Wendell Carson

[El Lobo]

I have a few knives from Wendell Carson, who hafts components from Queen and Olbertz (maybe others?) into pretty nice knives, mostly with fairly "exotic" handle covers. They are usually marked "Fightin Bull"...but not always.

I got my first one a few years ago, and I have one he did in 1981. Wendell wrote some articles for Knife World back then as well. In my communications with him, he has always been quite prompt and helpful, something I happen to respect.

Anyway, here is my newest piece...a Reverse Peanut Trapper, in bark Mammoth ivory. I KNOW some of you folks have some of Wendell's work (Phil, Jim, others?)...let's see some more.

Bill

[sunburst]

Bill,

Nice peanut, I believe Wendell has the "barkiest" Mammoth I have seen on knives

You don't know it but your post on Wendell Carson a while back inspired me to check out his custom work and purchase a couple of his knives , thanks. When I bought his knives you would have thought I was the only one to ever have purchased one of this customs, he is first class...

What exactly is a reverse peanut??

Here are my two Muskrat Trappers in Seacow bone & Bark Mammoth (I believe the frames look a whole like a Schatt & Morgan Swayback Trapper)

Thanks,

Sunburst

[jonet143]

you know, i should have had a bib on before looking at these!

johnnie

[LC]

El Lobo and sunburst some awesome knives guys

[El Lobo]

Thanks guys.

Sunburst, those are beauties, and look familiar from another thread somewhere out in cyberspace...
Here is a Peanut to compare...the frames are basically reversed, with the serpentine finishing down on the Reverse Peanut, rather than up, at the rear of the handle.

Any more?

Bill

[El Lobo]

Hey sunburst,

I got to thinking about your question (re: "Reverse" Peanut).....and maybe we should just call it a "Short Dogleg".....kinda like describing a golf hole.

Later my man,

Bill

[Hukk]

Wendell does some excellent work and is a really nice guy to work with. I have a few and I just sent my son a Sea Cow Bone handled knife, I guess I'll be sending him another here shortly. The are all the Wendell Carson Muskrat Trapper model. I like these, a nice well sized handle that is comfortable to hold and at 4 3/16 inches closed it is a good size knife. The handle makes all the difference in the world; I have some Bulldog 4 1/8 inch Trappers and I don't use them but prefer a 3 7/8 inch Bulldog. The handle size and shape is what makes this Fightin' Bull an excellent knife to use as well as to collect. The light colored without the shield Sea Cow dates back to 2001, it's a recent addition also. Nice work Wendell!

[El Lobo]

Very nice...

Bill

[sunburst]

Fantastic looking knives Hukk, it sure is hard to go wrong with Wendell Carsons customs...So are the first three knives seacow bone and then bark mammoth & Ivory???

Thanks for sharing..

Sunburst

[Hukk]

Fantastic looking knives Hukk, it sure is hard to go wrong with Wendell Carsons customs...So are the first three knives seacow bone and then bark mammoth & Ivory???

Thanks for sharing..

Sunburst

That's correct. The top one, first picture is a natural from 2001. Then a red dyed Sea Cow bone and a brown dyed Sea Cow bone. The next picture is a Bark Mammoth Ivory and finally, the last is an interior mammoth ivory. One knie is from 2001, the rest are made in 2006. The ivory knives have nice file work, like the ones posted previously. The Sea Cow Bone knives have no file work. I really like Wendell's knives.

[El Lobo]

Hey Hukk,

Don't you have another Wendell Carson?

Bill

[Hukk]

Here are three of Wendell Carson's Fightin' Bull Doctor's Knives. My favorite is the Black Lip Pearl, those scales are loaded with color that my camera did a poor job of picking up. I really don't think you can go wrong with Wendell's knives. The Black Lip Pearl had a reserve on it, so I just threw out a big $$$ number to make sure I got past the reserve. OOOPS! Unfortunately, someone else did the same thing with about 3 seconds left, they sniped about $5.00 under my bid. Wendell saw that and gave me free Next Day express shipping for 3 knives that I had won. Not only is he an excellent knife maker, but he is a really decent guy to work with.
In order they are, Black Lip Pearl, File worked with Interior Mammoth Ivory, and finally Bark Mammoth Ivory. You really can't go wrong with any of his knives.

[El Lobo]

Those are very nice...thanks for sharing them with us.

Here is a Parker Edwards Copperhead that I believe Wendell repaired and rehandled. His picture, as I've been to lazy to take my own.

Bill

[Hukk]

Hey Hukk,

Don't you have another Wendell Carson?

Bill

I think know exactly which knife you are referring to, I wonder where I got that one . It is my favorite Trapper by Far. That would be the one with the Whale Baleen Handles, it now has a sibling, another trapper I picked up. The Whale baleen is still my favorite, more so than even the abalone scale trappers I have. I guess because it is so unusual. Thanks Bill! Please excuse the reflections on the blades. I guess I'll have to post some Carson Muskrats one day.

[Hukk]

Those are very nice...thanks for sharing them with us.

Here is a Parker Edwards Copperhead that I believe Wendell repaired and rehandled. His picture, as I've been to lazy to take my own.

Bill

Nicely done Copperhead, another pattern I have taken a liking to I would really like to see him do some knives in Tiger Coral, he has done them in the past.

[El Lobo]

Did someone say "Carson Muskrat" ??? In smoked Pearl???

Bill

[Hukk]

Very Nice! As I was saying, you just can't go wrong with Wendell's knives! Thanks for sharing! Good thing I have spare keyboards.

[Hukk]

Muskrats, Wendell does a very nice job on this pattern. Here are 3. From top to bottom, we have Bark Mammoth Ivory, Sambar Stag (yes, SAMBAR ), and last but not least a Sea Cow bone. I really enjoy his knives.