Today’s blog is going to be about one of the most eclectic custom knife makers I have come across in the industry. David Steier a retired toolmaker for GE. After retirement, David decided to put his the skills he had acquired in his past career to use, blend them with his passion and put forth unique knife creations unmatched by any other maker.
Upon first contact with David through his website ( http://SteierKnives.com ) I was able to get a foretaste of what I might expect upon my visit to his show booth. While the knives on his website were beautiful and unique, I was not prepared for the experience of what they would actually be like once I met up with David at the show.
After arriving at the show and making my way to David’s booth the selection and diversity of style were absolutely mind-blowing. David had taken the time to bring a wide variety of his custom knife creations. All the knives presented were made of the highest quality material possible per their price point.
While it was apparent David took the care to use the best material the question that needed to be answered in my mind at this point was: “Does the craftsmanship match the quality?”
Upon handling several of his models, I was very impressed. If you are somewhat of a knife collector, you have more than likely had the experience of seeing that one piece that you just had to have but once you had it in your hand realized quality, material and craftsmanship do not always align. In this industry, there are artists and craftsman, but the real treasures are found when one can find a piece that is truly a piece of functional art where the maker possess the highest skillset in bringing both quality and craftsmanship together in a single creation. David Steier’s knives certainly fit the bill.
Some of the materials David likes to work with for his more art centered knives are Damascus steel for his blades, patterned Damascus and mokume for bolsters and then a wide variety of handle material including fossilized brain corral, mammoth tooth, fossilized ivory, and mother of pearl.
For David’s more tactical folders with a flare more standard blade materials are used along with zinc, ti-mascus, g10 and carbon fiber.
After reviewing David’s knives, I decided to hold off on my purchase as I wanted to give the showroom a fair run to see what others were also offered Making the decision to buy an art knife is not easy and I just had to be sure the decision I was going to be making was right for me.
Throughout the show I found myself returning over and over to his table as I had my eye on a piece I just could not get off my mind. Well, to my disappointment it did not take long for the knife of my dreams to find a new loving home with someone else. While disappointed in myself and my decision to wait this also stirred the fire inside and after browsing his other selections I found the 2nd love of my life and this one could be mine.
So now the 2nd love has become my 1st love and now adorns my pocket on a daily basis. Most people think I am a little crazy to carry around an art knife as my every day carry (EDC). While it is true, I do not go hardcore cutting into random things with my little pretty the joy I get from whipping it out and showing others what a fine piece it is gives me great pleasure. To hold it in my hand and to feel the butter smooth action and prominent click of its liner lock is a feeling that cannot be expressed very well to a non-knife person but is one all too well known by the true knife connoisseur. Each day before leaving the house I drop my little pretty in my pocket with a smile and have fleeting thoughts of who can I show this to today. Each person I show I know I will surely bring about the same kind of awe and joy I first experienced upon meeting David and having the opportunity to review his fine work and adding one of his beautiful pieces to my own collection.
So let’s talk a little about the knife I chose.
The handle as you can see I truly a mind-bending experience in itself. The material is fossilized brain corral ranging in shades of browns, oranges, and yellows.
As you work your way up to the bolsters, you can’t help but notice the beautiful swirled pattern of mokume. Mokume is a unique Damascus material typically made of copper, silver, nickel and other precious metals. Mokume-gane, the official Japanese name, is a procedure a layering different metals where the final product has a more orange or copper-colored final finish and looks very similar to wood. In fact, the word Mokume Gane itself translates from Japanese closely to “wood grain metal” or “wood eye metal”. When you see mokume, it is easy to see why and how the material got its name.
Completing the face of the design is a nice little mother of pearl flipper button that compliments and pulls together the handle scale and bolsters.
As we move around the knife, the liner jeweling next catches one’s eye as it blends in with contrast against the dark Damascus back spacer. Next, as we open the knife up itself, one notices the ultra-smooth action that reveals the dark teardrop patterned Damascus blade ground to a dagger style finish.
To learn more about David Steier and how you can add a knife to your collection that will bring you ongoing pleasure in use and pride in showmanship check David Steier out at: http://SteierKnives.com
