Kevin Wilkins - LARGE 'Ghost Dog' folder

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
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I've not had a big year for knife purchasing (Why do I need to?? I handle plenty! ;)), but I have been awaiting this one since April. Let's look:

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I saw a number of wonderful Ghost Dog Pup's other forum members posted, and it really made me hungry for one. But..... I decided I wanted a BIG folder. The Original Ghost Dog. No apologies needed. 10" OAL, and in between a 4¼"- 4½" blade. CLACK!

Kevin and I talked and I decided on the original large version, with a damasteel bolster to give it even more class. To me, Kevin's usage of translucent G10 defines his signature look like my insets define my photo work, so I opted for this. I asked him to embellish it further in any way he saw fit, and his colorful anodized borders really add a flourish to the piece.

Inside the well, the frames have been jewelled and retain the coloring. Kevin also added the three small milled pockets on the bolster, the G10 scale, and the frame, and his carefully-milled CNC bevel runs the perimeter of the same.

The backspine has a micarta (?) spacer and it is unique in that the pocket to run a lanyard exits out the backspine. And why not?

The fit and finish is only exceeded by the smoothness of the opening, the exact lockup, and perfectly-closing detent.

If you enjoy working with a professional and admire the finest in knife machining, then I suggest you give him a call. His lineup is very diverse. Kevin kept me posted throughout the process and delivered as promised.

www.Wilkins-Knives.com

The photos were fun to do, and they don't show you my big grin! :D

I am VERY pleased with my purchase. Thanks for looking!

Coop
 
CONGRATS!! That is an incredible knife!! I love the Ghost Dog/ Ghost Dog Pup, and many others of Kevin Wilkins' knives!! And your Ghost Dog is simply a specatular one!! I really admire his work.
 
That's as nice a knife as I have seen from Kevin (your photography doesn't hurt). He has impressed me greatly with his talent.
 
Coop,

Very nice piece, great photography as usual.

There are some things that bother me that I will not float unless you and Kevin are both interested.

Could be an interesting dialog, otherwise, I will just say "nice piece", and move along.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I like it a lot. Thanks for sharing these wonderfull pics! :)
Kevin Wilkins sure dose a great job :thumbup:
 
That is an amazing piece. Kevin's attention to detail looks second to none. Now I am going to have to buy one of his folders to go with my fixed blades.
 
Beautiful and different , hard to believe that was made by hand , the lines are so perfect and spot on.
Hard to tell but , is the non-scaled side where the clip is , is that bead blasted ?

Awesome knife. :)
 
That is one cool folder. I dig the large size. Very impressive. :thumbup:

Roger
 
Aaah.. I belive this is the same gentelman I saw posting on a CNC website.. My intrests are wide spread :)

He talked about how easy the CNC machine has made his job, and I can really see his work is outstanding!
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for the look and comments. Yes, Kevin is one of the believers in modern machinery supplementing his work. The profiling and the slot for the framelock are all VERY apparently cut with a CNC pattern. I like it.

The non-scaled side has a blasted finish, but it is very smooth. Maybe blasted or tumbled with walnut shells or something odd for a smoother texture.

STeven,

I applaud you. We both understand we have different tastes and things that draw us into our acquisitions. I see so much of the best and traditional, that I tend to go after the 'unusual' nowadays. Not all the time, but mostly.

You see things differently and you usually take a 'ready, FIRE, aim' approach with your comments. Not this time. You asked first.

I will see if I can forecast your style misgivings. You are entitled, by all means.

  • Slime green G10 is a plastic not deserving of an upscale handle material, but better suited to iMacs and children's toys.
  • The lack of symmetry is skewed. It just doesn't look right. Why not the slime green on the other side also? Ditto on the lanyard pathway.
  • Damasteel is storebought 'fake' damascus. Get the real deal.
  • The anodizing is gaudy, temporary, and unneeded.
I'd like to know your subjective analysis. I'll let Kevin stand for himself.

My wife, upon looking at this beast on my desk when it first arrived (and not knowing it was actually mine), declared "Wow! Look at the size of that thing! No one needs a knife that big." We both laughed as I agreed fully with her, and also told he it was mine. She remarked something about men needing big things to make up for their shortcomings, and then gayly walked away. Damn her. She knows me top to bottom!

Coop
 
Hey Coop, thanks for your business and the SUPER pics! I wish you were closer and I could finally take the softboxes down out of my living room... my wife would love to see those banished to the closet!

The matte sides on the knife are done with a technique I developed from fine art printmaking. It involves abrasive powders and is done by hand. The fine patterrn of scratches makes a great matt finish that can take many more scratches without showing them. Bead blasted finished always get a few scratches the first week and start looking shop worn... that dont happen the way I do it!

I do use a CNC milling machine to help make my knives... easy it ain't, but when it works... well, then it looks easy. Like those fancy figure skaters on TV gliding around like they were weightless. But buy yourself a pair of skates and see how fast you land flat on your ass... at least I do!!

Enjoy the knife Coop!
 
Kevin, apparently you can do almost anything with Ti, G10, and steel and you my friend have chosen wisely...... great design, great execution.


Robert
 
SharpByCoop said:
Hi Guys,

.........STeven,

....... 'ready, FIRE, aim' approach with your comments. Not this time. You asked first.

I will see if I can forecast your style misgivings. You are entitled, by all means.

  • Slime green G10 is a plastic not deserving of an upscale handle material, but better suited to iMacs and children's toys.
  • The lack of symmetry is skewed. It just doesn't look right. Why not the slime green on the other side also? Ditto on the lanyard pathway.
  • Damasteel is storebought 'fake' damascus. Get the real deal.
  • The anodizing is gaudy, temporary, and unneeded.
I'd like to know your subjective analysis. I'll let Kevin stand for himself.

Coop
Click to expand...

Coop, am trying to be nice to people who deserve it! Don't know Kevin, but he is talented and handles himself well on the Forums, so there is no need to be a dick on my part.

1. Although I don't care for "slime green" G-10, that is a purely opinion based choice, and not one to be looked down upon. It is very similar to the stag threads/polls up right now, one man likes blondes, the other redheads.;)

2.The side to side symmetry does look not right. Not so much with the differing materials so much in vogue, but the thickness. Thinner G-10 and Damasteel or thicker titanium on the opposing side would have been the aesthetically "right" way to go. Interested in the reasoning for the asymmetrical dimensions.

3. Damasteel is good stuff, I have no problem with it. Also have no problem with Devin Thomas damascus, Darryl Meier damascus or, particularly, Jerry Rados Turkish Twist. They are some superlative metals.

4. I like the anodizing, it complements everything nicely.

5. The traction grooves/scallops bother me greatly. They were done IMO with a cutter that is too large. I prefer traction cuts that either appear to be, or actually were, done with a checkering file. I also would have preferred/ordered them on the inside of the frame, not the outside of the scales.

6. The cutout for the thumbhole is assymetrical, and upsets the "flow". IMO, the cutout of the "Classic" Sebenza style would have been preferrable.

So as not to dwell on the negative, I am AMAZED at the fit and finish. The pocket for the clip, and the little screw securing the obverse side of the pivot pin screw are nothing short of artistic/mechanical genius. The blade shape is superb.

I will be looking at Kevin's work in the future.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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