Here is the KITH knife I received from glassguy, AKA Steve Beckwith. He had posted a different knife at the outset, but decided to send this one instead:
Steve included a letter which explains that the knife is made of Aldo's 1084, and is his second forged blade. The handles are made of highly-figured black oak from Merritt Island FL, harvested by a friend of his some six years ago, with red fiber liners. The gorgeous sheath is inspired by John Cohea's work, and made of veg-tanned leather wrapped with deer rawhide, decorated with fringes, a black walnut shell "conch" and horse-hair tassles. With copper rivets. The forged/twisted feature at the butt is not only good-looking, but it could also serve as a spot for a wrist lanyard.
The remarkable aesthetic beauty of this piece obviously speaks for itself, even in my quick snapshot. What's not as readily-evident from a mere picture is the tremendous amount of study and craftsmanship that has clearly been built into it. This is not just a pretty piece of work to hang over the mantle, it is a
serious cutting implement.
I know exactly how difficult it is to achieve crisp, even grinds like this knife has, with nicely-matched plunges and swedge. I know that it takes care and attention to craft handles that are this tight and clean. I understand a little bit about bevel angles, and the geometry that makes a knife perform well... this knife has all that.
I took Steve's knife out to the garden earlier today and did some work with it. Suffice to say, not only does it balance well in hand, it
cuts. The edge is thin and keen, and it has held up very well in what I consider the sort of slashing/snap-cutting tasks a field/camp/survival knife should do. It's also handy enough, and thin enough to do more delicate work like making feather-sticks.
I've been lucky enough to examine knives made by some of the best makers on the planet, and I must say... this knife stands right there with them.
I'm sincerely impressed. I am grateful and humbled to have this knife at my side. If I were in a tight spot in the wilderness or a dark alley, I would have absolute confidence in it.
Thank you, Steve. Keep up the good work!!
I was really excited to get this last night!(I had my eye on her)
