Tuesday, September 27, 2011

EDK with Hardwood

Hello Folks,

Today I have some more EDK knives done. These have beautiful hardwood handles made of Morado, sometimes called Bolivian Rosewood. Not a true rosewood but lovely nevertheless, it is dense and heavy. I am told it is sustainably harvested which is always a plus and hopefully that is true. The grain and figure vary widely on these and don't expect bookmatched handles or anything that fancy...however, ALL these knives are gorgeous and it's just about killing me to actually have to part with any of them. Sigh, I do love nice wood! :D

These wood handles have been lightly oiled with food grade mineral oil and I recommend you do so periodically to keep them nice. There are a number of other food grade products available for maintaining fine wood and I will be testing some as time goes on. At any rate, as with the black handled EDKs, hand wash only and towel dry.

These are slightly more than the synthetic handled EDKs, $125 each plus shipping. As before, insured shipping is $10 and International will ship via Express Mail for $26. Thanks for stopping by!

First wave is sold out, thank you! I will have more very soon. ;)






Saturday, September 24, 2011

Sharp Week!

Howdy Folks,

Well, I'm proud to announce that not only is this the first week of fall but it's also another week that I think just may be of great interest to Atwood Fans...that's right, it's Sharp Week! Hehe, sorry could not resist the obvious pun... :D

OK, so this is a project that I have been working on for over two years, the EDK or Every Day Kitchen knife...

I started out with a simple idea. I noticed that even though I have a nice variety of knives in a block on the counter, most of the time I find myself reaching for a small utility blade for nearly every chore that I encounter. Whether it's slicing an onion, coring a tomato or opening a plastic package, 9 times out of 10 I don't end up using a big chef's knife. In fact, I have to admit, I've never really been a big fan of those honking 8 or 10 inch chef knives and I'm not good at the rapid cutting skills that you see the TV chefs doing. Maybe I'm just unsophisticated, but unless the task before me is slicing a turkey or something like that a smaller knife usually will suffice. So with that in mind I started thinking about smaller knife shapes.

Now it just so happened that one day I called my steel supplier looking for slightly thinner stock than my usual 5/32" tool steel and they jokingly told me they had some REALLY thin S30v sheets available. I immediately bought some of it. Then I contacted my local friends who run a kitchen knife factory and asked them about producing a small mid tech kitchen knife. The project didn't happen and things dragged on for some time. Finally I got them to make a sample knife for me but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. Nevertheless I took the sample home and I have used it for nearly two years. I have to say, even with a so-so heat treat on the blade I was surprised at how well it performed. I took that knife home and sharpened it once, and I have literally not sharpened it since. It really needs sharpening right now but amazingly it does still cut pretty well and that knife has been used and used and used. S30v is some remarkable steel, especially when ground thin. I have to say, I'm impressed.

So anyhow, this past June I made another trip over to the factory and brought up the kitchen knife project again. This time they said they would finally get going on it. And so they did. The blades were cut and then sent out for a premium heat treat this time including vacuum oven, cryo freezing and double temper. They returned with a high rockwell, I believe it was 59-60. Then the blades were carefully ground so as not to lose the fine temper. The grinds are full flat grinds that extend to the top of the spine. The broad blade shape with generous belly results in a wonderful geometry for slicing. They are very light and quick in the hand. These knives may be ground thin but they are still fairly stiff with only minimal flex so you can use them on hard cheeses or sausages with no fear of bending the tips.

Next, handle materials were selected. For this first round I chose a black recycled paper material very similar to paper Micarta. The rivets are solid nickel-silver and the handles are both epoxied and riveted in place for maximum durability. Because the blades were ground after hardening it was not possible use my normal steel marking stamp on them so we went with an old style logo etch which is larger than my current stamp size. This also differentiates the blades as being a mid tech item rather than from my own shop.

I really wanted these to be done right and I'm so happy to report that the end results are even better than I had hoped for. I can see a few very minor things that I'd like to tweak in the next batches but considering they are a factory produced item, I'm quite satisfied with what I see as truly STELLAR user blades. And yes, a special order has already been put in to Crucible for more thin stock S30v so you can expect a second and much larger run of these in the early winter. ;)

Specs: 4 inch blade, .85 inch wide, .064 spine, .012 cutting edge, 3.75 inch handle. For best cosmetic results: hand wash only, towel dry, do not put into dishwasher.

So since this is a relatively small exploratory run I ask that we keep this a one per customer sale. The mid tech EDK knives with basic black handles will be $110 plus $10 for insured Priority mail shipping. International orders will ship via Express Mail only for $26 and please pay attention to any country restrictions that could exist about knives. I will not be responsible for confiscated blades at customs. I would think that kitchen knives should be OK to import but I really don't know what some countries with restrictive knife laws like Australia or the UK might do so you are on your own.

So there you go...I'm happy to finally be able to tell the story of these little knives. It's been a rather long and frustrating process and at times I really wasn't sure if they would ever happen especially since the recent floods closed down the factory for the past three weeks. But they are a great way to kick off Sharp Week. :D

Folks, first wave is gone....HOWEVER, they are not done with the black handles so the bulk of them are coming late next week. In the meantime, there will be another much larger round of OTHER ones coming early next week so stay tuned. Remember, I did say Sharp WEEK! :D







I hear they are delicious fried up with some onions so this cat better watch himself! :p :D

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

G2 Keyton Sneak Peak

Hi Folks,

I didn't fall off the face of the earth or anything, just been busy grinding tools! I wanted to share a quick pic of the upcoming G2 Keyton. These are pretty slick I think. They kind of combine the old school Keyton design with my older Nibble design. It always bothered me that the Keyton lacked a bottle opener so I managed to get one in there on this version. These fit the hand very well and they are about the size of a full sized old school Keyton.

Anyhow, I just got done grinding these and they are in the tumbler now getting a thorough deburring. They head out for heat treat in a day or two and then it will be at least a week or two before they come back. So we're looking at early October on those.

In other news, I am grinding some steel Pests right now. I hope to get those out to heat treat next week so they will follow the Keyton batch in October.

I can't say what just yet but there are other items of great interest on the way in the interim so please stay tuned! :D


G2 Keyton hot off the grinder:

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The List

Another amazing turnout! Thanks so much everyone. :)

OK, I was surprised to see some of these numbers come up in a row but they did...I will send out emails right now.


3 smack2000
36 JonnyThunder
67 anewby
81 BSR
99 Hellooo Snakebite!!
133 Zazenist
136 SteK
146 ClassicDerek
162 Pick Me! Pick Me! Pick Me!
165 RMARVING
176 brmin
177 DB
178 Bloodline
196 Fred
256 raincoast
272 Konigsberg13
349 thartley
350 Taz Devil NYS

SnakeBite SUSale

So, how about a SUSale? I have some SnakeBites done. These are S30v knives (that's right people, KNIVES!) with captive bits and bottle openers. They come with a kydex sheath and bead chain. This is the end of the SnakeBite batch that I made a couple of years ago and I'm just now getting around to finishing them.

So here's the deal, I have 18 of these. They are going to be $175 each plus shipping. International orders will ship via Express mail only. PLEASE DON'T SIGN UP UNLESS YOU INTEND TO BUY. I don't want to have to chase after people and remind them that they are one of the winning numbers. Also, ONE ENTRY PER CUSTOMER please. There's been a few sneaky folks trying to sign up with their wife's name or just plain signing up with multiple names. I will delete all duplicates including the original so I'd appreciate it if you all would keep my work load to a minimum and keep it honest, OK? Lastly, RELAX! I have more sharp stuff coming this fall so just chill out will ya? ;) :D

SUSale will end tonight at 7PM eastern time.

One more thing................thank you! :)

Sign Up is over, will post the list shortly, thanks again everyone!

List of Entrants

SUSale Rules

Multi Stamp Pests Mini Sale

Howdy folks,

It's been very chaotic here the past week or so but things are settling down and maybe I might even be able to get some work done going forward. :)

Today I have a tray of multi stamped Pests done. These have all different stamps and are anodized different colors. I could have done a SUSale but there's too many of them to deal with the hassle so I decided to do a straight up sale on them. I will have another wave of ti ones later this fall btw so no worries, more will be coming. Also a batch of steel ones will be coming sometime in October or November.

At any rate, these are $75 plus shipping and it's a one per customer sale due to the small number of them. Thank you so much as always my friends!

Sold Out thank you!

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Jenny's New Book!

Hi Folks,

No tool sales tonight but I wanted to mention another matter...

As many of you know, my wife Jenny is a romance novelist. I'm proud to announce that her second novel in a series of three with astrological twist was just released this week and it is a terrific read. I read it in a couple of evenings and really enjoyed it. The story is as much historic spy novel as it is romance, a very entertaining page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're looking for a gift for the romance reader in your household I would highly recommend it and it might just add a few sparks to your love life (hint hint). :D

Star Crossed Seduction is available in some Barnes and Noble stores, at the larger WalMarts and of course through online stores such as Amazon in both paper and E-book formats. You can learn more about it and find links where you can buy it at online stores including those that ship overseas postage free here: Jenny's New Book

Jenny is running a spotting contest like she did on the last one. Anyone who spots Star Crossed Seduction in a store and can snap a pic and submit it will be put into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to their favorite online bookstore. She had a nice turnout last time for this: Spotting Contest

Sunday, September 04, 2011

Whistle List

Wow, so another terrific turnout. Thank you to everyone who signed up! I guess maybe another batch of whistles should be in the offing at some point...

Anyway, here is the list. I'll send out emails right now, thank you again!

9 Dale
45 SchexMixx
67 Ryan Kat
75 kii
89 Janette Luttrell
92 Epoch
109 katsiin
134 Do Not Have One
138 Bob Ross
192 GMoney
195 MJN
196 ixbrian
197 Seven Out
199 saltydog
218 melman8r
238 Porterspop
240 Jacob
244 wadams
248 onyxhawk
251 skull92

Ti Whistles SUSale

Happy Sunday Folks! It's gray and gloomy here, good day for another sign up sale...

Today I have a small batch of titanium whistles done. There are 20 of these in rainbow anodized satin finish. They vary in color a little, some are lighter and some are darker but all are really gorgeous. They will run $95 each plus shipping and the link is below. Sign Up Sale will end at 7PM Eastern time this evening. Thanks for stopping by!

Sign up is over, I will publish the list and send out emails shortly, thank you!

List of Entrants

SUSale Rules


Saturday, September 03, 2011

The List

Once again, thank you everyone for such a big turnout! Here are the randomly picked numbers...emails going out to them right now. Thanks again and hope everyone has a great weekend ahead.

1 rasi
35 CW
36 thanny
56 L0mein
80 arem
109 Munkey6901
169 Lila Bean
206 NeverWin
236 Bigfatporkchop
243 pk
249 nbmaine
256 colindn
296 rg
338 tique
365 Bloodline
385 robho

Tropical Storm SUSale

Howdy Folks!

So, in light of the tropical storm that we had here in the northeast last weekend that left such damage (thankfully not to our house) I thought maybe a Tropical Pest SUSale would be in order. I have just sixteen of these available and they will cost $75 each plus shipping. The Sign Up Sale will end at 8PM Eastern Time today, September 3rd. Thanks for stopping in folks, I deeply appreciate it and never take your continued support and generosity for granted! ;)

Sign up is over, list will be posted shortly and emails sent. Thank you!

List Of Entrants

Sign Up Sale Rules