Rag Micarta

One of the rarest of materials to find on a knife is true Rag Micarta.  Rag Micarta, a brownish/greenish color, hasn't been made for many years but every once in a while some turns up.  i traded some Westinghouse Ivory Micarta for some Rag Micarta and with the help of a friend got some to Tony Bose to put on a knife.  Here is a brand new Wharncliffe Trapper from Tony Bose with Rag Micarta scales.

Harvey Dean "catfish" engraved by Ray Cover Jr.

This is Harvey Dean's Catfish model, this pattern is more commonly  referred to as an Elephant Toenail but Harvey likes to call it his "Catfish" model, so it is.  This knife features Harvey's ladder pattern Damascus made from 1075 and 15N20 steels and it is made as a three-bladed whittler, bolsters are stainless steel and engraved and gold inlayed by Master Engraver Ray Cover Jr.  The mammoth handles are secured with 14-karat gold pins and there is one 14-karat gold escutcheon on the presentation side of the knife with an engraved boarder, the back springs, two of them, are stippled and the third is polished to highlight the whittler pattern.  Harvey is a member of the AKI (Art Knife Invitational) group of makers.

Jody Muller Fire Fight (from the ongoing series)

Here is another masterpiece from the Fire Breathing Dragons "Fire Fight" series that Jody has been creating for me over the past 6 or 7 years, this is the most spectacular creation to date, and the first with Deep Relief carving.  This piece is sole authorship as are all of Jody's knives, he forges his own Damascus for the blade, does all the engraving and builds the knife himself.  This knife features an all stainless handle with full coverage engraving utilizing Gold, Silver and Copper inlays, the Damascus blade is forged from 1095, 15n20 and nickel and has engraving along the base, the engraving circles the back strap so that the Dragons wrap themselves around the knife.  A wonderful and unique work of art.

A very cool old dagger with a Russian flair

A very cool and unusual piece, a one of one by Rob Charlton of Damascus USA fame.  I contacted Rob to inquire about this knife, his reply; "this is a one off I moved at the NYC Show lo' those many years ago.....(I Think) he was a tattooed guy with studs in his face.....don't know what I sold it for (but I wouldn't dupe it for less then 3,500-).....as I recall it was a real project which I started with a piece of Damascus that some outfit in the land of the (former) Red terror sent me pre-1990's ....... They wanted me to promote their Steel or something. I just don't got the memory anymore. Anyway, it's a hell of an art piece & you have a legit heirloom."  This knife features a Damascus blade which is marked DAMASCUS USA and, below it, in Russian интEPмEт Pоссия which I am told translates into International Metal and below that is "one of one".  The Russian is characteristic of the Soviet era so that dates this knife to pre 1991, confirming what rob remembers about it, the guard and pommel have the look of Mokume but I cannot be certain, the overlays have filigree work and semi precious stones, the handle is most likely ebony with silver wire wrap.  The sheath is wood wrapped with leather, the throat and tip of the sheath seem to be of the same composition as the guard and pommel and also decorated with filigree and semi precious stones..........  The blade is marked DAMASCUS USA and, below it, in Russian интEPмEт Pоссия which I am told translates into International Metal and below that is "one of one".  The Russian is characteristic of the Soviet era so that dates this knife to pre 1991. OAL is 16 3/4'.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.

GTC (Gus Cecchini) Knives

I have long been a fan of the knives of Gus Cecchini who operates under the nom de plume of GTC Knives.  To me, Gus's knives bring to mind the terms sleek, modern, avant-garde, built for speed.  I suspect there is an exhibit at MOMA that is missing some items because I have them.  Here are some of the latest.

Airborne

Reduced Plasma

F-Supersonic

Charles Marlow Squail

Charles Marlow has been one of the stand out knifemakers in the tactical knife world for many years. Charles no longer takes orders so his knives are very difficult to come by.  Fortunately he has agreed to join the TKI (Tactical Knifemakers Invitational) group of makers and offer up his knives for sale via lottery at their January show.  Below are pictures of my Squail obtained after a wait of 3 years or so.  Great knife, love the "twack" when it clicks open.

I have been slacking, time to post something. Bob Loveless..........

Doesn't get much better than a Loveless when it comes to collectible knives.  When it come to Loveless knives many collectors are always on the lookout for a better example of whatever model they already have so they end up with the best example of each model.  I picked up two beauties at the Blade Show that will fit that bill for many or for someone that hasn't either a primo example.  Thought about keeping them both for myself, however, I just can't keep everything.  Who knows, they just may end up back in my collection.  Check em out.

Now the Semi Skinner is admittedly not one of my favorite blade shapes but it is one of Bob Loveless's most classic designs.  This piece has it all in my opinion; Double Nude logo, perfectly matched side to side amber stag and signed sheath.  Some people prefer long bolsters and hidden pins which is great if you plan to engrave the knife but I feel these features are purely esthetic, requested by some collectors, and most all of these examples likely done to a great extent by Merritt.  The traditional bolsters and rivets are to me more in the spirit of Bob Lovelesss and his perspective of a utilitarian knife.

The second beauty I picked up is a dagger.  I have always liked the dagger shape.  I had a couple of exceptional Loveless daggers with engraving by Dan Wilkerson.  Some of those are ones that I wish I had kept.  Anyway, this piece is exceptional and very clean with great natural stag.  Most of the Loveless knives in my person collection are natural stag, something special about it vs. the amber which I do like but again, something about the natural when there is great figuring and color as in this piece.  I expect I will keep this one or at least play with it awhile before I let it go.