"THE RACER" - The Richard Petty Subhilt

ddd

ddd

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Apr 6, 2003
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A Full Integral sub-hilt, made by Edmund Davidson for Richard Petty
as a gift from his family.
Known to NASCAR fans as “The King”, Richard Petty became a
record-breaking legend over three decades of auto racing.

The pattern that was chosen by him for this knife was based on
one of Edmund’s Loveless Design sub-hilt fighters. Edmund began
making this large Integral with a .690” thick 4 3/8” x 17 5/8”
(17.5 x 111 x 448 mm) bar of 440C steel that weighed
14 pounds and 10 ounces (6.63 Kg).

When all of the machining, sawing, grinding, filing and sanding was
completed, the knife weighed one pound and 15 ounces (0.88 Kg).
Jere Davidson fully engraved the knife and Peters Heat Treating did
a masterful job and turned out an Rc-58 440C blade.
After re-sanding the piece and bringing it to the proper finish,
Edmund placed the ivory handles into the Integral cut-outs, finished
the knife and sent it to Linda Karst Stone to scrimshaw the scenes
that Richard had requested. Wow!

Overall length 17 3/16” (437 mm).

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book "The World of Art Knives" (2010)
RP-knife-Davidson.jpg
 
Last edited:
That is some knife David.
I was fortunate enough to see this beautiful work of art before the scrim at last year's Blade Show and then just recently a photo of just the finished handle so it's nice to finally see it completed. From almost 15 lbs to just under 2 lbs, that sounds like work.

I believe Edmund will be presenting it to the owner in the next week or so.
 
Kevin Jones said:
...... From almost 15 lbs to just
under 2 lbs, that sounds like work.........
Click to expand...

Recalling the ten days I spent with Edmund documenting his
process of making a relatively small Full Integral for his book,
I am sure that losing 13 lbs from a bar of steel to end up with an
amazing subhilt took Edmund many weeks of hard and extremely
precise work....

Maybe Edmund will find the time to tell us some more?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
WOW...that is cool. Didn't know what to expect from the title, but that IS an impressive piece by Mr. Davidson.

I would imagine "The King" would find that fit for royalty!

Peter
 
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