[hso]

Anyone interested in a group buy on custom knives again? :D

A buddy of mine is forging these handy strong-as-an-ox single piece knives. If there's enough interest I could work up a group buy.



http://acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/oilright1-813x614.jpg

http://acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/6800-226x358.jpghttp://acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/FebruaryKnives_021-250x187.jpg

[auschip]

I would be interested. Do you have a general price range?

[hso]

The price will depend upon how many folks are in.

$175-$125 depending upon the number of participants.

Sheaths are included.

[Dismantler]

hso... While I am not really interested in any more knives you ought to post a few facts about them.

What kind of steel does he use? What is the Rockwell hardness?
What are the approximate dimensions, including thickness? What is his guarantee?

Some members will be more interested with more information.

Thanks!

[hso]

Hand ground
Differentially heat treated 1/4" 5160 tool steel
OAL 8", Blade 4" (HRC 58~59)
Leather pouch sheath
Lifetime guarantee

[mossberg]

Did someone hit the knife in the picture on the rock? It looks like there is a chip in the blade.

[hso]

Piece of moss over the edge is all.

[Mandirigma]

Is this in addition to that GB I pm'd you about a few weeks ago? or is this the final result of the "Pikuni" the hunter was looking for?

[JShirley]

Those are good lookin' knives...

[Brian Williams]

Dang it my keyboard is just about ruined, they are nice, I like the thinner ones. Like the one on the bottom left.

[ArfinGreebly]

How thick is the handle portion?

I have a knuckle that compromises my grip, and wider (thicker) is better.

[auschip]

The price will depend upon how many folks are in.

$175-$125 depending upon the number of participants.

Sheaths are included.

I'm in.

[hso]

Ok, that's 2 who recognize the value of these.

Anyone that wants in on the buy just post here. When I get back from Kuwait on the 26th I'll notify everyone by PM what we're going to do.

[CWL]

What is his name?

[Mandirigma]

Add me to that list hso. Was waiting to free up some $ and I have.

[hso]

Fuad's website is at http://acremetalworks.com/testhome.html. The pictures there just don't do justice to his knives. He's one of the good guys who happily and openly shares his knowledge with other makers so their work can be made easier.

We all get a kick out of the folks that are shocked when they meet Fuad for the first time because they were never expecting the strong East Tennessee accent to come from a guy with a name like Fuad Accawi (pronounced Fu-Add locally) or a blacksmith that looks like a prof. It just jars them mentally.

He works out of a tiny little outbuilding the size of a large garden shed and folks who have been brought up to Fuads place have been known to ask whoever brought them out to meet him "So where's his real shop?". We just tell them that he used to work out of an old chicken coop half the size. :evil:

[357wheelgunner]

What is that turbine above the gas tank behind the 'smith for?

[Fat_46]

Dangit Hso... You always seem to run these right after I commission another knife.

I know this sounds cheap (and probably is), but if you can get the price down towards the bottom end I'll be in.

Dangit

Just once I wish you'd have a group buy on something so hideously ugly and disproportionate that I could pass it by...

Now to figure out a way for the Mrs. to not find out, else I would be a modern testament to the efficacy of "Death of 1000 Cuts" :evil:

[CWL]

What is that turbine above the gas tank behind the 'smith for?

I reckon that's the blower for the forge assembly.

[hso]

Ding, Ding, Ding! CWL got it right in one.

Most gas forges have squirrel cage blowers to feed air to the forge. Think of it as supercharging to get the temps you want.

Fuad can forge in a gas forge, coal tuyere or a charcoal dirt forge (just once for fun).

As to price, if we get enough orders the price gets closer to $125. I have to have 12 orders to get there. We're a third of the way there.

Just once I wish you'd have a group buy on something so hideously ugly and disproportionate that I could pass it by...

I'll work on that next time, Fat_46. ;) BTW, do what one of the other guys is thinking about. Get one for her also.:evil:

[Leadhead]

Looks nice, can we get different shaped blades or do they all have to have be the same?

[RLsnow]

if i could get one to norway, id be so in! :D

[Funderb]

blower-
Squirrel cage!!

my favorite description.

[hso]

RLS,

I've shipped knives to Finland and Sweden before so I can't imagine that it would be a challenge to ship one to Norway.

Leadhead,

If it is one of the blade profiles in the image I don't see any reason not to. I will be your responsibility to keep reminding me which one it is when it comes time to send them out, though.

[RLsnow]

well that is very nice news :D if we could work something out then im in :D

i do have the money ;)


EDIT: ah damn, theres the whole method of payment thing, gah....well see i guess


EDIT2: Does anyone think it would be uncomfortable to hold and use? looks a little like it from the pictures, but i dont really know anything xD

[Al Thompson]

I'm in. Let me know ASAP and I'll get a check in the mail to you. Mail seems to be a 7 day process from here. I'd probably want to wrap that handle with 550 cord - at least to try.

[MASTEROFMALICE]

I was thinking 550 cord, too.

If the price is good I'll go for a fighter, myself. If the price goes really low I'll get two.

[22-rimfire]

HSO I think I'll give one of these a try. Any idea on how long it will take to build these blades? Let me know the price when the dust settles.

Do we have a choice on blade length?

[hso]

Fuad's customers love them just as they are and he uses one as his shop knife. I've handled, but not played extensively with, one and found it to be quite comfortable in the hand, but I like flat knives anyway (and have little monkey paws).

I'm not going to ask Fuad to start on them until I have at least 10 folks ready to commit. Right now we may have that many. If you would please send a PM to me so I can get a hard commitment (and detail any options/questions) I can ask Fuad to get started as soon as he's got time.

If we're lucky he could have all of them done in under 60 days and I could start sending them out then. If we're really lucky it could be sooner, but I won't be back from Kuwait until after the 26th so don't expect anything to get sent out until May at the "gee that was quick"-earliest.

If you want a longer blade I'll have to check how much more it's going to cost. These are not water jet cut to profile by the dozens. A bar of 5160 goes in the forge and when hot enough is pulled out and the blade shape is hammered in. Rectangle to nearly 90% finished by heat and beat (repeat).

I will ask Fuad if he has a version in a longer blade and how much it costs. He may not since it will change the balance on the knife, but he might just have one we haven't talked about.

Guys, Fuad normally sells these for $175 so please remember that I'm setting this up as another "let's do something cool for the THR NFW crowd" and just looking to make expenses, so I'm not going to be working with a lot of options. We have enough people where I know we can push the price of the knife down below $150. I'll pay Fuad for half the price and then the balance upon delivery and acceptance inspection/approval. Shipping will be extra.

As far as payment is concerned, I don't like using PayPal, but will resort to them. Everything will be shipped priority USPS unless you need a different method of delivery (Al, I will not come to Baghdad to hand deliver yours even if I am going to be in the same time zone. ;) Same for MatthewVanitas. :neener:). Once we have everything well established on count and size and shape I'll let ya'll know where we are on the price. I expect we'll be able to get close to $125 per knife.

I like Fuad and his knives and wouldn't be setting this up if he wasn't one of the good guys doing really good work at a great price.

[RLsnow]

PM sent for hso

[Leadhead]

HSO, thanks for putting this together!
I'm in for one like this....
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/Candown/AcreMetalworks1.jpg


And I couldn't help but notice this fine looking dagger when I was checking out the AcreMetalworks web page....I might have to buck up for two knives if it's available as well!:)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/Candown/carrydagger_003.jpg

[hso]

Fuad is actually going to build these for us so if you're willing to pay for changes from the basic pattern discussed there's no reason that he wouldn't build it.

Remember, the price we've discussed is for the knife in the original post. Any changes may cost more, but I'll ask Fuad what he needs for whatever you guys want.

Once again, for those of you that haven't participated in group buys here or who have never bought a custom knife before, be patient. This isn't an instant gratification process. I wouldn't expect to see a knife within 60 days.

[lookshigh123]

I like it...But i don't have the money...

[hso]

Oh, yeah! I forgot to mention that I have another blade to offer.

If anyone wants to pony up $13,000 for a custom Tachi let me know. ;)

[Leadhead]

Do you take cheques? :D

[waterhouse]

I'm in, I sent you a PM hso.

[JShirley]

Incidentally, a knife like this is close to what I believe an ideal soldier's knife should be.

[RLsnow]

Can you expand on that JS? :D

[hso]

Leadhead,

Sure, just gotta clear first (and it has to be US dollars instead of Canadian [depending upon exchange rate]).:evil:

[JShirley]

RL,

A knife for most service folk should be light, strong, fairly short, and have a guard and a lanyard hole. You will notice that Al Thompson, currently serving in Iraq, wants one of these (if it's okay with folk, I suggest hso send him the first one we get).

There is NO need in this day and age to carry a so-called "fighting knife" that has an 8" blade*1. Service members in combat carry a ton of gear- here's a picture of me, lightly loaded*2, just before a mission in January 2007 (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/352886326_669d07b098_b.jpg). A big knife would get in the way and slow me down, especially if I had to quickly bail out of my cupola or jump out to assist a teammate.

A service knife's mission is to cut things, possibly in a great hurry. It should be quick to access and use. If it has a 4" blade, it can also be stored in barracks for soldiers in the US, instead of having to be locked up in the arms room. And having a reasonably sized knife means it can be carried (and used) even when you're not "geared up" without looking like a total whackadoo. Here's (http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v45/216/117/69403225/n69403225_30214900_3581.jpg) a picture of a similarly-sized belt knife. As you can see, it's barely noticeable under the ACU blouse, certainly not Rambo material. Here (http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v45/216/117/69403225/n69403225_30214902_3289.jpg)is a picture of the same knife with the end of the sheath tucked into my pants pocket.

*1 There are a few exceptions. Mortarmen are issued a machete per squad because they might need to clear brush for laying and sighting in their aiming poles. I received permission to carry a lightweight kukuri for this purpose, instead of an e-tool when I was with 1-5 INF. Air assault always kept several machetes tied to ropes, in case someone needed to be instantly cut away to protect them or the aircraft.


*2 Which I could get away with because ODA makes a habit of bringing more gear to the fight than you would think you might need. I "only" was carrying 7 mags of my own, but my primary weapon for this mission was a M2 .50 BMG machine gun, with a backup/close range M249 SAW! And we had ammo cans full of additional M16 mags for my M4 backup's backup, plus additional personal and squad weaponry in the vehicle.

John

[RLsnow]

That makes great sense,thank you very much :D

(You do look quite bulky with all that gear :O

do you wear some sort of special underwear to take care of all the sweat? i do when im out on hikes and such, kinda takes the sweat off your body and away from it=

[JShirley]

No problem. I've posted pictures in the past of a knife a friend custom made for me, that I used during several missions.

The Army recently (3 years?) went to a different type of t-shirt that wicks away moisture better. Some service members also wear Under Armor or similar gear, but the Marines ordered their troops not to wear this because it could melt to flesh during IED strikes.

John

[Leadhead]

JShirley, you should try Merino wool products for underlayers.
It's very comfortable and made from natural fibre so it shouldn't melt like poly.
It drys fast and is comfortable when wet and even after days in the bush it doesn't stink!!

[CWL]

Danggit! You can count me in for a knife HSO, I was hoping to stay away from buying knives for a while, but Fuad's designs and grinds are so clean...I'll buy one!

[hso]

Leadhead,

My boot socks are merino and they work just like you describe.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Man I like that knife a lot, and I'm sure it's well worth it, but it's just too rich for my blood right now - sorry.

[hso]

Ok,

Fuad says that he'll do the tanto and drop point without any extra charge for us.

All he asks is that everyone use the knives and post reviews with pictures or vid.

He also said he'd mail Al's to him as soon as he got the sheath made up.

:D

Remember to send a PM to me in addition to posting here so that I can give him the particulars of what you want.

[JShirley]

Are you describing the double-edged knife as a tanto?

Those are sweet knives. I like the drop point, myself.

[Leadhead]

There is a tanto in the group photo it's just hard to see in the smaller photo but it's the second one down on the right side.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/Candown/FebruaryKnives_021.jpg

[JShirley]

Ah. Thanks. :)

[Navy joe]

No money for knives but I'd die for some close up pictures of his forge set-up.

[alaskanativeson]

What are the marks on the top of the blade? Are they cuts in the steel? If so, are they necessary? I'd probably want to make some walrus tusk scales for this and having the openings would be a problem.

That said, I'd like to get one. Are all the different blade shapes available? I really like the drop point on the top left, if it came in a 5" blade I'd be really happy. I'll take a 4" if not. Being up in the lost frozenpaypal is certainly much easier for me, I'd be willing to send extra to cover their transaction charge.

[hso]

Fuad said he'd make any of the blades in the group photo available for the same price.

I'll ask the price on 5" standards and drop points as well as the price on the dagger and post back when I get back from working in Kuwait at the end of the month.

[Smokey Joe]

Hso--I owe a couple of people a big "thank you," so I'm in for 2 knives. Would like the model @ the bottom left in the "group photo," the one with the straight or slightly upswept tip.

How are these usually sent--USPS, Fedex, what?

PM sent.

ETA--Well, it's RTFM time! Just read Hso's post #29 above, carefully. USPS Priority it is. That'll be just fine.

[22-rimfire]

HSO, so how many knives are requested at this time? It is hard to get a total. Just curious.

[hso]

Folks,

I have a correction on the information on Fuad's knives.

I made a mistake in the info about how Fuad produces these. He hand grinds them instead of forging then grinding.

All the other info is unchanged (tool steel, softer back/body than edge, hand made (not water jet cut), sole authorship)

Any single edged 4" pattern on the image is the same price.

I'll let you know about larger/dagger prices.

Sorry about my error on the forging.

Let me know if it makes a difference to you that these are hand ground instead of forged.

HSO

[hso]

Fuad says he can provide the dagger for $150. That's a ridiculously good deal considering it is twice the grinding and 3 times the work.
http://acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/carrydagger_003-249x187.jpg

$160 for the 5 inch version of the AUK in heavier steel. He says he wasn't thinking about a 5 inch version, but now he's excited about it because he has fully visualized it.

$125 for any of the knives pictured here -

http://acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/FebruaryKnives_021-250x187.jpg

Delivery should be some time towards the end of June (and that's with him getting ready for his Journeyman Smith test at Blade this month) .

Shipping will be FedEx or USPS Priority. I'll add that to the knife price and let you know what it will be.

I'll ask for payment when I get the knives from Fuad.

BTW, if he does pass his Journeyman test these will be the first knives after that!

[CWL]

I'd like to change my commitment to 2 knives:

1. Spearpoint knife (top blade in left of group photo); and
2. double edged dagger.

[Fat_46]

HSO - I'll take one like the one on the top right for my commited order

[Otony]

I'm in. I would like the top one in the photo Leadhead showed in post #31.

PM on the way.

[Leadhead]

Thanks again hso!
I'm in for the two knives pictured in post #31( Dagger and the Drop point)
I might be interested in upgrading the drop point to a 5 inch though....what is the "heavier" steel you mention above?
1/4 inch is allready pretty thick.
Do you have any measurements for the dagger as well?

Cheers, Charley

[lovegbt]

Very beautiful of

[hso]

Fuad said he might go 5/8ths on the 5 inch. He's not sure yet since he hasn't made one. He's going to proto a couple to see if they match his mental image and so he can work out the balance.

The dagger is of the same stock as the single edge knives.

[Leadhead]

How long is the dagger?
It looks a little longer then the 4 incher's in the picture...

[alaskanativeson]

I'm in for a 5 inch of the drop point model shown in post #31. If possible, have him leave off the small cuts in the knife near the hilt area.

[Maelstrom]

Is this still going through? If so, when?

[phoglund]

I'm also very interested in this if it is still in the works. The dagger looks like a sweet piece of work and would be a great first non-factory knife for me. Please let us know if this buy is still open!

[hso]

Yes, we're still going through with the group buy. I've just been slammed after Blade with work and work and work and...:banghead:

As I expected Fuad was awarded his Journeyman Smith status by the American Bladesmith Society at the Blade Show. In addition, out of all the other bladesmiths standing for their JS this year, he won the Peck Award. The George Peck Award is presented annually to the best knife submitted by an applicant for the ABS Journeyman Smith Rating, as determined by the ABS review panel. :D

********************************************

Fuad has thrown a little curve into the game. The questions about a 5" version of the AUK led him to dive into the shop after the Blade Show and grind it. He now has a 5" 53/8s thick version of the AUK he calls the Durendal version. It comes in a slightly different sheath that he hand bones to fit. Our price for Durendals is $225.
http://www.acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/AUKDurendall_002-271x137.jpg

So, Anyone that wants in on the hand ground, differentially heat treated AUKs (http://www.acremetalworks.com/AUK.html) we'll treat this week as last call and close the "orders" by this Saturday night (that should give folks plenty of time). If you want to change from a 4" 1/43/8" AUK to the 5" 5/83/8" Durendal, please sing out.

$125 for any of the 4" 1/4" stock knives pictured here -
http://acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/FebruaryKnives_021-250x187.jpg

The dagger for $150.
http://acremetalworks.com/sitebuilder/images/carrydagger_003-249x187.jpg

None of these will have the JS stamp on them. Fuad says he doesn't plan on using the JS stamp and wouldn't use it on anything he didn't hand forge.

I ask that everyone send a final commit for knives by Sunday morning because I'm getting together with Fuad then and he wants to get started on these. Please send a PM with your shipping address as well (even if you've already done it;)).

Thanks.

NOTE: all the knives are 3/8ths not 1/4 or 5/8ths stock. Sorry for the confusion.

[alaskanativeson]

I'll commit to the 4" version of the drop point on the top left.

[phoglund]

PM Sent. Thanks!

[Leadhead]

Is the Durendal dagger $225 as well?

[hso]

Sorry for any confusion, but the dagger is not the Durendal. The dagger is just a dagger version of the standard 4" blade AUK.

[Leadhead]

No confusion hso,
I was just wondering if Faud could give us a price for a 5 inch dagger made from "Durandal" stock?

[Leadhead]

PM sent....

[hso]

I just heard from Al in Baghdad and he says his AUK is performing well and has asked if he can get a couple more. So we've got two more of the standard 4" AUKs added to the buy.

[Leadhead]

HSO, another question for ya buddy:)
I don't think the sheath color was ever discussed and on Faud's pictures they seem to come in Black or Natural....
Do we have a choice? I'd like natural for my order......should I resend that info via PM?
Cheers, Charley


Edited June 18th,

Well I sent you the PM anyways a couple days ago....hopefully all is well.

[hso]

Fuad tells me that he's started on the knives and the standard AUKs and drop points will be the first to be finished (#1 and #3 models at http://acremetalworks.com/AUK.html). He'll start on the others as soon as that batch is done.

I'll know more about when they'll start being shipped soon.

If no on minds I'm going to ship the first 2 #1 AUKs from the batch to Al Thompson in Baghdad since he has requested 2 more like his for guys there.

For anyone interested the sheaths will be natural.

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=80838&d=1215056726

[phoglund]

I'd be a bit upset if the guys in Iraq didn't get priority.

[hso]

That was Fuad's opinion also.

[hso]

I thought I should update you on the progress on the knives.

I'll be picking up 9 of the knives this weekend. :D

The following are what Fuad expects to have finished with sheaths completed.

3 standard AUKs
4 drop point AUKs
1 magnum AUK
1 AUK dagger.

2 of the 3 standard AUKs will go out to Baghdad next Monday for Al Thompson's guys.

Fuad did make a Durendal Dagger and said that he's very happy with it. He'll put it on his website, but if anyone from the group wants it they can email him and he'll discount it for you.

I'll PM folks for money as soon as I have these. Fuad will start on the rest of the knives after this batch.

[Al Thompson]

:) :cool:

[hso]

Here's the photo from Fuad's site of our first batch of knives (plus the Durendal Dagger in 5" he did). They all have his new logo that he'll use only during the period he has his Journyman Smith period. Since he can try for his Master Smith in two years I imagine this logo will be used for the shortest part of his career.:D
Al get's the first 2 Standards shipped out tomorrow to Baghdad.
I'll go down the list and contact everyone else about sending funds.

http://acremetalworks.com/images/100_0993.jpg

Anyone that wants the 5" Durendal Dagger gets a discount if you want it. Fuad has it on his site for $375. :cool:

[Smokey Joe]

Are right pretty, Hso! Thx for posting. Nice work, Fuad! I'm salivating.

[22-rimfire]

Thanks for the update. I have been wondering what the production status was. PM me when you need the $ mailed out.

[hso]

Payments received for 4 more knives.:cool:

They'll go out tomorrow.:D

That will make 6.

Send PMs if you've sent payment and not gotten a PM from me.

Send PMs to remind me what you're getting (and please put it in with your payment so my old addled brain doesn't have to work too hard to keep track of things). ;)

[usp_fan]

Just received my knife in the mail today. I'm planning to take pics and post after work.

[22-rimfire]

Got my standard AUK today also. Looks good. I will show this one around a bit. Something about it just feels right.

[usp_fan]

My review and pics posted here (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=385203)

[waterhouse]

I just got back into town and my drop point AUK was here waiting for me. The knife feels fantastic in my hand (I was a little concerned about the lack of scales, but need not have been) and I'm very pleased with it.

I love the sheath as well. Perfect design for the knife, makes for a very flat total package.

[Smokey Joe]

MO sent snail-mail. Eagerly awaiting.

[hso]

Folks, this should be the end of this group buy.

I'm mailing a drop point out to a member in California I sent the wrong model to (spear) and I'm sending another drop point to another in Alaska.

That leaves a dagger, a spear point and a standard that need homes.

If you requested any of these previously, let me know and I have the dagger and standard in hand to send out. The spear point will head back east after the drop point gets to the west coast, so that may take another week or two.

Thanks for participating and being patient.