[Valkman]

Well one is done anyway! :D

This is a 5 1/2" version - looks pretty good! LOL

[Valkman]

Sorry for the thumbnails, looks like Imagecave is suddenly gone from the web!

Try these - Imageshack is a pain!

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5961/browning2qz5.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9660/browning1wc5.jpg

[Highpower1]

SWEET...wow thanks for the eye candy. Very very nice!

[bikerdoc]

Keep posting pics and I might have to sell a kidney. That is some beautiful work.

[Jason_G]

Hey Valkman, nice work as usual. Do you press your own micarta? I like the gray/black combo.

Jason

[Browning]

Maybe if you get other orders from someone living in Texas (5 and 1/2 is the legal limit in TX) you could call it the...

'Texas Legal Don Llewellyn Fighter.'

'Eh, eh' (elbow shove, smiles and nods head and raises eyebrows enthusiastically).

Good idea huh? :D

[Valkman]

I tell ya, that 5 1/2" minus a "scootch" looks really nice. Maybe that should be the regular size?

Jason, no I've never tried making my own micarta. It takes patience to layer all that material, coating each piece with epoxy and then keeping air bubbles from forming. I just buy it, and now I keep running out! :)

[PTK]

Looks really nice! I'm looking forward to the knife I ordered from you. :)

[Valkman]

Cain, I got the check today and I appreciate it. Yours is with a lot of others in "Sheathmaker Land". Yours will come back pretty quick though.

I'm finally getting down to the bottom of he list and got more steel today - 154CM. What a classic. :)

Tonight I finished knives for Hookick and Trapperready, and put the handles on ones for meef and another customer. I have your names written on the blades in silver sharpie, you can request I leave it there for $10 extra. :D

[Browning]

I tell ya, that 5 1/2" minus a "scootch" looks really nice. Maybe that should be the regular size?

Ehh, I don't know. It's really hard to say.

I like the 6 inchers as well and if it's legal in their neck of the woods why not?

I like most of my blades a little handier and most of them are between 3 and 1/2 to 5 and 1/2 for a reason (it's easier to perform most common tasks with them), but the main reason I requested it at 5 and 1/2 (minus a tiny bit) was to abide by TX law.

[PTK]

Don,

Glad to hear you got the check, sorry again for the delay - medical issues prevented my going to the post office for a bit. I'm looking forward to my birthday present to myself, even if it won't be here for another little while. :)

[meef]

Tonight I finished knives for Hookick and Trapperready, and put the handles on ones for meef and another customer.::happy dance!::

:D:D:D

[TrapperReady]

Tonight I finished knives for Hookick and Trapperready


Woot! PM Sent.

[Valkman]

Well, I found out why the leather is taking so long. The sheath maker has a clot in his leg that is causing him a lot of pain. I understand having medical issues, I really do, but I'm also inquiring other places about getting sheaths done.

[Valkman]

Also, anyone now getting a knife finished can still switch to Kydex. 2 week turnaround on those, unknown for leather. I won't even send these right away as there's no point - he already has over 20 knives of mine.

[Jason_G]

no I've never tried making my own micarta. It takes patience to layer all that material, coating each piece with epoxy and then keeping air bubbles from forming.
I haven't either, but I think if you just really soak the stuff in epoxy and put it in a press, you wouldn't get any air bubbles. I think I might try it on my next one. I gotta get some more steel though.

Jason

[Valkman]

There was a guy on USN doing it and he had problems with air bubbles, so that why I said it. 20 tons seems like it would get the air out. LOL

[Valkman]

I just went out and finished meef's and the other one - here's how they looked along side TR's and Hookick's. Hookick's is Silver/Black G10:

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/4_done3.jpg

Ground down to how I like it, lanyard tubes recessed, taped for sandblasting:

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/4_done2.jpg

Done!

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/4_done.jpg

Now they get a sheath, then I clean them up, logo them and sharpen. Easy. :D

[TrapperReady]

Don - That is very cool. To be honest, I hadn't been thinking too much about it (maybe something about the patience gained from previous Randall orders*), but now that I have actually seen it, I'm stoked!

Beautiful work, sir!

* I'll be receiving a Model 14 before the end of the month. It was originally ordered in 2003.

[Valkman]

I'll be receiving a Model 14 before the end of the month. It was originally ordered in 2003.


They must have the same sheathmaker as me! They probably finished the knife 2 weeks after you ordered it! :D

[Exmasonite]

I'm finally getting down to the bottom of he list and got more steel today - 154CM.

Any chance you're gonna open this one up again?

[meef]

::drool!::

Omigosh! There it is! Right there on the screen!

It's.... it's like..... it's like seeing an ultrasound picture of your soon-to-be-born kid in the womb..... ::sigh..::

:D:D:D




(okay, I got a bit carried away....)

[Valkman]

Any chance you're gonna open this one up again?

Let me come up with another Group Buy real soon. I may limit it to Brown Micarta and Kydex sheaths so people actually get their knives! I have all the new steel cut up into 15 fighters so yea, I will need to move them in about 3 weeks. :)

[Exmasonite]

Valkman-

that is great to hear. i'll keep on the lookout. been kicking myself for not biting last time.

[Valkman]

That price may come again but not all the choices - I never should have given the choice of the green black micarta. Or maybe make the choices available at extra cost, something like that.

[Blofeld]

I keep drooling at your site, never thought I'd enter the realm of a custom knife, but I'm just about there.

Is there any way to see a close up of the Mosaic pins?

[Valkman]

I use these mostly:

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/images/MPP201_180.jpghttp://www.texasknife.com/vcom/images/MP80B_180_A.jpghttp://www.texasknife.com/vcom/images/MPP10_180_A.jpg

I never know exactly which ones I have but most of the 1/8" on the Super Camps is the first one. I like it because it reminds me of a loaded cylinder. :)

[Rupestris]

I like it because it reminds me of a loaded cylinder.


I like the way you think Don.;)

More than the style of mosaic pin I like the correct "clocking" of 'em. The style of pin doesn't really matter to me as long as they are lined up correctly. Breaks my hear to see a fine custom knife with nice mosaic pins pointed in two different directions.

I know, its something small and meaningless but I've seen some beautiful knives that looked like the maker put their soul into the blade and then rushed on the pins.

To me its part of the details and as we all know, the devil is in the details.

Chris

[Valkman]

No I try to line them up but have forgotten. You get to worrying about the epoxy drying or something and next thing the pins aren't lined up right! Argh. Knifemaking used to be simple. Like me. :)