NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2014
- Messages
- 9,594
It all started with this thread:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...sowbelly-in-52100-and-canvas-micarta.1438107/
For those that haven't read the story, I will reiterate.
I was first brought to this forum while searching for info on a late 80's early 90's stockman. I found it under a deck during a remodel, and I was starting to get into knives as it was, so this serendipitous discovery was accompanied by perfect timing. Now I had a knife to research, as my interest was growing and now this old beat up stockman kicked it from first to second gear.
Around this time I have owned a few CRKT, SOG and other various lower end store bought brands. And though I have been here since 2014, I pretty much stuck to the shallow end of the pool (except for one CRK made on the day my daughter was born), and came here for research into other knives. One day in early October, I saw a custom by John Lloyd that screamed "Use Me!". This was the first custom that I felt I could carry and use on a daily basis, and it caused me to start seeking higher end knives as users. At this time, higher end meant Spyderco, Benchmade, GEC, and other mid-level knives, and customs were Way above what I ever thought I would want/own.
I messaged the original seller, and he said he decided to keep it, but would keep me in mind if he ever wanted to let it go. He forgot. The knife was sold again and again, then it bounced around a little more. It had 2 or 3 owners until I saw it again. But it immediately went back underground, and again I was told that he wasn't planning on selling. Two months later, he traded it...
The new owner stayed off of this site for near 4 months, and I thought it was lost for good. No replies to my message or email. About 6 months after his acquirement, it was posted on a separate members carry in the daily traditional carry thread. I immediately sent a message, and I was met with the same "if I ever go to sell it, I will contact you first." reply. Nope, he forgot too.
This was owner number 5 or 6, and he sold it to 6 or 7.
And so was my story for almost two years... I have sent emails, PMs, and Facebook messages following this knife. Often a few owners back, but sometimes speaking to the current owner that was not ready to move it. I started to become despondent, in regards to the likelihood of my owning this knife.
It was right around the end of January of 2017, and nearing my birthday, though I am only 37, I tend to get a bit nostalgic. I was thinking about things I had hoped the new year would bring my way, experiences, family, friends, career, etc. over the course of my life and how they had changed in line with the stage I was in... This was when the John Lloyd Knives thread caught my eye, and I decided to increase my efforts in locating this knife.
Up until this point, the knife has been through 6 or 7 owners. From the end of January 2017 to the beginning of March 2018, I was in contact with 5 members on here that have owned this particular knife, and the final member sold it on Facebook to a member in the UK (total owners now 12/13). He told me that he would contact the buyer, and get back in touch. He did not.
Two weeks passed, and I reached back out to him, and he said that it slipped his mind and he would do so that night.
The following morning I was greeted by an email from the current owner that contained a message that was becoming all too familiar, "I do currently own the knife you are seeking, but I wasn't planning on selling." But this is where things changed a bit. You see, he had read a little bit about my journey for this knife and he said that "He couldn't sleep at night knowing that he held the knife that I have searched so long for." A few more emails, and we agreed upon a dollar amount, and I finally had a good shot at finally owning this knife, so long as Customs, and USPS agreed and played nicely.
They did.
Today My knife landed, and while it has a few bumps, scrapes, and a solid grey patina, I couldn't be happier. The stepped liners were an awesome surprise, and the pull is a 6-7 which is welcomed as I prefer a firmer pull.
The action is a little gritty, but I am flushing it out and a lot of junk is coming out and it is smoothing out a bit already. Regardless, the knife has a new owner and like the others, I am not planning on selling it. I have gone through enough to obtain it and the fact that it was the push to get me into quality knives means that we have a history. Nevermind the fact that the knife itself has a history of it's own.
We both have bumps, bruises, and things to be improved as well as finally finding the end of our path.
I know this knife may not be much to some of you, but I can't picture choosing another. Pardon the old Winchester stand-in. I think I might be able to settle down a bit now (except for still wanting a Wenger Professional 4 Layer...).
Nicely sunken joint
Stepped Liners, lines up with Ricasso and grind cut in.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...sowbelly-in-52100-and-canvas-micarta.1438107/
For those that haven't read the story, I will reiterate.
I was first brought to this forum while searching for info on a late 80's early 90's stockman. I found it under a deck during a remodel, and I was starting to get into knives as it was, so this serendipitous discovery was accompanied by perfect timing. Now I had a knife to research, as my interest was growing and now this old beat up stockman kicked it from first to second gear.
Around this time I have owned a few CRKT, SOG and other various lower end store bought brands. And though I have been here since 2014, I pretty much stuck to the shallow end of the pool (except for one CRK made on the day my daughter was born), and came here for research into other knives. One day in early October, I saw a custom by John Lloyd that screamed "Use Me!". This was the first custom that I felt I could carry and use on a daily basis, and it caused me to start seeking higher end knives as users. At this time, higher end meant Spyderco, Benchmade, GEC, and other mid-level knives, and customs were Way above what I ever thought I would want/own.
I messaged the original seller, and he said he decided to keep it, but would keep me in mind if he ever wanted to let it go. He forgot. The knife was sold again and again, then it bounced around a little more. It had 2 or 3 owners until I saw it again. But it immediately went back underground, and again I was told that he wasn't planning on selling. Two months later, he traded it...
The new owner stayed off of this site for near 4 months, and I thought it was lost for good. No replies to my message or email. About 6 months after his acquirement, it was posted on a separate members carry in the daily traditional carry thread. I immediately sent a message, and I was met with the same "if I ever go to sell it, I will contact you first." reply. Nope, he forgot too.
This was owner number 5 or 6, and he sold it to 6 or 7.
And so was my story for almost two years... I have sent emails, PMs, and Facebook messages following this knife. Often a few owners back, but sometimes speaking to the current owner that was not ready to move it. I started to become despondent, in regards to the likelihood of my owning this knife.
It was right around the end of January of 2017, and nearing my birthday, though I am only 37, I tend to get a bit nostalgic. I was thinking about things I had hoped the new year would bring my way, experiences, family, friends, career, etc. over the course of my life and how they had changed in line with the stage I was in... This was when the John Lloyd Knives thread caught my eye, and I decided to increase my efforts in locating this knife.
Up until this point, the knife has been through 6 or 7 owners. From the end of January 2017 to the beginning of March 2018, I was in contact with 5 members on here that have owned this particular knife, and the final member sold it on Facebook to a member in the UK (total owners now 12/13). He told me that he would contact the buyer, and get back in touch. He did not.
Two weeks passed, and I reached back out to him, and he said that it slipped his mind and he would do so that night.
The following morning I was greeted by an email from the current owner that contained a message that was becoming all too familiar, "I do currently own the knife you are seeking, but I wasn't planning on selling." But this is where things changed a bit. You see, he had read a little bit about my journey for this knife and he said that "He couldn't sleep at night knowing that he held the knife that I have searched so long for." A few more emails, and we agreed upon a dollar amount, and I finally had a good shot at finally owning this knife, so long as Customs, and USPS agreed and played nicely.
They did.
Today My knife landed, and while it has a few bumps, scrapes, and a solid grey patina, I couldn't be happier. The stepped liners were an awesome surprise, and the pull is a 6-7 which is welcomed as I prefer a firmer pull.
The action is a little gritty, but I am flushing it out and a lot of junk is coming out and it is smoothing out a bit already. Regardless, the knife has a new owner and like the others, I am not planning on selling it. I have gone through enough to obtain it and the fact that it was the push to get me into quality knives means that we have a history. Nevermind the fact that the knife itself has a history of it's own.
We both have bumps, bruises, and things to be improved as well as finally finding the end of our path.
I know this knife may not be much to some of you, but I can't picture choosing another. Pardon the old Winchester stand-in. I think I might be able to settle down a bit now (except for still wanting a Wenger Professional 4 Layer...).
Nicely sunken joint
Stepped Liners, lines up with Ricasso and grind cut in.
Last edited:
Sunk joint is always a major plus point on a single blade but all too rare,
LOL. Congrats on finally scratching that itch!
