Hello everyone,
Here is the third knife in this little forum series. Actually it is a set of knives, but I am sure no one will mind.
Its actually a bit embarrassing as it has taken me so long to finally post this last thread as we are now already in 2009. I wrote most of this several months ago but never got around to actually posting the thread. Even though its late, I figured no one would mind a bit more eye candy and so posted this anyway.
These knives were made for me on custom order by Rob Brown of South Africa. Seeing some pictures of Robs work in the past and reading some comments about them, I just had to see how good these knives were in person. So I contacted him with some specifics I was interested in. I decided to get two sets of knives, one for my collection and another set for use.
I always wanted a custom knife that I would feel comfortable carrying when I go hiking. By this I mean a knife that is suitable to the task but also at a price point where I would not hesitate to put it to action. A lot of the good Loveless-style double-edged knives out there are just a bit too expensive for me to want to take them hiking. The first set then was to be the use set. Use is used loosely here as I dont get much need to draw it from the sheath when hiking, but I grew up hiking with a knife on my belt, so I wanted to continue this but with a custom. Dont get me wrong, Robs knives arent cheap, but they are a real bargain in the Loveless-style world given the quality of the work.
The set shown here is that set. To make it a bit less visibly susceptible to scratches, I asked Rob to put a satin finish on these knives instead of his usual mirror-polished. Rob accepted this request but told me that he provides satin finish only infrequently and as such thought that his mirror-polish work was better than his satin finish. I have to say that I havent seen his mirror-polish in person yet, but his satin finish is one of the nicest I have seen. Beautiful work! Since I first wrote this, I have seen his mirror finish it is excellent!
All around, Rob has been really great to work with. The project has taken a bit longer than I originally anticipated, but for the most part, Rob has been a good communicator (a couple of long periods without a response, but that can happen). That is really important to me and I can live with projects slipping as long as the communication remains and remains good. Another aspect is that I asked him to change some of the details of his designs for these knives and I have got to tell you guys, Rob has been extremely open in working with me on this. I really like what has come of it and it seems that he is quite happy with some of these changes as well.
I would recommend Rob to anyone. I think his knives are outstanding. His fit and finish are as good as any I have seen and handled. I have held work of others who are considered to be great up-and-comers in Loveless-style knives and I think Robs work is either as good or better. In fact, I think his fit and finish is right there with John Young and I consider Johns work to be impeccable. Rob's guards are extremely tight with the blade and he does not solder (I like both approaches, but without solder, any gap is visible so the tighter the fit, the better). His pins are so flush with the Micarta that you can only feel them because the friction of metal and Micarta differ (this was checked with the eyes closed and the finger sliding over the handle). His tangs are nicely tapered and his grinds are right on the money.
The next set are in mirror-polish and when that set is complete I might post a review on these here as well.
Knife specs:
Blade steel: ATS-34
Blade length: Chute = 116mm (~ 4 9/16); Wilderness = 175mm (~ 6 7/8 inches)
Ricasso and Chute blade spine: Radiused (even on the Chute; a departure from the true Loveless-style, but I asked for it this way as I find it visually more pleasing)
Fittings steel: 303 stainless
Handle material: Green Canvas Micarta (not the brown kind, but the really beautiful deep green kind)
OAL: Chute = 237mm (~ 9 3/8); Wilderness = 302mm (~ 11 7/8 inches)
Blade width where ricasso meets the bottom grind: Chute = 27mm (~ 1 1/16); Wilderness = 32mm (~ 1 1/4 inches)
Stock/ricasso thickness: Chute = 5mm (~ 3/16); Wilderness = 6mm (~ 1/4 inches)
Here is the third knife in this little forum series. Actually it is a set of knives, but I am sure no one will mind.
Its actually a bit embarrassing as it has taken me so long to finally post this last thread as we are now already in 2009. I wrote most of this several months ago but never got around to actually posting the thread. Even though its late, I figured no one would mind a bit more eye candy and so posted this anyway.
These knives were made for me on custom order by Rob Brown of South Africa. Seeing some pictures of Robs work in the past and reading some comments about them, I just had to see how good these knives were in person. So I contacted him with some specifics I was interested in. I decided to get two sets of knives, one for my collection and another set for use.
I always wanted a custom knife that I would feel comfortable carrying when I go hiking. By this I mean a knife that is suitable to the task but also at a price point where I would not hesitate to put it to action. A lot of the good Loveless-style double-edged knives out there are just a bit too expensive for me to want to take them hiking. The first set then was to be the use set. Use is used loosely here as I dont get much need to draw it from the sheath when hiking, but I grew up hiking with a knife on my belt, so I wanted to continue this but with a custom. Dont get me wrong, Robs knives arent cheap, but they are a real bargain in the Loveless-style world given the quality of the work.
The set shown here is that set. To make it a bit less visibly susceptible to scratches, I asked Rob to put a satin finish on these knives instead of his usual mirror-polished. Rob accepted this request but told me that he provides satin finish only infrequently and as such thought that his mirror-polish work was better than his satin finish. I have to say that I havent seen his mirror-polish in person yet, but his satin finish is one of the nicest I have seen. Beautiful work! Since I first wrote this, I have seen his mirror finish it is excellent!
All around, Rob has been really great to work with. The project has taken a bit longer than I originally anticipated, but for the most part, Rob has been a good communicator (a couple of long periods without a response, but that can happen). That is really important to me and I can live with projects slipping as long as the communication remains and remains good. Another aspect is that I asked him to change some of the details of his designs for these knives and I have got to tell you guys, Rob has been extremely open in working with me on this. I really like what has come of it and it seems that he is quite happy with some of these changes as well.
I would recommend Rob to anyone. I think his knives are outstanding. His fit and finish are as good as any I have seen and handled. I have held work of others who are considered to be great up-and-comers in Loveless-style knives and I think Robs work is either as good or better. In fact, I think his fit and finish is right there with John Young and I consider Johns work to be impeccable. Rob's guards are extremely tight with the blade and he does not solder (I like both approaches, but without solder, any gap is visible so the tighter the fit, the better). His pins are so flush with the Micarta that you can only feel them because the friction of metal and Micarta differ (this was checked with the eyes closed and the finger sliding over the handle). His tangs are nicely tapered and his grinds are right on the money.
The next set are in mirror-polish and when that set is complete I might post a review on these here as well.
Knife specs:
Blade steel: ATS-34
Blade length: Chute = 116mm (~ 4 9/16); Wilderness = 175mm (~ 6 7/8 inches)
Ricasso and Chute blade spine: Radiused (even on the Chute; a departure from the true Loveless-style, but I asked for it this way as I find it visually more pleasing)
Fittings steel: 303 stainless
Handle material: Green Canvas Micarta (not the brown kind, but the really beautiful deep green kind)
OAL: Chute = 237mm (~ 9 3/8); Wilderness = 302mm (~ 11 7/8 inches)
Blade width where ricasso meets the bottom grind: Chute = 27mm (~ 1 1/16); Wilderness = 32mm (~ 1 1/4 inches)
Stock/ricasso thickness: Chute = 5mm (~ 3/16); Wilderness = 6mm (~ 1/4 inches)
