Source for shields?

autogateman

autogateman

Rod Braud
Joined
Jan 6, 2017
Messages
180
Are there any other sources for knife handle shields besides USA knife maker? Looking for shields and their templates.
Thanks!
Rod
 
Email Mark Vanderwest at Leading Edge Fab, inc. He has a catalogue of shields he cuts with a high res swiss fiber laser. Much better edge quality and dimensional accuracy between his shields and the templates. Afaik he won't do custom ones, and they're only available in 410 stainless, but if he's got what you want, I highly recommend them.
 
javand said:
Email Mark Vanderwest at Leading Edge Fab, inc. He has a catalogue of shields he cuts with a high res swiss fiber laser. Much better edge quality and dimensional accuracy between his shields and the templates. Afaik he won't do custom ones, and they're only available in 410 stainless, but if he's got what you want, I highly recommend them.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the recommendation, they took very good care of me! Had it in my mailbox in two days. Perfect quality, went straight to my shop and inlet one in a scrap piece of CF. Pretty excited for my first shield inlay!
 
Are the edges angled or are they square? I can only get a tight fit with an angled edge and 4 hours or so of the most tedious process of cutting transparent slivers of material off with some chisels i made. Did you route out with the jig and the shield just drop in?
 
I literally routed it out and pressed it in in probably about five minutes tops. I used a dremel drill press to lower a 1/16 bit in to the material, then moved the template and scale material around until it was all routed out. It was a tight fit at first but a small amount of hand work and it pressed right in.
 
Very good. I use bone a lot and i am always worried. If i dont take off enough material, the shield may not hit the bottom and i risk cracking the bone when peening. If i take off too much material, i have a very noticeable and ugly gap. It is stressful stuff.
 
autogateman said:
I literally routed it out and pressed it in in probably about five minutes tops. I used a dremel drill press to lower a 1/16 bit in to the material, then moved the template and scale material around until it was all routed out. It was a tight fit at first but a small amount of hand work and it pressed right in.
Click to expand...

Could you show a pic of that set up please?
 
Shields and templates can be purchased from some of the knife supply companies, too. USA Knifemakers supply has them, and I think a couple other carry them.
 
I personally greatly preferred the quality of the shields and templates from Mark at Leading Edge. The edge quality of the cuts with each is just a lot better. The ones from USAKnifemaker are usable of course, and at one point they had a lot of odd-ball options that Mark didn't. I've got a couple of shields and templates from them also, but if Mark has what you need, get it there first.
 
Yeah, IIRC Great Lakes waterjet was cutting the shields and templates for USAK. I guess they don't have a source anymore. Mark at Leading Edge has top rate quality to what he cuts, so I would say you are safe with him.
 
I did some reading on the origins of shields, and was disappointed there doesnt seem to be any interesting history to them. I was hoping to read something about branding, but it seems all makers used a variety of shields. Modern day collectors seem to have mixed opinions on them, though a few threads doesnt amount to much of a sample size.

I read from 3 collectors who wished makers didnt put a shield on bone handles. I read a book by a knifemaker saying "this knife wouldnt look right without a shield", it was bone handled, and i agree with him. I have made bone handled knives with and without shields, and i have examples of each where i wished i did the opposite.

It seems everyone agrees smooth handled knives need a shield.

What do you guys find buyers like?
 
Shields never occurred to me until I started coming here. Looking back through my slip joints I see some have them and some don't. Never really noticed. Certainly never decided buy/no buy due to a shield or lack there of.
 
Randy3000 said:
I did some reading on the origins of shields, and was disappointed there doesnt seem to be any interesting history to them. I was hoping to read something about branding, but it seems all makers used a variety of shields. Modern day collectors seem to have mixed opinions on them, though a few threads doesnt amount to much of a sample size.

I read from 3 collectors who wished makers didnt put a shield on bone handles. I read a book by a knifemaker saying "this knife wouldnt look right without a shield", it was bone handled, and i agree with him. I have made bone handled knives with and without shields, and i have examples of each where i wished i did the opposite.

It seems everyone agrees smooth handled knives need a shield.

What do you guys find buyers like?
Click to expand...

There's no set rule, certainly, and like everything anymore, there's always a loud and vocal minority of people that are adamant about it either way. I think some knives need a shield and some don't. I use them much less than most slipjoint makers, they don't always go with my design, and often I have to make them custom out of some exotic material to get them to match.

It's a lot easier when you simply make mono steel knives with matching hardware. Lots of makers only make a few patterns, with different scales, all stainless or carbon steel, so, it's pretty easy to match a stock shield.

Because I like domed pins, I tend to like shields to be proud with melted corners, it gives overall texture, but it's never occurred to me that a smooth handled knife needs a shield particularly. IMO for me, it's more a question of overall configuration, bolsters or not, what size? Long bolsters rarely look good with a shield to me for instance.. Now, it is clear that certain collectors, either love or hate shields. I'll incorporate them into a design for a collector, but only in a way that works visually for me.

On the other hand, certain "patterns" that have been produced for a while, or are highly particular (especially popular factory models from the last century), almost mandate a specific type of shield, with very little latitude otherwise.


Shields, are estunchion plates essentially, and in order to find historical information on their origins, you're gonna have to look much further back than the American pocket knife industry. Originally they were primarily an ornament for engraving an owner's name, or some other information related to the provenance of the knife, but eventually, much more modernly, seemingly with the production pocket knife industry of the US, they appear to have become more about brand ornament and single pattern embellishment.

Unfortunately, the interest in chronicling the history of taken for granted trades, is reasonably modern, so highly specific information about general concepts, outside of specific companies, is sparse. I too would be curious to know more about it.
 
Randy3000 said:
Javan, i saw that meterorite shield you did, did you ever put it in a knife? Pics?
Click to expand...

Yes, sorry, didn't get finished photos of that knife. I've really gotta get setup to take pro photos on my own, I never seem to be able to get a chance to send them off before I have to turn them over to the customer.
 
Randy I just wanted to add, since I was definitely rambling in my previous post; I think it's completely up to you, and don't feel obligated one way or another, to use shields or not, unless you find yourself being drawn to making "reproductions" of specific styles.

The only guys I know that are feverish about shields, and which knives must have which shields, are typically, collectors of factory knife brands, since certain factories would only use X or Y shield on X or Y pattern, or in some cases, only use one custom shield, or some specific iconic maker, who had a pattern and/or preference for a certain shield.

Personally, I don't concern myself with those rules, or potential customers that are more deferential to arbitrary decisions of previous designers, or worse, pencil pushers, at this or that factory. Although, I see absolutely no problem being inspired by some iconic design, or maker's style, and utilizing a specific shield as an homage to such. In some cases, a certain shield, just works perfect for some traditional design. I will admit also though, that since I wasn't into pocket knives, when I started making them, that I know much less about the american pocket knife "scene" than I probably should, especially since most of my interest lies in the Golden Age, Sheffield, and greater European tradition.

I also consider my work to be deeply rooted in "traditional styles", albeit without limiting myself when it comes to making "improvements" (to my eye) in material or design. Some guys don't agree with this approach, and that's fine, it takes all types of makers, and it's no good for any of us if we all make the same knives.


Woops, there I go again. =D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top