Smith mods.

[ARtsig1]

Just received an email from John W. telling me that the three knives I sent in a couple of weeks ago were going to be shipping back out to me on Wednesday! I had sent two, a LS-1 Recurve and Scimitar, to be fitted with steel backspacers, and the other was an older Smith and I sent it to be refinished. Hope to have them back by Friday as I had requested John to send them Overnight and with Turkeyday between Wed. and Fri. it will be friday before they show. This will almost be like getting 3 new knives all at once! I have been carrying the other LS-1 Recurve I have in order to better tell the difference between it and the steel spacer model. I know the steel spacer will give it a more solid feel and should add a little to the weight of the knife which is currently 5.4oz's. A little extra weight, up to 6 or even 6.5 ozs would be fine with me.

 

[ARtsig1]

Went by the post office this morning and picked up the three knives I had sent to John, two for steel backspacers and one to be refinished, and WOW! The one that got refinished looked absolutely great. The micarta handles/or G-10 had been refinished and the grain was really showing and looking good. The bolsters and liners were newly blasted and it just blew me away...........especially when all it cost me was shipping!!

The two knives I sent for the steel backspacers were also done to absolute perfection. The spacers really give the knives a more solid feel. When you open the blade now it goes THUNK , instead of TINK. The weight is not as balanced but it is not a problem. The look and the feel more than offset that. A lot of folks may not understand why I am so happy over getting steel spacers vs. the micarta spacers............I'm not so sure myself, but I have a feeling it just makes for an overall stronger knife.

One of the most exciting things though was the sheet of paper packed in with the knives that had a drawing of the knife I want John to build. It is built on the LS-1 frame but has been beefed up a bit. The blade has also been taken up a notch with thicker stock and a wider blade. The blade is a standard recurve blade except for a deep false edge that is going to give great penetration, yet still have the advantages of a recurve.

All in all I'm pleased with how it all turned out, it's almosr like getting three new knives I am now going to pack up the LS-1 Eighties for the steel spacer and also send the 2nd LDC-5 in for a spacer upgrade along with moving the clip up to the top of the bolster. With that I think I can then give the Smith's a bit of rest, and start on the Carson's and Obies!!

 

[penguinva]

Sounds great Art - hope to be able to see those at Blade next year - mhave to come visit me at DDR's table! Talked to John early last week and he agreed to build one for me too - really glad he was willing since it sounds like my kind of knife. Is there any way you could get a copy of the drawing to me? Would love to see what I will be getting. Also will be getting another new tactical from him.

I had to send my Obie back to Mike - seemed it developed some vertical blade play when it settled in after I used it a while - no big deal! Called Mike and he said he would take care of it, no problem - know he will take good care of me and the knife. Next year Mike is going to make a couple knives for me using the Australian Ringed Gidgee Wood I will be sending him for the scales - should make a couple nice upscale tacticals.

Next Sunday will be picking up two knives at the Chesapeake Show: one from the Jones Bros. - Scorpion folder with Burgundy Micarta scales that should be sweet and a Sandpiper wharncliff w/jigged bone scales from Tom Anderson. Also in near future will be getting an Aloha Cowgirl folder from Audra Draper with deer horn scales and Damascus blade and from DDR a dragon motif carved Venturi Bali. Should make for decent Christmas - varied selection.

Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving!
Bill

 

[ARtsig1]

Hi Bill. I think you will be pleased with the drawing of what John is going to build. Email me a fax number and I will send it to you. I am going to have John put a laynard hole in the handle and that is not shown on the drawing. This looks to be a big knife and a hefty one at that, especially after playing around with the LS-1 Recurve that I just got back and the one's being built are based on it, just bigger.

I'm waiting on my large 2 framelock Obie that should be here in a couple of weeks. Although it looks like right now the wife is going to get it and wrap it up and it will be Christmas morning before I get it. At least she is threatning that!

Email me Bill and I'll get the pic to you.