Nick Wheeler W2 + Ironwood fighter

You do pretty decent at this knifemaking schtick, Nick. :D

Missed chitchatting with you at the ABS Expo this year.
 
Nick,
I quickly click on every post you put up and I have never been disappointed when I do, this is no exception. I have to say I think you are a phenomenal craftsman, the pieces that you make are amazing! Great job on this, its wonderful to see and I am sure it is even more amazing in hand.
 
I don't come on here and comment too often, but that knife is CLEAN AND MEAN. I like the overall guard treatment too.

Note to self: Copy photo to reference file.

Schuyler
 
I was checking out your other knife thread and my wife Keisha mentioned that she really liked the sheath. Then I showed her this one and she was really impressed. She even started asking questions about leather work. Not that I know a whole lot about it...
 
Thank you guys! :) Getting so much positive feedback from both peers and collectors has really made my day! :)

Joe, sorry I missed your question... but it works out since you missed where I put it in the original post. :p ;) I put 0.330" at the guard, but that's off memory and it might be a bit more. It's already on its way to its new home so I can't double check. You definitely opened my mind up to things that can be achieved with, not just distal taper, but radical distal taper. Thank you my friend. :) Oh, and YES, the clip is sharpened. :D

I am grateful for all the kind words about the sheath, since I worked really hard and spent way too much time on it... but I can tell you with 100% certainty that it is not at Paul's level. He has certainly set the bar and given me some very lofty goals!

Somehow I forgot to say what a treasure the Paul Long sheath videos are. I wasn't smart enough to watch the advanced video again, BEFORE starting this sheath... but I have watched it again a couple times since I made this sheath and have picked up about 100 ideas and found that Paul had answered many questions I didn't even knew I had until after I built this sheath.

For my Valentine's present, Angi took me to Tandy Leather Factory so I could get a bunch of things Paul uses that I didn't have.

Paul, thank you so much for putting out such beautiful work AND teaching wannabees like me how you do it!!! :)

Schuyler--- I have been a fan of your work for a VERY LONG time!!! You posting about my knife is a huge feather in my cap. :D

Lorien- Hmm... I guess I would have to say, "pretty darn close." LOL It's actually easier for me, in the long run, to forge way oversize and grind the excess off.... but I'm a hammer to shape junky and I just about always end up forging as close to shape as I can. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and get a couple hammer marks too deep.

Stuart- Since you are one of the guys pushing the sheath and crazy hamon envelope to awe inspiring heights, I'm very flattered by your words, thank you! :)

Well, I have another fighter to try and heat-treat, so I best get back to the shop.


Thank you guys!!! :)
 
Nicky, not meant to hi jack the thread but since sheaths are mentioned so prominently...........The very reason Chris and I produced the DVDs was to help as many people as possible with their desire to move forward with their leather work and take it to a level that makes them proud. Of all the people who have the DVDs only a few have progressed so rapidly and with such quality that it makes me happy and PROUD of their accomplishments. You are one of those folks, and I thank YOU for taking what I had to offer and moving it to such a level. Just keep it up and continue to improve.

Paul
 
Nick - the knife is just outstanding - I like where you are going with your fittings lately. Blown away by the sheath.
 
Yeah, the sheath is as incredible as the knife. I think I actually just got inspired to get the Paul Long dvd's and watch them as I find my leatherwork lacking and not worthy of some of my knives lately.

It's either find someone else to do it for me, or get better at it. I like to do as much as I can myself so I guess 'get better at it' is my choice.

I'd be happy to turn out a sheath half as nice as this one.
 
Thought you guys might like an update. Something showed up at my door today.

055c5dbf-ce0c-4462-8ffb-a27543273706_zpsa161e0d3.jpg


:D

You can't open a custom with anything except another custom....which makes a quandary if this is your first one :confused:. Luckily, this isn't my first one :D.

IMG_0454-1_zpse39d001f.jpg


Oh...the anticipation!!

IMG_0456-1_zps03842e8f.jpg


IMG_0457_zpsfea4d010.jpg


IMG_0461_zpsab9a2715.jpg


IMG_0462_zps5700022c.jpg


--nathan
 
IMG_0466_zpsebbbe884.jpg


IMG_0472_zps9edebc50.jpg


Pictures really don't do the desert ironwood justice. Beautiful, dense burl.

IMG_0474_zpse0c4c19d.jpg


Sexy little @..

IMG_0481_zps6e95d386.jpg


I'm not the photographer that Nick is, much less Coop, so it's hard to do this knife justice. Especially on an iphone :D

IMG_0478_zps753579c8.jpg


IMG_0483_zpsfa2da927.jpg


IMG_0479_zps2c7ba565.jpg


IMG_0494_zpsfbf4dc59.jpg


IMG_0493-1_zps316ff046.jpg


The sheath work is really really good. Great finish, and very nice details. It fits nice and snug. Nick is a humble fella, but this one is nice.

Being a fighter that's 1/3" thick at the ricasso :eek: and 11" long in the blade, it's weighted a bit forward of the guard which will lend some impetus to any swing/blow. However, it's has a ton of distal taper, as Nick mentioned, making it fast in the hand. The amount of action is this hamon is amazing to the point of distraction. There are clouds and ghosts and "fuzzies" everywhere (yes, that's my technical hamon jargon coming out). The handle shaping is sublime. I hope Nick doesn't mind too much, but I'm going to be referencing this handle a great deal as I move to doing more sculpted hidden tang handles. The fit up of the ricasso to the guard is perfect. This one has a sharpened clip as well; it's a prickly "little" thing for sure.

Now after all those pics and nice talk, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "well sure it looks good, but can it perform." I don't buy a knife to be a safe queen. I buy a knife to use, and to use hard. I started with simple stuff like cutting paper. It will cut a floating page of 20-weight paper cleanly in two without a thought. I've got some videos of that I'll post later. Next, I took it out and started hacking up a 2x4 in the shop. Not a bit of edge rolling or chipping. I had some really tough old pine knots, so I baton'd the blade an through (hard to do with a sharpened clip), and it help up like a champ. I did a few car-hood penetrations followed by stabbing the tip into a cinder block about 10 times. There was a bit of edge damage following those two, but it still cut nicely. From there, I did a free-drop tip first into the concrete from 3.5 feet up. The tip didn't suffer at all, and I actually made a nice little indention in the concrete pad.




Ok....so none of that testing beyond paper cutting actually happened :D. This one IS going in the safe for my enjoyment, and someday for my son's enjoyment. However, if the zombie apocalypse every happens, it's getting strapped on to my hip along with all the handguns and ammo I have. ;)

Nick, I want to thank you for an amazing knife. I have seen some amazing work by a bunch of different smiths through the years at various shows. I can say without hesitation that this level of fit and finish is among the best I've ever seen. Are there those that can match it? Sure. But this, in my mind, is just about as good as it gets. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

--nathan
 
A few videos. Sorry, my cutting technique sucks and I need to drop about 40 pounds :D. Make that 20, since the camera adds 20 all by itself. And yes, I know that cutting paper is trite. This is 20 weight printer paper. And I let the paper go prior to cutting it. It takes good geometry and a very consistent cutting edge to cut through it cleanly in free fall.

[video=youtube;ieONQPAoXL8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieONQPAoXL8[/video]

[video=youtube;C9JwnQwkp3w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9JwnQwkp3w[/video]

The last video probably shows the speed best.

--nathan
 
Nathan, I was cringing so bad when you were talking about the testing until you said you didnt do that! I dont doubt that Nick would make a knife that would stand up to some serious testing, but man I was cringing hard, lol. And congratulations on what looks to be an amazing blade!
 
Great write up and ya almost had me :)

You have yourself one of the finest knives in the world.

Nick Wheeler really is that good :)

Congrats and I liked your paper cutting ...... Do some paper towel tubes :)

Only kidding if your cut is off you will mare Nicks very fine finish

Wonderful knife big props
 
Congrats Nathan - that is an exceptionally fine piece. Still blown away by the sheath - and the in-sane hamon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top