Jimmy Chin Update
More than a few people have asked me
1. How to contact Jimmy Chin?
2. How much did the knife cost?
It may seem absurd, but the answer to both questions is that, I don't know.
There is a long and complicated story, worthy of a magazine article, of how this superb knife landed on my doorstep today. To the best of my knowledge, I have never seen, spoken or communicated directly with Jimmy Chin. I have not paid Jimmy a single penny for the knife. Life is stranger than fiction, and I will compose my thoughts and give you my best recollection of what exactly has transpired over almost the last three years. Tomorrow.
The story begins, over three years ago, with this thread on the Bladeforums:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260846&highlight=cashen unfortunately the picture of Kevin Cashen's damascus competition chopper has been removed, but trust me, it was stunning. I picked up the phone and placed my order for a similar piece. Kevin told me to expect it in 3 or 4 years. I did not know it at the time, but a young man from Taiwan, named Jimmy Chin was a student of Kevin Cashen, MS.
A few months passed by and Ron Newton, MS mentioned that a bladesmith, Jimmy Chin, had been visiting him and showed rapidly improving skills and a very high level of dedication. Perhaps Jimmy is a new guy to keep in mind. Time passes and I am having a conversation with one of my favorite new makers named Jason Knight, JS and he mentions a highly skilled bladesmith named Jimmy who had been a student of Kevin Cashen....
... Fast forward to the NYC Show, Ron Newton shows me a damascus tanto colaboration with the names Knight & Chin, not really what I collect, but sometimes you do what you have to do, SOLD. The steel was killer. He mentions that Jimmy has been buying
lots of first class knifemaking equipment and will be taking it back to Taiwan to set up his new shop. Somehow the subject of ordering a knife from Jimmy comes up and I mention my fondness for Kevin Cashen's chopper....Ron talks to Jimmy and he tells Ron that he will make my knife, when he gets set up in Taiwan.
Two years pass. Out of sight, out of mind. Jimmy WHO?
Out of the blue, Ron Newton tells me that he will be bringing Jimmy Chin's JS test blades to the Bladeshow, and that Jimmy said that I could have the pick of the litter, or continue to wait for my knife. I decided to wait a little longer. Jimmy's test knives were all sold instantly, after it was determined that he had to appear in person in order to submit his knives for testing.
June, July, August....Ron calls me and tells me that Jimmy has finished my knife, and that it is almost in the mail. Of course nothing comes, and I call Ron back and mention that I don't have a price or even a photo of the knife that am supposedly buying from Jimmy. He tells me don't be suprised, "if it just shows up". OK I know of a nice bridge in Brooklyn thats for sale...
Yesterday, It just showed up.
