fitting that you and a few other makers are capable of, does a pivot bushing make a discernable difference in smoothness of action and absence of play after much use ?
Much use, but not every day for decades because that's not how custom knives experience their life.
Heavily used vintage USA or Sheffield Multiblades sometimes have some blade play (not always though), but the steel then was far inferior to what today's custom knifemakers are using. They do not have pivot bushings.
I look forward to hearing how you see it.
Thanks Ken, roland