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Permalink Reply by Mike Fitzgerald on June 3, 2015 at 20:30

Hi Kevin,

  Very happy you joined and I love the pictures of your work. I had already listed the one knife I decided to sell on ebay prior to hearing from you and they wont allow me to take it down without charging me. Since you never intended to sell them if it doesnt sell I will not relist it and just keep it in my personal collection. Mike 

Kevin Davey said:

Good evening everyone.

These knives were made by me during my early days in Florida, maybe around 2003. 

I started knife making in 2002 so these were very early examples of what I was making back then. They are forged from 1095 carbon steel. I was experimenting casting pewter bolsters into handles as I had seen an example on a 19th century patch knife and thought I would try something similar. 

Over an 8 year span I probably made about 400 knives but I would guess maybe only about 60 or so made it out of my workshop to private users and collectors. The rest I tested to destruction, trashed or buried somewhere. The more I learnt about knife making the more I wanted to know. It becomes addictive. 

During the last few years I had an obsession with 52100 carbon steel and spent a year behind my workshop doors experimenting with different heat treatments. Not much left my workshop because I tested most things I made to destruction. The knives that did leave my workshop that period were probably there best knives I have made.

In 2010 due to work commitments and lack of space, I stopped knife making and turned my attention to the art of mokume.

Maybe one day I will start making knives again.

The knives that are the subject of this board were early products of my knife making. They are rather crude examples of what I was making and were never intended to leave my workshop. The truth is that when I moved house to NC I had a box full of early knives that had somehow missed that big knife graveyard where all my other knives are buried. I had no where to bury them so took them to the local waste disposal/recycling center and they ended up in the scrap metal dumpster! They somehow managed to escape and live on. I am happy that someone finds enjoyment in them and accepts them for what they are.

If no one minds, I will post a few pictures of my later work.

Kind regards.

Kevin Davey

aka Coutel.

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KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Kevin Davey on June 4, 2015 at 6:02

Mike Fitzgerald said:

Hi Kevin,

  Very happy you joined and I love the pictures of your work. I had already listed the one knife I decided to sell on ebay prior to hearing from you and they wont allow me to take it down without charging me. Since you never intended to sell them if it doesnt sell I will not relist it and just keep it in my personal collection. Mike 

Kevin Davey said:

Mike. Its your knives and you do what ever you want to. Good luck.

Kevin.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on June 4, 2015 at 17:36

Kevin- Some beautiful examples of your artistry--I will say it if Kevin won't, but he is a perfectionist-- That is why he made 400 knives and only offered 60 for sale-- One story I read-- Kevin dropped one of his knives point first from a height of about 10 feet onto a steel plate just to test it's toughness-BTW, the knife passed with flying colors. Another story- The lucky recipient of one of his knives practically begged him to sell it to him--The knife was perfect, but the sheath (which someone else made) was not-- This commitment to excellence is why no matter how hard you try, you will not find anything but glowing praise from any of the lucky few recipients of his knives.His knives were not only beautiful in their execution, but made to be tough users

BTW, Kevin, would love to see some of your Mokume work !!

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KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Kevin Davey on June 4, 2015 at 18:25

Thanks John.

The knife that I dropped point first from 10 feet onto a steel plate is actually this knife,

Its a giraffe bone handle kitchen knife I made about 8 years ago. I still own it and its regularly used in the kitchen. The blade has a lot of patina now.

I have a lot of scrap mokume laying around :)

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on June 4, 2015 at 18:42

Kevin-- I rest my case about your excellence-- Not many blade smiths would have even attempted that test on a knife with that fine a point--Not only is that a magnificent piece of craftsmanship, but has withstood the tests of time and use-- BTW, folks, note those raised , domed pins--- Very difficult to do, and seldom seen-- One missed stroke, and it is back to the drawing board !!

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 8, 2015 at 14:03

Fantastic test of the knife!  That it is still a go to knife in the kitchen does not surprise me.  The combination of handle and blade style would be a favorite for me also

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on June 23, 2015 at 21:03

Fantastic knives Kevin and thanks for joining iKC.

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