- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 44,921
This is a feel good story.
I have been having a love affair of late with Japanese style fixed blades, specifically neck knives.
My first was a Randy Martin Kozuka #1. Next came my Steve Corkum Neck Shobu. Both excellent knives.
I have a couple of others coming from makers who visit BladeForums, and they will be reviewed at a later date.
This evening I want to tell you a little bit about a wonderful experience I had the good fortune to have with Master Smith Wally Hayes.
I first became familiar with Wally's work in the various "Knives" Annuals, Weyer's "Knives: Points Of Interest" and monthly knife magazines. I have always coveted his high end Japanese influenced work.
While reading the July, 2000 issue of Blade, I came across a paragraph featuring Wally in the "Knifemaker Showcase". The knife being featured was a chisel ground, Japanese style wrap over frog skin, neck knife made with a 3.5 inch blade of O1. (Stock Removal method.)
Well, seeing that, and being enamored with the style, I wrote Wally and a series of emails went back and forth between us. The primary subject was knives, but it hit on a mutual interest in the Blues, tactical response teams and the like. It was a lot of fun.
I told Wally that I wanted a knife somewhat similar to the one showcased in Blade, but with a few significant changes.
Wally wrote back that he had the idea and he would let me know when it was ready etc. I said: "Cool".
A few days later I get an email from Wally saying that he was messing around with this and that and that he had "forged" my blade. (I had ordered stock removal, though I'd have killed for anything forged by him.)
After I was able to pull myself back on my chair, I telephoned Wally to find out what he was up to.
Wally asks me, "is it okay if I just mess around with this and make something up for you?" (Does a bear crap in the woods?) Duh!!! Yeah!!!
So, to bust my chops a bit, our Master Smith won't tell me what steel he has forged and everything else remains a secret about the knife. He even goes so far as to tell me that he has a photo of it which I can have AFTER I receive the knife. Nice guy, huh?
Anyway .today I receive a package cleverly disguised as something it's not, and lo and behold, inside there is a GORGEOUS Wally Hayes, MS, neck knife!
Forged of 600 layers of O1 and 1010/1020 (Wally didn't seem sure which of the latter), the knife has an OAL of 7 5/8". The edge is about 3 3/8" long not counting the curve up to the tip.
The tang is marked Hayes on one side, and MS on the other. (My first Master Smith knife, and I'm proud that it came from Wally.)
The handle is black ray skin (same) covered with nylon wrap.
The spine features beautiful vine pattern file work.
In the hand, I am struck by how well balanced the knife is, how alive it is, and how light it seems.
The "v" ground blade tapers down to a wicked sharp edge.
The sheath is a very nice kydex rig designed for neck or IWB carry. Wally supplied a black nylon athletic type lace instead of a chain for neck carry.
All in all I can't say enough good about the knife. But more importantly, I can't say enough good about the man.
Wally went over and above in making this very special piece for me. Well over and above. For that I am grateful and will always carry a fond remembrance.
I would heartily suggest that you contact him to make a special blade for you too!
Contact info:
Wally Hayes
Master Bladesmith
1024 Queen Street
Orleans, Ontario
Canada / K4A-3N2
(613) 824-9520 (Home)
(613) 824-2961 (Fax)
www.hayesknives.com
hayesknives@hayesknives.com
Postscript:
Wally and I have decided on a name for this knife and it will now be known as the "Typhoon".
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
Some Knife Pix
[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 06-17-2000).]
I have been having a love affair of late with Japanese style fixed blades, specifically neck knives.
My first was a Randy Martin Kozuka #1. Next came my Steve Corkum Neck Shobu. Both excellent knives.
I have a couple of others coming from makers who visit BladeForums, and they will be reviewed at a later date.
This evening I want to tell you a little bit about a wonderful experience I had the good fortune to have with Master Smith Wally Hayes.
I first became familiar with Wally's work in the various "Knives" Annuals, Weyer's "Knives: Points Of Interest" and monthly knife magazines. I have always coveted his high end Japanese influenced work.
While reading the July, 2000 issue of Blade, I came across a paragraph featuring Wally in the "Knifemaker Showcase". The knife being featured was a chisel ground, Japanese style wrap over frog skin, neck knife made with a 3.5 inch blade of O1. (Stock Removal method.)
Well, seeing that, and being enamored with the style, I wrote Wally and a series of emails went back and forth between us. The primary subject was knives, but it hit on a mutual interest in the Blues, tactical response teams and the like. It was a lot of fun.
I told Wally that I wanted a knife somewhat similar to the one showcased in Blade, but with a few significant changes.
Wally wrote back that he had the idea and he would let me know when it was ready etc. I said: "Cool".
A few days later I get an email from Wally saying that he was messing around with this and that and that he had "forged" my blade. (I had ordered stock removal, though I'd have killed for anything forged by him.)
After I was able to pull myself back on my chair, I telephoned Wally to find out what he was up to.
Wally asks me, "is it okay if I just mess around with this and make something up for you?" (Does a bear crap in the woods?) Duh!!! Yeah!!!
So, to bust my chops a bit, our Master Smith won't tell me what steel he has forged and everything else remains a secret about the knife. He even goes so far as to tell me that he has a photo of it which I can have AFTER I receive the knife. Nice guy, huh?
Anyway .today I receive a package cleverly disguised as something it's not, and lo and behold, inside there is a GORGEOUS Wally Hayes, MS, neck knife!
Forged of 600 layers of O1 and 1010/1020 (Wally didn't seem sure which of the latter), the knife has an OAL of 7 5/8". The edge is about 3 3/8" long not counting the curve up to the tip.
The tang is marked Hayes on one side, and MS on the other. (My first Master Smith knife, and I'm proud that it came from Wally.)
The handle is black ray skin (same) covered with nylon wrap.
The spine features beautiful vine pattern file work.
In the hand, I am struck by how well balanced the knife is, how alive it is, and how light it seems.
The "v" ground blade tapers down to a wicked sharp edge.
The sheath is a very nice kydex rig designed for neck or IWB carry. Wally supplied a black nylon athletic type lace instead of a chain for neck carry.
All in all I can't say enough good about the knife. But more importantly, I can't say enough good about the man.
Wally went over and above in making this very special piece for me. Well over and above. For that I am grateful and will always carry a fond remembrance.
I would heartily suggest that you contact him to make a special blade for you too!
Contact info:
Wally Hayes
Master Bladesmith
1024 Queen Street
Orleans, Ontario
Canada / K4A-3N2
(613) 824-9520 (Home)
(613) 824-2961 (Fax)
www.hayesknives.com
hayesknives@hayesknives.com
Postscript:
Wally and I have decided on a name for this knife and it will now be known as the "Typhoon".
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
Some Knife Pix
[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 06-17-2000).]
