I did some more thinking on this and frankly I could have sworn it was an aspirin I took that morning. Aspirin comes in unmarked bags right? The ZT 606, while I like the form, as I look closer there is just too much going on there. All the colors and crap make the knife look cheep. A simpler color scheme and satin blade would go a long way in my mind. I have a 609 and like it very much. But my desire to own the 606 has passed. I wanted a Hinderer because I know they are well designed and well built. I like practical knives. Beauty can still be practical, but I realize there are some design elements here I don't like. Off the list. The Sebenza is by all accounts a pretty nice knife, but I realized I can get along without one. The ADV Butcher...… I do really like big choppers in theory, but the more research I did on those knives the more I realized it was breaking a tenant of knife purchases I have. It is going to be far too wide to ride comfortably in my pocket, and allow me to reach in past it to get to other items. I use my knives, so that's a no go. I may still pick one up at some point to try out, but it's just too wide when closed. The ZT0999 is an interesting piece to me and showcases some very fine metallurgy skills. I know it isn't practical in any way, but I still reserve that one and the ZT0777, as a user, as grail knives for me. I really like ZT knives and own a few. However I just ordered a Bestech…………….
Since I’m a custom Knifemaker, of course my favorite are my own. For a fixed blade, my “Stryker” has been my top blade. But I’ve worked on my interpretation of a LIGHT combat knife. ALL of my outdoor/combat/survival knives are made with CPM3V..by far my favorite steel. These are actually being heat treated now by my guy. I’m excited about this one. For folding knives, my Benchmade Morpho32 has been my EDC for like 11 years! But I’m also working on Folders now. I should be more excited on these. Using CPM20CV SS, Titanium frame lock liner & my own laminated Carbon Fiber. But between my gun building, and fixed blades...kinda slow going on these
Dave, Those are some good looking knives, definitely be proud of them! Post pics when you get the fixed blade and folder done. What kind of scales are you planning on using for the fixed blade?
Valkman My choice for a grail knife as well. Based on my current financial situation this is about as close as I will ever get to owning a Loveless knife:
Had this a long time. Wore the finish off the grip and stippled it. Retired these a number of years back.... These replaced them for day to day awhile back now, and the Bradley has since been retired too.....
AG russell stinger. Could be wrong on name. But definitely a AG russell. Pops had one it was a boot dagger. Been years since ive seen it.
I think the Russel Sting was the one that really kicked off that type of knife, at least from a commercially produced standpoint. Ive had a couple over the years, and kinda wish I had the first back, even if it was a bit beat up. The Gerber Guardian seemed to show up not to much after the Sting took off, but wasnt really in the same league. If you like that knife, and dont want to pony up what the originals or even the later remakes go for, CRKT makes a version of it that wont break the bank.
Thank you partner. Yeah, I’ve been blessed by The Lord..especially since I’m disabled & do it all with one arm/hand. Been a good many years doing it now, and far as I know, I’m the only One Armed Knifemaker anywhere! The handle scales will also be the Carbon Fiber I laminate myself.
I had one of those back in the early 80's. A handy little knife to tuck away while traveling around. Sadly, mine got left behind in Chile...
Shanghai Use to carry mine as a boot knife and it really was very comfortable to have it that way. I also had the set of velcro straps that allowed you to carry it a bunch of different ways.
Many / Several years ago I went is search of 'The One Knife'.. This would be the best knife I could have the the proverbial 'one knife' scenario. It had to meet specifications similar to Dave Canterbury's for bushcrafting as well as being a competant fighter. I am also partial to a drop point design. In the end I chose the Harsey Difensa by Spartan Blades based on design, materials and workmanship: https://spartanbladesusa.com/shop-all/spartan-harsey-difensa/
I have never really been a knife guy. Then I met my bestfriend. He talked me into my first $80 blade. It was a Ken Onion Leek. I lost it at some point. I shelled out $100 on a BenchMade don't remember the model but I stupidly used it to stick a target to a hay bale and the first round my father in law sent down range found my knife (totally one of those Murphy visits) he didn't do it on purpose. After that I picked up a really sweet Dalton warhawk. That got lost in a move. I had a Wilson Combat A5 fighter ( most expensive blade I've ever purchased) but times got tight and it had to go. The lesson I learned from all that... I am not a knife guy. I have a Kbar TDI, the replacement Bayoney/fighting knife (USMC), a K Bar, and my everyday in my pocket knife is a S O G Trident. My grail knife would be the Trident. I have literally took out and installed a kitchen sink with it. Love that knife. What I want to get is a Gerber first issue ( I'm sorry I can't remember what it was called) fairbane or Applegate dagger/fighting knife. My apologies to you knife guys if none of that is clear.
Original Gerber MKII's are quite collectible these days and priced accordingly. Dont waste your money on the current versions, they are nothing like the early knives. If you're looking for an F&S/Brit Commando, check out eBay. They usualy have a bunch, including current issue knives, which are pretty reasonable. The early knives are like the Gerbers, and can be quite pricey. Ive bought a number off these guys with no complaints (although their prices have gone up a bit since the last I bought)..... https://www.ebay.com/itm/MOD-MARKED...095936?hash=item2acf08f040:g:5QEAAOSwVzRaw6ba
A little almost pure copper Scythian dagger blade. I'm trying to design up an appropriate handle that won't damage the surface of the tang.
With it being Scythian, I'd suggest a horse head carved bone or antler handle socketed to it with traditional pitch and hair "glue".
Nope. I'm saving my last big chunk of mammoth ivory for something else. Most of the rest of my mammoth ivory pieces are no larger than a 1911 grip. I'm more likely to use a chunk of century-old oak T&G flooring from rebuilding my library's children's department.