New Knives Have Hit the Door

I finally got back to documenting some of my fixed blade and folding knives that I have been selling.

Today I got a box chock full of way cool knives! Condor, Microtech, SOG, Kershaw and a few other brands must be rattling around in the box.

SOG, Microtech, Kershaw and Buck Knife Shipment

Here is an overall picture of what came in. The knife across the top is a Condor machete. There are two Bucks (in the yellow boxes), then two Kershaws, the Microtech. Just below the Microtech are two small black boxes with Gen2 knives. The SOG Snarl fills in the bottom of the group.

Kershaw Launch 3, Microtech Ultratech DE

Here are two nice knives. The top is the Kershaw Launch 3, the bottom is a Microtech Ultratech DE.

I think that the Kershaw Launch is a beautiful knife — and most everybody would agree that the Microtech Ultratech DE is an expensive bad-ass knife!

Kershaw Link, Buck Nano Bantam,  Buck Rush

The Kewshaw Link is an assisted opening knife, This one has a plain edge blade (no serrations) and the blade has their Blackwash finish.

Condor Warlock Machete and Leather Sheath

This pretty boy is a Condor brand machete, called the Warlock. It has a Micarta handle, carbon steel blade and a leather sheath.

Rebuilt my Mobile Knife Sharpener's Solar Power Storage Box

For those of you who are paying attention, I have had to change my solar power system's storage box.  My first storage system used a tool box or cart made by Stanley. Below is a picture of it in use:

Solar Storage System Using Stanley Tool Box

I really liked this Stanley tool box. The bottom compartment held the AGM battery, I had a shelf built to hold the power inverter just above the battery, and the top box held extension cords and other tools and parts related to storing and distributing the DC and AC juice.

The other nice aspect of the Stanley tool box was the flush mounted wheels, and the folding handle. 

Since my business is mobile — mobile knife sharpening — I need everything that I use to work in this mobile environment. I drive to where I will set up, pull everything out of my truck and set up my sharpening booth.

The Stanley tool box, with the wheels made it easier to set up. The AGM battery that I use is made of lead, and lead is heavy. The wheels on the  tool box made it a lot easier. The wheels being flush mounted (and the folding handle) made it a lot easier to pack away.

The tool box — unfortunately — was not robust enough to hold up to day to day business, especially with an obscenely heavy 56amp hour lead acid AGM battery. In the photo above I can see the half circle of air where the right wheel of the box used to be. The wheels were the first to fail. The metal axle was held in place with plastic tabs, and they let loose after some time. Once that happened I started to drag the tool box around. Dragging the tool box on asphalt did not help matters!

My Poor Battery Storage Cart Abandoned in a Recycling Cart

My Stanley Tool cart spent its life helping me sharpen knives by holding the battery and the power inverter that I needed for my solar power system. This is how I reward my loyal tool — abandoned in a recycling bin. So sad...

Plywood Battery Storage Box

I could not find an off the shelf tool box that seemed to fit my needs, so I decided to go the custom built route. 

The picture above shows the beginning of the box. Visible in the bottom are the cleats that will hold the battery secure. After this picture was taken the wood was sealed, and a couple of wood pieces that are placed above the battery were cut.

Solar Battery and Power Inverter Storage Box

Here is a picture of the completed box. This view shows the entire box, the power inverter, and the Anderson connectors that runs to the solar panels.

The AGM battery is visible at the bottom, the power inverter is the large black chassis mounted up on top, the power inverter sits on the rails that hold the battery down. The box is as open as it can be so that all the parts and pieces can be easily accessed for inspection and maintenance.

Solar Powered Knife Sharpening

Here is a picture of the whole setup. The box is in back, the folding solar panels are in front. The box — with the heavy lead acid battery and other gear — makes a great anchor for my popup canopy. In this picture you can see a bungie cord running from the metal handle of the box up to the popup.

Everybody asks if the this solar setup can operate my knife sharpening system. I say 'yes.' I explain 'duty cycle,' in that the machines are off when I am awaiting customers, and also mostly off when I am actually doing knife sharpening. Other that the actual sharpening when the machine is running — other work steps include inspecting the knife, adjusting the machine, cleaning the knife, wrapping the knife and such. All of these steps are done with the machine off, and during all this time the solar system is charging the battery.

With most any sunny summer day the battery sits full, and the charge controller has the voltage to the battery turned off.

Giant Shipment of Arno Bernard Knives!

I received a giant shipment of Arno Bernard knives. Well, giant for a specialty knife retailer, one who's retail sales are a bit less than let's say Wal*Mart...

Unboxing of Arno Bernard Knife Shipment

I like vintage things; a vintage Ontario Eureka cannery knife is my knife of choice for opening boxes and other tasks.

Back to Arno Bernard, here is the box of knives that I received yesterday. It contains seven knives.

The Larger Arno Bernard Knives

This picture shows most of the largest size knives that I received. 

The knife at the top is called the Elephant. Arno Bernard groups their knives into collections that they call Series. They are grouped by size. The Elephant is in the Giant series, the largest series. Following the Giant series is Predator, then Grazer, Scavenger and finally Bush Baby.

This Elephant knife has a giraffe bone handle.

The knife in the middle is called '2015 Featured Knife.' This knife was created to celebrate Arno Bernard's 35 years making knives. The 2015 Featured Knife has a warthog ivory handle with lanyard hole, and has a horizontal sheath. The sheath — as all Arno Bernard knife sheaths — is made of cape buffalo leather.

The knife at the bottom of the picture is the Great White. This Great White knife has a giraffe bone handle.

Arno Bernard 2015 Featured Knife with Warthog Ivory Handle

Here is a closeup picture of just the 2105 Featured Knife. This is one beautiful knife! The steel used to make this knife is S35VN, and this steel is known for its superior edge retention and toughness.

Arno Bernard Dassie and Gecko Knives

Here is a group shot of the smaller Arno Bernard knives that I received. The two brown handled knives are Geckos (one of my favorites). The knife in the middle is a Dassie.

The Gecko knives have giraffe bone handles, the Dassie has an warthog ivory handle.

Come see them in person at one of my mobile knife sharpening locations here is the San Francisco Bay Area.

More Estate Sale Finds

I have been busy looking for knives and any other edged tools, any that is that meet my requirements. I look for quality pieces, and I always award extra points for unusual or distinctive design or construction.

My current booty pile:

Spoils of a Knife Hunt

There are five knives in this picture. The upper three are Shun knives

Vintage Forged 8" Sabatier Veritable Breswick Chef Ritz Chef's Knife

I came across this nice vintage carbon steel chef's knife:

Vintage Forged 8" Sabatier Chef's Knife Veritable Breswick Chef Ritz

This knife is a forged knife made of carbon steel — rather than stainless steel as almost all knives today are made of. There are collectors for everything, and since mainstream manufactures no longer make carbon steel knives, knife enthusiasts are always on the prowl for vintage carbon steel knives.

This one is in very good condition considering that is has been in different kitchens for all these years. 

I have put this up for sale on eBay. 

My Helle Knife Stock is Replenished

The Helle knives that I had requested have finally arrived.

Helle Knife Unboxing

Here is my modest shipment of Helle knives. I ordered a total of six knives.

Helle Knives

Here is a group shot of three Helle Knives. I had high hopes for this shot, posed on top of the Helle catalog and all — but it came out rather sad...

The knife on the left is the Viking, The Viking is made of carbon steel, and other than where the blade is ground and sharpened the blackish gray heat treating color is left on the blade. The Viking has a leather sheath with a belt loop strap and this sheath allows the knife to be on your left or right side.

The knife on the upper right is the new Utvar. The Utvar is Helle's first full tang knife. This knife has a curly birch handle with a brick red liner accent and a leather sheath. The handle has two rivets, and they are open through the handle so a lanyard could be tied to the knife if desired.

The bottom knife is Helle's always popular Eggen. This is one of Helle's most popular knife. It is more typical of knives that are popular in Europe — smaller, and with less bell's and whistles. All the knife one needs and no more.

Helle GT Fixed Blade Knife and Leather Sheath

This is the Helle GT. I think it is the only Helle knife that has a metal bolster, the GT has a stainless steel bolster. 

I Sharpened Two Very Old Carbon Steel Chef's Knives

A customer brought these two carbon steel chef's knives to me to be sharpened:

Vintage Forged Carbon Steel Chef's Knives

One is a Pouzet brand, made in France. The other is a J. A. Henckels.

The customer told me that these knives were he mother's grandmother's knives!

Vintage Pouzet and Henckel Chef's Knives

Here is a picture of the maker's stamps on the knife blades. These knives are carbon steel — so that discoloration or staining that is visible in these photographs are the nature of the beast. Yes, the knives started out as nice shiny 'steel' color — but contact with food causes this staining, or patina as we like to call it. There is no practical way to prevent it, and the patina seals the steel and makes for a better knife.

Vintage Kitchen Knives

Here are the handles. Other than the chipped handle and some irregular wear on the cutting edges, these knives are in very good condition! I like to say good kitchen knives are multi-generational, and these knives illustrate that point exactly.