So, being retired, my job is playing in the shop while smoking my pipes. I know, it's tough, but I earned it.
Anyway, my focus for each day is to make things that "speak to me" as they say. Well they must say that somewhere. What makes something special for me is that it's an item that is extremely beautiful, made of the finest materials (which are sometimes things that I find along a beach or a dusty back road) but above all is ideally suited to it's intended purpose. And if a little humor or playfullness exists within the theme or the design...all the better.
With that as a set-up, I think it would be cool for others (as well as myself) to post a photo or two of their favorite projects from the past year...their own of course...with a little description of course, just to remind us of any specifics re: materials, application, etc. And most important, what it is about it that is special to you...WHY is it your favorite?
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I'll start the ball rolling with a couple of shots of two knives. Both knives are designed for whittling or carving. One has an EnZo O1 Blade from Finland with a carved Extreme Curely Birch handle...bolster and spacers of nickel silver and ivory paper micarta. It's a handfull and capable of some heavy work, but the blade is very fine and holds an extremely sharp edge. The butt forms a stylized seal head with sterling silver eyes and nostrils. The other employs another Finnish blade...made by Rosseli and from their propriatary Ultra High Carbon line. It will take a scary sharp edge and hold it seemingy all day. The handle is a fine piece of Snakewood with bolster, buttcap and spacers from brass and black paper micarta. Notice that the neck of the handle is very narrow...ideal for holding with thumb, index and middle finger...doing the kind of fine work that the blade is capable of...but with a long and heavy butt that also allows a full grip for extreme leverage.
These two knives represent the essence of what a fine knife should be (to me)...form following function...incredible materials directed toward a specific task...great beauty in balance and theme...excellence in the craft of fabricating them...to the best of MY level of ability at least.
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Okay - now it's somebody else's turn.
Anyway, my focus for each day is to make things that "speak to me" as they say. Well they must say that somewhere. What makes something special for me is that it's an item that is extremely beautiful, made of the finest materials (which are sometimes things that I find along a beach or a dusty back road) but above all is ideally suited to it's intended purpose. And if a little humor or playfullness exists within the theme or the design...all the better.
With that as a set-up, I think it would be cool for others (as well as myself) to post a photo or two of their favorite projects from the past year...their own of course...with a little description of course, just to remind us of any specifics re: materials, application, etc. And most important, what it is about it that is special to you...WHY is it your favorite?
______________________________________
I'll start the ball rolling with a couple of shots of two knives. Both knives are designed for whittling or carving. One has an EnZo O1 Blade from Finland with a carved Extreme Curely Birch handle...bolster and spacers of nickel silver and ivory paper micarta. It's a handfull and capable of some heavy work, but the blade is very fine and holds an extremely sharp edge. The butt forms a stylized seal head with sterling silver eyes and nostrils. The other employs another Finnish blade...made by Rosseli and from their propriatary Ultra High Carbon line. It will take a scary sharp edge and hold it seemingy all day. The handle is a fine piece of Snakewood with bolster, buttcap and spacers from brass and black paper micarta. Notice that the neck of the handle is very narrow...ideal for holding with thumb, index and middle finger...doing the kind of fine work that the blade is capable of...but with a long and heavy butt that also allows a full grip for extreme leverage.
These two knives represent the essence of what a fine knife should be (to me)...form following function...incredible materials directed toward a specific task...great beauty in balance and theme...excellence in the craft of fabricating them...to the best of MY level of ability at least.
________________________________________________________
Okay - now it's somebody else's turn.
