Roll'n w/the punches.***updated pg 4***

Nick good for you mate!

If you feel it needs a change or you don't think it is right, bin it or change it. Your name and reputation is too valuable to let anything out of your shop that you do not feel 100% about.

30 years from now we will all be kicking ourselves that we did not buy that knife………I assure you that you are destined to be one of the greats.:)

Steven
 
Thanks guys :)


Peter- I understand what you're saying. I've had some very similar messages from other friends (most of which "run in your circles" ;) :D).

I don't disagree with your point either. I've worked really hard to build a reputation for putting out the knives that I have... and the knives like this one seem to go against the grain a bit, or maybe I should say they seem like a contradiction to what I (think) I'm known for.


The hang-up for me here... Is I would LIKE TO THINK :o :foot: that most of the guys that like my work, like it based on:

-The overall lines of the knives (flow and what not).

-Quality in the heat treat and overall edge geometry.

-The quality of construction.

-The ergonomics, balance, etc.... the overall feel and performance



Learning what it takes to make those things all come together (or at least trying to!!!) has been a long road. I have been EXTREMELY FORTUNATE to have folks such as yourself that like the result enough to support me in doing this. I appreciate it more than I know how to articulate.


Now with that said, it is my hope that with some pieces like this knife thrown into the mix, that I can get some knives that include those critical & hard-earned elements into the hands of guys that cannot afford (or choose not to) the "higher end" knives.

Part of the issue with me doing this, is that many guys see them as a QUICK AND DIRTY knife. :eek: :o

Now it would be silly of me to say that they take AS LONG as a more finely finished piece... but I don't really know how to make anything quick and dirty. Fitting a guard to a blade with an as-forged ricasso is actually quite a PITA. Shaping the transitions where the handle meets the guard, truing up the swells and recesses in the handle, fitting the handle to the blade, etc... are all done with the same time, care, and MOSTLY hand-work... that any other knife of mine require.


That of course gets you back to the question of, "Then why not just do a little more and make them all at that higher finish?"


Well, for me, it boils back down to me coming up with ways to make knives that can/will be purchased by folks that normally could not/would not buy one from me.

Another draw to this type of knife for me personally... is they have an overall "feel" that makes them feel like a tool to use. I'll be the first to admit, when I spend a ton of time trying to put a pristine hand-rubbed finish on a blade like your Heart of Oak Bowie--- I am flat-out NERVOUS when it comes time for me to do the final sharpening, because it's very easy to make a tiny slip and royally screw up a finish that will require an hour or more to fix. If I feel that way as the guy who made the knife, then the idea of someone actually cutting anything with them is almost non-existent.

But a knife like the one at the center of this discussion... I think a lot of folks would actually use it.

None of this is to say that I have some sort of new-found hatred for "safe queens." I still love them and will continue to make them!!! :cool: :)

I am, however, trying to have a bit more diversity in my portfolio (man, that sounds pretentious coming from a redneck bladesmith!!! :foot: ;)).





I REALLY REALLY hope that my reply has not come off as me being overly defensive or disrespectful!!! (especially to the guy who has more Wheeler knives than anyone in the world! :)). Rather I hope it can be taken as an attempt to explain my reasoning with some of these knives that are a little different than my norm.




I apologize for the verbose post... But like Bob has pointed out many times, a wise man can make his point succinctly, a fool cannot. I readily accept my title! ;) :p :)




Thanks guys!!!
 
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Nicky, the answer to your quandary is as simple as a second maker's mark. WHEELER II or some such. The silk stocking stuff gets the WHEELER and the user grade, priced more easily on the pocket gets the WHEELER II. Your interpretation of "quick and dirty" is equal to the very best a few others will ever produce. (That is a general statement with no specific makers living or dead in mind).
Several top tier maker's are already doing this. Winkler with his Winkler II line, Horrigan with his combat line, and on, and on.

The only reason in the world this might not work for you is your OCD;) I'm not at all sure you can turn loose of anything, even at a bargain basement price that is not absolutely perfect and HAND finished.

Paul
 
I really like and appreciate that Nick is willing to make a variety of knives at different cost levels. Speaking as one who has a couple of his "side pocket" knives (I would have had a third, but somebody talked me out of it ;)) and a finished, sharpened, blade just needing scales, I know that Nick has brought his attention and skills to it, whatever "grade" it is. It makes me a proud owner to have his name on it and know that he has done everything he can to make it to his standards, for what it is. I certainly don't pretend that my "side pocket" knives are anything other than they are. So at first thought, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the Wheeler II mark. To me it might insinuate a blade of lesser quality and or confuse the issue. Maybe "Wheeler EDC" or something similar if there were to be some distinction.

As far as Nick's reputation, most here know what he is capable of. When someone who is not familiar with Nick's work, asks about my "side pocket" knife, I show it to them and tell them why I like it. Then I let them know that if they're really interested in his work, they should check out his "high end" work which I will talk about until they say they have to go check on a sick relative. As long as Nick is not skimping on what ever he's working on (an impossibility, I'm certain), in my opinion, his reputation would never suffer. Someone who collects his knives knows that they can expect the best. I hope I'm not coming off as argumentative here. Just blithering out loud.

More to the subject of the thread. At first I thought that there really was no need to re-handle the knife, for I'm sure it would have sold in the very near future. But after reading everyone's opinions thus far, I have to agree that Nick needs to do what he feels is right. And even though I'm sure I could have been happy with a knife like that, I'm betting I will like the knife even more with the new handle. I'm sure I've done enough to display my ignorance and illiteracy, and am beginning to choke on my foot so I'll stop now. Mike

One more thing....as far as the forge marks, I'd agree that they my not appropriate on the "highest grade" collector knives but I really like seeing them at some level. They just remind me of the near magical transformation of materials that come from the earth and can be formed by a man's/woman's hands into such perfect and significant tools. I do love sharp, pointy metal.
 
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Mike157 said:
I really like and appreciate that Nick is willing to make a variety of knives at different cost levels. Speaking as one who has a couple of his "side pocket" knives (I would have had a third, but somebody talked me out of it ;)) and a finished, sharpened, blade just needing scales, I know that Nick has brought his attention and skills to it, whatever "grade" it is. It makes me a proud owner to have his name on it and know that he has done everything he can to make it to his standards, for what it is. I certainly don't pretend that my "side pocket" knives are anything other than they are. So at first thought, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the Wheeler II mark. To me it might insinuate a blade of lesser quality and or confuse the issue. Maybe "Wheeler EDC" or something similar if there were to be some distinction.

As far as Nick's reputation, most here know what he is capable of. When someone who is not familiar with Nick's work, asks about my "side pocket" knife, I show it to them and tell them why I like it. Then I let them know that if they're really interested in his work, they should check out his "high end" work which I will talk about until they say they have to go check on a sick relative. As long as Nick is not skimping on what ever he's working on (an impossibility, I'm certain), in my opinion, his reputation would never suffer. Someone who collects his knives knows that they can expect the best. I hope I'm not coming off as argumentative here. Just blithering out loud.

More to the subject of the thread. At first I thought that there really was no need to re-handle the knife, for I'm sure it would have sold in the very near future. But after reading everyone's opinions thus far, I have to agree that Nick needs to do what he feels is right. And even though I'm sure I could have been happy with a knife like that, I'm betting I will like the knife even more with the new handle. I'm sure I've done enough to display my ignorance and illiteracy, and am beginning to choke on my foot so I'll stop now. Mike
Click to expand...


Mike

Some good comments

I too appreciate a knife that I can carry and use

These are the knives that become personal for me and I will not sell them

Safe queens which I have many are always for sale if the price is right :)
 
Nick,

Always feel free to speak your mind. If you are true to yourself, you will almost always end up doing the right thing.

P
 
Here's the update...


Thanks guys! :)



[video=youtube;-vdZotz85sA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vdZotz85sA&feature=youtu.be[/video]

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Nick,I think you are on the right track.Tryin to make a user for the guy that wants to EDC your blade.And you have been a top notch Maker for long enough to know ,there ain't no way to make everyone happy everytime.Keep doin what your doin.
I personally liked the first attempt simply because it was different from what you normally put out.
Eddie
 
I liked the other better. Would you mind smashing this one and putting it back. :) Just kidding, this one is tight, stylish, smooth and cool. Hell, it's now famous here too.
 
I liked the other handle with the exception of the pin. I like this handle design better, however liked the wood on the previously version.
I'm sure the other knife would have sold given more time.
In any case it's good that this has turned out to be a very positive experience for you in spite of the varied opinions on the first knife.
 
Hey, if we say we don't like the pin in this one, can we get you to do another video whacking the handle off? :D;):D

Anyway, looks great!
 
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