Re Named to Barbarian fan club! (ESEE-4 knife - need opinion)

[DA SWO]

turning you into a knife snob is payment enough.... now you need to learn how to sharpen knives properly.... you have t okeep the tools in perfect condition...

You will need a Norton Med-Fine (grey/orange) 8"x 2" oil stone, a good e-z lap diamond stone, food grade mineral oil, and practice, lots of practice.... (the e-z lap is only to be used for reshaping or deep damage to the cutting edge) when you get really good, we'll move you up to 1000 and 6000 grit Japanese water stones for fine finishing.... then the bench strop with Al02 (green) polishing compound...

Need to have you show my son how to do it properly.
I'll even furnish crappy knives so he doesn't ruin a good one.
Maybe next January.

 

[x SF med]

Need to have you show my son how to do it properly.
I'll even furnish crappy knives so he doesn't ruin a good one.
Maybe next January.

If it's next January..... maybe.... just maybe..... I'll have WW Harsey Jr give him his first knife sharpening lesson....

 

[Ooh-Rah]

Yet another update from @Barbarian ....this is fun, but I cannot wait to get this damn knife so I can cut something with it!

Sheathing

 

[x SF med]

Yet another update from @Barbarian ....this is fun, but I cannot wait to get this damn knife so I can cut something with it!

Sheathing

View attachment 12585

I was going to post the last 30 seconds of Sweet Transvestite from Rocky Horror.... but then I thought, he's a Marine, he might enjoy that too much. Then I thought about posting the Carly Simon song Anticipation, and thought... nah that's even gayer than Dr Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

@Barbarian shared another update...things are coming together very nice!

Here is a shot of it freshly Cerakote'd in Magpul Flat Dark Earth.

Sounds like it takes a few days for the coating to fully set -

 

[x SF med]

I think there is a nick in the blade, and it needs to be sent to me for testing and resharpening, it should only take, oh a few years, maybe a decade....

Barbarian will see what I did here too.... subtle...

 

[Barbarian]

I think there is a nick in the blade, and it needs to be sent to me for testing and resharpening, it should only take, oh a few years, maybe a decade....

Barbarian will see what I did here too.... subtle...

Ha ha! That's a first. Creative.

 

[x SF med]

Ha ha! That's a first. Creative.

That means I won a knife, right? SWEET!!!

 

[Ooh-Rah]

@Barbarian finished my Wanderer - the rest of you slobs better hurry up and place an order because I'm about to take up his time with another custom job!
So very very cool, and there goes ever buying a knife on Amazon again.

 

[x SF med]

@Barbarian very cool, and there goes ever buying a knife on Amazon again.

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Oh.... now you understand the allure of a custom or semi-custom knife :thumbsup:.... care to explain it to the rest of the people?

Huge difference in the feel in the hand, the balance, and numerous little things that you just can't place... now you know why my collection of sharp pointies grows... :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::wall:

@Barbarian - I like the slightly spaded shape of the blade, it tip weights it slightly doesn't it?

 

[Barbarian]

@Barbarian - I like the slightly spaded shape of the blade, it tip weights it slightly doesn't it?

@x SF med It does help in that respect, but that was really a happy accident. I added the "humpback" to the design to give the user more blade to project into the object being cut, while batonning. I also liked the added organic line on an otherwise non-organic blade profile. It really does help with overall balance though. You'd be surprised how difficult it is to prevent a knife that size from being too handle heavy, while still having a full and ergonomic handle.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

Guys, (specifically @x SF med ),

This being my first custom blade, I do not have much to compare it to. But what I can tell you is this, for slightly more than what I likely would have paid for an ESSE type blade:

• I picked the color of the handle
• I picked the coating and color of the blade
• I was able to see pics of my blade and handle as they went thru different processes
• I am amazed at the balance on this thing. Pointer finger at the hilt and it balances perfect
• I was able to support a very talented knife maker and hopefully create more business for him here

What will I do different next time?

• I think I will get a stainless blade without the coating
• I will ask if I can have something specific inscribed in the blade

Great experience overall, looking forward to putting this thing to task during solo camps this summer.

 

[Barbarian]

Wife and folks went in together and bought me one of these for my birthday. (Woot) The blade is hand-ground by Bill Harsey Jr.

Spartan/Harsey Hunter

 

[Grunt]

Beautiful craftsmanship!

Nice gift indeed!

 

[x SF med]

Wife and folks went in together and bought me one of these for my birthday. (Woot) The blade is hand-ground by Bill Harsey Jr.

Spartan/Harsey Hunter
View attachment 13019 View attachment 13020

I got to see the first batch in Bill's shop a couple of years ago... but I've gotten to see a bunch of 'secret' stuff in the Harsey and Spartan shops.

I want a Spartan Nymph... I saw the prototype, and wanted to steal it from Curt...


ETA.... @Barbarian -Spartan/Harsey Model 1 #061/250 is around here somewhere..... nyah, nyah, nyah and I gots me a titanium American Kami Spork too... so there.

 

[Barbarian]

I got to see the first batch in Bill's shop a couple of years ago... but I've gotten to see a bunch of 'secret' stuff in the Harsey and Spartan shops.

I want a Spartan Nymph... I saw the prototype, and wanted to steal it from Curt...


ETA.... @Barbarian -Spartan/Harsey Model 1 #061/250 is around here somewhere..... nyah, nyah, nyah and I gots me a titanium American Kami Spork too... so there.

Lol, you hang out with ALL the cool kids.

I'd say Curt is prepared for any attempts at prototype theft. He probably had a full on, anti-troll PACE plan ready to rock. I've been dying for a Bill Jr. custom similar to the Big Rock. Mark and Curt have kept him so busy, though, that he doesn't take too many orders, nowadays.

And about the Mod I and AK Spork....... I hate yer face.

 

[x SF med]

And about the Mod I and AK Spork....... I hate yer face.

My job her is done, for now. :troll::troll::troll:

 

[Ooh-Rah]

Finally got to cut something substantial with my knife from @Barbarian

 

[Barbarian]

I'm honored to have been of service and always glad to see a knife in use. Thank you.

But now I'm hungry.

 

[x SF med]

Finally got to cut something substantial with my knife from @Barbarian

Now.... you need to learn how to sharpen properly, freehand.
You will need a Norton 8"x2" (min dimension) 2 sided grey/orange stone; food grade mineral oil; a 1200 grit Japanese water stone; and EZ-Lap 6"x2" diamond impregnated 'cutting' lap; Lansky triangular ceramic hones 4", 6" and 8"; a min 8 power jeweler's loupe; a bench strop and green Aluminum oxide polishing medium; Time: and tons of practice. (there is a lot more stuff you need for full repairs, we'll get to that later).

I carry my sharpening gear in it's own daypack.... and the valuable stuff goes in a Booker's Bourbon box... I have taken sharpening instruction from William W. Harsey Jr. Wayne Goddard, Jeff Freeman, and a host of others.... the main common theme = practice, patience, and muscle memory.

We'll get to knife show stories later.... like the day I bought a Lake lock folder from Mr. Lake himself for 50% of the market value... the day Chris Reeve took my Sebenza home with him (along with 3 other guys knives) because "these are fucked up, what the fuck happened?" ... even though Chris had my knife, it's rare, a Classic 2000 medium signed by Chris... plus it's my EDC.

Want to see a really nice new folder design - go to Freeman Outdoor Gear Jeff was with a 'Legendary' knife company out of Oregon for a long time, and struck out on his own a couple of years ago...