Danzo
01-12-03, 03:19 PM
Hi folks
I have been waiting to take some decent photos of this before posting but I know Jon wants to see a full review so here goes.
I had asked Jon to make a small fixed blade for me, giving him free rein. I did ask for a thicker handle than he suggested. The end result is a 6 1/2" knife with a 2 3/4" cable damascus blade. The handle is of Masur birch (correct Jon?). The sheath is of tan leather stitched with wire.
1.The handle
The handle is beautiful. The wood has a rich pale honey colour with flecks like cream sherry dripping through the honey. The original pics don't do it justice against the background Jon used. It is very well carved, lovely and smooth and is highly polished and I think waxed. It feels waxed. Jon? Overall an excellent finish. It fits my hand nicely for both up and down grips. In the context of the whole knife I probably should have followed Jons original concept and gone for the slimmer handle which would have been aesthetically more appealing. However if I needed to use the knife as a functional tool in the field this handle would probably work better.
2. The blade
The blade is a scalpel style in cable damascus. I am not a fan of damascus but this works very well within the neo-tribal feel of the entire piece. Considering Jon made the blade himself I am hugely impressed. The finish is very nice and Jon really does know his stuff when it comes to sharpening as the blade was arm hair shaving sharp on receipt. The blade dynamics work well against the handle, allowing for a number of holds. It is very manoeverable for small tasks. I reckon that this and a machete would serve anybody well for campcraft.
3. The sheath
Of light tan leather, this is stitched with black fuse wire. The seam is melded together as well as being sewn and is of a pleasingly high quality, embossed with a 'JB' and finished well everywhere. There is no belt loop or other carry fastener, nor is there a lanyard hole. The knife has no lanyard hole either, so carry is restricted to a pocket or boot,or perhaps tucked into a sash or in your belt pouch, should you have one! This is perhaps an oversight but it doesn't detract from a piece that I bought as a collectable but it is something that Jon might like to think on for future projects.
Overall then? I would not actually buy a knife like this one for myself from a shop, but I am very pleased I did let Jon decide as I now own a very pleasing and interesting knife that I wouldn't normally buy. The seperate elements might not seem to work but together but the whole post-apocalyptic neo tribal thing is very well done.
Jon is a very talented knifemaker and I am not going to make patronising comments about his age as this knife would make most amateur hobbyists proud. If I could make something half as good I would be leaping around the room like a rabbit on speed. It is especially impressive as he made all of it himself. It has been my 'in front of the keyboard' knife since I got it, as sheathing and unsheathing it is very therapeutic, and that is despite four new Spydies and a Cold Steel Bushman!
If anybody is thinking of getting something from Jon then I would definately recommend him as a talented maker who cares about the quality of his work and makes a damn good knife.
Good job fella!
:biggthump
Danzo
I have been waiting to take some decent photos of this before posting but I know Jon wants to see a full review so here goes.
I had asked Jon to make a small fixed blade for me, giving him free rein. I did ask for a thicker handle than he suggested. The end result is a 6 1/2" knife with a 2 3/4" cable damascus blade. The handle is of Masur birch (correct Jon?). The sheath is of tan leather stitched with wire.
1.The handle
The handle is beautiful. The wood has a rich pale honey colour with flecks like cream sherry dripping through the honey. The original pics don't do it justice against the background Jon used. It is very well carved, lovely and smooth and is highly polished and I think waxed. It feels waxed. Jon? Overall an excellent finish. It fits my hand nicely for both up and down grips. In the context of the whole knife I probably should have followed Jons original concept and gone for the slimmer handle which would have been aesthetically more appealing. However if I needed to use the knife as a functional tool in the field this handle would probably work better.
2. The blade
The blade is a scalpel style in cable damascus. I am not a fan of damascus but this works very well within the neo-tribal feel of the entire piece. Considering Jon made the blade himself I am hugely impressed. The finish is very nice and Jon really does know his stuff when it comes to sharpening as the blade was arm hair shaving sharp on receipt. The blade dynamics work well against the handle, allowing for a number of holds. It is very manoeverable for small tasks. I reckon that this and a machete would serve anybody well for campcraft.
3. The sheath
Of light tan leather, this is stitched with black fuse wire. The seam is melded together as well as being sewn and is of a pleasingly high quality, embossed with a 'JB' and finished well everywhere. There is no belt loop or other carry fastener, nor is there a lanyard hole. The knife has no lanyard hole either, so carry is restricted to a pocket or boot,or perhaps tucked into a sash or in your belt pouch, should you have one! This is perhaps an oversight but it doesn't detract from a piece that I bought as a collectable but it is something that Jon might like to think on for future projects.
Overall then? I would not actually buy a knife like this one for myself from a shop, but I am very pleased I did let Jon decide as I now own a very pleasing and interesting knife that I wouldn't normally buy. The seperate elements might not seem to work but together but the whole post-apocalyptic neo tribal thing is very well done.
Jon is a very talented knifemaker and I am not going to make patronising comments about his age as this knife would make most amateur hobbyists proud. If I could make something half as good I would be leaping around the room like a rabbit on speed. It is especially impressive as he made all of it himself. It has been my 'in front of the keyboard' knife since I got it, as sheathing and unsheathing it is very therapeutic, and that is despite four new Spydies and a Cold Steel Bushman!
If anybody is thinking of getting something from Jon then I would definately recommend him as a talented maker who cares about the quality of his work and makes a damn good knife.
Good job fella!
:biggthump
Danzo