Kohai999
Second Degree Cutter
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2003
- Messages
- 12,554
Hey all,
I just got the Wasabi via FedEx yesterday. R.J. Martin is one of those knifemakers that I do not know ( I met him 3 or 4 times at shows in the last 20 years) personally, but I have been following his work for a long time.
20 years ago, he was making very nice "standard" folders and fixed blades, excellent quality, medium prices. The two pieces below represent current work that I feel is unique, excellent quality, also at medium prices. Not giving it away, but not pricing it out of the realm of the "average" collector either.
The Wasabi is different from his "Standard" model in that it is a 6" double ground S3V blade, real Japanese Silk cord wrap, and has two of the dragon menuki, one on each side. The wood lined, carbon wrapped, magnet loaded sheath is a work of art in and of itself, and fits the knife perfectly.
The Avenger is not the usual recurve blade, I liked his spearpoint better for this model. The blade is satin S30V. The knife has no clip, the scales are Silver G-10, and no machining on the scales, they are smooth.
I really like his work very much. Both knives were ordered on 10/3. His delivery estimates were a little optomistic, but his communication skills via e-mail are quite good. He is fairly difficult to get on the phone. I got the Avenger first, on 10/28/04.
As I said in previous posts, I like the knives of people that I have a friendship with the best, but these pieces are intriguing, and original, and I find that they represent exactly, the types of quality work that I want in my collection.
I know that the pictures are crappy, 'cause I have to scan this at work and there is only so much that I can do with scans in PhotoShop, but I would like to hear commentary, and if you do not like the knives, let me know why.
It won't change how I feel about them, but it may give me a different perspective for future buying decisions.
Happy New Year everyone!!
I just got the Wasabi via FedEx yesterday. R.J. Martin is one of those knifemakers that I do not know ( I met him 3 or 4 times at shows in the last 20 years) personally, but I have been following his work for a long time.
20 years ago, he was making very nice "standard" folders and fixed blades, excellent quality, medium prices. The two pieces below represent current work that I feel is unique, excellent quality, also at medium prices. Not giving it away, but not pricing it out of the realm of the "average" collector either.
The Wasabi is different from his "Standard" model in that it is a 6" double ground S3V blade, real Japanese Silk cord wrap, and has two of the dragon menuki, one on each side. The wood lined, carbon wrapped, magnet loaded sheath is a work of art in and of itself, and fits the knife perfectly.
The Avenger is not the usual recurve blade, I liked his spearpoint better for this model. The blade is satin S30V. The knife has no clip, the scales are Silver G-10, and no machining on the scales, they are smooth.
I really like his work very much. Both knives were ordered on 10/3. His delivery estimates were a little optomistic, but his communication skills via e-mail are quite good. He is fairly difficult to get on the phone. I got the Avenger first, on 10/28/04.
As I said in previous posts, I like the knives of people that I have a friendship with the best, but these pieces are intriguing, and original, and I find that they represent exactly, the types of quality work that I want in my collection.
I know that the pictures are crappy, 'cause I have to scan this at work and there is only so much that I can do with scans in PhotoShop, but I would like to hear commentary, and if you do not like the knives, let me know why.
It won't change how I feel about them, but it may give me a different perspective for future buying decisions.
Happy New Year everyone!!