Latest Knife

Dixieblade57 · Jan 24, 2009

This knife is a replica of 1800s style, ball grip belt knife. The handle is made of maple. Inset in the ball grip are two inlays of cow bone. On one side one a bear paw has been engraved, on the other side prayer feathers. The handle is 4 1/2 in length, with four steel pins.
The blade has been acid etched to achieve the finish that you see on the blade, as well as the aged look of the blade. The blade itself is 6 3/8, for a total over all length of 10 7/8 for the entire knife.
The sheath is leather wrapped with rawhide and hand sewn with sinew. The edge has been adorned with brass tacks.

I really would like to hear what everyone thinks of this piece as it may help me to make some decisions. I like building the 1800's knives but they are not selling well right now. I don't now if it is the economy or the knives.
I am thinking about adding some equipment to my shop but think I may need to build a few other kind of knives to be able to afford it. This one has been a seller what do you all think of it.

John M Cohea · Jan 24, 2009

The pics are sorta small, but from what I can make out it looks very nice and I like it. I had the same problem as you in the begining. I loved doing the rustic stuff but had trouble selling it. I had all but stopped making them except for one every so often because I just had to make one. Then I met a new knifemaker friend who really liked what I did and encouraged me to keep after it. He then started send pics to purveyors and collectors that he knew and the orders started coming in.
I don't really make what I would call replicas of particular dated patterns, but rather my idea of what possibly could have come from a particular era, and it seems to work well for me.
If you take a look at what I do you can see a Winkler/ Shook influence, as well as a little Chuck Burrows thrown in for good measure

My point in all this is if you enjoy this style of work, then by all means keep at it and eventually people will start to notice and take a liking to it as well.

Will Leavitt · Jan 24, 2009

If you like making period knives then make period knives. You won't enjoy making knives to just make money and it will show. Do you go to the Rendevous? I sell a few through my father in law at the local Gatherings and I know Billy Watson locally sells at Gatherings all over the country.

The economy is tough right now and Rendevous are expensive so people are probably saving their money right now.

Stay true to yourself, make the knives that are YOUR passion and they'll sell.

Keith Montgomery · Jan 24, 2009

I like the knife and the sheath, but could you please describe how the sheath works? It doesn't have a standard belt loop, and i am at a loss to figure out how it would sit.

Barkes Knife Shop · Jan 24, 2009

Looks good to me, but small photo's.

Terry

Will Leavitt · Jan 24, 2009

Keith, ever see the movie Jerimiah Johnson? That's how ole JJ carried his knife. The knife and sheath are under the belt, the loop allows for several different carries; side, backside, crossdraw. It's almost as flexible as a frog and it's ambidextrous like a frog.

Dixieblade57 · Jan 24, 2009

Will, already said it Keith, but this is pics of how you would wear the sheath. Since I couldn't take pics of myself with the knife on I staged them on the kitchen counter. The belt acts as a saftey on the sheath to help hold it in. It may look uncomfortable but belive me its not. This also allows for the option of wearing it on the outside of alot of clothes in the winter, by securing with a belt around your coat or jacket.

I heard a couple of you say small photos. It is either those or these like the sheath, until I upgrade. Now I can already hear someone saying its only $40.00 bucks to upgrade, but give me a break. I just spent $400.00 on a Hay Budden anvil, all 156lbs of it! So I am temporarily in a cash flow problem.
I appreciate the encourging words about staying true to my passion and I probably will. Not too much was said about the other knife I posted a pic of. It has been a seller! It is along those lines I just pickled the handle on that one. Any comments on it?

John M Cohea · Jan 24, 2009

It looks nice also, and if it sells well for you keep making it as well.Just don't give up on doing what you really like to make.

bikermikearchery · Jan 24, 2009

Bears have 5 tows, on both font and rear.

Its a great knife. One of the nicest I have seen. Even if your Bear was crippled.

R.C.Reichert · Jan 24, 2009

I absolutely love the period pieces. I like the first knife of yours better than the second one. I wish more people were into the patinated, aged look. Frontier blades rule!! But it seems like most people these days are so used to everything being stainless and all mirror polished and factory finished. They want something that looks like a factory knife, but is handmade.

I don't like stainless steel at all on a knife. By the way, I also like the rivet work on the sheath. Very nice work.

Will Leavitt · Jan 25, 2009

Did you like the anvil? Chuck is a great guy, did he talk your ear off?

As a former cabinet maker I despise pickled finishes.... nothing I hated more than hearing "I need you to match this 15 year old pickled oak door" :barf: I thought it was dymondwood or something.

If that knife sells then make more like it and sell them, but make sure you're working on at least one of YOUR knives to help keep your sanity.

Keep treading water :thumbup:

ddavelarsen · Jan 25, 2009

Will Leavitt said:
If you like making period knives then make period knives. You won't enjoy making knives to just make money and it will show. Do you go to the Rendevous? I sell a few through my father in law at the local Gatherings and I know Billy Watson locally sells at Gatherings all over the country.

The economy is tough right now and Rendevous are expensive so people are probably saving their money right now.

Stay true to yourself, make the knives that are YOUR passion and they'll sell.

Amen.

Both are great knives! I really like your sheath too.

Dixieblade57 · Jan 25, 2009

Will, I love the anvil. Charlie, does like to talk. I am sorry we didn't have more time to spend together as we could have talked knives for hours, I'll bet. I emailed him after I got back home but haven't heard from him, maybe work is keeping him hopping!
thanks guys for the words of encouragement! Iam going to stay true to my knives. I may venture into a different aspect of it. I have been thinking of making some folders.
Someone asked me if I was in this for the money, and I couldn't help but laugh!

If that was the reason I would have quit a long time ago. I enjoy building each and every knife I build and there is a little piece of me that will stay with that knife even long after I am dead and gone.
Right now I am just trying to expand my shop a little and get into a new grinder and finish my forge all things that require money. So guess I am just having a mid-knife crisis, that's kinda like a mid-life crisis!

Thanks for steering me back on the straight and narrow. Someone once told me that if I was looking for fame and fortune I was in the wrong business and I agree.
"I just want to build a knife that makes you want to pick it up, and once you pick it up, you never want to put it down"!