Clem Kadiddlehopper
knife guy
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2012
- Messages
- 7,114
Todd Davison is not as well known as some, but he does some very nice work.
This is a rifle he custom filed - Bill Ruple (who is no slouch to file-work) looked at it at the Spirit of Steel show. He was so impressed he went and brought back four other guys to look at it. I watched two machinist argue with Todd for a half hour that he had machined it. Until finally looking at the tapper at the end of the barrel and how it's done, finally agreed that he could not of machined it. He did this with a chain saw file and sand paper.
Like I said he's not as well known as some, but I have handled ALL 978 slip joints he has made (accept for about 4 of them - I've done ALL his knife photos) And I can say for someone who has made that many slip joint knives - EACH ONE FROM SCRATCH (accept one) That there is NOT another slip joint maker that gets as much blade in the trough closed as he does? His slip joints may not have all the bells and whistles as some do, but his fit and finish is par none.
And he does grind all his blades free hand. When he started making knives over 30 years ago and had problems? He told me he opened up BLADE Mag. and found a maker in there with a phone # - It just happened to be Bob Loveless (He didn't have a clue who he was than?) He just didn't call him once or twice? He said he would call him five times a day! Bob was always VERY nice he said with the help and finally he says to Todd. "I have a small cottage out here behind my house and you can come out here to California and stay as long as you like. And I will show you everything I know about knife making."
Well Todd did not go, but if he had gone? He would be doing work now like S.R. Johnson or John Young?
I've seen quite a few makers come to his shop and question him on how to make slip joint knives. (One was a Master Smith) There have been MANY call him on the phone asking for help? He even told Reese Bose a trick at Blade Show and later Reese told Todd that him and Tony use it almost everyday now.
I have a Bowie knife he made out of D2 steel. Bob Dozier looked at it and said he had never seen D2 mirror polished that well before? And Bob Dozier knows D2 steel.
The Iron Wood knife photo below #339 - he inlaid the shield by hand, No template or jig.
I'm not saying he's the best or anything. I'm just saying he has learned some skills.
.
This is a rifle he custom filed - Bill Ruple (who is no slouch to file-work) looked at it at the Spirit of Steel show. He was so impressed he went and brought back four other guys to look at it. I watched two machinist argue with Todd for a half hour that he had machined it. Until finally looking at the tapper at the end of the barrel and how it's done, finally agreed that he could not of machined it. He did this with a chain saw file and sand paper.
Like I said he's not as well known as some, but I have handled ALL 978 slip joints he has made (accept for about 4 of them - I've done ALL his knife photos) And I can say for someone who has made that many slip joint knives - EACH ONE FROM SCRATCH (accept one) That there is NOT another slip joint maker that gets as much blade in the trough closed as he does? His slip joints may not have all the bells and whistles as some do, but his fit and finish is par none.
And he does grind all his blades free hand. When he started making knives over 30 years ago and had problems? He told me he opened up BLADE Mag. and found a maker in there with a phone # - It just happened to be Bob Loveless (He didn't have a clue who he was than?) He just didn't call him once or twice? He said he would call him five times a day! Bob was always VERY nice he said with the help and finally he says to Todd. "I have a small cottage out here behind my house and you can come out here to California and stay as long as you like. And I will show you everything I know about knife making."
Well Todd did not go, but if he had gone? He would be doing work now like S.R. Johnson or John Young?
I've seen quite a few makers come to his shop and question him on how to make slip joint knives. (One was a Master Smith) There have been MANY call him on the phone asking for help? He even told Reese Bose a trick at Blade Show and later Reese told Todd that him and Tony use it almost everyday now.
I have a Bowie knife he made out of D2 steel. Bob Dozier looked at it and said he had never seen D2 mirror polished that well before? And Bob Dozier knows D2 steel.
The Iron Wood knife photo below #339 - he inlaid the shield by hand, No template or jig.
I'm not saying he's the best or anything. I'm just saying he has learned some skills.
.
I'd want to add you into the 'list' and believe it. One of your many supporters will testify.
