My only custom fixed blade

[Rupe]

I didn't want to post this in "Custom Knives" since this is AAPK. Fixed Blade Knives seemed like a better place.

This is my first custom fixed blade. I ordered it at the end of '07 and got it early this year. I had taken some pics when I got it but they looked pretty bad. Since the sun is out here in SE Michigan (rare, but it happens) I thought I'd take a couple more and share with the good folks here.

Made by Mike Wilson of Hayesville, NC
Blade is just shy of 4.5" tip to handle, Chad Nichols Damascus (Carbon). 3/16" thick.
Hollow ground with secondary bevel.
Slabs are stabilized and dyed Maple burl with black spacers.
Mosaic pins (clocked perfectly) with brass thong hole.
Hand stiched 7-8 Oz leather sheath with tool work and a wood grain-ish finish.







All this and Mike had the nerve to under charge me for such an outstanding knife. I'd have gladly payed more for this one than I did.

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed.

Chris

[jonet143]

chris, that is beautiful.

[MITCH RAPP]

Very Nice Indeed! That Maple Burl is really gorgeous.

[useem]

I like it!!! And i think i even recognize the makers name. If he was making knives back in the early 90's, i think i bought a fillet knife from him for something like $60. The style and finish of the sheathe look exactly like the one i had. mine was simply engraved "WILSON" on the guard in script. But you did end up with a real beauty there

[Hukk]

That's a beauty and looks like Chad's steel and an original hand ground knife. It's not what I'm going to write about!

You need to be careful though, there is a group out of Hayesville that buy blades from 2 Fingers, Grand Levitt, Tony Metsala, and a few others. Chad has not been ginding blades very long and that is not one that he ground, I can recognize his very easily.

A lot of this is coming thorugh: http://stores.ebay.com/PremiumKnifeSupp ... esstQQtZkm who is based in Hayesville, NC. They have the Hayesville Knife Guild whose members buy supplies from Premium Knife supply and then resell them through Hayesville Knife Guild and others maintain their own stores on ebay. There are others that buy some of the cheapie blades and sell them as their own.

There are a bunch that buy blades assemble a knife and claim they did everything. Premium knife supply sells tha linerlock http://cgi.ebay.com/Knife-Blanks-Blade- ... m153.l1262 and one guy sold one as a custom he built for $635.00. It is the last knife on this auction.

I bought one of these and it's on my desk, rough as a cob movement. Rough enough that I want to take it apart and rebuild it, I can't understand why anyone would be happy with it. I haven't seen any of these guys stamp their work, just claim they did everything.

There is a whole bunch of phonies out there - be careful buying custom knives!

Once again, I'n not referring to this knife, just the name of the town rang a bell about something I've been meaning to write about.

[Rupe]

Thanks for the heads up Hukk. Thanks for the compliments everyone.

I had seen Mikes work over on Bladeforums and contacted him about putting a knife together for me. Honestly, I'm glad you guys like it since I drew up the design myself. I e-mailed Mike my design and he executed it perfectly. He had offered some knives that were very similar but I wanted a couple changes made to suit me.

Mike Wilson is outstanding when it comes to service. I'd recommend him to anyone.

[Hukk]

Yes, that is a beautiful design and knife, you both did...................EXCELLENT. No, I can see in the grind, it's not one that I'm warning about.

Very nice, I have taken quite a liking to the use of stabilized woods, some MUST BE stabilized to be usable. The wood will never shrink, discolor or try to lift away from the spine. Making knives, I'm strting to use almost nothing but some stabilized wood. Best think you can do is give a knifemaker a design and let him do his thing - don't keep calling with changes. If you call all the time many knife makers will charge you and THEY SHOULD, it's their time that gets cut into. I know I will, I've been hobbled with what feels like another torn shoulder, same symtoms as the last 2 times.

Great looking knife!

[Rustle47]

Very beautiful. The maple grain & the damascus swirl seem to blend together, to compliment each other. That is the best combination of handle & blade material I have seen yet. Good job, both of you!