A Special Prototype
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 10:57 pm
Hey guys, got off from work a little early for a change so figured I'd take the opportunity to post this up. I was given the opportunity a couple of years ago to work with Dave Swinden on a prototype for the annual NRA Knife of the Year competition. I say competition because a number of cutlery companies (getting to be fewer every year 
) submit knives and the NRA then votes on the winner. I worked with him at the shop for a number of years, but this was the first time I actually got to work on something with him personally. It was a fantastic experience, both in learning new tricks and listening to his stories about the old days at Schrade, something I'll cherish for as long as i live. The knife was completely hand made; cut out on the bandsaw, shaped on the belts, ground on the belts, and hand finished. A true one of a kind prototype. It was actually modeled on the old Schrade D'Holder knife from the 2002-03 era, only this one had hand made guards rather than the one piece integral forging that was the D'Holder. The brass escutcheon would have been an NRA engraved medallion had it been the winner, but unfortunately they went with something else.
So...according to Wally and Dave once the NRA guys got a hold of these knives they generally kept them, so I figured that'd be the last I'd seen of it. F fast forward to a month or so ago and while doing a little browsing on Ebay I spied the knife, only it was in the completed listings! I was crushed, figuring it was gone for good. But it turns out that it didn't sell, and it was our own Redtrout who had it! I got in touch with him and in his trademark generous way he agreed to sell it to me for a fantastic price, and I am forever grateful to him. This knife has incredible sentimental value to me, and I count my lucky stars that it somehow found its way to my door. I actually still had the drawing for it, along with a tracing on brass that would have been cut out and become the pattern master.
Eric
) submit knives and the NRA then votes on the winner. I worked with him at the shop for a number of years, but this was the first time I actually got to work on something with him personally. It was a fantastic experience, both in learning new tricks and listening to his stories about the old days at Schrade, something I'll cherish for as long as i live. The knife was completely hand made; cut out on the bandsaw, shaped on the belts, ground on the belts, and hand finished. A true one of a kind prototype. It was actually modeled on the old Schrade D'Holder knife from the 2002-03 era, only this one had hand made guards rather than the one piece integral forging that was the D'Holder. The brass escutcheon would have been an NRA engraved medallion had it been the winner, but unfortunately they went with something else.So...according to Wally and Dave once the NRA guys got a hold of these knives they generally kept them, so I figured that'd be the last I'd seen of it. F fast forward to a month or so ago and while doing a little browsing on Ebay I spied the knife, only it was in the completed listings! I was crushed, figuring it was gone for good. But it turns out that it didn't sell, and it was our own Redtrout who had it! I got in touch with him and in his trademark generous way he agreed to sell it to me for a fantastic price, and I am forever grateful to him. This knife has incredible sentimental value to me, and I count my lucky stars that it somehow found its way to my door. I actually still had the drawing for it, along with a tracing on brass that would have been cut out and become the pattern master.
Eric
