- Joined
- Oct 27, 2010
- Messages
- 8,721
A while back I had asked maker Daniel Combs (DanCo on here) in Montgomery, TX to make me a fixed blade pocket knife. Now when I order a knife from a maker, I like to give only general input on the design and let the maker have fun with it. Sometimes I don't even see the knife until it arrives at my door! I called Daniel a while back and during one of our BS sessions over the phone I asked him to make me this knife. All I said is I want it around 6" overall, and thin. Thin steel, thin handle. I didn't care about the actual dimensions, as long as the feel was right.
Well after a few more conversations via text and phone, he sent me a rough drawing and I said run with it, it looks great. While I was waiting for this knife to be made he had finished up another, larger knife, a drop point hunter with nice walnut scales. He sent me pics showing the handle slabs and the design (a fairly standard design for him) and I really liked it, so after a few days of it being on the exchange I bought it, without telling him. I let him hold onto it until my ordered knife was done to save on shipping. He sure was surprised that I bought it, having an order in with him already!
Here is the pair, not meant to be a set, but they sure do look well together! Walnut and dark steel, like a classic firearm, is just a timeless combo.
Drop point hunter
7 7/8" oal
3 1/2" edge
1/8" 1080 steel
Walnut scales and brass pins
~58-59 Rc
600 grit and Vinegar patina
25* edge
Clip point fixed pocket knife
6 5/8" oal
2 7/8" edge
.060" bandsaw steel (15n20?)
Walnut scales from the same block and brass pins
~60 Rc
600 grit and Vinegar patina
20* edge
The drop point hunter has great balance which falls right between my index and middle finger. Comfortable grip that fills your hand and is not bulky. The knife feels solid and indexes in hand nicely either edge up or down. Perfect size for all game in my neck of the woods.
Pocket fixed blade is just a nice feeling little knife. Balance is a bit further back, but isn't noticeable due to the thickness of the steel making it a very light knife. Handle for me is a full 3 finger maybe 3.5, someone with smaller paws might get four wrapped around it. The scales taper from butt to ricasso lending to a sublimely comfortable pinch grip. The curved clip puts the tip in just the right spot for a natural feel inline with your arm, as if you just extend your finger, you know exactly where it is.
The steel in this one is reclaimed industrial band saw blade and is normally an oil hardening steel. During some random events, he stumbled across a method of plate quenching this thin stock and getting terrific results. My knife is actually the second as the first one was broken in two for the sake of testing purposes (not intentionally though, but it sounds better that way!) which showed remarkable grain refinement with the added benefit of coming out of the quench straight as an arrow!
As a package these knives compliment each other well, but were never intended to be a "set!" I am fortunate to call Daniel a good friend. He is an honest, hard working, hard playing Texan with good morals and a wonderful family. He has been making knives on a more full time basis for about the last 2 years, partly because finding work as a school teacher has been difficult and making knives is more fun as he tells me! I "met" Daniel through the boards here, and we have been buds since the start. I am in California and he in Texas, but our wives swear we are related sometimes!
Overall, Daniel has delivered two fantastic little knives and he is stubbornly underselling himself. My advice to you is send him an email and get yourself a nice little working class knife for a bargain price, before he lets his head get too big and raises his prices! I find it very rewarding to help the custom knife community by buying from the makers out there that haven't built the big name status like some on the forum here. Custom, working knives shouldn't be overlooked.
-Xander
Well after a few more conversations via text and phone, he sent me a rough drawing and I said run with it, it looks great. While I was waiting for this knife to be made he had finished up another, larger knife, a drop point hunter with nice walnut scales. He sent me pics showing the handle slabs and the design (a fairly standard design for him) and I really liked it, so after a few days of it being on the exchange I bought it, without telling him. I let him hold onto it until my ordered knife was done to save on shipping. He sure was surprised that I bought it, having an order in with him already!
Here is the pair, not meant to be a set, but they sure do look well together! Walnut and dark steel, like a classic firearm, is just a timeless combo.
Drop point hunter
7 7/8" oal
3 1/2" edge
1/8" 1080 steel
Walnut scales and brass pins
~58-59 Rc
600 grit and Vinegar patina
25* edge
Clip point fixed pocket knife
6 5/8" oal
2 7/8" edge
.060" bandsaw steel (15n20?)
Walnut scales from the same block and brass pins
~60 Rc
600 grit and Vinegar patina
20* edge
The drop point hunter has great balance which falls right between my index and middle finger. Comfortable grip that fills your hand and is not bulky. The knife feels solid and indexes in hand nicely either edge up or down. Perfect size for all game in my neck of the woods.
Pocket fixed blade is just a nice feeling little knife. Balance is a bit further back, but isn't noticeable due to the thickness of the steel making it a very light knife. Handle for me is a full 3 finger maybe 3.5, someone with smaller paws might get four wrapped around it. The scales taper from butt to ricasso lending to a sublimely comfortable pinch grip. The curved clip puts the tip in just the right spot for a natural feel inline with your arm, as if you just extend your finger, you know exactly where it is.
The steel in this one is reclaimed industrial band saw blade and is normally an oil hardening steel. During some random events, he stumbled across a method of plate quenching this thin stock and getting terrific results. My knife is actually the second as the first one was broken in two for the sake of testing purposes (not intentionally though, but it sounds better that way!) which showed remarkable grain refinement with the added benefit of coming out of the quench straight as an arrow!
As a package these knives compliment each other well, but were never intended to be a "set!" I am fortunate to call Daniel a good friend. He is an honest, hard working, hard playing Texan with good morals and a wonderful family. He has been making knives on a more full time basis for about the last 2 years, partly because finding work as a school teacher has been difficult and making knives is more fun as he tells me! I "met" Daniel through the boards here, and we have been buds since the start. I am in California and he in Texas, but our wives swear we are related sometimes!
Overall, Daniel has delivered two fantastic little knives and he is stubbornly underselling himself. My advice to you is send him an email and get yourself a nice little working class knife for a bargain price, before he lets his head get too big and raises his prices! I find it very rewarding to help the custom knife community by buying from the makers out there that haven't built the big name status like some on the forum here. Custom, working knives shouldn't be overlooked.
-Xander