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- Feb 3, 2011
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"Ping", "Ping", Ping". The craftman's hammer falls, driving the pin and setting the blade.
He straightens himself from his bench and works the newly set blade against it's spring. A smooth action and a solid "click" proves that the blade is set well and the lock up is tight. This is just another step before a finished product, one that may end up spending his life in the silk purse of a rich man, or in the pocket of the dirt poor farmer down the road, either way, it's prepared only with the Craftman's full attention. Stag, bone and ivory are just standards in this Craftman's arsenal of materials, but only for their strength and beauty are they chosen to serve as a knife's handle. Another knife complete and just in time to start yet, another.....
An ode, to a John Lloyd pocket knife.
As you can probably tell, I received my knife today from Vince. When Vince's giveaway first came up I told my whole family about it and what the prizes were, but only because of "who" made the knives that were to be given away. Since Duncan's thread on John Lloyd knives I have wanted one, but with a minimum wage paycheck, I never looked into seriously getting one of his knives. I knew they would be too much for someone like me. I spend a good bit of money on knives, but with the money it would take for one of his knives, I could get three, maybe four GEC knives. But, thats if you look at it like I had been.
That has changed for me and in a big way, I as stammered at price point and quality. As far as custom knives go, John is very affordable, which means he isn't as good as the others, right, right? Wrong, his quality is top notch and deserving of maybe even a higher price point, but I'm not pushing for that. I still want to get a great deal when getting one of his knives. I've only been able to see other knife maker's work from Gun shows and you never know what has happened to one of their knives once is is being sold again, so it may not be fair to compare them like that.
I've been on pins and needles since making my decision on what knife would be mine and when Vince gave it the okay, I knew I'd be getting a good one. At 4'' closed this knife is almost exactly the size of knife I have carried all my life, so getting it in hand feels like I custom ordered it from John myself.
The stag is a little night and day, which is one of my favorite things on a stag knife. A lot of time people complain about mismatching stag, but I kind of appreciate it at times.
This one has a good side and a great side. The dark mountainous pile side gives me an excellent grasp on the knife and I imagine it will come in hand when working in a wet situation. While the other pleases my eye a little more.
This knife will see pocket time and will get used this hunting season if I am blessed with game.
The one thing this knife didn't have was a razor edge when I first got it. I actually like sharpening my knife before dropping it into the pocket, I get to connect with it and make it mine before using it for the long haul.
This blade sharpened up to a scary edge and has left me with a couple nice smooth spots on my forearm.
It's a keeper.
He straightens himself from his bench and works the newly set blade against it's spring. A smooth action and a solid "click" proves that the blade is set well and the lock up is tight. This is just another step before a finished product, one that may end up spending his life in the silk purse of a rich man, or in the pocket of the dirt poor farmer down the road, either way, it's prepared only with the Craftman's full attention. Stag, bone and ivory are just standards in this Craftman's arsenal of materials, but only for their strength and beauty are they chosen to serve as a knife's handle. Another knife complete and just in time to start yet, another.....
An ode, to a John Lloyd pocket knife.
As you can probably tell, I received my knife today from Vince. When Vince's giveaway first came up I told my whole family about it and what the prizes were, but only because of "who" made the knives that were to be given away. Since Duncan's thread on John Lloyd knives I have wanted one, but with a minimum wage paycheck, I never looked into seriously getting one of his knives. I knew they would be too much for someone like me. I spend a good bit of money on knives, but with the money it would take for one of his knives, I could get three, maybe four GEC knives. But, thats if you look at it like I had been.
That has changed for me and in a big way, I as stammered at price point and quality. As far as custom knives go, John is very affordable, which means he isn't as good as the others, right, right? Wrong, his quality is top notch and deserving of maybe even a higher price point, but I'm not pushing for that. I still want to get a great deal when getting one of his knives. I've only been able to see other knife maker's work from Gun shows and you never know what has happened to one of their knives once is is being sold again, so it may not be fair to compare them like that.
I've been on pins and needles since making my decision on what knife would be mine and when Vince gave it the okay, I knew I'd be getting a good one. At 4'' closed this knife is almost exactly the size of knife I have carried all my life, so getting it in hand feels like I custom ordered it from John myself.
The stag is a little night and day, which is one of my favorite things on a stag knife. A lot of time people complain about mismatching stag, but I kind of appreciate it at times.
This one has a good side and a great side. The dark mountainous pile side gives me an excellent grasp on the knife and I imagine it will come in hand when working in a wet situation. While the other pleases my eye a little more.
This knife will see pocket time and will get used this hunting season if I am blessed with game.
The one thing this knife didn't have was a razor edge when I first got it. I actually like sharpening my knife before dropping it into the pocket, I get to connect with it and make it mine before using it for the long haul.
This blade sharpened up to a scary edge and has left me with a couple nice smooth spots on my forearm.
It's a keeper.
