'Twin Blades' knives - Incredible!

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
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Guys,

Every once in a while I get a knife that stuns me. Here we go!

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Charlie and Harry Mathews are fairly new makers: retired brothers from North Carolina. I saw this bowie in one of their posts on another forum with an image they took and I had to query them on it. We ended up working together on another image.

Aside from the obvious carving, the lines and curves of this knife are classic and balance VERY nicely. It is very proportional.

It's not quite as visible in my photo, but there is a distinct temper line in the blade. The incredible carving and the peek-a-boo tang inside makes you want to look closely at this for hours. Truly a knife that will be around in a museum or showcase for centuries with a new generation in awe of the work. That's how inspiring I see this.

Before it is sold they'd like to showcase it at the Guild or Blade show. I think they'd turn some heads...!

Here are two others that they sent me earlier that I am just getting around to posting:

Traditional fighter/bowie:
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Untraditional Scagel (look at the change of angle) :
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I'm just letting you enjoy the visuals... :D

Coop
 
Their work represents an incredible range. Definitely worth a closer look.
 
Out standing work!!!:cool: :thumbup:
Those are some very, very gifted brothers.
Just out standing craftsmanship, man what a job!
Charlie and Harry my hats off to you.
Thank you so much Coop for those beautiful photos, you lucky dog. :D
To be able to see and handle that stuff first hand. WOW
Thanks -
 
Coop,
Sorry but.WOW!!:eek: My head is turned.
The carving and flow on the first one are beyond my words.

The traditional fighter/Bowie with that long clip and the handle treatment belongs in someone's Museum also.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the belly of the blade on the Untraditional Scagel has been kinda' slid back and incorporated into the choil?
A stunning knife also.

Thanks for the pics.

Doug :)
 
What steel in the Scagel? From Charlie Mathews:

The Scagel style hunter is actually made from 1095. It has been etched and displayed a pattern similar to damascus. I assume it has something to do with the makeup of the steel and structure of the particles. We have noticed it several times in etching to bring out a temper line.
Click to expand...
Nice to see work a little out of the ordinary. :thumbup:

Coop
 
have to start keepin an eye out for those boys' work.

Thanks for pointing it out, Coop.
 
Very cool steel on that Scagel.

I like the carving on the 2nd bowie. The 1st is awesome, but looks a bit fragile.
 
Three winners! My fave is the Scagel. The carved handle on the top knife is really something.

Roger
 
I am really impressed with these knives, especially the first one.
Thanks for sharing the pics, buddy! :thumbup:
 
First, I would like to thank all of you for the comments and encouragement. That is why we build knives like this because money won't pay for all the hours that go into one of them. We will take money anyway.
I would also like to thank Coop for posting our knives on this site. He does a fantastic job with the photos and every other aspect of his business. He does sometimes spell our name with two t's instead of one and we are in Statesboro, Ga not North Carolina but he is perfect when behind a camera.
A question I had for Leatherbird was about the Untraditional part of the Scagel type of description and I am asking because I don't know and want to learn everything I can about this Master. I have seen a bunch of his knives in photos and in person and it would be hard for me to label any knife of his as traditional in shape unless you are talking in general terms about his use of curves and flowing lines. I thought he did about every shape out there but a tanto and with more class than anyone else. Can you help me? This knife blade is patterned from a photo(kinda bad) of a knife attributed to Scagel and most people recognize the similarity. It is our knife and I don't want to try to make a copy but I love his style.
Joss made a comment about the handle looking fragile. Thanks! I take that as a compliment. It is really is fairly strong. The material, which is antler, is designed to be beat together and against trees etc. It is tough! I have yet to break a piece while working on it. Use it like a knife and it will last but I wouldn't want to enter a 2X4 chopping competition with it until after it is sold. Harry(the second twin of Twin Blades) does call antler, natural micarta.
Once again thanks for the comments and please don't let my post kill this thread. Sometimes I have that affect.
Charlie Mathews
First Twin
Twin Blades
Statesboro, GEORGIA !
 
:thumbup: Awesome knives. I love of them, but especially the first one. I am very happy to get to see something not only different, but fanastic.:thumbup:
 
Amazing, and thanks as always Coop for sharing the sights you see through your lens!

Frank H.
 
Charlie,
When talking about Scagel knives I was refering to his use of curves,some subtle, in his knives. Before ergonomics became accepted when refering to cutlery,his knives were known for there ergonomically correct handles.:thumbup:
I was refering to the deep belly on his knives and thought your interpretation of this style,completely yours I must say,looked to have that deep belly moved back and incorporated into the choil.A good thing as I see it.
Well.I'm in over my head,talking Scagel to a fine knifemaker as yourself and your brother.
Wouldn't worry about being a thread killer with the ability to craft knives as beautiful as you and your brother do.
Looking forward to seeing more.
Almost forgot.Welcome to Bladeforums.

Doug :)
 
Funny story: I sent the brothers a batch of photos and their knives after the first round. When the wife opened them up and looked them over she pointed out I had spelled the name Matthews instead of Mathews in the credit line.

Charlie sent me a polite note asking if I might be able to fix and print out another set. They've had this problem of the misspelling all their lives. It's kinda humorous.

Don't I know it. My home address is: 9 Mathew Court. 9 times out of 10 the mail and anything else comes to 9 Matthew Court. Boy do I get peeved at the inconsiderate and lazy SOB's that can't take a moment to clarify the CORRECT address! :thumbdn: :grumpy: :barf:

At that I had a large helping of Crow Pie. It's an acquired taste, and I am beginning to enjoy it... ;) :p :D

Georgia, North Carolina... Potato, potahto... !

Coop
 
I had seen some pics of their work in the "corners" of a few of the mags and noted they were close to "Bastidville" (aka Atlanta).

Stunning work. (as I wipe the drool from my face.)

Georgia, North Carolina... Potato, potahto... !
Click to expand...
Dang northerners - don't they school you guys in basic jography :D.

(Thanks Coop!)
 
Looks awesome guys. Well done. Love the grain in that damascus.
 
I need to give the proper credit to the smith that made the Damascus on the carved bowie. It is 1095 and 15N20 and I got it from Chad Nichols and fine steel it is. I can't think of a tougher, legitimate test of the quality of a damascus steel than to carve it. I am not the type that clamps a good blade in a vice and applies a wrench or pipe to see if it will do something it wasn't supposed to, to start with(look up crowbar in the hardware store they come in handy sizes and are cheap). The blade is basically finished and you are at it with chisels wondering if a bad weld is going to peal up. No bad welds at all in this one. Wish I could say I made it.
Charlie
First Twin
Twin Blades
 
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