My wife and I have a guest visiting from California and we're showing her some of southwest Virginia. So, of course, we had to take her to "the Last Fountain" at New Graham Pharmacy, which just happens to be the home of New Graham Knives. 
The staff at New Graham (including the lunch counter) was friendly, courteous, and helpful. While not the only knives they carry, New Graham really shines when it comes to their selection of Case, Spyderco, and Benchmade. With the Blade Show coming up so soon, I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but I did pick up a bright green FRN Spyderco Jester. Usual excellent Spyderco fit and finish. If Spyderco ever decides to upgrade the steel on the Micarta version, I'll be buying one of those, too.
Really like Spyderco's new box.
I had also planned to pick up a Case damascus doctor's pattern while I was there. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with the quality of the knife I examined.
The blade wasn't at all centered, nearly touching the liner, and there was a large (~1mm) gap between one of the liners and the backspring. Also, I don't know much about slip joints, but the ones I do own (a Buck trapper I bought 30 years ago, a Camillus Tuxedo, and an Old Timer medium stockman) have blades that snap open and closed (especially the Buck and the Shrade Old Timer). The walk and talk on the Case was nowhere close to that. Now, maybe the display model was just a bad one that slipped through QC, but after examining it, I wasn't even interested in checking out the other ones that were still in their boxes.
However, all and all, a day well spent. My thanks to Michael Dye and New Graham for a very pleasant experience.
The staff at New Graham (including the lunch counter) was friendly, courteous, and helpful. While not the only knives they carry, New Graham really shines when it comes to their selection of Case, Spyderco, and Benchmade. With the Blade Show coming up so soon, I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but I did pick up a bright green FRN Spyderco Jester. Usual excellent Spyderco fit and finish. If Spyderco ever decides to upgrade the steel on the Micarta version, I'll be buying one of those, too.
Really like Spyderco's new box.
I had also planned to pick up a Case damascus doctor's pattern while I was there. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with the quality of the knife I examined.
The blade wasn't at all centered, nearly touching the liner, and there was a large (~1mm) gap between one of the liners and the backspring. Also, I don't know much about slip joints, but the ones I do own (a Buck trapper I bought 30 years ago, a Camillus Tuxedo, and an Old Timer medium stockman) have blades that snap open and closed (especially the Buck and the Shrade Old Timer). The walk and talk on the Case was nowhere close to that. Now, maybe the display model was just a bad one that slipped through QC, but after examining it, I wasn't even interested in checking out the other ones that were still in their boxes.However, all and all, a day well spent. My thanks to Michael Dye and New Graham for a very pleasant experience.
