Michael Walker folder pics

rdangerer

rdangerer

Joined
May 26, 2000
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Ok, first of all, I don’t own this knife… wish I did. It might belong to Phil Lobred. Not sure.

I downloaded it off a site posted by someone recently here on BF, but misplaced the link.

Michael Walker’s damasteel page has some pics of his work, but they are disappointingly poor resolution (certainly NOT PointSeven's fault, just low rez for small size on the server):
http://www.ssdamascus.com/knives.htm

If you have good quality pics of Michael's work you can post, please do so I can add them (pics) to my collection of his work. It’s about as close to having a Michael Walker folder as I’ll get anytime soon. Thanks.
 

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Another one... a D Lock
 

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The image of the Walker knife is off of this site in the Other Knives in the Collection area:

San Francisco Knives

Here's the hi-res image:

MW1543-EL.jpg
 
Gabe, thanks for reposting the link. I've saved it this time. There are some awesome knives out on that link. Including the famous King Tut dagger by Buster Warenski.

Never heard of the "Dr Darom" book... thanks for the lead.
http://www.bladegallery.com/knives/knife.asp?knifeid=2132
http://www.arizonacustomknives.com/displayKnife.asp?pid=1454
http://bladesinternational.com/archives2002/darom.php
http://www.tuttocoltelli.it/libri/Book/deplian.pdf

Several of the lists show a table of contents that don't mention Michael Walker though. Is it another book you might be thinking of with Walker pics?


On Walker... he was a nice guy to talk with at the show.

Those zipper blades... typically they are titanium spines and of course damascus on the cutting edge side. He told me the two halves were cut in that pattern, I quickly guessed "laser"... he said no way, not precise enough by an order of magnitude.

He uses a wire EDM to do a super precision cut of the sharkstooth pattern, and then press fits those two pieces together. Talk about super precision... not a gap to be found. They look welded together... Actually, it looks like he did super precision masking and etching to reveal the damascus pattern on the bottom half (i.e. there is absolutely zero gap between the zipper teeth.

Wire EDM's are very pricey. Walker told me he bought an old one that was in disrepair... out of service. He spent a large amount of time learning, rebuilding, and making it serviceable. So the guy is pretty technical and mechanical both, in addition to being an artisan.

The precision and rigidity, the smoothness and solid action of his knives, of his locks, has to be felt to be appreciated. Unlike any other folder I've handled. The guy is a real master.
 
My preference is for the lasat one you posted. It is plain compared to the knives Michael Walker usually makes and I think that is why I prefer it. I used to really like his intricate designs, but my taste has shifted to more simple designs. Whatever the case, his knives are exquisite.
 
Absolutely beautiful !

How he gets the blades to look like that is mind boggling ! !
 
Those are awesome. Even if the style does not float your boat what rdangerer said rings very true.

The precision and rigidity, the smoothness and solid action of his knives, of his locks, has to be felt to be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Few if any of the folders that I have handled come to mind that can compare.

Thanks rdangerer!
 
I purchased prints of the following Walker knives from Point Seven. With their generous permission, I'm putting up scans of these prints.
 
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