Wayne Valachovic.

[Raj]

Hi,would like info on Mr Valachovic and his knives.Saw some of the old threads about him.He is said to be a retired ABS Mastersmith.Living now in Hawaii.Is no longer making knives.
How good was his fit and finish.Does anyone know what his favourite steels were for making damascus.Anyone ever used his knives,if so how well did they perform.Any info would be greatly appreciated,especially pictures of his knives.(Coop,hope you have some pictures of his to share.)
Thank you.

 

[Kohai999]

Hi,would like info on Mr Valachovic and his knives.Saw some of the old threads about him.He is said to be a retired ABS Mastersmith.Living now in Hawaii.Is no longer making knives.
How good was his fit and finish.Does anyone know what his favourite steels were for making damascus.Anyone ever used his knives,if so how well did they perform.Any info would be greatly appreciated,especially pictures of his knives.(Coop,hope you have some pictures of his to share.)
Thank you.

I first met Wayne at the New England Bladesmith's Guild gathering at Ashokan in 1986. I got a Thuya burl handled fighter from him. His satin finish was good for the time, not up to today's standards, but very good. Fit was top quality on the fighters, folders had a bit of wobble, not much, but some. He was known for his pinned folders, his star pattern damascus was fantastic. He taught Bill Saindon how to make knives, so you may contact Bill to ask on the damascus composition, either he, Tim Zowada or Kevin Cashen should know. I'm pretty sure that 1084 was one of the steels he used.

Did not use my knife, it was a fighter, and don't have any pictures. Wayne decided not to make "weapons" any more, that was why he "retired", became a bit of a hippy-dippy crystal kind of person, but still a very cool dude.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Raj]

Thank you, Kohai999,appreciate that .Thats the kind of info I was looking for.Hope others will also come forward with their take on Valachovic.

 

[SharpByCoop]

Sorry. Out of the multi-thousand images of work I have photographed, not one Valachovic knife has come my way. A few months ago Steven mentiond him in high regard and I allowed I was not familiar with his work. Still don't know if I have ever seen a knife by him.

Show us, please!

Coop

 

[SharpByCoop]

OK, I just did a Google search and saw three lockbacks. Two sold on eBay so those links will be dead in a week or so.

Here is one with a horrible photo:

I have been christened....

Coop

 

[Kohai999]

Sorry. Out of the multi-thousand images of work I have photographed, not one Valachovic knife has come my way. A few months ago Steven mentiond him in high regard and I allowed I was not familiar with his work. Still don't know if I have ever seen a knife by him.

Show us, please!

Coop

Best I could do, sorry


http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/valacdfol.htm

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Rhett Stidham]

Sometimes Wayne will attend the Solvang Knife Show which is next weekend. If he does, I will get an update on him and post same here.

Regards,

Rhett Stidham

 

[Raj]

Thanks for the 2 pictures,albeit not being in Coop's quality of pictures.Mr Rhett Stidham,thanks,hope you do get to see Valachocic at the Solvang show.Always interesting to read about makers who have been popular at one time but are no longer in the knife scene at present for one reason or another.

 

[jjtjr]

When, I was about to start collecting custom knives Wayne was the first maker that I contacted since we both lived in New Hampshire. He was very helpful in giving me information about custom knives. There is a great article about him in "Best of Knife World Vol. III" which is still available from Knife World Books. Before I could get a knife directly from Wayne he moved to Hawaii. I have collected quite a few of his knives. I believe that he is mostly known for his folders. He made them of carbon steel, damascus and his high density damascus. He used filework on most of his knives. Here are a few. Jim Treacy

High density damascus and mammoth lockback folder

Damascus and abalone lockback folder

Large (6 1/8" blade) damascus and ivory lockback folder

Damascus and pearl lockback folder

Carbon and Ironwood wharncliff slipjoint folder

Pearl Interframe folder

All damascus slipjoint folder

Damascus and pearl Bichag

Carbon carving set

 

[jjtjr]

Here are pictures of Valachovic folders that I do not own.

 

[Raj]

Mr Treacy,thank you very much for your post.That is a fine collection you have.The "high density damascus with mammoth ivory" is a beautiful folder. 61/8 inch blade, folder with ivory?!!!.That is one BIG folder.Like it very much.You had mentioned that he made carbon steel,damascus and "high density",damascus blades.What is high density damascus,I am not familiar with that term.Do you know what steels he used to make most of his damascus.Also on his carbon steel knives,did he favour one steel or did he use a variety of steels.

 

[jjtjr]

Raj, Wayne Valachovic was one of the earlier ABS Mastersmiths. He got his MS rating in 1982. His high density damascus had over 5,000 layers of nickel, O1 and low carbon steel. He made some with 22,000 layers. He claimed that they were tougher and had better cutting abilities than regular damascus. In those days alot of damascus was made with high carbon and low carbon steel. Today many makers use different composition high carbon steels for damascus. He was a maker who tested his blades for performance. His carbon steel knives were made mostly from O1 I believe.
I have a couple of his brochures which I have scanned as well as an issue of A. G. Russell's "Cutting Edge" magazine which featured his knives on the cover. I own the third knife down the plain carbon folder.

PS, Coop I hope that you enjoy all the photos.

 

[Kohai999]

The fighter in the middle of Jim's post with the "butt spike" is of the type that I owned.

Great pics!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Kevin Jones]

I’m not familiar with Mr. Valachovic's work. But like what I see in the photos. Particularly the damascus and pearl Bischaeg.

 

[SharpByCoop]

I'm getting a good education here. Thanks.

Jim, before I absorbed your words, I ogled the photos and thought: I really like that plain steel version with the curved bolster.

Lucky YOU!

Coop

 

[jjtjr]

Here's some more photos of other Valachovic knives that I do not own, but wish I did.

 

[Bill Siegle]

I remember Wayne's stuff from way back when. I saw his table at the NYC show when I was 17. He had the coolest kerambit I have ever seen. All damascus construction with a great bold look to it. I think it was in one of the Knives annuals too IIRC. He also did some cool knife tests in one of the knife mags. Had one of his damascus blades doing some real abuse level stuff. Had him stabbing a 55 gallon barrel multiple times and even had him putting all his weight on the blade trying to flex it in a vice. No damage other than some scratches

 

[jjtjr]

Bill, The article that you mentioned is in "Best of Knife World Vol. III". I don't know if this is what you are describing. I don't have the knife, just the photo.

 

[Raj]

Mr Treacy,thanks for all these pictures.That carbon steel folder of yours with the curved bolsters,what is the wood on it?.Is it burl walnut.
The" Bischaeg", is very nice.What is the county of origin for the Bischaeg?.
Lots of good info and wonderful pictures.
Glad to read that Valachovic tested blades for performance also.Nice to have fancy knives,but its even better when you know that they will perform well.

 

[jjtjr]

Raj, The wood on the folder is African Blackwood. The Bichag ( I originally misspelled it in the description), is from Persia (now Iran). The blade is 7" and the knife is 11 1/2" overall.