Gordon
Member
I guess he can put the finishing touches on this by my 66 next week! Has to open Red Stripe beer and a little more handle polish, but Gosh durn, it will really fill a niche in my utility knife need.
Stephan Fowler made me a birthday knife
- Thread starter Gordon
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bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Wow! Sending BD wishes and a little envy to you, Life is good.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Cool! Not many problems you couldn't solve with one end or the other of that blade! 
Stephan does good work.
We'll proabably set up a group buy for these when we catch our breath from the current one.
We'll proabably set up a group buy for these when we catch our breath from the current one.
OP
OP
Gordon
Member
Stephan did me one with blackwood handles and blind pins. He did a little more polishing here and there where my hand or clothes could touch.
First this is a "rough Duty" knife where it is strong and beefy as hell and only has a 600 grit finish max. It is cheaper than the usual custom Fowler forged blade is and therefore has a lesser finish but still top quality materials and fitment. You have to remember that in my review.
I received the knife this morning and it was to be a rough spring day on the ranch working with my son who was excavating and me clearing the brush. When I opened the wonderfully packaged knife I noticed the final paper wrap was damp, like a rainy Georgia day! Yes a little rust freckles were on one side of the blade. This brought a smile to my carbon steel loving face and a quick scrub with a fine 3M pad with marvel Mystery oil removed any trace. The sheath is a new design I believe and rides high enough with no movement and the snap opens easily enough when your hand grabs the fist filling smooth and contoured to the palm swell handle. I wore the knife all sweaty day and used it to cut bailing wire out of the tractor tracks and other nasty tasks. I did NOT baby this one. IT was NOT shaving sharp when I got it but this evening I worked it to 1200 grit hard Arkansas hair popping sharp. It sharpened easily and the wire and fencing I cut and things I pried a little did zero damage to it. The knife has a 3 7/8" blade and a BEER BOTTLE opener on the ass end! Doing the hot sweaty work today my son and I opened a sixer of Jamaican Red Stripe with it and it fit those tight and non domestic caps perfectly!
My criticism with the knife has NOTHING to do with Stephan's work, but rather the particular design features on my knife. IF it was a custom blade I would have changed a COUPLE items: Firstly I would have brought the attractive Brut-de-forge portion of the beefy 1/4+" thickness on the spine down in front of the handle about 3/8" wide and full thickness to be rounded off on the back end and the bottom 3/8" width before the plunge begins thus forming a vestigial integral guard. The relatively thin back bottom edge of the blade seems menacing to me if my hand slips forward with literally nothing to stop it from riding over the blade . Even tho the heavily distally tapered blade locks the hand in very well , a desperate thrust could prove painful I think. BTW the blade point centerline is masterfully dropped to the center of a thrust (which I tried on some pine trees) and the blade works OK for that . The knife WANTS to chop as it has the huge belly and lots of spine beef, but is kinda short for that duty.
Secondly my knife is a clip point kinda and the clip has a section where it reaches the top of the spine and straightens out with a beveled 3/4" section . IF that 3/4" would have been left full .287" spine width I could use the space to baton it a little easier. Not that I am a big baton guy, but this knife is BEEFY and the little extra would mean a short piece of 2x4" could be used instead of a 1" dowel without bashing your hand. The additional weight forward would improve the chopability as the knife now balances just behind the first finger when you grip it (thanks to the extreme distal taper of the tang) almost perfect and very lively but with the mod I suggest would be perfect. Mine does not have the spine jimping as shown on the other knives and I don't miss it.
I will let Stephan post pictures of mine as he made pro ones and I have not yet nor can I import the ones he took of it.
I feel as usual with Mr. Fowler's work I got more than my $ worth ($250) and Stephan ; I treated the Cordovan Leather it became almost exactly the same color as the Blackwood Ebony handle!
First this is a "rough Duty" knife where it is strong and beefy as hell and only has a 600 grit finish max. It is cheaper than the usual custom Fowler forged blade is and therefore has a lesser finish but still top quality materials and fitment. You have to remember that in my review.
I received the knife this morning and it was to be a rough spring day on the ranch working with my son who was excavating and me clearing the brush. When I opened the wonderfully packaged knife I noticed the final paper wrap was damp, like a rainy Georgia day! Yes a little rust freckles were on one side of the blade. This brought a smile to my carbon steel loving face and a quick scrub with a fine 3M pad with marvel Mystery oil removed any trace. The sheath is a new design I believe and rides high enough with no movement and the snap opens easily enough when your hand grabs the fist filling smooth and contoured to the palm swell handle. I wore the knife all sweaty day and used it to cut bailing wire out of the tractor tracks and other nasty tasks. I did NOT baby this one. IT was NOT shaving sharp when I got it but this evening I worked it to 1200 grit hard Arkansas hair popping sharp. It sharpened easily and the wire and fencing I cut and things I pried a little did zero damage to it. The knife has a 3 7/8" blade and a BEER BOTTLE opener on the ass end! Doing the hot sweaty work today my son and I opened a sixer of Jamaican Red Stripe with it and it fit those tight and non domestic caps perfectly!
My criticism with the knife has NOTHING to do with Stephan's work, but rather the particular design features on my knife. IF it was a custom blade I would have changed a COUPLE items: Firstly I would have brought the attractive Brut-de-forge portion of the beefy 1/4+" thickness on the spine down in front of the handle about 3/8" wide and full thickness to be rounded off on the back end and the bottom 3/8" width before the plunge begins thus forming a vestigial integral guard. The relatively thin back bottom edge of the blade seems menacing to me if my hand slips forward with literally nothing to stop it from riding over the blade . Even tho the heavily distally tapered blade locks the hand in very well , a desperate thrust could prove painful I think. BTW the blade point centerline is masterfully dropped to the center of a thrust (which I tried on some pine trees) and the blade works OK for that . The knife WANTS to chop as it has the huge belly and lots of spine beef, but is kinda short for that duty.
Secondly my knife is a clip point kinda and the clip has a section where it reaches the top of the spine and straightens out with a beveled 3/4" section . IF that 3/4" would have been left full .287" spine width I could use the space to baton it a little easier. Not that I am a big baton guy, but this knife is BEEFY and the little extra would mean a short piece of 2x4" could be used instead of a 1" dowel without bashing your hand. The additional weight forward would improve the chopability as the knife now balances just behind the first finger when you grip it (thanks to the extreme distal taper of the tang) almost perfect and very lively but with the mod I suggest would be perfect. Mine does not have the spine jimping as shown on the other knives and I don't miss it.
I will let Stephan post pictures of mine as he made pro ones and I have not yet nor can I import the ones he took of it.
I feel as usual with Mr. Fowler's work I got more than my $ worth ($250) and Stephan ; I treated the Cordovan Leather it became almost exactly the same color as the Blackwood Ebony handle!
StephanFowler
Member
I'm glad the knife is working well for you. I really appreciate the VERY thorough write up.
Thanks
Stephan
Thanks
Stephan
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