The Infamous YoYo Knife, a short knifemaker story

KnifeHead

KnifeHead

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Apr 5, 2006
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Back in the day when a younger Tony Bose was struggling to make ends meet, he took on a special request for a unique knife. Tony got an unexpected call from a man in San Francisco. The man introduced himself and explained that he wanted to present his wife with a special birthday gift this year. As the conversation continued it was apparent that this man was sincere but his request was different, to say the least.

As it turns out, the mans wife was a local YoYo champion. He wanted Tony to make a small knife in the shape of a YoYo. He described to Tony the basic design he was looking for and Tony agreed to make it.

As you might imagine, making something this different took a while to design and get to work right. Tony probably could have made three or more "normal" knives in the time it took to make the YoYo.

Tony finished the knife up and sent it to the customer as usual. Much to Tony's surprise(that's a nice way of saying what he REALLY felt...and probably said), the man sent the knife back to Tony and said he didn't want it. :mad: :( :o

The Infamous YoYo Knife has a cute little D2 blade, N/S sides and pins(except the pivot), and is 1.5" across. It's part of the Ed Powell Collection. Thanks, Ed, for sharing this piece of history with us.

tbyoyo1.jpg


tbyoyo2.jpg
 
PimpinSquee said:
what was the reason why he didnt want it? looks like a great knife to me.
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I don't think that was ever determined. It's one of those hard lessons you learn as a custom maker of anything.
 
It was returned because it didn't have string and didn't work as a yo yo !!!
 
mete said:
It was returned because it didn't have string and didn't work as a yo yo !!!
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You know, that's probably the sad truth of it.... Or maybe Tony should have etched "Duncan" on the side of it :D

-d
 
how 'bout some glow-in-the-dark tritium lights? :D :p


Thanks for sharing, KH!
 
Reason # 39405 to take full deposits on crazy-idea knives that you wont be able to sell if it falls through. :)
 
David Schott said:
Reason # 39405 to take full deposits on crazy-idea knives that you wont be able to sell if it falls through. :)
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Funny!...just a bit ago Tony sent me an email and said he took a beating on that thing and does exactly that...NOW.:D
 
OK We all, even an old guy like me remembers the Duncan Yo-Yo....I liked the ones painted fl. green or fl. orange with a fuzzy black stripe on them...
We now are aware of a T.Bose Yo-Yo (knife).
Does anyone remember a brand of Yo-Yo other than Duncan?

Also some of the tricks....walk-the-dog, round-he-world, was it "rock-the-baby"?...or rock-the-cradle?, the one where you let it spin at the end of the string, the slapped the back of your hand to get it to climb back up "spank-the-baby"?
I know, diverging from topic.....just got me to remembering....

Thanks,
 
You set off a whole cascade of memories there with your words, John. Thanks!!! :thumbup: :)
 
Spank the Baby!!! Definitely not a PC YoYo trick name. I never heard of that one though.
 
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