- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
- Messages
- 5,191
Happy holidays ! interesting story behind this knife. late november i was contacted via email by a woman about making a knife for her husband. i made one of these vest pocket bowies about a year and a half ago along with a video on youtube showing it. she noticed her husband watching the video and showing it to his friends. she asked if i would make her one for him, i was very flattered and agreed, as this was much more complicated and expensive than the knives i usually make. i told her i needed materials i usually do not stock, and asked for a $100 deposit. she agreed to the price of the knife and the downpayment. i told her i could have it finished in time for christmas and that made her quite happy. as soon as all the details were nailed down via email i went online right away and ordered the stainless steel for the handle parts and an ostrich shin for the sheath etc. that nite i checked my paypal for a deposit, nothing. i checked the next afternoon, nothing. same thing the following day. so i scolded myself for being an idiot and promised never to do that again until i had a downpayment. about 2 weeks later she emails me and said " i sent the down payment" ! i emailed her back and thanked her but explained other orders had come in i was working on and it would not be done by christmas 
she was pretty unhappy about it lol and i explained i should have made it clear that if she sent the downpayment in the next day or two, it could be ready by christmas. at first i thought " oh well" but then i felt really bad, i could tell she was upset in the email. i vowed to do the best i could to get it as close to christmas as i could even if it was late. i even offered her her deposit back so she could get a different gift but no, she wanted the knife. i told her i would take work in progress photos so if the knife was late, at least he could look at picture book to get a sense of what was coming. i am retired and lazy, and i like it that way! i make knives for fun and joy maybe an hour or two in the shop each day. well i really put the pedal to the metal and finished the previous orders, which was not easy knowing there was a huge project looming ahead. i worked late, i worked past dark, i worked on the weekends. those 3 guard and spacer pieces slide up the tang and are snug tight by hand pressure, no wiggle, no jiggle. mechanically sound even with the handle off. every time i went too far i had to start over with a new piece to get the fit i wanted. the handle is also tight and snug with no pommel nut on there. i am surprised i have any hair left lol. the project was a success, the knife was received in the mail last friday. mission accomplished. i was burnt out for 2 days after it was in the mail 
thanks for reading the long story if you made it this far. merry christmas! 5 3/8" 1084 mirror finished blade, all other metal parts are stainless, black linen micarta. veg tan leather sheath with ostrich shin face. some work in progress photos to start. thanks for looking.
DSC_0477 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0486 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0493 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0496 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0505 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0508 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0510 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0519 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0522 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0525 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0530 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0528 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0531 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0532 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0534 by john april, on Flickr
DSC_0535 by john april, on Flickr
she was pretty unhappy about it lol and i explained i should have made it clear that if she sent the downpayment in the next day or two, it could be ready by christmas. at first i thought " oh well" but then i felt really bad, i could tell she was upset in the email. i vowed to do the best i could to get it as close to christmas as i could even if it was late. i even offered her her deposit back so she could get a different gift but no, she wanted the knife. i told her i would take work in progress photos so if the knife was late, at least he could look at picture book to get a sense of what was coming. i am retired and lazy, and i like it that way! i make knives for fun and joy maybe an hour or two in the shop each day. well i really put the pedal to the metal and finished the previous orders, which was not easy knowing there was a huge project looming ahead. i worked late, i worked past dark, i worked on the weekends. those 3 guard and spacer pieces slide up the tang and are snug tight by hand pressure, no wiggle, no jiggle. mechanically sound even with the handle off. every time i went too far i had to start over with a new piece to get the fit i wanted. the handle is also tight and snug with no pommel nut on there. i am surprised i have any hair left lol. the project was a success, the knife was received in the mail last friday. mission accomplished. i was burnt out for 2 days after it was in the mail thanks for reading the long story if you made it this far. merry christmas! 5 3/8" 1084 mirror finished blade, all other metal parts are stainless, black linen micarta. veg tan leather sheath with ostrich shin face. some work in progress photos to start. thanks for looking. DSC_0477 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0486 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0493 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0496 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0505 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0508 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0510 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0519 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0522 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0525 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0530 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0528 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0531 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0532 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0534 by john april, on FlickrDSC_0535 by john april, on Flickr
Love the coffin handle as well and those nice little facets/chamfers you added at the butt. Great sheath too! I'm glad to hear you were able to get it to the customer for Christmas, I'm sure her husband is pretty stoked.
