- Joined
- Aug 1, 1999
- Messages
- 746
How many knives do I need? At least one more at all times. I met Charlie May a couple of years ago after my new bride agreed that my wedding ring come with a new knife of my choosing.
I had seen his work and being that he lives in Northeast Mississippi, it was no trouble to pop down and visit his shop. This visit resulted in a Bladie Mae with seacow handles and a scandi Trace with orange G10 handles.
About a year ago I saw a prototype of a new idea, but I was not allowed to talk about it. It was a blade that had a fire steel in the handle. Charlie was still working out the design. Long story short, Charlie redid his design and came up with something more functional and easy to use.
There is a fire steel up in the handle and is holds in nicely with a lanyard.
Now these pictures aren't very good, but you see the point.
When I talked to Charlie on the phone about it, I told him I thought a spearpoint would be more to my liking, and he said he could make one with a spearpoint in the Bladie Mae shape; but, once I put this knife in my hand and looked it over closely, I changed my mind and stuck with his original design.
My buddy Vance and I spent several hours examining the knife and asking a bunch of questions. Charlie is a great guy to hang around with and a good cook too.
Why no cap or device to hold the steel other than the lanyard?
There is nothing to lose in the woods and nothing to unscrew or latch. The lanyard is a simple functional way to hold the steel in place. If you are going to stop, gather material and strike a fire with a knife and steel, untying one knot is not a problem.
Does it rattle when you walk?
No, Vance and I tried to make it rattle walking with it and the only way is to shake it pretty good and then it isn't very loud; the fire steel has something dampening it in the handle.
Does the hole weaken the handle?
It didn't feel weak; Charlie banged it on the table and the knife feels solid in the hand, well balanced, and has that classic "use me" custom knife feel. The tang still has plenty of steel in it.
Charlie calls this new creation the Fire Maker.
I snagged me a cool neck knife while I was at his shop. I needed something to tide me over until my Fire Maker is completed.
Melvin
I had seen his work and being that he lives in Northeast Mississippi, it was no trouble to pop down and visit his shop. This visit resulted in a Bladie Mae with seacow handles and a scandi Trace with orange G10 handles.
About a year ago I saw a prototype of a new idea, but I was not allowed to talk about it. It was a blade that had a fire steel in the handle. Charlie was still working out the design. Long story short, Charlie redid his design and came up with something more functional and easy to use.
There is a fire steel up in the handle and is holds in nicely with a lanyard.
Now these pictures aren't very good, but you see the point.
When I talked to Charlie on the phone about it, I told him I thought a spearpoint would be more to my liking, and he said he could make one with a spearpoint in the Bladie Mae shape; but, once I put this knife in my hand and looked it over closely, I changed my mind and stuck with his original design.
My buddy Vance and I spent several hours examining the knife and asking a bunch of questions. Charlie is a great guy to hang around with and a good cook too.
Why no cap or device to hold the steel other than the lanyard?
There is nothing to lose in the woods and nothing to unscrew or latch. The lanyard is a simple functional way to hold the steel in place. If you are going to stop, gather material and strike a fire with a knife and steel, untying one knot is not a problem.
Does it rattle when you walk?
No, Vance and I tried to make it rattle walking with it and the only way is to shake it pretty good and then it isn't very loud; the fire steel has something dampening it in the handle.
Does the hole weaken the handle?
It didn't feel weak; Charlie banged it on the table and the knife feels solid in the hand, well balanced, and has that classic "use me" custom knife feel. The tang still has plenty of steel in it.
Charlie calls this new creation the Fire Maker.
I snagged me a cool neck knife while I was at his shop. I needed something to tide me over until my Fire Maker is completed.
Melvin
