Ron Newton "Shi-Lin" Chinese Folder

R

RonNewton

Joined
Aug 2, 2000
Messages
340
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Here's a knife that's a little different from my normal line of work. I'll have this at the Blade show table 5-O if you want to take a closer look. It was inspired by a gift I received while on vacation visiting Taiwan this past December. One of Jimmy Chin's friends presented me with a handmade slipjoint folder called the Shi-Lin cutter. The roots of the knife began in China and the family who was making the knife moved to Taiwan where their knives are still made today. While visiting their shop I was informed their waiting list is 3 years long for this highly sought after folder which can be obtained with either stag or buffalo horn handles.

I made a design change to keep the blade's edge from making contact with the backspring when the blade snaps closed. I engineered a "Positve Stop" to eliminate this issue.

I made some mosaic damascus as a tribute to the roots of this Shi-Lin knife. I call the steel pattern "China Checkerboard" which is the word China some 142 times with some very tight surrounding W radials. The handle scales are stabilized green mammoth attached with gold colored 18-8 stainless steel spline screws. I chose green mammoth because this knife is sometimes called the "egg plant knife" due to its handle shape. The backspring is twist damascus using 1095 and 15n20. Liners are gold anodized 6al4v titanium with some tight vine filework. The bolsters have a traditional Chinese window inlayed with 24 carat gold wire. The wide blade is 3.5" with an opened length of 7.75" The blade pivot is hardened stainless with the blade riding on .005" berillium copper washers.

Please excuse the very low resolution montage photos. They were done using only a cell phone camera and some photo shop. Frank, a knifemaking student from Taiwan who has been with me in my shop for the last 3 weeks did the images. Frank will be traveling to his first Blade show with me in a few days. I thought his photos looked pretty good for cell phone shots but he apologizes for the low res.

All comments are welcome. See you all in Atlanta in a few days.
 
Mr Newton,that is very nice.You do have a wide range of talent.Thanks for the information on the knife.I have a feeling this particular style of blade would be good as a user.
It is good to know, that you are constantly thinking of improving the quality in a knife as in incorporating the positive stop in this knife.
Very nicely done knife.
 
RonNewton said:
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Here's a knife that's a little different from my normal line of work. I'll have this at the Blade show table 5-O if you want to take a closer look. It was inspired by a gift I received while on vacation visiting Taiwan this past December. One of Jimmy Chin's friends presented me with a handmade slipjoint folder called the Shi-Lin cutter. The roots of the knife began in China and the family who was making the knife moved to Taiwan where their knives are still made today. While visiting their shop I was informed their waiting list is 3 years long for this highly sought after folder which can be obtained with either stag or buffalo horn handles.
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Grandmaster, It's awesome.:eek: A real piece of work.:thumbup::thumbup:

We Taiwaner have used this kind of knives for more than 100 years and we are all familiar with this knife. But I think your Shi-Lin cutter has bring the art to another level.:thumbup: Thank you for your amazing work.
 
This guy Newton just keeps raising the bar, another terrific offering. The thought that goes into something like this is what has kept me interested in custom knives.
 
Ron, the knife is simply stunning, and a fitting tribute. It's also deceptively useful, I will bet.

That Frank is mastering this type of photography with his cell phone and post editing, tells ME volumes about what kind of knifemaker he's becoming. Wow!

Best regards,

Coop
 
there is something ironic about this knife...
 
Mr Takulu,seems you are familiar with this type of knife.What type of use does this knife excel in.Thanks
 
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Thanks guys for your kind input. Chuck Ward photographed the knife today so I'm including his image plus an image of my original Shi-Lin folder made by the family in Taiwan. Good job Chuck! And a super fast turnaround.
 

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Raj said:
Mr Takulu,seems you are familiar with this type of knife.What type of use does this knife excel in.Thanks
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Well, the Shi-Lin cutter is our traditional pocket folder just like the stockman to you guys. It is a slipjoint folder and was used to almost everyjob that the main blade of a SAK can do. In my humble opinion, in the era of no lock folder in Taiwan, it is an all-purpose and handy knife for his owner. Due to the special full flat grind almost to zero, it excels at slicing and the edge is sometimes weak for harder jobs. However, it will perform better and be suitable for general daily works after several sharpening which raises a steeper edge.
 
Mr. Takulu, It is good to hear from you my friend! Thank you for the information on the use of the Shi-Lin cutter and your kind words. I look forward to seeing you again this winter.
 
That is a really cool knife, Ron. The guy that gave you the Shi-lin cutter, "Blade Yang" is actually a member here. I'm sure he will be very happy to see what you have made of the design. He may well have the largest collection of Shi-Lin knives ever. :p:thumbup:
 
That "low resolution" photos show the knife really well. Really good shots for the web.
 
Coo... A distinctly Newton, yet distinctly Aisian tool...
Hello Jimmy if you get a glance...
 
Fantastic job on this cool folder Ron! :D I can't wait to see it in person!!! That damascus is so intriguing, I really want to see it in person. Tiny little Ws! :)
 
Ron, you know that we are all more than happy looking forward to seeing you soon, don't you? :D

Adam, Jimmy is a very famous bladesmith in Taiwan and China, but, as you know, he is unfortunately also a computer idiot.:) He can't go to bladeforums, not even the Taiwan bladeforums, so he can't glance at this thread either. I know he has been looking for you the other day and wondering whether you and Haley will go to the bladeshow. But you have changed your phone and he can't contact you.
He is now on the airplane to USA and he will see you guys over there. I believe that you guys will see him in the bladeshow wearing a giant glasses.:)
 
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