THE Hollow Handle Knife Thread

I don't know what size wheel Neeley uses either, but I have seen a picture of him grinding a Timberline blade before, and it wasn't a large wheel. It looked like a regular 8" wheel to me, but it has been a long time since I saw the pic. Either way, as Tom mentioned the hollow is pretty distinct. I would think it wasn't a large diameter wheel or radiused platen, but that is just my thoughts, I could certainly be wrong.

Sam :thumbup:
 
Sam Wilson said:
I don't know what size wheel Neeley uses either, but I have seen a picture of him grinding a Timberline blade before, and it wasn't a large wheel. It looked like a regular 8" wheel to me, but it has been a long time since I saw the pic.
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Gotta love the internet! :D


Vaughn Neeley grinding Timberline Hollow Handle in 1985.
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guns_and_labs said:
If you look back far enough in the thread, you'll find the "discussion" on edge profile. This particular topic has been lingering for a while. The point seems to be whether it seems rational to take a knife from a well-respected knife maker who had a certain functional specification in mind, alter it radically to a profile that no one else in the world thinks is an appropriate design for chopping, test it in a manner that few would call controlled or scientific, and then complain about the knife maker and his design.

Personally, I really like the Neeley design. It works for what I want to do with it... but I've never tried chopping with it, and would not anticipate doing so. When I practice survival skills (or the few times that it wasn't practice), chopping is not something I do.

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Boom. Nailed it. :thumbup:
 
TAH said:
I like the simplicity of that Storm Crow compass, but in general, I just don't like liquid-filled button compasses. A few weeks ago, I exchanged emails with Vaughn Neeley about compasses. He, too, is frustrated with the current button compasses that are available and has occasionally made his own dry compasses for his knives, which he says is a real headache. Here is an updated photo of my mini compass collection. Recently, I was able to add the Waltham compass after years of searching.


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1) Karl Mfg., .25" brass, dry, non-luminous, USA (1990s)
2) Waltham, .50" brass, dry, non-luminous, USA, used by Randall (early 60s - early 70s) and by Lile in the original 13 First Blood knives
3) Marbles, .50" brass, dry ,non-luminous, USA, used by Timberline (late 80s)
4) Pyser-SGI, .60" brass, dry, luminous, England (? - present)
5) Marbles, .75" brass, dry, luminous, USA, used by Timberline (early 90s)
6) Tokyo Compass, .55" plastic, liquid, luminous, Japan, used by Randall (late 90s - present)
7) Marbles, .50" brass, dry, non-luminous, USA, used by Randall (mid 80s - late 90s)
8) Marbles, .50" brass, dry, luminous, USA, used by Randall, Lile, and Timberline (70s - mid 80s)
9) Marbles, 1" brass, dry, luminous, USA (mid 90s)
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I was able to score a couple of the Waltham compasses still in GI brown paper stapled closed with the compass wrapped in gauze. I sent them to Andy Wood for my two knives.

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I don't think any of the current or past makers got it as close as Andy. I also believe that his are more consistent with better fit and finish than the originals. I know, sacrilege, blasphemy, etc.
 
Congrats on finding the Waltham compasses. They're very rare. Looks great in your Andy Wood knife and accurate to the original 13 movie knives. :thumbup:

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TAH said:
Congrats on finding the Waltham compasses. They're very rare. Looks great in your Andy Wood knife and accurate to the original 13 movie knives. :thumbup:

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Thanks. I actually had them in my desk for years. I sent one to Ray Matton but he never delivered a knife, he had some type of breakdown or something. He sent me pics of holes he smashed in the drywall of his shop when he was learning how to get the false edge closer to the original grind. Communication broke down and I didn't get a knife or my compass back. I hadn't sent any money at that point so I considered it a wash. Still wish I got the Waltham back though.

I looked at several pics of the caps including the one you posted above before I decided I liked the compass set a little deeper to protect it from scratches better. The pics of seen of Lile knives have the compasses set to varying depths with no real consistency so I didn't feel bad with having them different than #5. I also prefer the standard bead blast as Jimmy originally sent them to Stallone over the movie style blast Stallone requested.
 
MJensen said:
I looked at several pics of the caps including the one you posted above before I decided I liked the compass set a little deeper to protect it from scratches better. The pics of seen of Lile knives have the compasses set to varying depths with no real consistency so I didn't feel bad with having them different than #5. I also prefer the standard bead blast as Jimmy originally sent them to Stallone over the movie style blast Stallone requested.
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You did the right thing setting the Waltham a little deeper to protect the domed lens. I like both bead blast finishes. It's probably just the lighting, but in this photo, it looks like the entire clip is polished. At least it gives you an idea of what the standard Lile finish would look like on screen.


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TAH said:
You did the right thing setting the Waltham a little deeper to protect the domed lens. I like both bead blast finishes. It's probably just the lighting, but in this photo, it looks like the entire clip is polished. At least it gives you an idea of what the standard Lile finish would look like on screen.


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Andy was very accommodating. He sent several pics of the compass mocked up at different depths. I chose the one that he suggested as it seemed like the perfect amount of protection and visibility. Andy is the best. He said that he is working on a replica of the Waltham. He asked if he could take several measurements and pics of mine for his prototype.
 
That's a beautiful knife for sure. Are the split teeth angled forward? What is the blade material?
 
TAH said:
That's a beautiful knife for sure. Are the split teeth angled forward? What is the blade material?
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Thanks.

Not sure what you mean by angled forward? As in angled so they can actually saw? Then yes. I've seen Sly II's with different angles, some will saw and some are just for show. I would buy another Wood knife before I would buy a Sly II. Andy owns #16 and has had his hands on movie knives I believe. He made this the same.

Blade material is 440C. Lile used to offer a choice between D2 and 440C. At least they did when I ordered a Sly II.
 


Here is my brand new Randall #18 style hollow handle knife made by BCK aka Big Custom Knives, Slidell, Louisiana. It is called the BCK SOS-D2 Steel Version. Specs are:

10" D2 steel blade, 5/16" thick at spine, Brass guard and skullcrusher style endcap, D2 steel hollow handle. Rockwell Hardness: 58°-60° HRC. Black Powder Coated!!

I have been wanting a handmade Randall #18 style knife for a long time, but with a much longer blade. Now I have Exactly what I was wanting!! And I didn't have to wait for Years to get it made and Shipped out like with Randall Made Knives!! Black custom fitted hand stitched leather sheath included!!
 
The so-called Strider knife turned out to be a Chinese fake, as some of you mentioned. I learned that myself before getting it. I just never posted anymore about it because it wasn't worth it in my opinion. I have since just shelved the fake ass knife. How the slanteyed goons in China can get away with what they are doing is Beyond Me!!

From now on, I will Not purchase a knife outside the USA, and especially until and unless I can Verify the knife and knifemaker as a legitimate knife and maker and not a fake Unless it is a knife from wellknown companies such as TOPS Knives, Aitor, Kizlyar, Extrema Ratio, etc...And those high end production knives, I will only buy from the actual company, or from their authorized dealers.

There are just way too many knifemaker fakes and high end production knife fakes out there to take chances.

I see Sellers on Ebay, swearing on their families' graves almost, that their fake clone knives are real genuine knives. Then, when they are busted out, they like all give the same excuse such as, "I got the knife from a very rich relative," or "I dont know anything about knives...I got this from a high end estate sale!"

Then once busted out, they go and change their listing, and make it more honest.

But it still makes me sick because they need to be more honest in the first place!

They know the fakes they are selling are fakes. The Sellers pretend to be stupid about knives when they are busted out as liars and crooks.

I encourage everyone to Never take a person for their word, Esp on Ebay. But Ebay should really do something about this crap!! So many people out there that know nothing about knives, will Believe a cheap made Master Cutlery Rambo knife is the true real deal knife!! And these Sellers that do this...All they care about is that Almighty dollar!

They dont care that they are screwing people over!! But it sure is fun to bust them out as lying thieves and watch them squirm!!
 
Nice Andy Wood tributes. Mine has the Pyser-SGI. Works a treat. And yes, your right about Andy, he is extremely accomodating. Its a pity his contract with Lile Knives LLC was short lived as I believe Andy's version to be absolutely spot on in regards to the first 6 knives. I will have to get some photos of my knives one day.

With regards to Ray Matton, I did read somewhere that he was in ill health. Maybe thats the reason for the miscommunications etc? Life gets in the way sometimes. I had one f Rays's tributes a few years back. It was a very well made tribute knife, but not completley accurate: still, excellent workmanship.
 
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