Dennis, I actually enjoy sharpening. I do not at all mind when a knife comes to me needing a touch up or even more. What I hate is when a maker's edge is unfinished. That drives me nuts and it is NEVER the case with Alan's knives.

Let’s go back to showcasing some wood.  Here is one of my Davis knives with box elder burl scales.  This box elder has not been dyed, but does have some light green streaks in the wood ... as well as a nice bird’s eye figuring.  Bolsters are M3 composite, back spacer and liners have been double anodized (which Alan does wonderfully), and the blade is 3” in an iguana Damascus pattern by Chad Nichols.

Here’s a nice giraffe bone folder that I bought … well, for the giraffe bone!  Just thought it looked neat!  While I much prefer it when Alan uses carbon Damascus, he outfitted this one with a stainless Damascus from Rob Thomas (in his basket weave pattern).  Blade length is 3.1875”, making it a nice size for pocket carry and use.

*Note: This one has been gifted.

Oh how I love a good giraffe bone handle!  The take a dye in such an amazing pattern.  They easily rival mammoth in my eyes.  I like that he let the bone carry the look of the knife.  A nice subtle pattern in the Damascus.  As for the craftsmanship, I have yet to see one that I would not love!

As do I Jan!  Hard for me to pass up a nice giraffe bone.  

Nice looking knife , Dennis.
Yes .. the giraffe bone is nice .. kind of a grain to it I'm not used to seeing in dyed bone.

!! . SWEET . !!

[Update: This one has been sold.]

Here’s another Davis that is a little bit on the large size for my needs, but keep it in the collection because I like the wood!  For this one, Alan used some nicely figured, dyed fiddleback maple.  The random pattern Damascus blade (1095 & 15n20) is a hair under 3.5 inches and has a nicely convexed edge.  Alan made a deep carry clip for this one, so it fits great in the pocket.

Here’s a desk knife I got from Alan back in 2013.  This one sees daily use for cutting tasks that extend far beyond opening the mail!  The blade is made from 52100 and is 3.25” long.  Alan dressed the spine with some nice file work.  Scales are polished bone with ruby red G10 spacers.  My daughter used to call it a glorified letter opener.  Hmmmm … I beg to differ, since I can open mail with it in the evening and shave with it in the morning!!!!  Okay, I wouldn’t …… but I could .... just sayin'!

It is not bad to feel a little blue when I am toting this blue Mammoth Ivory Davis around!!  Alan was really surprised by these scales.  They didn’t look nearly as vibrant before he went to work shaping and polishing them up. The beautiful colors seemed to come to life as me removed a little of the top layer of the Mammoth while shaping them to the liners.  Alan used a Del Ealy lion pattern Damascus for the 3 inch spear point blade and some of Del’s cheetah pattern Damascus for the bolsters.  The back spacer on this one is pretty neat as well.  At first glance, it looks like he used a blue anodized, textured spacer between two gold anodized strips.  In reality, it is just one piece that Alan double anodized and then textured the center portion.  Alan is always trying different things with his back spacers … this one is exceptionally nice.

(Update 11/23/21:  This one has been gifted)

This is the last of the 4 of Alan’s frame locks I have in the collection that I’ve yet to post.  I’m really a liner lock guy, so don’t really know why I have 4 frame locks … other than the fact that I somehow like each of them!  With this one, I just love the hand carved titanium frame and clip.  The blade is Elmax and measures in at 3.3125”.  Fit and finish is on par with all of Alan’s knives, which is to say … outstanding.  The one thing I DO like about his frame locks is that they are thin enough to make for a great back pocket knife.

(Note: This knife has a new home!)

This is probably my second most frequently used Davis. I have two that I always use around the house. The most used is my small jigged bone liner lock that Alan made in 2010. This one takes second place in the most used category. And … it is a joy to use. It is another mini-liner lock. Alan made this one in 2013. It has a 2.5” Alabama Damascus blade and Madrone burl scales. I call it my baby snake. Why? Scroll down through the pics!

And, here is why I call it my baby snake!

WOW!  The baby snake is very unique!  The size would make it a good user for me also and anything Alabama Damascus Steel works well for me also LOL 

Let’s shift from wood back to some Mammoth ivory this week.  Here’s another small folder Alan made in 2014.  The heavily crackled and crusted bark scales really stand out.  Blade is from some of Del Ealy’s lion pattern Damascus and measures in 2.625”. Alan added a Damascus back space to this one for some contrast between the liners.

Love the damascus backspacer.

Here is one of two Davis fixed blades I have and one that I hold near and dear to my heart, as it was a gift from a friend of mine.  It is a small hunter with desert ironwood scales and a 3.2125” 1084 blade with an antiqued finish.

Alan is a member of the Texas Knifemaker’s Guild.  In June of this year, the Guild partnered with the Tarleton State University mechanics department to host a continuing education knifemaking workshop.  A total of 42 knives were made during the 2 and a half day workshop by the 10 guild members, 24 Ag teachers and 8 TSU students and employees.  This is the knife that Alan made during the workshop.

Not only is this exceptionally beautiful Dennis but the backstory makes it a priceless gift!

Another story about this one ... well, at least something funny Jan.  When the package from Alan arrived in the mail, my FIRST thought was ... "oh no, was I sleep knife shopping again?!!!!"  Then, I opened it up and saw Alan's note that my friend had purchased it for me.  She hasn't admitted it ... but I presume she started to feel guilty about all the knives I've given her.  I keep telling her that gifting gives me just as much pleasure as getting.  Only, in this case, the getting was pretty sweet!

Today’s Davis is one that almost had a new home … but not by choice!

It is one that I love giving plenty of EDC time. It’s a good looker, holds a super edge, and is sized right for most of the cutting tasks that I encounter. Anyway, last fall I took my wife’s winter tires in to have them replaced with new ones. Instead of rolling them into the tire dealer’s bay, I just carried them two at a time. I am sure they would have done it for me … but me being me ….! I was carrying this knife that day. After stacking the tires in the bay, I went to the office to wait for the new tires to be mounted. After a few minutes, the office gal (hope I am not being sexist here) came over to me and asked me “Did you lose this?” She was holding my Davis! When lifting the tires from my side to stack, the one in my right hand must have snagged the clip and out onto the floor it dropped! My eyes bugged out, as I had no idea it was missing from my pocket. I couldn’t stop thanking her. So, I then reached into another pocket and presented her with a CRKT Drifter. I buy a lot of Drifters for gifting to people when they do something that pleases me or catch my attention (in a good way). It’s a great, and very capable gift knife that is very underrated as far as I am concerned. What I didn’t do, however, was let her know the price difference between the Drifter I gifted her and my Davis that she found littering the tire changing bay.  Had I done that, I am sure it would have been "her" eyes that started bugging out!

But anyway, I guess I have “drifted” far from taking about today’s knife. Bought this Davis in 2013. Aside from a few scratches (wonder where they came from!!!), it’s got beautifully figured buckeye burl scales and a 3.357” Alabama Damascus clip point blade. Alan gave the blade spine some rope filing that really looks good.

This is the newest Davis to enter the collection.  Alan has chosen to use this handle material on two other folders.  Really wanted them … but there was something about each that prevented me pulling out my wallet.  One had a tanto blade, which I really don’t care for … and the other had bolsters very similar (material) to one of his knives I had just purchased.  So, I kept waiting … until this one popped up.  The scales are ancient bog oak.  The 3” blade is from Doug Ponzio’s Damascus in his version of a feather pattern.  Bolsters are brass infused carbon fiber.  Alan double anodized the hand carved titanium back spacer to add some color. Each part of the knife complements the others exceptionally well.

Dennis, congrats. That is a real stunner. I am envious!

Here’s a Davis gent's folder that I barely know is resting at the bottom of my pocket. It features some creamy Mammoth ivory scales and a 2.625" Chad Nichols Damascus blade in his iguana pattern.  Besides being a beauty,  it only weighs in at 2.15 oz … making it a joy to carry.  

(Update:  This knife has been gifted)

It’s funny what catches my attention in a knife.  I bought this one from Alan in 2014 because I liked the bolsters!  It is a flipper featuring a 3.2" Chad Nichols Hailstorm pattern Damascus blade, Mammoth bark Ivory scales, and textured M3 bolsters. While the Mammoth scales are nice and the Damascus blade is eye catching … the bolsters are what first caught my attention.

Today’s posting marks the last Davis which, at the current time, I can feature.  All tallied, I’ve featured 75 of Alan’s knives which I have owned.  I currently have 61 of those knives still in the collection.  I am sure I will add more (and even sell or gift a few), but for now … this one represents the last one I have yet to show.  And … a magnificent one it is. It is gent's folder featuring some really outstanding dark caramel crackle Mammoth bark Ivory scales, textured Del Ealy Damascus bolsters, a 3" Bill Burke Damascus blade and Damascus back spacer. Thumb stud is carved Damascus.  The bark on this one is really neat, as I have rarely seen crackle bark with this particular coloring.

That is pretty spectacular!!

Well, you have sure ended on a high note!!

I want to Thank you Dennis !  Not only have we had the opportunity to view more of Davis's work that we could at ANY show, we have also learned the quality and types of materials he uses.

I can say, I know a number of makers and they get stuck in a groove sometimes with...I like this makers Damascus, liners, ect.  Mr. Davis seems to be just as happy regardless of the maker and long as the steel has great quality and a reputation for such.

PS, this is the kind of mammoth that makes me drool LOL

I'm sure there will be more of Alan's knives in my future ... but, have been becoming more picky about what I add to make sure each piece is markedly different from the others.  Now, if that dang Prize Patrol would show up on my door step ... I would buy everything than Alan makes! 

Good. I read it as a hiatus rather than a cessation. I know that my acquisitions move among my favorite makers. Now I seem to be on a Shirogorov kick. They lack the "soul" of Alan's knives, but they are really exquisitely precise machines.

Somehow, I knew it would not be long before I was able to add another Davis to the collection.  I now have a new one to fondle! This little gent's folder is a real gem.  It features a 2.5" acid etched and stone washed CTS-XHP blade with a front opening tab and some nice blue mammoth bark ivory scales that are accentuated by Timascus bolsters. The blue, geometrically file worked back spacer and purple liners tie everything together. This little beauty will be seeing lots of pocket time!  

Just a heads up ... well, a teaser of sorts!  Alan should begin work on a new folder for me sometime in January (Yikes .... we are almost there!).  Not sure how long it will take, but I think the wait will be worth it.  I asked him to do this one for me with a front opening tab (like the last one I got from him) for a cleaner blade look.  Blade will be some Burke Damascus .... River of Fire pattern.  Scales will be from rich black Hartebeest horn.  Bolsters will be from titanium TextureTech in a lava tube pattern.  Back spacer will feature some hand carved feathered chevrons.  Excited?  Yup!

Those are some beautifully rich colored scales!  I can't wait to see this one, sounds like a great combination of textures! 

Well, I was going to wait until Saturday .... but was so pleased with this one, figured what the heck!   Alan got right to work on this one at the end of December and completed it on the 6th of January.  This one is definitely going to be in my favorites category.  As I mentioned in my heads-up post.  The scales are hartebeest horn (an African breed of antelope, also known as kongoni).  Bolsters are titanium TextureTech in a lava tube pattern.  The blade is 3" and made from Burke Damascus in their River of Fire pattern.  It has a front opening tab which makes it effortless to open without the need for a thumb stud (and provides for a very clean looking blade).  The back spacer features some incredible hand carving from Alan in what I call a feathered chevron pattern.  I love absolutely everything about this one, but what impresses me the most is how Alan was able to match up the contours and height differences between the bolsters and the scales.  He told me he spent a great deal of time planning and sanding to ensure perfect mating of the two materials.  He did a fantastic job.  Hope you like (as much as I do!!).

The spacers are very impressive but OMG the work that went into marrying those bolsters to the scales !!  I have to hand it to you also though, getting those pics to show that off could not have been easy.  Enjoy this one, it is exceptional!

Thanks Jan ... I will!  All of Alan's work impresses me ... but none more so than this one!  It goes right to the top of my favorites!!

Time to add another new Davis!  It's another gent's folder. This one features some Mammoth bark ivory scales with some really nice coloring ... ranging from blue to green to caramel. Bolsters are from some of Mike Sakmar's mokume. What really attracted me to this one was the blade. It is 2.875" and is some of Rob Thomas' Typhoon pattern Damascus. BUT, it is unlike any of Rob's Typhoon I've seen before. It's really eye catching (no pun intended, because the pattern almost looks line it has a series of eyeballs in it!). Of course, Alan dressed up the knife with some of his outstanding back spacer file work and anodizing.

The blade is indeed the very first thing to catch your eye on this knife Dennis.  It is aptly named as it seriously looks like weather patterns for a storm!  Once you have the chance to look beyond that steel the build stands out!  The spine on that blade is substantial but the narrowing of it is where the beauty comes in. I love that he does not blur that straight beautiful line with file work.  Although I am not normally a file work person I find I like many of Mr. Davis's as he uses it so subtlety.

Another fantastic knife Dennis and Thank you for sharing! 

Thanks Jan ... I almost passed on this one.  Glad I didn't!!

Time for another addition. This beauty arrived yesterday and is another special one for me. It is one of only a handful of lock backs that Alan has made (6, to be precise). He told me that he feel this is the finest one he's made to date and, after receiving it, have no doubts about that. The covers on this one are some outrageously beautiful Mammoth bark ivory that are very well matched. The CPM 154 spear blade measures 3.125" from tip to bolsters. The bolsters are 416 SS with some very nice texturing. This is a seriously nice piece and very glad it found its way to my collection.  

Dennis,

That mammoth is outstanding!  I have to say the texture on the bolsters speaks to me, you know I prefer subtle when it comes to embellishments on a knife.  Congrats on another fantastic addition to a special collection

Thanks Jan.  I'm just glad Alan decided to part with it.  I thought for sure he would keep it for himself.

I couldn't resist this little pocket buddy. This small slip joint arrived in the mail today and sports amber-dyed Sambar stag covers and a 2.25" 1095 blade with hamon. Pull is about a 5 and it has great walk and talk.

The hamon on that blade is outstanding!

And the size is perfect Jan!  This one will be seeing lots of pocket time.  Alan doesn't do many small slip joints like this ... was glad to stumble across it shortly after he put it up for sale.

Here's one of Alan's special orders (no, not mine!) that was recently featured in Blade Magazine:

Just arrived today is this little beauty from Alan.  I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to scoop it up.  It sports some outrageously beautiful Himalayan ram's horn scales, blackened titanium bolsters and back spacer, and a 3.25" A2 blade that Alan stonewashed.

wow!  That horn is stunning

Thanks Jan. I have to laugh when I say this, but the horn is one of the primary reasons I bought this one.  The reason I laugh is that my daughter would say ... why don't you just buy a piece of horn if you like it so much ... to which I would reply that it is just not the same as having it adorn a knife!

Fabulous knife Dennis.

Thanks John.  Alan told me he calls the horn a fluke.  It wasn't this green before he started working and shaping it.  The more material he took off, the nicer it became ... revealing those nice green, yellow and orange hues.  Fluke or not .... I'm in love with it!

It's been said, but it is absolutely stunning. A great combination of horn and metal! Well done, my friend. With your leave I may show off a couple of my more recent acquisitions from Alan's forge.

Looking forward to seeing them Rick.