More B.A.K.C.A. obeservations (no pics)

A

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I had only 3 hours to get in an out, so no chatting with too much of anyone.

Bob Lum has an album of photos of completed custom work (and yes, I mean CUSTOM work) that blew me away. All of his work is of exemplary craftsmanship. I am setting up an order for a small chinese folder with damascus blade and giraffe scales, with spyderhole.

Phil Boguszewski - the ASP folder is quite amazing, the first flipper model that really attracted me.

Allan Elishewitz - had his ruler knives with a new Silver G-10, polished, that looked like carbon fiber - pretty neat stuff.

Strider SnG - light as a feather. Many possible grip positions. Good looking knife. Thumb hole action is great - what are those studs for??

Stan Fujisaka - beautiful, simple fixed blade upswept wharncliffe blades in mirror-finished ATS-34. If only I used fixed blades.

D.O.G. knives - cool, but brutal. Deadly pinching action even after repeated testing. Dual thumb "screws" are a nice innovation. Overall - this thing seems a bit like a Rube Goldberg device. Very nice gentleman however. He had the CRKT proto there - pretty good recreation, but is was the usual CRKT materials.

Two disappointments - got to handle an Obenauf at the TAD table. Gritty action, handle finish was also gritty and the pivot action was miserable. This must be an aberration considering all the good stuff written about these knives. Also, Peter Marzitelli was there - the Scorpion is by far his nicest overall design IMHO. However, these knives are very blocky - kind of like Randall-Made knife handles. Not my cup of tea.

Also - as noted, Mayo and Chew were sold out before the general unwashed made it into the door. I guess a BAKCA membership is in order.

Thanks to Randy (nifrand) and all others that made this possible.
 
Yep, excellent job by Randy.

One other thing about Elishewitz's knives. Anyone play with his new thumb stud? I think it may now be my favorite thumb stud, and in fact it's the only thumb stud format that I like as much (or maybe even more) than a top-mounted disk.

It's a stepped pattern going parallel with the blade. One problem with thumb studs is that you have to clear the scale to hit the thumb stud. Especially on smaller knives, this can be tricky, especially if the thumb stud itself is not oversized and is close to the scales. With Allen's new stud, you sweep your thumb in a very natural motion parallel to the blade, not perpendicular. The stair steps grab your thumb perfectly. The motion opens up the blade very reliably. Overall, I find it a superior thumb stud solution generally, and especially for smaller blades.

Regarding the D.O.G. folders, did the bolt-action lock really pinch you? I had no such problems. I did get pinched multiple times, and badly, on his new lock, the one with the button that travels perpendicular through the middle of the handle. It's still the most interesting lock I"ve played with, but I think I'd need a new opening technique for it.

And heartily agree on Fujisaka, he's awesome, I've drooled over his knives for years.

Joe
 
Joe - yes the DOG knife that I mostly handled was the "Toad" with the stud device that travels down the middle of the handle. I must have tried it at least 30 times but no go.

Alan's stair stud is terrific. I had a large which I traded away. I am ordering a small "King" model with CF bolsters. Between Alan's thick steel and the Ti bolsters that I had on my first one, I found the knife to be too forward heavy - and I usually like them that way.
The small version (approx. 2.7 inch edge) does not have this problem and will be even less so with the CF bolster. A good EDC I think.
 
We were there for both days, and almost the whole time. Just kept walking around looking at all the great blsades.
My wife bought a Strider MT SS fixed blade to go with her new AR she is carrying. Also she bought a Barry Dawson tactical fixed blade she fell in lust with. She is a LEO, and really into tacticals.
I acquired a Michael Vagnino gents knife with 3" S30V blade, carbon fiber scales, titanium framelock.
We were both carrying our Strider AR's in our new Gary Graley sheaths, and everyone just kept coming up to us, and asking about them, and how great the workmanship was on them.
We met a lot of new people, and some knifemakers we had met at the Oregon Show last year.
We talked with everyone mentioned above plus many more, and had such a great time.
Was impressed with Allen Elishewitz's knives, and like the lock release lever. It worked very well.
So much to tell here but don't want to take up too much space so just say what a great time, and enjoyed meeting, and talking with all the knifemakers, and other people.

Larry
 
Three times the charm, yes sir rebob Randy did a bang up job, great Show!

I played with one of Elishewitz's knifes Joe and i liked that stud too, it worked for me and looked great too.

Stan Fujisaka's knifes are always eye catchers, fantastic workmanship and a heck of a nice guy.

I was only there for three hour too Architect , but i did talk to some forum members i ran into there and at the last few shows, problem is i don't remember all there names. sorry about that guys, you know who you are and it was great talking to you, heck chime in here so i will remember your names next time. LOL

One members name i do remember is Liong Mah, he had one of his designed knifes made by Larry Davidson, it's called the Dreadnought, very different and it looks like you could catch them coming or going with it. hehe

Larry, your the one i meet at Michael Vagnino table, you had the first custom knife you bought from SF gun Exchange in the 80's right? If it was you, you got the frame lock from Michael that i liked.

Cheers!
James
 
This was my first knife show and I was most impressed with how nice everyone was. Especially R.W. Clark, I really regret not buying one of his neck knives. I was a bit overwhelmed by everything and don't remember everyone's names. I did get to see allot of stuff that I have only read about. For me the cool stuff was Phil Wilson and his fillet knives, they were unbelievably light and sharp as well as beautiful. The Segal kitchen knives were very cool, perfect vegetable choppers. The Grant Hawk design was interesting but a real finger pincher. The new strider was cool but not my type. I was disappointed not to see any bali's but I guess they just don't go over to well here in Kali. I will just be waiting around till next year and defiantly join BACKA to get in early. I would have loved to see the Mayo's.
 
Hi folks, Grant Hawk here, sorry about the pinched fingers. Our
new T.O.A.D. lock folder does require an opening and closing
technique that allows the control studs to complete their travel without interruption. The danger zone is relatively small and exists only during the act of opening or closing. With very little practice the correct technique will appear obvious and will quickly become second nature. In the same way that we all learned to close a liner lock without cutting our thumbs we learn to close the T.O.A.D. lock without pinching a finger. Incidentally T.O.A.D stands for Toggle Operated Anti Drag.
 
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