Blake Clark
09-18-2009, 03:47 PM
A friend and Co-worker of mine has a hobby. He makes knives, by hand, and In my opinion does a very good job too.
I recently commissioned a knife by him. I was looking for something heavy, daily use, and formidable weapon. I like being prepared and who knows what the future may hold.
This fella hand forges all of his knives from A52100 high tensile steel. This is the same basic material that ball bearings are made of. All his work is original, and done with very little equipment, ie, he has no milling machines, lathes, etc. Just a furnace, an anvil, a dremel, and some time.
The knife he made me has a 5 1/2 inch blade, roughly 1/4 inches wide at its guard. The gaurd and pommel are both solid brass, with small brass inlays in the handle. The overall length of the knife is 10 1/2 inches.
Needless to say, Im tickled pink with it. I just love its style, weight, solid construction, and it feels as if it was made for my hand.
He even had a custom sheath made to match.
Hope yall like.
Here is how he starts his work, in its most humble beginnings, being forged out. This is not my knife, but the one pictured at the end.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/004.jpg
This here is my knife.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00636.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00638.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00639.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00640.jpg
Here are a couple with the matching sheath.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00641.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00642.jpg
This is another knife he just finished for another guy we work with. Its also beautiful, but I am not that big a fan of the bone handle. However, the craftsmanship is outstanding.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/IMG_1538_1.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/IMG_1540_1_3.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/IMG_1546_1_8.jpg
I recently commissioned a knife by him. I was looking for something heavy, daily use, and formidable weapon. I like being prepared and who knows what the future may hold.
This fella hand forges all of his knives from A52100 high tensile steel. This is the same basic material that ball bearings are made of. All his work is original, and done with very little equipment, ie, he has no milling machines, lathes, etc. Just a furnace, an anvil, a dremel, and some time.
The knife he made me has a 5 1/2 inch blade, roughly 1/4 inches wide at its guard. The gaurd and pommel are both solid brass, with small brass inlays in the handle. The overall length of the knife is 10 1/2 inches.
Needless to say, Im tickled pink with it. I just love its style, weight, solid construction, and it feels as if it was made for my hand.
He even had a custom sheath made to match.
Hope yall like.
Here is how he starts his work, in its most humble beginnings, being forged out. This is not my knife, but the one pictured at the end.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/004.jpg
This here is my knife.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00636.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00638.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00639.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00640.jpg
Here are a couple with the matching sheath.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00641.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/DSC00642.jpg
This is another knife he just finished for another guy we work with. Its also beautiful, but I am not that big a fan of the bone handle. However, the craftsmanship is outstanding.
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/IMG_1538_1.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/IMG_1540_1_3.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/blake_clark/Knife/IMG_1546_1_8.jpg