- Joined
- Feb 15, 2002
- Messages
- 1,705
I didn't know just how special this knife would turn out to be until a week after I got home from the ABS Reno show. Sure, it's the first Jerry Fisk (Mr. 'National Living Treasure') knife I've owned - and that makes it special, at least to me. But come to find out, it's the very first of this design that Jerry has made for sale - so it's "No.1" - which also makes it special. But what also makes it special is the result of one of those 'thin threads' that lead people to interesting and significant experiences in their lives - little chance happenings or a brief conversation etc.
Here's what happened. I told Jerry that I wanted the knife and he should consider it sold, and that I would go over to a seating area across from the show room to sit down and write out a check - which I did. And as is often the case I wound up getting distracted onto something else at which point 'my attractive wife' offered to take the check to Jerry. "Thanks" I said, and off she went.
A while later she came back and said, "Jerry said not only should you use that knife, but you should a-b-u-s-e it too!" I laughed thinking about what a character he is. She said, "No, he was really serious!" Well, I couldn't get it off my mind. What sane person would take a Fisk knife out - even a rather plain one - and use it, much less abuse it?
A week had gone by and an idea had formed in my mind which I put into an e-mail and sent it off to Jerry via the contact link on his web-site. I asked him if he'd be willing to have me bring the knife out to his place. I proposed that we would 'field test' the knife (and find out what he meant by 'abuse'), that I would photograph the process and write a little article about it for one of the magazines. I figured nobody had ever done this with one of Jerry's knives and that people would naturally be interested in the results. But I also figured he probably has a lot better things to do, so I was ready to hear "No thanks."
Imagine my surprise when I got this reply - "That sounds good to me." Turns out Jerry is all about testing, improving and educating. Of special interest to him is the whole integral thing - how to do it right so the handle is super secure "when gotten on pretty rough" - Jerry's phrase for used hard. Plans for the testing are being worked out - stay tuned. So, this big camp knife has turned out to be quite the special purchase for me!
Jerry provided these particulars: It's a large integral camp knife forged from 5160 steel, fit with a black burl walnut handle using stainless pins. The handle design is inspired by a 'pistol grip' which Jerry feels is superior for hard use. He chose walnut because it's tough. After all gun-makers have used it for stocks that have certainly lasted a long long time under hard use. OAL is 16 1/4 inches and it weighs 13.0 ounces. He calls it "Wilderness" which is, I assume, a model name and he will be making more in the future.
Here's an image of the knife. Click the thumbnail to enlarge.
For those who for some reason can't see the thumbnail, Here is the actual link to the image: http://www.fototime.com/76F69395FB878FF/orig.jpg
Here's what happened. I told Jerry that I wanted the knife and he should consider it sold, and that I would go over to a seating area across from the show room to sit down and write out a check - which I did. And as is often the case I wound up getting distracted onto something else at which point 'my attractive wife' offered to take the check to Jerry. "Thanks" I said, and off she went.
A while later she came back and said, "Jerry said not only should you use that knife, but you should a-b-u-s-e it too!" I laughed thinking about what a character he is. She said, "No, he was really serious!" Well, I couldn't get it off my mind. What sane person would take a Fisk knife out - even a rather plain one - and use it, much less abuse it?
A week had gone by and an idea had formed in my mind which I put into an e-mail and sent it off to Jerry via the contact link on his web-site. I asked him if he'd be willing to have me bring the knife out to his place. I proposed that we would 'field test' the knife (and find out what he meant by 'abuse'), that I would photograph the process and write a little article about it for one of the magazines. I figured nobody had ever done this with one of Jerry's knives and that people would naturally be interested in the results. But I also figured he probably has a lot better things to do, so I was ready to hear "No thanks."
Imagine my surprise when I got this reply - "That sounds good to me." Turns out Jerry is all about testing, improving and educating. Of special interest to him is the whole integral thing - how to do it right so the handle is super secure "when gotten on pretty rough" - Jerry's phrase for used hard. Plans for the testing are being worked out - stay tuned. So, this big camp knife has turned out to be quite the special purchase for me!
Jerry provided these particulars: It's a large integral camp knife forged from 5160 steel, fit with a black burl walnut handle using stainless pins. The handle design is inspired by a 'pistol grip' which Jerry feels is superior for hard use. He chose walnut because it's tough. After all gun-makers have used it for stocks that have certainly lasted a long long time under hard use. OAL is 16 1/4 inches and it weighs 13.0 ounces. He calls it "Wilderness" which is, I assume, a model name and he will be making more in the future.
Here's an image of the knife. Click the thumbnail to enlarge.
For those who for some reason can't see the thumbnail, Here is the actual link to the image: http://www.fototime.com/76F69395FB878FF/orig.jpg
Jerry has a unique way with words. 
