Question for custom makers: Whats the most difficult pattern to make?

[akadave2]

I sometimes hear that the 3 blade 2 (split) spring "Whittler" is the most difficult to manufacture. I would imagine for mass production it would be but as a custom knife maker (traditionals of course) what is the most challenging pattern to do well?

 

[ken erickson]

The whittler pattern is a difficult patter to do well. Getting the center spacer taper correct is a challenge along with the hole drilling.

That being said there are so many difficult patterns in the multi-blade arena.

Hope a few pictures are ok as I will show a few that presented major challenges to my knife building skills(in no particular order).

The knives with either a locking mechanism or corkscrew adds a lot to the difficulty of build.

 

[akadave2]

Thanks Ken! Your knives are works of art! One day...one day!

 

[yablanowitz]

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall Tony Bose won't do Sunfish patterns anymore because they're such a pain to get right. Never having made a folder, I wouldn't really know.

 

[brianv]

Mr. Erickson, your work is astonishing!

 

[JAlexander]

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall Tony Bose won't do Sunfish patterns anymore because they're such a pain to get right. Never having made a folder, I wouldn't really know.

I seem to recall having heard that as well, Jack.

 

[Tony Bose]

Sunfish arent so bad, it the Platts toenail that's a pain in the ass.

 

[Mike Robuck]

Ken, lots of sweat equity in those knives!

Some photos by Kerry of a T. Bose Platts toenail:

 

[Jack Black]

The whittler pattern is a difficult patter to do well. Getting the center spacer taper correct is a challenge along with the hole drilling.

That being said there are so many difficult patterns in the multi-blade arena.

Hope a few pictures are ok as I will show a few that presented major challenges to my knife building skills(in no particular order).

The knives with either a locking mechanism or corkscrew adds a lot to the difficulty of build.

These are incredible Ken, I actually got goose-bumps looking at the pictures!

 

[ptradeco]

Never Mind

 

[pertinux]

Ken, could you tell me more about this one, and its challenges?

(If it has a specific name, perhaps I can find more pictures and information in your dedicated thread?)

Whatever it is, it's beautiful.

~ P.

 

[ken erickson]

Ken, could you tell me more about this one, and its challenges?

(If it has a specific name, perhaps I can find more pictures and information in your dedicated thread?)

Whatever it is, it's beautiful.

~ P.

Sarah,

That is a small 4 blade swell center congress pattern that I did a few years ago. This knife also has a nail file/manicure blade. The tolerances are very tight and with small blades being hard to grind anyways its a hair puller!

The real challenge from my standpoint when building many of these knives based on vintage examples is to keep the proportions correct. When these knives were made originally the grinds were such that the blades just had to pass each other opening and closing. If they rubbed while doing it it was really not a big deal. On a custom knife today we all expect no blade rubs. It is very very easy for a maker to build the knife with thicker blade stock and center liners for more clearance. A few thousandths here and there end up destroying the proportions. That is one of the hardest aspects for me to get "right" on a handmade knife.

 

[Peruna1998]

Ken,

Thanks for showing us an open version of that swell-center congress(?). Wow, that is cool.

 

[pertinux]

Sarah,

That is a small 4 blade swell center congress pattern that I did a few years ago.

Okay, next you're going to be telling me there's such as a thing as a swell-center congress!

Oh, wait.

I have so much more to learn....

Thanks much for the additional information and pictures. I found your point about blade rub especially interesting:

The real challenge from my standpoint when building many of these knives based on vintage examples is to keep the proportions correct. When these knives were made originally the grinds were such that the blades just had to pass each other opening and closing. If they rubbed while doing it it was really not a big deal. On a custom knife today we all expect no blade rubs.

Well, kudos once again on a job well-done, if at the expense of hair. Heh.

These additional pictures, as well as your explanation, are very helpful. Thanks!

~ P.

 

[J. Oeser]

Ken pretty much put up pictures of all the knives I consider difficult. Whittlers are at the top. Hopefully soon I'll have some pics of my own.

 

[yablanowitz]

Sunfish arent so bad, it the Platts toenail that's a pain in the ass.

Ken, lots of sweat equity in those knives!

Some photos by Kerry of a T. Bose Platts toenail:

I stand corrected, and I can see where that one would be an industrial pain

 

[akadave2]

Ken pretty much put up pictures of all the knives I consider difficult. Whittlers are at the top. Hopefully soon I'll have some pics of my own.

Great looking stuff on your site too!

 

[Mike Robuck]

Here's another from the "hard to make" file:

 

[9blades]

^^^^^wow nice!!!!!^^^^^^

 

[zippofan]

I've read more than once about the difficulty of the Remington locking whittler pattern. I have Queen's S&M reproduction, nice knife but the locking mechanism is a bear to operate and the small blades needed a lot of lubrication and repeated openings and closings to get a semi-decent snap out of them.

Such a sweet knife though, and your version is awesome Ken, fantastic stag!