Progress continues on the Port Royal Cut & Shoot

The piece is in the hands of the engraver, Brian Hochstrat.  He sent these W.I.P. (Work In Progress) pictures today.

Very anxious on this, it's going to be quite a work of art.

Bob Loveless Amber Stag Hideout

I just got this beautiful piece for my collection.  These are my pictures;

This picture is from Jim Cooper; Sharp by Coop

Updated Slideshow

I updated the Blog slideshow adding lots of pictures.  Hope you enjoy it.

A star in the making?

Perhaps.  Just prior to the NYCKS (New York Custom Knife Show) I found some information on the web about a new maker who was planning to attend the show, his first show.  I liked the knives I saw and  what he had to present on his website.  I contacted him and found that he would have some knives available and they would be sold on a first come first served basis at the show.  I kept my eye open watching for him to arrive, I was not the only one.  His table was overwhelmed once he sat down and started to set up.  He sold out immediately and I was lucky enough to obtain a knife and place an order for more.  Many others also placed orders.  Pretty impressive for a new maker.

So, who is the maker and why all the attention you ask.  Michael Raymond is the maker, his website is http://www.michaelraymondknives.com/.  Why all the attention, why Michaels knives of coarse.  What about his knives.......they are full integral folders, the handles are made from a solid piece of 6AL-4V Titanium.  Though integral folders have been made by others they have reached a new level of popularity in the work of Scott Cook who is Michael's friend and mentor.  There is a multi-year wait to get a knife from Scott and he isn't even taking orders at this time.

Michaels knives are similar though not the same as Scott's and, at least for now, they are available though I expect Michael's order list is already quite long.  Here are pictures of the knife Michael calls the Estrella.

here is the money shot.........notice the one piece handle construction

Here is the complete package; sheath, pivot tool, certificate, box

It is going to be interesting to watch Michaels progression as a knifemaker.

Port Royal Cut & Shoot

Work on the Port Royal cut & shoot continues.  Bruce Bump entered the Port Royal in judging competition at the the Boise knife show and, even thought the work is unfinished, it won awards for Best Folder and Best of Show!  The Port Royal is now in the hands of Brian Hochstrat for engraving and here are some sketches showing the direction that the engraving will take.

Brian will be taking the Port Royal to the FEGA (Firearms Engravers Guild of America) in January to show the work.  I am anxious to see this piece completed.

Killer set of SubHilt Fighters from John Young.  These are great, blades 6 1/2" 7 1/2" and 8 1/2", each with a uniquely beautiful set of Ivory handles.

The Port Royal Pirate 36 Caliber Cut & Shoot

Check out Bruce Bump's W.I.P. (work in progress) thread on the Knifedogs forum at http://KnifeDogs.com/showthread.php?18934-The-Strauss-Pirate-36-caliber as he builds a custom Cut & Shoot for me.

Ken Steigerwalt is a friend as well as being one of the best knifemakers in the business.  Ken's knives show great creativity and outstanding fit and finish.  This is the most recent knife I have gotten from Ken;

You can see some more of Ken's wonderful Art Deco Style knives on the Custom Knives Community Page on FaceBook.

Michael Quesenberry rising talent

I was having a conversation with Tim Hancock and the name of an ABS JS with whom he was working came up; Michael Quesenberry.  Tim said to watch this guy as he was a talent and would surely become a name within the knife world.  I looked at some pictures of Michaels work online and liked what I saw so I contacted him and based on our conversations I decided to commission a knife.  Here is the result;

I am quite pleased with the outcome.  Michael maintained great communication through the process.  He asked about trying some new techniques and I said go for it. Specs: 10" Damascus blade of 1084 & 15N20, three piece spacer of twist Damascus that's been grooved, a 23k gold plated nickel silver accent liners, Mammoth ivory scales with domed nickel silver pins and the frame and guard are parkerized O-1.

Master Smith Kyle Royer

Kyle Royer earned his MS (Master Smith) rating at this years Blade Show.  His order book extends about 5 years or so and for good reason.  This is my first piece from Kyle and it's a beauty.

It has a 9 1/2 inch blade and it’s forged from 1080 and 15N20 in a Tight Mosaic, four bar Twist Damascus Pattern. The handle is premium blue/cream colored Mammoth Ivory which I supplied to Kyle. The fittings are of the same damascus pattern as the blade and they have 18 karat green gold inlays. The fittings have also been gun blued. The liners are made of German Silver and have been coined with forty lines per inch. The guard is oval with coining and round grooves around its profile. Kyle made the sheath too and it has a Diamondback Rattlesnake skin overlay.

Pirate Knife......One for my collection

I like Jack Busfield's knives.  Jack is basically retired now but he made a lot of knives and whenever I find a nice one at a reasonable price I pick it up.  His knives make a great canvas for engraving.  I acquired this little Trailing Point with Apple Green Jade Inlays a couple years ago and finally got around to having it engraved.  I am quite pleased with how it came out and it will be going into my collection.