Let's Talk Knives

Maybe Ray is foreshadowing that he's going to make a knife out of coins?

 

Coins have been used! Canadian dollar hides the fastener on the end of the elk antler, here…
https://rtknives.com/?product=knife-14

 

Gorgeous knife!

 

Just a reminder that if you have a carbon steel Damascus blade and your pattern is losing its vibrancy, you can easily refresh the pattern. I did this one, yesterday..

 

Couple Spydercos!

 

One of these days you’re gonna have to post a picture of your entire collection!

 

I like my spyderco!

 

Ray. I know you would dig this knife and the knife maker. A 9" fixed blade and fixture in my backpack. https://goughcustom.com/

 

Those are awesome knives.
Part of me wishes I had pursued a different career path. If I had stayed with knives from when I did my first Damascus blade back in the ‘70’s, I might be bigger than benchmade and famous, lol

 

We are all more fortunate that your life has led to where you are today. You are making functional art and effing gorgeous knives. Chapeau!

 

Looks like tourist trap items...
Probably 420 SS, and not meant to be used as a serious knife.

 

LOL...wow. I don't know anything about them but the American Mint brand seriously cracks me up. Fleecing Americans for generations...

 

Yeah, their American Eagle coins ads were in every magazine I read as a kid growing up. I think their entire business model was to grab money from the generation of Americans that survived the great depression and WWII. If the ad didn't pull on your patriotic heartstrings, it was about coins to hedge against run-away inflation. You could probably teach a 400 level college course on their marketing.

 

Silver coins really aren't worth the uplift either, but hopefully at least they'll appreciate in value as silver rises. My BIL did the same thing with a bunch of Franklin Mint coins. The ugly billets that you get at spot price are the way to go for silver as an investment. Or as shtf money, if that's part of your math.

 

Funny thing is, most of those magazines were aimed at a lot of the same demographic.

 

American Mint - Falkner Limited edition Knives
Ironically, these are knives made in China. People buy from the American Mint thinking that they are getting something American, and proudly expressing their patriotism for the USA.

Give me a break. NOWHERE ON THE American Mint website, does it confess that these knives are made in China. It talks up the product with slick marketing that you think and assume that they are made by American artisans, but no. Shame on them for being misleading.

 

Jake Hoback has recently been called to task by the knife community. His website has often stated "USA Made". Some clever knife enthusiasts noticed that some of his knives were being sourced out of China. Hoback did some double-talk and said that he never claimed that his knives were 100% USA made. Unfortunately, many of the knife retailers who sold his knives, were advertising his knives as USA made. I'm sure he will recover from this but sure made many question his voracity.

It reminds me of the controversy with Mick Strider. Strider has always had a following in military and police. His knives tend to designed around very thick blade stock, thick handles and jimping that would make a logger's hands cry for mercy. Unfortunately, he was found to have embellished his history of special forces, sniper and black ops military experience. Many have sworn off buying his knives due to suspected dishonesty.

I don't know why knife makers would try to lie about their products. If there is anything that I'm certain of is that knife enthusiasts are passionate about knives and the minutiae surrounding the make and the makers. I guess that old adage is true.... the truth shall set you free.

 

I hated hearing that stuff about Mick Strider when it went down. I've had a Buck-Strider SBMF as my edc since 2006 or 2007. It fits my hand like a glove and it's rugged as hell. A true Strider SMF is one of my grail knives.

 

Good things

 

The Woman asked me if we can get one. I told her I didn't know all the details yet. She said it doesn't matter, it's sexy. So I guess this is happening.

 

So cru!!!

 

She so is. She secretly loves this crew.

 

I have found that it’s very difficult for me to access steel suppliers that can validate my purchases are truly American made steel. I try. Small lot buyers like myself don’t have enough pull.
Funny thing is, the very best steel for a blacksmith doing forged knives are super white and super blue from Japan. Again, except very rarely, not available for a small time knife maker like myself.
Murray Carter can get it because of his long time working in Japan and the relationships he developed there. When I asked, he said he only will share with those who he mentored as apprentices. I asked about that also. He only wants $2,000 a day, lol. Thanks, but no thanks!

 

So, the real question - did you catch any fish?