Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
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MaryJayn Bigler
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
This knife has a new home... in Alabama. That's now collectors in 29 states. That's pretty cool.
Something else about this knife is that it has two blades. It's the only one that I know of that has two blades.
Something else about this knife is that it has two blades. It's the only one that I know of that has two blades.
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Reverand
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
I am looking forward to receiving it, MaryJayne. I will post more pictures when it arrives.
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
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Reverand
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
I received this knife today, and I am very happy with it!
I had thought from the original pictures that the handles were wood, but they appear to be micarta instead. It has a really nice grain pattern to it, and the knife is surprisingly lightweight.
At 3-1/2" it qualifies as a mini-trapper, so I may post it under that thread as well. The blades are very well ground with perfect nail nicks. If it were not for Mr Bigler's "signature" shape to the blades I could almost think that the blades were factory made. They are well centered, and there are no gaps in the liners.
The main has great opening snap, but no closing snap (and a bit of blade peek). The spey blade does not snap in either direction, even after some Quick Release oil. Both blades are tight with no wobble. Looking from above down into the blade well, the knife has a slight unfinished look. I am guessing that he stopped polishing on the knife when the blades wouldn't snap, but that is pure speculation. While I love to tinker around with knives, I intend to leave this one as-is and not try to change anything, but instead just enjoy Mr Biglers handywork.
I am glad to own one that is so different from his other knives. A very unique custom!
I had thought from the original pictures that the handles were wood, but they appear to be micarta instead. It has a really nice grain pattern to it, and the knife is surprisingly lightweight.
At 3-1/2" it qualifies as a mini-trapper, so I may post it under that thread as well. The blades are very well ground with perfect nail nicks. If it were not for Mr Bigler's "signature" shape to the blades I could almost think that the blades were factory made. They are well centered, and there are no gaps in the liners.
The main has great opening snap, but no closing snap (and a bit of blade peek). The spey blade does not snap in either direction, even after some Quick Release oil. Both blades are tight with no wobble. Looking from above down into the blade well, the knife has a slight unfinished look. I am guessing that he stopped polishing on the knife when the blades wouldn't snap, but that is pure speculation. While I love to tinker around with knives, I intend to leave this one as-is and not try to change anything, but instead just enjoy Mr Biglers handywork.
I am glad to own one that is so different from his other knives. A very unique custom!
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
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MaryJayn Bigler
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
I am so happy that you are pleased with the double-bladed knife. And I love your analysis of it. I really enjoy seeing Dad's work from the eyes of others. In fact, that's how I found All About Pocket Knives -- from someone's analysis of his Jay Bigler knife. I know that this knife has a wonderful new home.
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- Dan In MI
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
I have to wonder: have any gone to Michigan?MaryJayn Bigler wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 2:58 pm That's now collectors in 29 states. That's pretty cool.
I can see why. It sure is a great-looking knife!
USN 2000-2006
Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
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MaryJayn Bigler
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
There are two collectors in Michigan that have Bigler knives, Dan.
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MaryJayn Bigler
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MaryJayn Bigler
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
New in the store... I was replying to a friend about her query as to how many knives Dad had made. That is something that we will never know for sure. After Dad passed I found knives EVERYWHERE... drawers, different rooms of the house, in vehicles, his workshop, on his worktable here in the house... and of course stored in the five-drawer map chest – each drawer filled with knives – and a wooden box filled with folding knives. I was astounded when I found 22 more a few years ago after thinking that I had found them all. And then I found 98 MORE last year. That had to be all of them. Well, as it turns out, it was not. A couple of months ago I found another. This one was on the worktable, but in a container that had some of Dad's small knife-making tools. This is that knife.
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
I was JUST eye-balling this knife in your store, M.J., and now here it is again!
Very cool knife and great story about finding all your Dad's builds. I bet you find even more in time!

Very cool knife and great story about finding all your Dad's builds. I bet you find even more in time!
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MaryJayn Bigler
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
This knife has a new home... and it's staying in the family... the new owner said of the knife: "The knife [is] awesome... I don’t know if I ever felt a knife so sharp. It’s a really really nice knife."
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MaryJayn Bigler
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MaryJayn Bigler
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MaryJayn Bigler
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MaryJayn Bigler
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
Knives that have new homes...
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MaryJayn Bigler
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MaryJayn Bigler
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doglegg
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MaryJayn Bigler
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MaryJayn Bigler
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doglegg
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- Madmarco
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MaryJayn Bigler
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Re: Jay Bigler: His pocket knives
Thank you, guys!