My First Two Customs

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
13,363
These are my first customs. I acquired both within about three weeks of each other quite a few years ago.

The first is a Larry Mensch Bird & Trout (OAL 8 ¾”; BL 4 ¼”) with an outstanding sambar stag handle, random pattern stainless Damascus and filework along entire spine. Larry’s a full time maker from Pennsylvania. It’s has a tooled leather sheath w/ King Cobra skin insert by James Shaver.


And the second is a Herb Derr fighter (OAL 11”; BL 61/2”) with amber sambar stag handle, California Buckeye spacer and Herb’s blued 2000 layer Bird’s Eye Damascus. Herb made the tooled leather sheath with Diamondback Rattler inlay.

Still have both.

Anyone else still hanging on to your first customs?
Any photos?

LARRYMENSCHStagDamascusHunter003.jpg


HERBDERRStagDamascusBowie002-1.jpg


Thanks for looking.....
 
Those are incredible knives!!! Thank you for sharing pix of them with us.
 
sunfishman said:
That's cool Kevin.

If you don't sell your knives, are you an investor or collector? ;) :D
Click to expand...

Don, you know better than to use the "I" word on here. ;) :D

But to answer your question, if you bought Loveless knives 10 years ago and have not sold them, than you are not only an investor but a very GOOD one.:D
 
I like that Herb Derr fighter. What type of metal was used for the guard and butt cap?

I have never sold any of my custom knives. I was more of an accumulator before I made the decision to transition my interest to collecting this year. My first three customs were all stock removal knives. The most interesting to me now is my third purchase which was a small drop point stag hunter made by Howard Hitchmough before he moved on to making fancy folders.
 
Gotta say, that bowie on bottom is enough to make a grown man cry. Very nice lines and tastefully done, with a great deal of eye-catching glitz. All good!!
 
krug82 said:
I like that Herb Derr fighter. What type of metal was used for the guard and butt cap?

I have never sold any of my custom knives. I was more of an accumulator before I made the decision to transition my interest to collecting this year. My first three customs were all stock removal knives. The most interesting to me now is my third purchase which was a small drop point stag hunter made by Howard Hitchmough before he moved on to making fancy folders.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the views and comments.

Both guard and butt cap are nickel silver.

Herb offers a nice package of a stylish, functional knife always with a very nice sheath at a very good value.
 
JONES I have a Derr too man, one of my first damascus blades. He makes great stuff and yes I still have it!
 
Seems not many still have the first custom they purchased. Not a very sentimental group. ;) :D

Had hoped we may hear some interesting stories here about first acquisitions.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Seems not many still have the first custom they purchased. Not a very sentimental group. ;) :D

Had hoped we may hear some interesting stories here about first acquisitions.
Click to expand...

Ok, FWIW, I still have my first custom--a Cordova hunter that AV8R sold me. I just wasn't going to say anything because I didn't have a pic, but you have "guilted" me into a confession.;)
 
Kevin Jones said:
Seems not many still have the first custom they purchased. Not a very sentimental group. ;) :D

Had hoped we may hear some interesting stories here about first acquisitions.
Click to expand...

I'll help. It seems our custom threads need to get back to customs. And, here is a short version of one person's switch to custom knives.

Long story short, except for the college days, I have lived in Southern Missouri. Ideal hunting and fishing area and have done both my whole life. And, I have always had knives, but never paid much attention to make; more to style. I did know Buck knives were hard to sharpen, but other than that I was more interested in guns and fishing equipment than the paticulars of a knife. Something was always around to cut with, it didn't matter too much what it was.

Living close to a custom knife maker, I slowly got to know him and his family and became good friends over 10 years ago. His friendship and shared knowledge has sparked an interest in getting a taste of this, so, at the age of 53, I ask Don Hanson if I could get on his order list. One of the arguments about customs may be cost, but if you develop an interest later in life (at any point, for that matter!) and can afford/justify the expense, why not jump in with both feet??

The Piney River hunter pictured is my first custom. The process of design, picking materials, working out final details with a custom maker is worth every penny you pay to do so. If it wasn't, you could ask a machine to spit one out for less. The choice is yours.

Thanks Don and thanks to all the talented custom makers out there. :thumbup: I appreciate and I am marveled at all you do.


WalrusHunter-Don.jpg


Xrayhunter.jpg



- Joe
 
My first customs are all gone, but they were (not in exact order):

1) Robert Hajovsky dagger with ivory micarta;
2) Warren Osborne fighter, walnut handle (Randall Model 1-ish).
3) Claude Montjoy tanto in ironwood with ironwood scabbard.
4) Ron Gaston boot knife, sheep horn scales.

Roger
 
Joe, I thought your original photo was pretty good but after seeing Coop's?
WOW.

That is one fantastic hunter. How long have you had it?

That being your first custom, the second had a tough act to follow.:D
 
That Hanson has easily one of the prettiest pieces of ivory I have ever seen.

Roger
 
Someone needs to start an "Ivory Beauty Contest" thread.:confused:
Like the Stag one a couple months ago.

I like the little subtle things that really help kick a knife up a notch. Like the single gold pins that Don always uses.
Great finishing touch.
 
Such a thread would be LOADED with Hansons, I can promise you that. You pretty much don't ever see an average piece of handle material on one of Don's knives. I know Ari has some bowies of his with truly memorable handles - a blue mammoth and an artifact walrus piece come to mind.

Roger
 
Kevin Jones said:
That is one fantastic hunter. How long have you had it?
Click to expand...

Don made this in 2005.

A couple of things about this one that make customs so special. Don makes some tremendous hunters, but normally goes guardless with some of his awesome damascus bolsters. Being use to hunters with a guard, Don agreed to do the simple damascus guard for mine.

Plus, when deciding on the blade steel, I ask if he could 'run a river' down the blade. Thus, the damascus pattern.

Couldn't find one of these at Wal-Mart. :)


- Joe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top