SG Subhilt Fighter by Steven Rapp...

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
12,554
At the last AKI, was talking with Steven Rapp, and he told me that he would like to make me a knife. It wasn't a request for a commission per se, but a statement. I thought about it for a while, and we collaborated on this one, which was finished in December 2006. Stabilized redwood burl on the handle, 416 SS furniture, 9" hand rubbed ATS-34 blade, 15 1/4" OAL, stock is 1/4", the knife is not in front of me right now to weigh.

This is a real out of the ordinary piece for me, but I have always loved Steven's type of art subhilt.



Coop took the pic this evening, asked Kenny Rowe to send it to Coop when the sheath was done.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
This is a real out of the ordinary piece for me, but I have always loved Steven's type of art subhilt.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

Not exactly my style either, however I like it. Would have done a different guard. Nice lines and very attractive knife sheath combination. :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Man, that knife does it for me. Graceful, sturdy, and clean all wrapped up in one. I would have left the lanyard hole off, but that's just splitting hairs. I think about knives like this one, and Coop's Broadwell subhilt, when I read a post that suggests wood is somehow a substandard material to use on art knives. Very nice.... Rich
 
A great job on a VERY hard to make knife..... a beautiful sheath by Kenny and a super photo by Coop.........:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Chuck
 
rbslaughter1 said:
Man, that knife does it for me. Graceful, sturdy, and clean all wrapped up in one. I would have left the lanyard hole off, but that's just splitting hairs. I think about knives like this one, and Coop's Broadwell subhilt, when I read a post that suggests wood is somehow a substandard material to use on art knives. Very nice.... Rich
Click to expand...

1. Thanks, everyone.

2. Boring wood would be substandard on an art knife, but you see wood on art knives all the time. Scott Slobodian uses it frequently. This redwood burl looks like stacked leather, and has a top notch chatoyancy. Steven chose it himself, and I am pleased with the results.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Really nice! Great lines on the handle. Love the sheath too. The Alligator is classy!
 
Hey Fez,
Nice knife! I've never been a fan of sub hilts....they never felt good to me.......This one looks like it feels real good in the hand.
Very nice.
Mace
 
Not exactly my style either, but WOW!!! I was thinking about what a PITA it must be to get all of those surfaces to mate up perfectly at those odd angles. Great score. I REALLY like Kenny's sheath! :thumbup:
 
I think some curves on the front of the guard, instead of the 90 deg. angles and straight lines would look better......BUT, I do like it. Good move, sending it to Coop :thumbup:
 
What a cool Tactical/Art Fighter.
Nice flow.
The spacers really complement the redwood burl.
Lanyard hole is nice touch.
Beautiful sheath finishes the package,great image.

Congrats again,STeven. :thumbup: :cool:

Doug
 
STeven, terrific knife by a damn good maker. I owned a similar piece and was amazed by the workmanship.

Win
 
The knife is all about curves and points. Swoopy recurve (almost persian) grind and blade, smooth rounded handle, finger-cradling grip cutouts, and that growing transition from handle to the ends of the guards is seamless.

And then that guard has the sharpest, diagonal, ruler swipe across the middle of the knife. It is the clear focal point. It was not accidental and it defines Steve Rapp at his finest.

Yup. There is more than meets the eye.

K. Rowe did an exceptional job on the sheath. Let's see:



As much as this knife has details that require viewing (like the cleanliness of the guard fit, and the amazing finger cutouts), a simpler shot is also fulfilling. I submit:



Thanks, Steven. I enjoyed the challenge!

Coop
 
Thanks Coop, as I found myself really wanting to see the sheathed knife.

Your photo points out that Kenny made good use of the guard's seemingly out of place 90 degree and straight angles to complete an extremely nice sheathed presentation.
 
Mr. Rapp is a VERY skilled craftsman.

You can't tell me that you guys around here don't see the Rod Chappel influence in this piece?

This is Chappel's signature style.

Steve executed it very very well.

You cannot make THIS knife without it weighing about 5 pounds, but it feels suprisingly lively in the hand.
 
HI STeven,

Nice to see Steve making those again. He was building the "Chappel" style knives for me with Ivory and some in Stone back in the early to mid 90's.

It started with a big knife he called "Cody's" Fighter. I then came to him with a couple of Chappel designs for "Kelsey's and Karly's" Bowies.

Everything old is new again!

I will be talking to Steve at the Blade Show about this type of knife again.

Im trying to get Dave Broadwell back into stone handles Id like a couple from Steve as well.

The both used to make knives for my "Stone Works" collection.

WWG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top