Looking for serious feed back.........

T.A.DAVISON

T.A.DAVISON

Slip Joint Knife Maker
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
5,477
Here are a couple slip joints done.

These are true customs - why? Cause I did them from scratch. There is NOT another two knives in the world just like them? ( I did NOT use a pattern)
They are one of a kinds.....

Hollow Ground - free hand / on 14'' wheel.
I do my own heat treat - have done it for a very long time. (Kim Breed tested one a long time ago, said it was bad to the bone! Write up was in Blade Mag.)
I do a cryogenic quench on all blades.
The name is stamped in by hand / NOT etched.
Bolsters / stainless - I solder them on / they are not integral, glued on or spot welded. (you can NOT see the seam lines at all)
NO washers or pivot bushings - made like Reese Bose does his.
Shield - double pinned clear through the shield & liner. (NOT glued in or spot welded pins to the back of shield.)
There are no gaps. Spring is flush in all positions. (Most all my knives have half stops.)
There is no blade play - up or down or side ways. And the walk & talk is smooth. (The knife feathers perfect.)
Blade is centered perfectly when closed - and it goes clear to the end of the trough. (Looks like it hits the end, but does NOT)
You can NOT see the pivot pin.
Fit and finish is very, very clean......
Scales are always book matched.....

So I'm looking for feed back from you expert collectors....... What else can I do to make these knives perfect for you?

Seriously! Thanks in advance.

Todd Davison


#863 - Black Ash Burl - 4'' Closed.
#865 - Iron Wood - 4'' Closed.
Both knives are sold going to Alaska - enjoy the new knives Andy.

865AA.jpg


865B.jpg
 
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Your knives (at least the swaybacks for me) look just about as perfect as they can be. If they are as you describe them, im not sure you CAN do anything else to fix them. The looks are outstanding. Never a handle material that I don't find appealing. As always, amazing work, and when I can actually afford them, I intend to get one. :thumbup:
 
I'm no slipjoint expert, but those look terrific to me. That bottom one is just dreamy.

Roger
 
That top knife is absolutely gorgeous. I'm not a collector of traditional knives and definitely no expert...but your knives make me want to give serious thought to starting to add a few to my collection.
 
The only thing you could have done better is sold me the wharncliff.
 
I'm no expert on slip joints either, but I love your work. I honestly don't know what you could do better. I have one of your slip joints and a fixed blade of yours. They are both beautiful. By the way how rare is the fixed blade?
 
The only thing that could possibly make these knives better would to be cover them with chocolate!Seriously though,they truly look fantastic Todd!
 
Colog said:
I'm no expert on slip joints either, but I love your work. I honestly don't know what you could do better. I have one of your slip joints and a fixed blade of yours. They are both beautiful. By the way how rare is the fixed blade?
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I did NOT number my fix blade knives, but I started making them about 1980.
Sold my first knife in 1981. Made them part time up to 2002, when I went full time.
Started making slip joint knives in late 2005 - I came to Bladeforums with number #10?
Gave number #27 Stag w/ brass liners away to Harvey Oakley (Canada), he was my first sale here. (It was an Ossic fix blade knife.)
So there must be a few thousands out there some were? I see one on ebay about once a year?
The slip joints are some of the hardest I ever done - made about three hundred, before I could make one consistently with out a problem? But I guess I chose the hard way to do them, from scratch every single time.

The slip joint on the far left is number 10 - the fix blades were some of the first I put up for sale here.......
The double edged bowie with ossic was for sale here for $600.00
I sold it to a dealer at the Tulsa gun show, he put it in his shop for $1,700.00 and said he could care less if he never sold it?

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I probably custom filed a couple hundred guns (pistols) only did one rifle, it belongs to my brother. Bill Ruple looked at the rifle when I was at the Spirit of Steel Show, kind of blew his mind I think..... I've had machinist tell me I machined it, until they really look at the taper of the barrel.
(I do NOT do the guns any more)

Rifle_AABBCC.jpg


And I probably made 300? 400? miniature knives........

GMC.jpg

Mini!c.jpg

MZBB.jpg
 
I have a hard time picking a favorite slipjoint maker between you and Alsdorf. They are both magnificent pieces. I particularly like the pattern in the woods, especially the iron wood.
 
The history of your evolution is intriguing to say the least. Keep on doing what your doing. Your method is working for you. you make wonder knives.
 
I haven't had one of your knives since #268 I believe, but I really appreciate the evolution in design from clunkier to more graceful proportions - and these two are some of the most "graceful" designs of yours I have seen. They look absolutely great!
 
GREAT body of work Todd! You DON'T need to do anything more to make people want your knives the way I see it. EVERY one you post sells RAPIDLY!

AWESOME file work on the guns. I've not seen anything like that type of treatment. I think it looks great.

Peter
 
Bout the only thing I can think of is, people are steel snobs. Maybe upgrade from ATS34 to one of the high tech powder stainlesses like CPM 154 or Elmax?
 
Danbo said:
Bout the only thing I can think of is, people are steel snobs. Maybe upgrade from ATS34...
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Great feedback ! and good on Todd for puttin' it out there.
I would add, put some curves into those dead straight lines. Remember, the man who'd buy a fine knife will always admire a beautiful woman. Why not take advantage of that in your designs. Your making skills are terrific, no worries there!
 
Your slip joints are always awesome. That file work on the guns is insane.....never seen anything quite like that before.
I am no uber-collector, but in my opinion, you are on the right track(gross understatement).
Darcy:)
 
You're on my list when I get done with Chute knives!

The pics you posted show a diversity most don't have; very nice!
 
Danbo said:
Bout the only thing I can think of is, people are steel snobs. Maybe upgrade from ATS34 to one of the high tech powder stainlesses like CPM 154 or Elmax?
Click to expand...

Integral bolsters and upgraded steel are two features I'd like to see. I've always been impressed with your work, but these are two reasons I've not jumped on one of your knives. Of course, I have been tempted many times. It's great you are interested in customer/potential customer feedback.
 
CUTiger3 said:
Integral bolsters and upgraded steel are two features I'd like to see. I've always been impressed with your work, but these are two reasons I've not jumped on one of your knives. Of course, I have been tempted many times. It's great you are interested in customer/potential customer feedback.
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May I ask why you would want integral bolsters?

I ordered the steel a couple weeks ago, so working on that.
 
I would rather see the bolsters soldered on (just like your already doing) I have about 10 or more of your slip-joints Todd, and I can't think of anything new or different I would want to see from your art. I guess you can wait and see what the other collectors say here, but I'm a fan for life.Everyone needs a good knife in their pocket, and I always carry a Todd Davison. From time to time I'll slip another makers knife in, but for the most part I carry yours. It will be interesting to see what the others say. Good thread.

Todd L.
 
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