hello everyone,
i've been lurking around various knife forums for a while now and i finally decided to make my first post here hoping i can get some help. it'll be my first time ordering a custom knife and the maker i chose is jerry lairson sr. i contacted him about two months ago and he told me he'll be able to make me a knife in october. before i talk to him on the phone i want to be as much knowledgeable as i can be so i he can make that special knife for me. the knife i'm interested in is "rue de royal." i'm trying to post the image of the knife but can't figure it out. so if anyone can do this for me i'll greatly appreciate it. there is a picture of it in knifeart.com and one in his website: http://lairson-custom-knives.net/customknivesbyjerrylairsonsr/id6.html
the pictures of the knife mentioned above both sport pattern welded blades but i'm thinking about getting one made in high carbon steel. so here are my questions.
1. what's the best carbon steel i can get for this type of knife? i'll be doing some light chopping but would never subject this knife to any abuse. i want the best possible edge retention even if it means longer time spent on a sharpening stone. i've noticed that jerry likes to use 5160 for his bowie knives and was wondering whether it would be wise to ask him to use a steel like 52100 or 1084? or should i just stick with what he likes best?
2. i'm planning to have a differential heat treatment on this knife that shows a temper line. is it possible to get a temper line showing on a 5160?
3. what kind of natural handle materials would be best that is resistant to humidity and moisture. i have sweaty hands, there is a large humidity gradient over the seasons, and this knife will be subjected to contact with fresh and salt water. i want a material that is water resistant yet that would not slip when wet. again i've noticed that jerry likes to use stabilized giraffe bone. is this any good? or if i had to choose an exotic wood what would be good? i was thinking of hard wood like ironwood or african blackwood. i know that these materials can't be stabilized so if i had to go with a stabilized soft wood, what would be best?
4. does anyone actually own this knife on this forum? if so can you please post some detailed pictures of it? specially the side view of the clip? the reason why i'm asking this is b/c the two pictures that i've been able to see from knifeart and jerry's website seem to be a little different regarding the how the clip is shaped. i actually like the knife on knifeart.com better b/c it seems to have a less pronounced clip. but then again this difference could be due to the angle of the picture taken.
thank you so much if you have read this far, i know this is long but i'm getting more anxious as the phone call with jerry is nearing.
pmthk
i've been lurking around various knife forums for a while now and i finally decided to make my first post here hoping i can get some help. it'll be my first time ordering a custom knife and the maker i chose is jerry lairson sr. i contacted him about two months ago and he told me he'll be able to make me a knife in october. before i talk to him on the phone i want to be as much knowledgeable as i can be so i he can make that special knife for me. the knife i'm interested in is "rue de royal." i'm trying to post the image of the knife but can't figure it out. so if anyone can do this for me i'll greatly appreciate it. there is a picture of it in knifeart.com and one in his website: http://lairson-custom-knives.net/customknivesbyjerrylairsonsr/id6.html
the pictures of the knife mentioned above both sport pattern welded blades but i'm thinking about getting one made in high carbon steel. so here are my questions.
1. what's the best carbon steel i can get for this type of knife? i'll be doing some light chopping but would never subject this knife to any abuse. i want the best possible edge retention even if it means longer time spent on a sharpening stone. i've noticed that jerry likes to use 5160 for his bowie knives and was wondering whether it would be wise to ask him to use a steel like 52100 or 1084? or should i just stick with what he likes best?
2. i'm planning to have a differential heat treatment on this knife that shows a temper line. is it possible to get a temper line showing on a 5160?
3. what kind of natural handle materials would be best that is resistant to humidity and moisture. i have sweaty hands, there is a large humidity gradient over the seasons, and this knife will be subjected to contact with fresh and salt water. i want a material that is water resistant yet that would not slip when wet. again i've noticed that jerry likes to use stabilized giraffe bone. is this any good? or if i had to choose an exotic wood what would be good? i was thinking of hard wood like ironwood or african blackwood. i know that these materials can't be stabilized so if i had to go with a stabilized soft wood, what would be best?
4. does anyone actually own this knife on this forum? if so can you please post some detailed pictures of it? specially the side view of the clip? the reason why i'm asking this is b/c the two pictures that i've been able to see from knifeart and jerry's website seem to be a little different regarding the how the clip is shaped. i actually like the knife on knifeart.com better b/c it seems to have a less pronounced clip. but then again this difference could be due to the angle of the picture taken.
thank you so much if you have read this far, i know this is long but i'm getting more anxious as the phone call with jerry is nearing.
pmthk
