Shiv. Shiv. Shiv.

[Redclay]

 

[Casinostocks]

Today was a very SPECIAL mail call day for what I was hoping to be an über grail early CPK. TBT, I was holding my breath because I was only about 50/50 certain about what this one could or could not turn out to be. The anticipation was so palpatory (I'm sure that I am using the word incorrectly but it fits my nervous mood!) that it took me a good half hour before I started opening the package after a series of rituals, like visiting the bathroom first, just in case

Back in the day almost over 10 years ago, before we had search resources like the CPK Encyclopedia or a large sub like ours populated with lot and lots of information, I used to religiously study Nathan's old WIP and WTS threads. I also had owned several OG-Shivs in A2 of different varieties (field grade finish, horizontal statin finish, acid wash finish) which I horse traded away during my wheeling & dealing phase but I never had seen, let alone owned an early A2-Shiv like this ONE! I am wondering if even Nathan remembers this Shiv, but it is pretty darn rad and I am so super stoked (using some Gen X lingo for Nathan to perhaps refresh his memory!).

Horizontal hand finished satin on the bevels with what looks like to be a slightly thinner or finer edge (convex?) than the other ones in A2 which I used to own. The stock/flats/fuller are in acid wash finish and the scales look to be cocobolo which Nathan used to reserve for the special ones. I just have to try improving the chatoyancy by applying something special to the wood. This A2-Shiv is an important piece of CPK history before CPK a truly a keeper



3/14/2026 update: I swabbed my index finger ever so lightly on some Renewal and then applied it to the scales by rubbing that very thin layer of almost nothing all over. I am 99.99% certain that wood is cocobolo which according to Nathan just darkens and there is not really much improvement of chatoyance when cocobolo ages. Posting some newer photos of this OG-A2-Shiv now mated with my ol' Grog-Made Dragon Sheath which was previously housing my first ever OG-3V-Shiv which I had acquired back in 2017. Chaged the background to a different color for better contrast:

 

[yoko]

Today was a very SPECIAL mail call day for what I was hoping to be an über grail early CPK. TBT, I was holding my breath because I was only about 50/50 certain about what this one could or could not turn out to be. The anticipation was so palpatory (I'm sure that I am using the word incorrectly but it fits my nervous mood!) that it took me a good half hour before I started opening the package after a series of rituals, like visiting the bathroom first, just in case

Back in the day almost over 10 years ago, before we had search resources like the CPK Encyclopedia or a large sub like ours populated with lot and lots of information, I used to religiously study Nathan's old WIP and WTS threads. I also had owned several OG-Shivs in A2 of different varieties (field grade finish, horizontal statin finish, acid wash finish) which I horse traded away during my wheeling & dealing phase but I never had seen, let alone owned an early A2-Shiv like this ONE! I am wondering if even Nathan remembers this Shiv, but it is pretty darn rad and I am so super stoked (using some Gen X lingo for Nathan to perhaps refresh his memory!).

Horizontal hand finished satin on the bevels with what looks like to be a slightly thinner or finer edge (convex?) than the other ones in A2 which I used to own. The stock/flats/fuller are in acid wash finish and the scales look to be cocobolo which Nathan used to reserve for the special ones. I just have to try improving the chatoyancy by applying something special to the wood. This A2-Shiv is an important piece of CPK history before CPK a truly a keeper

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WOW!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Richard338]

Thanks for being vague about the special substance applied to the scales.

 

[clinton1]

Today was a very SPECIAL mail call day for what I was hoping to be an über grail early CPK. TBT, I was holding my breath because I was only about 50/50 certain about what this one could or could not turn out to be. The anticipation was so palpatory (I'm sure that I am using the word incorrectly but it fits my nervous mood!) that it took me a good half hour before I started opening the package after a series of rituals, like visiting the bathroom first, just in case

Back in the day almost over 10 years ago, before we had search resources like the CPK Encyclopedia or a large sub like ours populated with lot and lots of information, I used to religiously study Nathan's old WIP and WTS threads. I also had owned several OG-Shivs in A2 of different varieties (field grade finish, horizontal statin finish, acid wash finish) which I horse traded away during my wheeling & dealing phase but I never had seen, let alone owned an early A2-Shiv like this ONE! I am wondering if even Nathan remembers this Shiv, but it is pretty darn rad and I am so super stoked (using some Gen X lingo for Nathan to perhaps refresh his memory!).

Horizontal hand finished satin on the bevels with what looks like to be a slightly thinner or finer edge (convex?) than the other ones in A2 which I used to own. The stock/flats/fuller are in acid wash finish and the scales look to be cocobolo which Nathan used to reserve for the special ones. I just have to try improving the chatoyancy by applying something special to the wood. This A2-Shiv is an important piece of CPK history before CPK a truly a keeper

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[yoko]

Thanks for being vague about the special substance applied to the scales.

Man varnish hahahahaha

 

[Richard338]

Man varnish hahahahaha

Nope, no no no.

 

[Casinostocks]

Thanks for being vague about the special substance applied to the scales.

Oh, not my intention as I have not yet applied anything but I have a couple of waxes which I have applied to wood and leather: I have forgotten their names but I will go and dig them up soon. I guess that in a clumsy way, I am also looking for suggestions unless there is so much that one can do with older and aged cocobolo? So far, I only dabbed and cleaned the scales gently with Dawn dishwashing liquid.

 

[toker]

Thanks for being vague about the special substance applied to the scales.

He said he went to the bathroom first...

In all seriousness, that's a gorgeous knife.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Today was a very SPECIAL mail call day for what I was hoping to be an über grail early CPK. TBT, I was holding my breath because I was only about 50/50 certain about what this one could or could not turn out to be. The anticipation was so palpatory (I'm sure that I am using the word incorrectly but it fits my nervous mood!) that it took me a good half hour before I started opening the package after a series of rituals, like visiting the bathroom first, just in case

Back in the day almost over 10 years ago, before we had search resources like the CPK Encyclopedia or a large sub like ours populated with lot and lots of information, I used to religiously study Nathan's old WIP and WTS threads. I also had owned several OG-Shivs in A2 of different varieties (field grade finish, horizontal statin finish, acid wash finish) which I horse traded away during my wheeling & dealing phase but I never had seen, let alone owned an early A2-Shiv like this ONE! I am wondering if even Nathan remembers this Shiv, but it is pretty darn rad and I am so super stoked (using some Gen X lingo for Nathan to perhaps refresh his memory!).

Horizontal hand finished satin on the bevels with what looks like to be a slightly thinner or finer edge (convex?) than the other ones in A2 which I used to own. The stock/flats/fuller are in acid wash finish and the scales look to be cocobolo which Nathan used to reserve for the special ones. I just have to try improving the chatoyancy by applying something special to the wood. This A2-Shiv is an important piece of CPK history before CPK a truly a keeper

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Holy smokes!

That might be from the very first run

Those might be Arizona desert ironwood.

If it's extra thin, that could be one of the "meat eaters" I made.

It was made of Latrobe A2 that I had to find a source for. Almost all A2 tool steel, such as the stuff from "precision marshall", is not actually American-made steel but this is.

 

[Richard338]

Oh, not my intention as I have not yet applied anything but I have a couple of waxes which I have applied to wood and leather: I have forgotten their names but I will go and dig them up soon. I guess that in a clumsy way, I am also looking for suggestions unless there is so much that one can do with older and aged cocobolo? So far, I only dabbed and cleaned the scales gently with Dawn dishwashing liquid.

This stuff is good. A tin will last a lifetime if you just use it on a few handles.

 

[SpyderPhreak]

Oh, not my intention as I have not yet applied anything but I have a couple of waxes which I have applied to wood and leather: I have forgotten their names but I will go and dig them up soon. I guess that in a clumsy way, I am also looking for suggestions unless there is so much that one can do with older and aged cocobolo? So far, I only dabbed and cleaned the scales gently with Dawn dishwashing liquid.

Ren wax. I don't think oils will do much anything for Cocobolo (ETA - or DIW for that matter).

 

[Jsega51]

Today was a very SPECIAL mail call day for what I was hoping to be an über grail early CPK. TBT, I was holding my breath because I was only about 50/50 certain about what this one could or could not turn out to be. The anticipation was so palpatory (I'm sure that I am using the word incorrectly but it fits my nervous mood!) that it took me a good half hour before I started opening the package after a series of rituals, like visiting the bathroom first, just in case

Back in the day almost over 10 years ago, before we had search resources like the CPK Encyclopedia or a large sub like ours populated with lot and lots of information, I used to religiously study Nathan's old WIP and WTS threads. I also had owned several OG-Shivs in A2 of different varieties (field grade finish, horizontal statin finish, acid wash finish) which I horse traded away during my wheeling & dealing phase but I never had seen, let alone owned an early A2-Shiv like this ONE! I am wondering if even Nathan remembers this Shiv, but it is pretty darn rad and I am so super stoked (using some Gen X lingo for Nathan to perhaps refresh his memory!).

Horizontal hand finished satin on the bevels with what looks like to be a slightly thinner or finer edge (convex?) than the other ones in A2 which I used to own. The stock/flats/fuller are in acid wash finish and the scales look to be cocobolo which Nathan used to reserve for the special ones. I just have to try improving the chatoyancy by applying something special to the wood. This A2-Shiv is an important piece of CPK history before CPK a truly a keeper

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That’s got a fantastic look to it, I love the darkened fuller with satin finish combo!