A few months back my Dad, at age 68 informed me that he was planning to fully retire next summer, then in July he announced that he�d decided to hang it up the end of this September. I had booked a Namibian hunt in spring �06 for us based on his original date so wanted something to fill the loooong gap between now and then. Since his retirement plans involve lots of beating around on his property, small game hunting and fishing I thought a small fixed blade knife would be perfect. Without spilling the beans I lured him into playing around with a pile of my knives and getting his comments on what he might like. I then got hold of Gene, told him the situation and asked if he could do something along the lines of a #4 with a lengthened S30V blade in a burl wood and meet a tight deadline for a retirement party. This showed up in short order:
#4 blade lengthened to 2-7/8� in S30V with a caper-esque handle in maple burl. I don�t own a digital camera and borrowed one essentially to make this post so I�m really bummed at how poorly the photo turned out, as it doesn�t come close to doing the knife justice�
Another equally poor shot for size comparo purposes.
Top to bottom - #4 in D2 with Cocobola / the knife above / S30V �custom� based on a #5 with jigged bone handles and black liners / #7 in D2 with matte beaded burgundy micarta / #20 in D2 with Cocobola.
I�ve had the Coco pair a year or so now � got them not long before I found the Campfire - and as can be seen they�ve been well used. Actually looking at this picture I realize my 11 year old boy has confiscated the #4, Dad has his and I gave the #7 to a pard�looks like I need to place an order!
That is very sharp and the pun were intended.................
Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
You'd be in the ten ring with that assumption. We shot sporting clays the other day and I think he wore it just so he could gab to anyone who noticed it that I had it made for him.
John, Like most makers Gene's prices will vary from piece-to-piece based on the type/grade of materials desired. The 5 I've bought from him ranged from $100 to $140. Drop him an email on what you have in mind and I can almost guarantee he'll reply within a day or so, or give him a call - he's a hell of a nice guy...
I was just checking out Gene website and noticed that the #4 has the little grove for your fingers on the under side of the handle......Did you opt for your #4 not to have this? I really like the looks of yours only thought is that I might have Gene add that finger grove or what ever the hell it is called <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Sorry for not answering, I've been off deer hunting in Nebraska. In the second picture above the top knife is a standard #4 with the finger groove and the next one down is the caperesque handle. To be honest Gene put the modified handle on my Dad's knife based on some comments I'd made in the past and I didn't even know it 'til it showed up. Both feel very good in my small-to-medium sized hands. Were I you I'd pick whichever appealed to me most visually...
86ish and still getting in done... He and Mom bought an acreage and a coastal home in Georgia to retire... He killed these two deer the first day of doe season with two 7mm-08 120 NBT shots. They were lying 8 feet apart. Gutted/skinned them both with this knife.
Last edited by Journeyman; 12/04/22.
You can no more tell someone how to do something you've never done, than you can come back from somewhere you've never been...