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- Oct 2, 1998
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- 47,472
Several months ago during a telephone conversation with Ken, somehow the discussion got around to vintage patterns and the features that Ken found both interesting and challenging in attempting to build lifelike custom reproductions.
The feature that we got to talking about was the tab lock found on some old classics.
I had never given that particular feature much thought, always thought it might be "in the way" and wondered what would its appeal would be (as it didn't really do much for me at the time.)
Be that as it may, Ken told me that he wanted to build one and was looking for an "interesting pattern" with which to work. He asked me if I would help him gather ideas for a project.
In a devilish frame of mind I asked Ken if he wanted me to find him a "challenge".
(Those familiar with Ken's work as well as his character and personality will immediately recognize Ken's propensity to continually push the margins of his own personal envelope.)
With that in mind I started leafing through the pages of the old Remington C-5 catalog looking for a worthy candidate.
When I got to the illustration for the Remington R 6816, I found the gauntlet I intended to throw down.
Since Ken wasn't familiar with the pattern I supplied him with a photo of the image in the catalog and some images of old knives from both the internet as well as my Sargent's guides.
From the swoopy lines of the saber ground master to the tab lock to the bolster treatments to the intricate frame and whittler construction, this knife presented challenges aplenty.
I told Ken that there was his challenge and should he decide to take it on, I'd take the result...
...some time later, however, I began to doubt myself and my affection for the pattern based upon some reproductions and illustrations I had seen which didn't quite win me over. I couldn't allow Ken to be left hanging so I called Ken and asked him if he had started on the Norfolk. He said that he hadn't and so I asked him to hold off on building it. (What I didn't know was that Ken was already at work and invested in trying to build the knife.)
A few months before the Blade Show, Ken told me he was bringing a knife with me in mind but wouldn't tell me what it was beyond that it had three blades. Since I had already put the kibosh on this project and already had a couple other three bladers from him, I couldn't quite figure what he had up his sleeve.
To say that I was floored when I opened the zipper case and saw what looked like a vintage R 6816 come to life is to understate the matter greatly.
Obviously, Ken shared my excitement as did many of the folks who had the opportunity to admire the knife at Ken's table during the Blade Show.
Ken has graciously allowed me access to his images of the knife to share with you while he's on the road following the show.
Some stats:
Remington R 6816 "Norfolk Whittler"
Length: 3 5/8" Closed
Weight: 2 1/2 ounces
Construction: Integral
Steel: D2
Scales: Sambar Stag
And now the images...which short of holding this little gem in your hand say it all.
I hope that you all can share my appreciation of what Ken has created simply by his looking at images and illustrations with neither a pattern nor an old knife to work from:
(Follow this link to see the other superb knife, a double-end Eureka jack, delivered to me by Ken at the Blade Show.)
(Firefox users may right click the images, select "view image" to see the images in original size. Not sure about other browsers.)
The feature that we got to talking about was the tab lock found on some old classics.
I had never given that particular feature much thought, always thought it might be "in the way" and wondered what would its appeal would be (as it didn't really do much for me at the time.)
Be that as it may, Ken told me that he wanted to build one and was looking for an "interesting pattern" with which to work. He asked me if I would help him gather ideas for a project.
In a devilish frame of mind I asked Ken if he wanted me to find him a "challenge".
(Those familiar with Ken's work as well as his character and personality will immediately recognize Ken's propensity to continually push the margins of his own personal envelope.)
With that in mind I started leafing through the pages of the old Remington C-5 catalog looking for a worthy candidate.
When I got to the illustration for the Remington R 6816, I found the gauntlet I intended to throw down.
Since Ken wasn't familiar with the pattern I supplied him with a photo of the image in the catalog and some images of old knives from both the internet as well as my Sargent's guides.
From the swoopy lines of the saber ground master to the tab lock to the bolster treatments to the intricate frame and whittler construction, this knife presented challenges aplenty.
I told Ken that there was his challenge and should he decide to take it on, I'd take the result...
...some time later, however, I began to doubt myself and my affection for the pattern based upon some reproductions and illustrations I had seen which didn't quite win me over. I couldn't allow Ken to be left hanging so I called Ken and asked him if he had started on the Norfolk. He said that he hadn't and so I asked him to hold off on building it. (What I didn't know was that Ken was already at work and invested in trying to build the knife.)
A few months before the Blade Show, Ken told me he was bringing a knife with me in mind but wouldn't tell me what it was beyond that it had three blades. Since I had already put the kibosh on this project and already had a couple other three bladers from him, I couldn't quite figure what he had up his sleeve.
To say that I was floored when I opened the zipper case and saw what looked like a vintage R 6816 come to life is to understate the matter greatly.
Obviously, Ken shared my excitement as did many of the folks who had the opportunity to admire the knife at Ken's table during the Blade Show.
Ken has graciously allowed me access to his images of the knife to share with you while he's on the road following the show.
Some stats:
Remington R 6816 "Norfolk Whittler"
Length: 3 5/8" Closed
Weight: 2 1/2 ounces
Construction: Integral
Steel: D2
Scales: Sambar Stag
And now the images...which short of holding this little gem in your hand say it all.
I hope that you all can share my appreciation of what Ken has created simply by his looking at images and illustrations with neither a pattern nor an old knife to work from:
(Follow this link to see the other superb knife, a double-end Eureka jack, delivered to me by Ken at the Blade Show.)
(Firefox users may right click the images, select "view image" to see the images in original size. Not sure about other browsers.)
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- talk about being up to the challenge. That knife is a masterpiece. Brilliant work!
