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- Oct 2, 1998
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Over the past several months I've been seeing knives by Rusty Preston showing up on the websites of various purveyors and liked most of what I saw though I didn't see the one.
I learned via the internet grapevine that Rusty cut his teeth as a knifemaker under the excellent tutelage of Bill Ruple, who, like Tony Bose, has been a great help and inspiration to the makers coming up after him.
At the Blade Show I stopped by Bill's table at breakfast and asked him if he had knives available for the show. He told me had and said I should come see him. Naturally, I got sidetracked visiting with friends and by the time I got with Bill he was sold out. Bill told me I needed to go by Rusty Preston's table and look at some of the knives he had brought to the show. There was an unmistakeable look of pride in Bill's eyes as he said this.
Well, I stopped by Rusty's table and chatted for a good bit and came away with the feeling that not only was this a good maker, but a good man as well.
I've since had several phone calls back and forth with Rusty which have more than confirmed my original impression.
Anyway, as fate would have it, Rusty had nothing on his table that I needed at that time and truth be told, he had very few knives left at all (and the show was barely open).
Which leads to my perusing the purveyor sites after the show and coming upon the one while looking at Plaza Cutlery's website. (Dan Delavan, owner of Plaza Cutlery, is one of the good guys.)
This 3 5/8" three blade stockman features some really nice dyed stag (lighter on the pile side than the mark side, but it's the only "flaw" I can find and it matters not a whit to me), CPM-154-CM blades at about Rc 60 and weighs in at 3 1/8 oz.
The fit and finish are first rate with excellent spring tension on all three blades, great snap (walk and talk) and sharp edges. The swedging and file work are attractive and understated as befits this knife. Springs are flush in open, half stop and closed position on all blades and the spring/tang junctions are all square and very clean.
In all, I couldn't be happier with the knife and it's a beefy 3 5/8", the way I like 'em.
All this going to the point that this won't be my last knife from Rusty and that (imho) his multi-blades are a very good value when you compare the level of his workmanship with what other top makers are getting for single bladed slipjoints.
I learned via the internet grapevine that Rusty cut his teeth as a knifemaker under the excellent tutelage of Bill Ruple, who, like Tony Bose, has been a great help and inspiration to the makers coming up after him.
At the Blade Show I stopped by Bill's table at breakfast and asked him if he had knives available for the show. He told me had and said I should come see him. Naturally, I got sidetracked visiting with friends and by the time I got with Bill he was sold out. Bill told me I needed to go by Rusty Preston's table and look at some of the knives he had brought to the show. There was an unmistakeable look of pride in Bill's eyes as he said this.
Well, I stopped by Rusty's table and chatted for a good bit and came away with the feeling that not only was this a good maker, but a good man as well.
I've since had several phone calls back and forth with Rusty which have more than confirmed my original impression.
Anyway, as fate would have it, Rusty had nothing on his table that I needed at that time and truth be told, he had very few knives left at all (and the show was barely open).
Which leads to my perusing the purveyor sites after the show and coming upon the one while looking at Plaza Cutlery's website. (Dan Delavan, owner of Plaza Cutlery, is one of the good guys.)
This 3 5/8" three blade stockman features some really nice dyed stag (lighter on the pile side than the mark side, but it's the only "flaw" I can find and it matters not a whit to me), CPM-154-CM blades at about Rc 60 and weighs in at 3 1/8 oz.
The fit and finish are first rate with excellent spring tension on all three blades, great snap (walk and talk) and sharp edges. The swedging and file work are attractive and understated as befits this knife. Springs are flush in open, half stop and closed position on all blades and the spring/tang junctions are all square and very clean.
In all, I couldn't be happier with the knife and it's a beefy 3 5/8", the way I like 'em.
All this going to the point that this won't be my last knife from Rusty and that (imho) his multi-blades are a very good value when you compare the level of his workmanship with what other top makers are getting for single bladed slipjoints.
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