Nick Wheeler • Integral Bowie

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

Enjoying the discussions
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
Messages
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FedEx arrived as I was working this morning. I stopped almost everything.

We discussed this project years ago. Nick knows and admires my penchant for guardless Bowies, and he wanted to try his hand at one. Most of the long-time members might know that this has been on Nick's workbench for over five years. I've never pressed, and he had other things that were front and center (Like passing his JS test and winning the Peck Award in the process.... :thumbup:)

As you can see Nick takes his projects seriously. He had a vision of the guard and shape of the blade, and then the handle, and then the finishing process. I expect he will tell you he spent more time studying this in formative direction, than he did in actually finishing it. And then again.... ;)

Nick can describe more of what went into this piece. All I will acknowledge is how clear and honest his communication has always been--enough that I never felt abused about delays.

Let the photos speak 1000 words:

orig.jpg


standard.jpg


Paul Long: The finest sheathmaker on the planet added his work to complete this dream:
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In a final salute to the incredible heat treating and surface finish Nick strived towards, is one of those surreal cloudy hamon shots (That you cannot capture unless it's harsh lighting).

orig.jpg


Today was a better day than usual.... :D

Coop
 
I can see why you are excited about this knife.
It is a beauty. There isn't anything I don't like with this knife. Excellent finish on the handle and the blade. Perfect match with the sheath.
 
One word...STUNNING!!!

:eek: - the hamon
:eek: - the wood
:eek: - that sheath

Congrats to all involved...:thumbup::thumbup:

Good things come to those who wait.

Outstanding photos, as well, but you knew that already.
 
Coop, I can see that you are having a very good day.

What's not to like, every line and curve just works together.

Great job Nick, Paul and Coop.

Take care

Charles
 
SharpByCoop said:
FedEx arrived as I was working this morning. I stopped almost everything.

We discussed this project years ago. Nick knows and admires my penchant for guardless Bowies, and he wanted to try his hand at one. Most of the long-time members might know that this has been on Nick's workbench for over five years. I've never pressed, and he had other things that were front and center (Like passing his JS test and winning the Peck Award in the process.... :thumbup:)
Click to expand...

Nick actually gives birth to his knives, and the gestation period is 5 years.:D

As Nick decided to step back into our world, instead of simply watching his shop equipment host dust bunnies, I've posted a number of thoughts about his work, him as a person and our relationship.

This piece is great, and shows as well as any, that Nick "gets" the elements that you enjoy in a knife, and made a fine one for you....just for you.

There is something sublimely satisfying about that, a true handmade custom, something that would most likely not exist if there was no Jim Cooper.

Enjoy in good health, my friend.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
SharpByCoop said:
Today was a better day than usual.... :D

Coop
Click to expand...

Hey there Coop-

That is one magnificent package all the way around. What superb flow. Need I say anything about the photography??

I, too, had a similarly awesome and exceptional experience today, one which I'll just sit back and cherish quietly (I know, not like me to do).

Your words above would be exactly how I would explain how my day has been. I am sooo pleased for us both.

Best,

Bob
 
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Well I've been on the edge of my seat ever since I first caught wind of the project nearing completion. A long gestation period indeed, but worth the wait, I have no doubt. As we saw in another thread, Nick is near religious about the hamon - and this is a great example of why. The lines of this piece really speak to me, as do the fine details - like the subtle treatment of the integral bolster. The sheath, as always, is the perfect compliment to the knife itself and a great blend of the colours in the handle material.

Congrats Coop. :thumbup:

Great to see you back in the saddle, Nick. Looking forward to our integral. ;)

Roger
 
Damn, thats absolutely amazing. Probably my favorite Wheeler knife to date. It all came together perfectly! And that style is different for Nick, id imagine. What a beauty, wow.
 
Amazing knife. His hamon lines always remind me of a silver lining. Wonderful work. Congrats to maker and owner.

Best regards

Robin
 
I had a chance to handle and enjoy this knife at length in San Antonio. In my opinion, for elegance of design, clarity of line, and cleanliness of execution, this one has no equal that I have ever seen in person.

The feel of this knife in hand is almost ethereal. Jim will have to tie it down with a silk thread, to keep it from floating away.

Coop is a winner, here, and Nick is back with a vengeance!

John
 
Man its raining WHEELERS

Coop a great knife for an even greater guy. Congrats my friend

The pic really shows the beauty of this piece

Anxiously awaiting my Wheeler's return from the leather shop
 
Wow... what superb images Jim!!!! Of course I had no doubt they would be! :)

My number one goal with this piece was flow from tip to butt. Figuring out just where to put the point, the choil shape, handle shape.... Coop is right... I spent a lot more time pondering than I did actually working (and I spent a lot of time working! ;) ).

Mr. Paul Long's leather is the PERFECT match for this knife. I couldn't have even come close. Angi and I were just bowled over by Paul's handiwork on this sheath!!!! :D

Thanks for the kind words folks. This knife manifested itself into "my Everest" and proved nearly impossible to finish on MANY occasions.

There are many subtle things in a knife like this that proved very difficult for me to deal with. First of all, it's only the second integral I've actually finished.... experience always makes things easier (and lack thereof always makes it harder!).

Sanding everything up to 2500 grit and not rounding things over like the shoulder where the handle butts up to the bolster, the clip, the fluting in the bolster...all proved a lot harder than I expected.

The final polish was actually done THREE times before I was happy with it. I'm talking about over two weeks of full time work that was eventually just sanded off and the proverbial slate wiped clean.



As a *side note*

This was almost one of my five Js test knives in Atlanta in 2007. It would have been pretty close to being on time back then. But I kept running into problems, then work, then school. Mostly ADD... not to open up my heart too much here... but a common factor of an ADD brain is that it actually shuts down the frontal lobe that controls focus, the harder you try to focus. I'd get overwhelmed, and toss the knife aside. I'd go back to it a month or two later, and spend an entire day sanding on it.

This knife was the spur to an epiphany I had that my diagnosis of ADD in 2008 was very real and that as red-blooded, get your hands dirty, buck up and do what you're supposed to do American as I am... the ADD was what had been holding me back. ***edited to add*** I had not given treating ADD a fair shot back in '08, and quit trying after only a couple months... NOT COINCIDENTALLY, it was just about two months ago that I gritted my teeth and decided to try treating it again (the same time I started REALLY working on this knife again).

Angi, and my family have been paramount in helping me with to deal with this... It is what I needed to get this knife done. And getting THIS KNIFE DONE is what I needed to open up the flood gates of excitement and passion in my shop.

This is much more than a knife to me... much more.

I am elated that Coop is happy!!! He has been beyond patient with me.

Thanks for looking folks :)


BTW- I often regret wearing my heart on my sleeve like in this post, as it's really not REQUIRED to be such an open book... but it is what it is and I am who I am. ;) :)
 
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Coop, beautiful images! You are to photography what Nick is to knife making.

Now that you have the knife I hope you will accept my apology for NOT sending you a photo as you requested while it was in my shop for the sheath. You see, I promised Nick faithfully that I would not as he did not want you to see anything until it was the actual knife in your hand. Now that you have it, I'm sure you see why. That piece is one in a million!.

Enjoy, my friend. Looking back, 5 years wasn't all that long was it?


Paul
 
Definitely slated for Roger's Best Bowies thread ! :thumbup:
CONGRATS, Coop, Nick and Paul ! Stunning !!! :cool:
That hamon is flying. What steel ?

Doug
 
NickWheeler said:
Wow... what superb images Jim!!!! Of course I had no doubt they would be! :)

My number one goal with this piece was flow from tip to butt. Figuring out just where to put the point, the choil shape, handle shape.... Coop is right... I spent a lot more time pondering than I did actually working (and I spent a lot of time working! ;) ).

Mr. Paul Long's leather is the PERFECT match for this knife. I couldn't have even come close. Angi and I were just bowled over by Paul's handiwork on this sheath!!!! :D

Thanks for the kind words folks. This knife manifested itself into "my Everest" and proved nearly impossible to finish on MANY occasions.

There are many subtle things in a knife like this that proved very difficult for me to deal with. First of all, it's only the second integral I've actually finished.... experience always makes things easier (and lack thereof always makes it harder!).

Sanding everything up to 2500 grit and not rounding things over like the shoulder where the handle butts up to the bolster, the clip, the fluting in the bolster...all proved a lot harder than I expected.

The final polish was actually done THREE times before I was happy with it. I'm talking about over two weeks of full time work that was eventually just sanded off and the proverbial slate wiped clean.



As a *side note*

This was almost one of my five Js test knives in Atlanta in 2007. It would have been pretty close to being on time back then. But I kept running into problems, then work, then school. Mostly ADD... not to open up my heart too much here... but a common factor of an ADD brain is that it actually shuts down the frontal lobe that controls focus, the harder you try to focus. I'd get overwhelmed, and toss the knife aside. I'd go back to it a month or two later, and spend an entire day sanding on it.

This knife was the spur to an epiphany I had that my diagnosis of ADD in 2008 was very real and that as red-blooded, get your hands dirty, buck up and do what you're supposed to do American as I am... the ADD was what had been holding me back.

Angi, and my family have been paramount in helping me with to deal with this... It is what I needed to get this knife done. And getting THIS KNIFE DONE is what I needed to open up the flood gates of excitement and passion in my shop.

This is much more than a knife to me... much more.

I am elated that Coop is happy!!! He has been beyond patient with me.

Thanks for looking folks :)


BTW- I often regret wearing my heart on my sleeve like in this post, as it's really not REQUIRED to be such an open book... but it is what it is and I am who I am. ;) :)
Click to expand...



Nick I dig your openness and only a real man can be open :thumbup:
 
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