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Wheeler's Steel- The Adventure Continues!
- Thread starter Lorien
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 28,369
Great points on all sides... I'm more in the "USE IT" category myself.When do we get to see the great leather that (I'm assuming) is being made to compliment this bad boy?
and, to answer your question, sir;
now if I were to get a really nice sheath made for this beauty, there is no other man I'd turn to than Stuart Branson. I'll have to save my sheckels for that, but Stu's the man!
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 28,369
sorry man, I had a busy day, and had to wait. Pret near killed me!
But, the anticipation is over!
This knife is big! But SOOOO light- it's a feather at 450 grams/ .99 lbs/ 15.6 oz
blade length is 11 1/8" and overall she's 16 1/2". The handle feels as beautiful as it looks.
You could say I'm a happy camper, but that's a huge friggin understatement!
SO STOKED!!!
Thank you Nick, you are THE MAN!!!
But, the anticipation is over!
This knife is big! But SOOOO light- it's a feather at 450 grams/ .99 lbs/ 15.6 oz
blade length is 11 1/8" and overall she's 16 1/2". The handle feels as beautiful as it looks.
You could say I'm a happy camper, but that's a huge friggin understatement!
SO STOKED!!!
Thank you Nick, you are THE MAN!!!
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2010
- Messages
- 858
So nice. I can't believe you waited all day. Jess
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 28,369
if I were to use one word to describe the weather around here lately, to a fellow knife knut, the word I'd use is DAMASCUS. Each dark day is followed by a bright one, and today was very bright and extremely nice.
I was hoping to get out for a quick hike with my camera and Wheeler's Steel, take advantage of the sunshine for some pics for you guys. But, I've been bustin trail for the past two days in a major way, and back into the crucible of spring time bike shopdom left me with zero jam.
So, I'm going to retire, with my new knife, to the couch. Where I will watch Conan. And contemplate the riddle of steel through my Nick Wheeler monolith ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y15NnGZIBuM&NR=1 )
At least I got out into the back yard for a bit, blew a few rounds through my pellet gun, swung W'sS through some vegetation and snapped a few 'nature pics'. Nothin compared with Coop's fine work, but I just wanted to leave you with some of my impressions of some of the finer points of this knife, as seen through the lens of my camera;
I just wanted to note that I could not resist swinging W'sS through some stuff at work today, which included; corrugated cardboard rolls, a pop can, several different diameters and thicknesses of bicycle butyl innertubes, sheet of paper taped into a tube and freestanding rolling paper tubes, a plastic Sprite bottle and a fly. Though there is very little material behind the edge bevel there is no evidence of use, even when looked at through a magnifying glass.
The best part is the song this knife sings as it plinks through little branches. It's like the sound of a spoon delicately striking a champagne glass- clear and bright. Like the day.
I was hoping to get out for a quick hike with my camera and Wheeler's Steel, take advantage of the sunshine for some pics for you guys. But, I've been bustin trail for the past two days in a major way, and back into the crucible of spring time bike shopdom left me with zero jam.
So, I'm going to retire, with my new knife, to the couch. Where I will watch Conan. And contemplate the riddle of steel through my Nick Wheeler monolith ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y15NnGZIBuM&NR=1 )
At least I got out into the back yard for a bit, blew a few rounds through my pellet gun, swung W'sS through some vegetation and snapped a few 'nature pics'. Nothin compared with Coop's fine work, but I just wanted to leave you with some of my impressions of some of the finer points of this knife, as seen through the lens of my camera;
I just wanted to note that I could not resist swinging W'sS through some stuff at work today, which included; corrugated cardboard rolls, a pop can, several different diameters and thicknesses of bicycle butyl innertubes, sheet of paper taped into a tube and freestanding rolling paper tubes, a plastic Sprite bottle and a fly. Though there is very little material behind the edge bevel there is no evidence of use, even when looked at through a magnifying glass.
The best part is the song this knife sings as it plinks through little branches. It's like the sound of a spoon delicately striking a champagne glass- clear and bright. Like the day.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,564
Ditto
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 12,347
I am SO glad it made it through Customs unscathed or with problems. Yes, it's a substantial piece, isn't it!
Nothing like a little 'product placement' subliminal advertising.
BTW, I want to acknowledge a prominent anonymous member who sent me a notable portion of funds for the portfolio image. It was ballied about in the previous thread, and I did not support or discourage the process. I was willing to handle this all, but this is a community and I'd like to accept and be thankful for the gift.
Lorien, I'm looking forward to some easy chopping.
Coop
Nothing like a little 'product placement' subliminal advertising.
BTW, I want to acknowledge a prominent anonymous member who sent me a notable portion of funds for the portfolio image. It was ballied about in the previous thread, and I did not support or discourage the process. I was willing to handle this all, but this is a community and I'd like to accept and be thankful for the gift.
Lorien, I'm looking forward to some easy chopping.
Coop
- Joined
- Dec 3, 1999
- Messages
- 9,437
WOW Jim!!! That's so awesome. 
:thumbup:
Lorien, I'm glad it made it there!!!
:thumbup: Lorien, I'm glad it made it there!!!
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 28,369
By the way, I just wanted to point out a huge glaring error which has been bothering me for some time.
Awhile back, I mentioned that this knife was somewhere near 5 years in the making and that was completely inaccurate. Seems my memory for time is a little skewed these days, hopefully due to the dynamic nature of my life and not alzheimer's.
At any rate, this knife project started around October 2008, and I know that after having gone through my 'records'.
I'd just like to apologize in front of you all to Nick, for putting bogus info out there, (even, and maybe especially, if I believed it myself at the time). Considering the state of affairs in a general sense, lifewise for both of us, under 3 years is really damn acceptable.
Remember, 'think twice, cut once'!
Awhile back, I mentioned that this knife was somewhere near 5 years in the making and that was completely inaccurate. Seems my memory for time is a little skewed these days, hopefully due to the dynamic nature of my life and not alzheimer's.
At any rate, this knife project started around October 2008, and I know that after having gone through my 'records'.
I'd just like to apologize in front of you all to Nick, for putting bogus info out there, (even, and maybe especially, if I believed it myself at the time). Considering the state of affairs in a general sense, lifewise for both of us, under 3 years is really damn acceptable.
Remember, 'think twice, cut once'!
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 28,369
11:42 at the moment, so we had a good time in the forest this evening. I've got pictures here to look at but damnit I have to go to bed. If the battery hadn't died, I'd have more pics for you, but I hope you enjoy what I do have.
****
this is my brother from another mother, Russ aka Bigredpig;
Russ and me go back many years in the mountain bike community and have spent countless hours together building trails. He's a brawny lad at 280lbs, in fact he weighs the same amount as two of me. I'm convinced most of the weight is due to the size of his heart. I brought up my new airgun, a Crosman HB22, and we had a bit of fun plinking our beer cans. Russ blew a pellet through his can at about 40' as I took this pic. I couldn't do it, I'm convinced it was a lucky shot
Poop...
and more poop.
when building a trail, which to me means 'finding the trail', it is not uncommon to come across spoor. I actually look for it. Lots and lots of various kinds of poop along this new line.
Establishing the trail corridor is hard work, and it's amazing how helpful animals can be in helping clear the line. They like it too, as it makes life easier for them having clear trails to use. A good trail is the result of a collaboration between the trail builder and the environment, if it's forced it will never work. It's one thing to tear it all down, pave it and build a city on top, and quite another to work within the bounds of nature. Very satisfying work, especially when you're doing it for free, (but I have to get paid sometimes for it to, so I can afford tools).
this is a pretty spectacular section of the trail, very scenic and super gnarly and steep. This section of trail is in bear country, whereas higher up is deer country and lower down is cougar country.
I gave brother Russ the first Lynch MOB that Tad made, it's his first custom knife. He's learned recently that he also loves knives like me, and he didn't put this down all night. We had a grand old time talking knives, cutting and chopping stuff, and as I've discovered today, drinking a couple too many beers. UGh- not feeling too shit hot today.:barf:
whenever possible, I avoid cutting trees. And when I do, it's with the overall health of the surrounding vegetation in mind. Sometimes storm events take down big trees which become nurse logs, and new growth can get out of control, with several stems vying for light and life. The result is often stunted limbs that are incredibly dense. This little guy is a good example- teeny tiny Doug fir tree that is relatively old, judging by the rings, that was growing out at this weird angle and recently dead. Not green, but not rotten. Pretty much about how you'd want your lumber. I took a whack at it and realized how tough it was, and then took a mighty swing and clove through it in a stroke. Doesn't look like much, but a lesser knife would have issues doing this;
this stuff here is called Scotch Broom, it's invasive and got its start on Vancouver Island right here in Sooke when General Grant, yearning for his Scottish homeland brought some over and planted it. It is a very hardy and fibrous plant which is difficult to deal with. If you pull it out, you stimulate germination of seeds which have a shelf life of 11 years. If you cut it, clumps of new growth occur, so it takes dedication and time to kill off a plant, often 2 to 3 years of constantly going back to cut it again. I've made it my life's work to remove as much of this invader as possible, as it is so effective at taking over large swaths of land, making it impossible for the indigenous species to carry on by poisoning the soil with large amounts of nitrogen. Yes, this plant makes its own fertilizer. I have Broom to thank for getting me into large knives, as I've found the best way to efficiently deal with it is with a big blade.
Wheeler's Steel eats broom like none other. With it's super thin edge it's so light and controllable, and at the same time flies through the spindly stuff. Not sure how she'll perform against big wood, that's a test for another day. But W'sS came out with flying colors, I didn't put the knife down, it was like the handle germinated in my hand feeling like it had grown out of the end of my arm.
The place where most of the shots I post is actually called Broom Hill.
I didn't get the amount and type of photos I wanted last night, but I plan on bringing out my gopro to do a time lapse sequence of this knife in action, clearing a swath of trail.
I hope you enjoyed this post, I'll make sure to get a bit more up when I get a chance.
****
this is my brother from another mother, Russ aka Bigredpig;
Russ and me go back many years in the mountain bike community and have spent countless hours together building trails. He's a brawny lad at 280lbs, in fact he weighs the same amount as two of me. I'm convinced most of the weight is due to the size of his heart. I brought up my new airgun, a Crosman HB22, and we had a bit of fun plinking our beer cans. Russ blew a pellet through his can at about 40' as I took this pic. I couldn't do it, I'm convinced it was a lucky shot
Poop...
and more poop.
when building a trail, which to me means 'finding the trail', it is not uncommon to come across spoor. I actually look for it. Lots and lots of various kinds of poop along this new line.
Establishing the trail corridor is hard work, and it's amazing how helpful animals can be in helping clear the line. They like it too, as it makes life easier for them having clear trails to use. A good trail is the result of a collaboration between the trail builder and the environment, if it's forced it will never work. It's one thing to tear it all down, pave it and build a city on top, and quite another to work within the bounds of nature. Very satisfying work, especially when you're doing it for free, (but I have to get paid sometimes for it to, so I can afford tools).
this is a pretty spectacular section of the trail, very scenic and super gnarly and steep. This section of trail is in bear country, whereas higher up is deer country and lower down is cougar country.
I gave brother Russ the first Lynch MOB that Tad made, it's his first custom knife. He's learned recently that he also loves knives like me, and he didn't put this down all night. We had a grand old time talking knives, cutting and chopping stuff, and as I've discovered today, drinking a couple too many beers. UGh- not feeling too shit hot today.:barf:
whenever possible, I avoid cutting trees. And when I do, it's with the overall health of the surrounding vegetation in mind. Sometimes storm events take down big trees which become nurse logs, and new growth can get out of control, with several stems vying for light and life. The result is often stunted limbs that are incredibly dense. This little guy is a good example- teeny tiny Doug fir tree that is relatively old, judging by the rings, that was growing out at this weird angle and recently dead. Not green, but not rotten. Pretty much about how you'd want your lumber. I took a whack at it and realized how tough it was, and then took a mighty swing and clove through it in a stroke. Doesn't look like much, but a lesser knife would have issues doing this;
this stuff here is called Scotch Broom, it's invasive and got its start on Vancouver Island right here in Sooke when General Grant, yearning for his Scottish homeland brought some over and planted it. It is a very hardy and fibrous plant which is difficult to deal with. If you pull it out, you stimulate germination of seeds which have a shelf life of 11 years. If you cut it, clumps of new growth occur, so it takes dedication and time to kill off a plant, often 2 to 3 years of constantly going back to cut it again. I've made it my life's work to remove as much of this invader as possible, as it is so effective at taking over large swaths of land, making it impossible for the indigenous species to carry on by poisoning the soil with large amounts of nitrogen. Yes, this plant makes its own fertilizer. I have Broom to thank for getting me into large knives, as I've found the best way to efficiently deal with it is with a big blade.
Wheeler's Steel eats broom like none other. With it's super thin edge it's so light and controllable, and at the same time flies through the spindly stuff. Not sure how she'll perform against big wood, that's a test for another day. But W'sS came out with flying colors, I didn't put the knife down, it was like the handle germinated in my hand feeling like it had grown out of the end of my arm.
The place where most of the shots I post is actually called Broom Hill.
I didn't get the amount and type of photos I wanted last night, but I plan on bringing out my gopro to do a time lapse sequence of this knife in action, clearing a swath of trail.
I hope you enjoyed this post, I'll make sure to get a bit more up when I get a chance.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 3, 1999
- Messages
- 9,437
Okay, I'll bite. What is the significance of the knife laying next to poop in three of the pics?
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2006
- Messages
- 6,211
OK I changed my mind... I wouldnt use that in the field. I'd just sit every night cradling it in my arms in front of the TV, occasionally swinging at air, until it was time to put it back in its sleeping bag. It looks even more incredible in your happy snaps dude. I didnt realise the size of it until just now...