Meet "No Big Thing"

Karl B. Andersen

Karl B. Andersen

Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Messages
5,665
A couple points to the creation of this knife:
The name, "No Big Thing", was derived from a little dragster that I used to enjoy at the drag strip back in the early 70s. It was a Vespa that was about the size of a bunch of nuthin' but had a big V8 and would do wheelies down the track in the first three gears and turns awesome times.
In other words, a lot of horsepower in a small package.
Also, a guy whom I admire quite a bit is Don Cowles. Don makes some of the coolest 2-finger knives I've ever seen, and I wanted to do something along those lines.
But I also wanted to make a knife that had substance, and felt hefty enough in the hand that one would feel he could accomplish considerable deeds, even though the knife was only a three finger knife.
So, here is No Big Thing.
Another note is that the Ivory Micarta scales I used here are very close - if not the EXACT! - first pieces of handle material I ever bought as a knife maker, circa 'late 96 or early 97. I've had a few of these ivory pieces as well as some black linen Micarta stored away all this time.
The bolsters are German Silver and the laddered Damascus is hot-blued 1095 and 15N20.
I'm gonna make a cool snap pouch sheath for her as well.
Over all 7" with a 3 1/4" cutting edge.

NoBigThing-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Is that your first Folder?
Your fixed-blade style really carried over into this folder design.
Think I would have recognized it as yours in a random unmarked photo.

Cool!!!
 
Karl, to me that is a real departure from your style! I sure do like it! Reminds me of a Gentlemens dress knife!

Steve
----------
Potomac Forge
 
That looks fantastic Karl! :thumbup:
I hope you meant a "Vega" not a "Vespa", a Vespa with a V8 between your legs sounds terrifying!! :eek:
 
BenR.T. said:
That looks fantastic Karl! :thumbup:
I hope you meant a "Vega" not a "Vespa", a Vespa with a V8 between your legs sounds terrifying!! :eek:
Click to expand...

Not a Vega - this is a Vespa:

Living in Northern Illinois, I used to go watch it run all the time.

187055499.jpg


In an evening of Funny Cars, rails, gassers and "race what you brung" cars -- the crowd at US30 dragway was waiting to see something different...waiting to see if George Brugos would be able to keep his bracket racer, "No Big Thing" under control. And on those nights, from 1967 until the track closed in 1981, an unlikely dragster would rumble up to the starting line -- running a 454 cubic inch V8, and transferring power to the track through a 1959 Oldsmobile rear end and 1967 American Racing alloy wheels mounted with 15 inch wide, 32 inch high rear tires. The body of the car was hinged to flip up for access to the engine.

This car could best be described as a mouse that roared, but it was really a 1960 Vespa on steroids. Arguably yesteryear's most famous bracket racer.

Barry Reed, a former drag racer who now runs an auto parts store and videotapes drag races for television productions, is now the owner of this piece of drag racing history. The car isn't racing now, "It needs some front end work before it can be raced again," says Reed, but it is regularly displayed at meets and drag races.

Originally owned by Ringling Brothers Circus, the little Vespa was turned into a giant-killer by George Brugos in 1966. It passed through several owners after the closing of US30, until it was acquired by Reed. Reed raced it once in an exhibition, then put the car on the display circuit.
 
That is very cool Karl!! I love the pic of those wrinkle walls wrapping up!
 
I got an email tonight from the folks who own the little dragster that inspired this knife.
Just thank good ol' Google for their search.
I was thrilled to talk to the people who own the car that I used to go watch at the drag strip 40 years ago.
Wow.
Am I really 60?
No - I'm not.
I'm 59 1/2. :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top