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Something you don't find every day.

So when I was visiting Arkansas I was in the car with A.G. and Goldie. And we were talking about A.G.'s One Hand Knife.

It's a design that I've grown VERY fond of. And they were telling me about the different variations that they've had over the years. The one that stayed with me was the Cowry-X version. Goldie was talking about how they'd done that one and that, at the time, they didn't really know what they had and what a special steel this Cowry X was.

Anyway, months later I was looking over E-bay. And I saw one pop up. I'd just acquired some funds through the sale of a smartphone and figured I might be able to get my hands on that one. A nervewracking week later I'd won the E-bay auction and had obtained a promise from the seller that he'd ship it ASAP.

Then another nervewracking MONTH's wait that it took to get over here plus added import duties I'd finally gotten my hands on this one.

I had to think about it for a little while but I ended up deciding that this one would have to be a using knfe (despite the cost of it). So tonight I set up my little photo studio and took a couple of pictures for you all.

Enjoy:

And last of all something that I think gives it a nice touch:

Love the one piece construction of this knife. It's not the smoothest but I've yet to play around a little bit more with the pivot tension on this one. I have a belt sheath that it fits PERFECTLY into. So it'll go with me to the office tomorrow.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on February 18, 2013 at 13:43

Very good looking knife and I do like the blade pattern on this. Quite attractive. I assume you flip this open, thus the "onehanded" approach?

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on February 18, 2013 at 14:06

That certainly is an interesting design. I don't recall ever seeing one before. Just looking at it, I'm trying to figure out the lock? It would appear that it has something along the lines of integral frame lock across the top, by virtue of a tensioned spine that has been cut out to effect the mechanism? Ergo the smaller cross-checked thumb studs that are positioned above the pivot. Is that correct? Indeed, you don't see one of these everyday -- it is verrry cool!

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on February 18, 2013 at 14:41

This is a pretty awesome litle design. Looks lightweight and easily deployed. What leads to the decision that this is a user?

Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on February 19, 2013 at 2:34

It can indeed be opened one handed. But just as importantly. It's also designed to be closed one handed. You pinch the studs on the backspring with thumb and middle finger and use your index finger to push on the back of the blade. That way you can close the blade without ever having your fingers get in the way of the sharp edge.

Steve Hanner said:

Very good looking knife and I do like the blade pattern on this. Quite attractive. I assume you flip this open, thus the "onehanded" approach?

Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on February 19, 2013 at 2:35

Hi Ron, yes you're completely right althoug instead of an integral framelock I'd call it an integral "frontlock" which is what A.G. calls this type of lock. The newer generations of this knife have the backspring as a seperate part though.

Ron Cooper said:

That certainly is an interesting design. I don't recall ever seeing one before. Just looking at it, I'm trying to figure out the lock? It would appear that it has something along the lines of integral frame lock across the top, by virtue of a tensioned spine that has been cut out to effect the mechanism? Ergo the smaller cross-checked thumb studs that are positioned above the pivot. Is that correct? Indeed, you don't see one of these everyday -- it is verrry cool!

Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on February 19, 2013 at 2:38

Jan, for me ths history combined with the design, the type of steel and the fact that I paid quite a high price for this knife all make it a user.

The Cowry-X steel should be among the best edge retention steels available, so it'd be a shame if it weren't used. Also since I paid quite a lot for this knife I don't expect it to fetch a lot more money than what I paid for it whether I use it or not. So I might as well use it.

A completely different scenario than the Bicentennial knife which I got for a bargain.......and somehow I don't want to damage the resale value of that one.

To be fair....I'm not sure if the reasoning makes all that much sense. But it works for me.

Jan Carter said:

This is a pretty awesome litle design. Looks lightweight and easily deployed. What leads to the decision that this is a user?

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on February 19, 2013 at 2:56

Thanks for your reply, Alexander!

You'll have to keep us updated on how well that Cowry-X steel takes and holds an edge. It's a very cool looking knife! One that I'm gonna keep an eye out for when I'm surfing the evilBay for knives.

Cheers, my friend!

Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on February 19, 2013 at 3:04

No problemo.

The Cowry-X was sharpened up without much of a problem. I still haven't gotten it as sharp as I want to though. It's definately a lot harder than most other steels that I've sharpened so far. Takes a lot more time on the sharpener even when I'm using DMT stones.

We'll see how it holds up. It's only zipped through a few packages so far but it stays very sharp. Time will tell.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on February 19, 2013 at 8:19

OK that makes sense it is funny you know we should always talk more about closing a knife but somehow we never do!

Alexander Noot said:

It can indeed be opened one handed. But just as importantly. It's also designed to be closed one handed. You pinch the studs on the backspring with thumb and middle finger and use your index finger to push on the back of the blade. That way you can close the blade without ever having your fingers get in the way of the sharp edge.

Steve Hanner said:

Very good looking knife and I do like the blade pattern on this. Quite attractive. I assume you flip this open, thus the "onehanded" approach?

Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on February 19, 2013 at 8:38

Yup, and most knives aren't really designed with that in mind. But these "One Hand" knives really are meant for one hand.

Same with the other two versions I have:

They really have opening AND closing in mind with the design.

Permalink Reply by Paul Bishop on April 23, 2014 at 1:19

Very clean - I like it. I'm struck by the similarity of the design of A.G.'s and one by a fellow Arkansan, Pat Crawford. I met Pat at the Knifemaker's Guild last September - great guy! Here's a link to a knife he made like I saw on his table:

Pat Crawford "Framelock" (designed 1979)

Permalink Reply by Alexander Noot on April 23, 2014 at 1:26

A.G. actually got the idea from Pat Crawford. Maybe he'll pop in sometime and tell us about it.