So if anyone followed the thread last fall... Switch put one of his first-ever knives, a Viking Seax, up here for auction. After a bunch of bids, I ended up winning it!
Unfortunately, at the last minute it had an issue or a heat-treat problem or something and Switch e-mailed me in a panic! He had already used the funds to buy supplies and a grinder for his knife enterprise and was in a very bad place... no knife! No funds.
As Switch is a friend, this didn't matter a bit. He said he would make another.... whatever I wanted. And based on what he learned on the Seax... it would be even better! Which was just fine with me! I am patient and the idea was to have one of Switch's 'first' knives (someday when he is famous... it will be worth having!!!)... and to help kickstart Fire Knives and his business, not to have that Seax.
So began a PM back and forth that went something like this: "What do you want me to make you?" "Make me what you want." "But what do you want for a design, shape, handles?" "Surprise me." Finally we agreed that I wanted to take delivery of the work of an artist... his vision. If I wanted my vision, I'd go down to the workshop at Schloss Nitrocellulose and try and make it myself. One trusts the artist... one does not dictate to the artist.
That followed up with several PM's that said "What do you think of this that I started?" "I'm not opening that image." "Here it is ready for scales!" "Don't send me pictures... I want to first see it when I open the package you send me..."
Well, a few weeks go by and then right at Christmas I get the note... "It's done and I am sending it to you!"
*yay*
So on Thursday when I get to the post office... sure enough there is a package from the general area of Bardstown.... and I have my knife.
Get it home because, for some reason, my Jeep knife is not where it should be. And I don't want to open the package with my Jeep Hatchet. And the only knife in my Jeep is the one in a package from Switch. Bad planning on my part.
Drive home... grab a knife and open up the package and inside is this....
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1084 Temp cycled high-carbon... 5" drop point with scissor edge with a ferric acid finish. The scales are stunning in their simplicity.... a hard pine polished to a high-shine and sealed with beeswax. Razor sharp. The sheath is really cool with a stone and a steel built on. Very positive retention and beautifully-executed. I know exactly where this is going... and it's getting strapped to my possibles bag for my next muzzle-loading hunt(s).
The whole package is beautifully executed! More importantly, it is aesthetically beautiful. I have a thing for the Green River pattern knives and the old 'trapper' knives of the mountain men. Probably from watching Jeremiah Johnson too many times. The original survival/combat/utility knives that men like Jim Bridger and the Lewis and Clark adventurers carried when they really made the American frontier... into America. It's a lot like the knife I made myself when I was 15 or so... the difference is that it was made by someone who knew what they were doing.
How Switchblade got into my head, I don't know. But he did! And made me a spectacular piece that I already treasure. Not only because it's beautifully done, but because it's another great example of 'Hide folks pulling together to support one of their own. Because I was not the only one bidding on the Seax to help out 'Switch. Lots of folks were (and are) there for our friend!
So, Switch, thank you! You hit it out of the park, buddy! And I hope that some other folks here will want to take the plunge and order one of Switchblade's early efforts. Because you will love it. And one of these days he'es going to get famous and we won't be able to afford his knives!
Cheers,
Sirhr
