Spent the morning touring a custom knife makers shop.

[jbkebert]

I have posted many times on THR some of the knives that a gentleman named Harvey King has made. The man flat out makes some of the finest knives I have ever had the pleasure to own and use.

My partner ordered two knives from Mr. King back out the outdoorsman swap meet we had back in March. The knives have been ready for a little while now but just could not meet up with Harvey to pick them up. So we called and asked Mr. King if we could drive down to his place and pick up the knives and take a little tour of his shop.

So we both played hookey from work today and went for a drive. (nice being the only two in the company). Harvey presented my friend with his new blades. Man where they nice. A beautiful stag handles peice and another with a rock called Malachite. A really cool looking green rock. Both blades where the same profile. And both a true work of art. Harvey took up around his shop from templates to marking out and cutting the tool steel. He uses mostly D2 steel but will occasionally use another steel if customer request it.

I was surprised on how basically simple his shop was. Most of his grinding is done free hand, not fancy milling machines, Granted nice things but not overally complicated. Just a craftsman that take pride in his work and a keen eye for detail. Harvey does his own heat treating, his own leather work on all sheaths. He even makes left handed sheaths and cross draws. A big plus for me being left handed.

His selection of handle materials would any craftsman drool. The woods all being stablized and some dyed for diffrent effects. I am in love with box elder. Never in my life have I seen such a beautiful wood with so many patterns and characteristics.

Before we left I selected another blade to bring home with me. And placed a order for one more and I am contimplating a 2nd custom order. Man I need some help

Anyway we spend 5 hours with Harvey and enjoyed ourselves very much. As always Harvey was a true gent and a great host. Here are a couple pic's from the shop.

Maple, Box Elder, Malachite, Iron wood


Templates



Handle materials and a blade a customer sent in to be made from good steel.



This knife is just about ready for polishing and finishing



Another request for a real knife made from a cheap one. Several changes will be made as well.



Sambar stag handels



Layouts ready to be cut from d2 barstock

 

[jbkebert]

Top layout is profile I just ordered. G-10 blaze orange handles black pins and a lanyard hole.

Two knives on the left a box elder going to the same customer. Blades a taped to protect with finishing and sanding wood.

Top side of the case middle knife. Black dyed diamond wood skinner came home with me.

Knife 2nd from far left is called the three finger. This is just like my EDC knife mine is also in Iron wood. The next three to the right are a model called the personal also one of my favorite knives.

Very bottom blade LH side with the red canvas micarta handle. Is my next knife will be ordered in the orange g10 handle to match my other hunting/game processing knives.

 

[jbkebert]

So we spent a 3/4 tank of gas, a days pay, and bought toys while there. Worth every darn penny not earned today.

If you happen to see this Harv.

Thank you

 

[Valkman]

I've only toured one maker's shop and it was Bob Loveless. I'm sure glad I got to meet him - too bad there was nothing to buy and if there was I couldn't have afforded it! I only had a few people want to see my shop when I making but I was just an amatuer, part-timer.

 

[relentlessknives.com]

by: Valkman "but I was just an amateur"

You made some really nice knives.
I appreciated your work and so did a bunch of the soldiers who received your knives as part of the MAP (Support Our Troops) program.
I was sorry to hear about your accident. We both know how dangerous it is to
hold sharp pieces of steel against super fast moving rubberized wheels and such.
I certainly understand your situation and reasons for not making anymore, but I
figure your a talented craftsman and should if your not already......look for another
place within the industry.
Just saying.....?

 

[Sam1911]

As a tinkerer with knife-making myself, I see something familiar in the second picture in post 2.

There's times when you remember to tape the edges just AFTER you should have!
:banghead:

Hope he healed quickly!

 

[Mp7]

Lol @Sam!

yeah saw that, too.

I recently twittered, that he who collects knives should
definitely have a good bandaid collection to. Don´t ask.

 

[hso]

Most knife makers do not use milling machines to make their blades, but they sure come in handy on guards and bolsters even though most makers file and grind instead.

That is nice work and the shop is remarkably tidy. Many knife makers do not keep their shops as clean and orderly. I have been in a dozen knife makers' shops and only 2 were like his. I would like to see better care taken with that respirator since he's breathing whatever collects in the face piece just hanging there.

 

[jbkebert]

These are the two knives my buddy had made. I wish the pictures would come out better. Taken with the camera I carry in my truck for jobsites. Pics by no way do justice to the beauty of these blades.


Here is the little toy I bought for myself. This one is called the small game skinner. One of his best selling designs at the National Trapper Association meetings. For good reason this thing is well rounded and scary sharp.

 

[jbkebert]

If it makes you feel any better hso I did see at least 3 or 4 other respirators in better repair around the shop. He had made a comment that some of the handle materials like the G10 and Micartas were awfully hard on the lungs if you breathed to much of that junk.

 

[hso]

JB,

The important thing is that he cleans them and puts them up in bags or boxes when not in use so junk doesn't accumulate inside the face piece.

I know makers who have had their careers cut short by not using or improperly using respiratory protection and not properly maintaining their respirators. Tragic.

 

[Readyrod]

Pics by no way do justice to the beauty of these blades.

Oh yes they do!!!!

 

[jbkebert]

A few more of Harvey's blades. Talk about a great set of camping/hunting blades.

 

[jbkebert]

My first knife I bought from Harvey. I lent it to a buddy who laid it on his truck bumper so he would remember to give it back. :banghead:

He bought me another but I sure do miss it. A small game with black ash burl handle.

I guess it is rude of me not to post his website. If anyone places a order I assure you. You will not be disappointed.
http://www.harveykingknives.com/index.htm

 

[jbkebert]

Last pic my EDC set. A 3 finger in IronWood. I use this knife for everything and I am very very abusive. I have cut shims, chamfered 2x4's, deburred copper pipe, scraped caulking of cement block, cut boxes, deburr pvc pipe, scraped gunk off of galv pipe, shingels, carpet, formica, onyx, linoleum flooring. You name a way to abuse a knife I have probably done it. I bought these knives to use not to look at. Although they sure aren't hard on the eyes. As long as you remember they are not a crowbar or a screwdriver they will last a lifetime.

 

[jbkebert]

So I changed my order since the knives had not been started yet. I got the both of the knives on order mentioned above but with box elder handles instead of the G10 orange.

The Box Elder is just to darn pretty