Well, today was the eagerly awaited day and I'm happy to report that upon its arrival the knife didn't disappoint.
If anything, it looks a lot better in person than it does in the images and the feel in the hand is simply superb.
Ken did an outstanding job radiusing any potential "hot spots", sharp edges or corners and the size is just perfect.
The knife, which appears so slim and light in the hand provides about as much working blade as one can reasonably want in a folding knife.
The weight comes in at exactly 2 ounces, which is the same weight as a yellow delrin handled Case Sodbuster, Jr. Very light.
Fit and finish are dead on. The backspring rates about a 6.5 on the Erickson "10" Scale. Spring is flush with tang in closed, half stop and open positions and the "walk and talk" is up there with the best of the knives I own.
The half stop comes to a precise, firm stop with no amount of play whatever. Same in the open position. Snaps open with bank vault authority.
Blade grind and swedges are virtually perfect.
Is there room for improvement? Yes, but it's the kind of improvement that will bring 99% to 100%. (And I only mention it because Ken is a perfectionist and his own harshest critic and insisted that I honestly appraise all aspects of the knife regardless of how nitpicking they might appear to be. We discussed these telephonically as they're pretty darn hard to describe, let alone in writing.)
I can honestly say that in my opinion Ken's workmanship is already some of the best out there on many levels and I eagerly await not only my own next knife from him, but watching where he takes his craft from here.
We are fortunate on this forum to be exposed to the work of several relatively "new" and under-exposed makers who are keeping up the tradition of the great slipjoint knives of the acknowledged masters we've all come to appreciate and revere. Ken is one of those chosen few in my humble opinion.
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