Oak on a high end knife??? I say yes.

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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Usually I'd say a guy should save oak for a piece of furniture. :foot: :) But back in 2005 I was on the way home from the BAKCA show with the Bybees (Alpha Knife Supply) when Chuck stopped at a wood dealer he does business with. Michael had a ton of amazing wood, but the one thing that REALLY REALLY caught my eye was a large burl that looked totally different than anything I'd seen. I asked Michael what the heck it was, and he said "Oak burl." :)

Chuck bought it, and I think the first batch may have all blown apart during the stabilizing process, but luckily I ended up with some from Chuck and I just finished up a fighter with it. Personally, I think it's really freak'n cool.

This is NOT one for the Joe Paranee project... it's just a real similar style. More of the "longer/leaner" type stuff I usually do.

Forged 1084 from Aldo Bruno with hand-rubbed satin finish
416 ss guard (1000X finish on sides, mirror polished on inside of lugs) and domed pin
Stabilized Oak burl handle

Thanks for looking! :)

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[video=youtube;dF886S_EIaY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF886S_EIaY[/video]
 
Great knife, and I agree... that Oak is pretty nice....and unusual:p

Normally Oak has pretty "boring" grain - straight, maybe a few rays depending on how it is cut.
I've seen Oak burls, but never one as cool as that !

Bill
 
Nick, I think with oak, there is just less highly figured wood available compared to other species, but when do you find the good stuff, it looks great like that piece.
 
so good to see you on a roll my friend
 
I have to add that those are some pretty sharp, clear pics that show the contours of the handle and the wonderful figure in the wood very well indeed.

Roger
 
Okay Nicky, fun is fun and all that, and I like a joke as well as the next guy :D, but do you realized how many knives....finished knives, you've
shown lately????:confused:

WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THESE KNIVES?????:confused: This is not the Nicky I know.:cool:

Who are you and what have you done with Nicky???:grumpy:

Paul


By the way, the Oak knife is primo!
 
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That's a beauty of a knife, I especially like the light and dark contrast of the wood.

David Sharp
 
sheathmaker said:
Okay Nicky, fun is fun and all that, and I like a joke as well as the next guy :D, but do you realized how many knives....finished knives, you've
shown lately????:confused:

WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THESE KNIVES?????:confused: This is not the Nicky I know.:cool:

Who are you and what have you done with Nicky???:grumpy:

Paul


By the way, the Oak knife is primo!
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This is the NEW and IMPROVED Nick - The Knife Making Machine.

That blade is suweet, go man go!
 
Oak on a high end knife??? I say yes.
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I say yes, too. And I will say even more: we don't see enough knives with oak handles!



That's a very nice knife you're showing us there! That handle is really beautiful!

Kind regards,

Jos
 
Nick, your fit and finish is superb...makes us lucky ones in on the paranee/wheeler project get even more stoked about how out knives will look!

I agree with most, oak is usually so boring...the oak burl you used is a great example of what else is out there for handle material!

I have been attempting to diversify my handle materials with each knife I order instead of just going with my favorite all the time, which would be ironwood.

I would love to see what you could do with snakewood and turkish walnut......maybe a future knife from you ;)

Jeff
 
manix J said:
I have been attempting to diversify my handle materials with each knife I order instead of just going with my favorite all the time, which would be ironwood.
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Jeff - I like to mix it up as well when it comes to wood handles. There are so many beautiful and diverse options out there.

I had some curly Oak on a Burt Foster hunter / utility that I used the heck out of - it's not only pretty but very tough as well.

Roger
 
Phenomenal! - Maybe the best looking wood handle knife i've ever seen. Great work, Nick!
David
 
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