aahhhh...My First!

[Bill Vining]

I have a friend who is an avid collector of "Texas Toothpicks" He has been asking me for a while to make him one or two or ten. I never had the nerve to try one. Slipjoints just seemed so complicated. Well anyway, with his encouragement, here is his first. Lot's of fun to make. I think I see more in my future.




Thanks for lookin'

Bill

[Shakudo]

nice looking folder,where did the name "texas toothpick " come from though? looks like a french or spanish design.

[Demaske]

Hi Bill;
I like that. is that blade 01? It comes out kinda grey in the photo thats why I ask.
I want to say more on how good it looks to me but that would be rambling.

Paul

[SharpByCoop]

Originally Posted by Shakudo

nice looking folder,where did the name "texas toothpick " come from though? looks like a french or spanish design.

The Texas Toothpick design has been around a long, long time. Almost as long as a Spanish 'Navaja' or a French 'Laguiole' knife, which has a very similar shape.

The American version is a little less fancy and ornate.

Bill, you started at the top and are still climbing!

Coop

[stoneman]

Wow Bill, that is a beauty!
Amazing job for your first slip joint.
Thanks for posting.

[Bill Vining]

Thanks for the kind words folks. This knife was fun to make and I will be making more in the future.

The blade and backspring are 01 with a satin finish. This may contribute to the gray color.

Bill

[Chris_Crawford]

Great looking knife Bill! The lines are great and I love the scales.

So how do you compare making a slipjoint to making a liner-lock? I've made many slipjoints but have never gotten around to really trying my hand at making a nice liner-lock.

-chris

[DaveL]

It is very nice, Billl. I think you will be very happy making more and know you will just get better. The slip joint is always popular and you have done a good job with this one.

[Bill Vining]

Chris,

Where this was my first slipjoint, there was of course some experimentation to figure out how everything fit where it was supposed to. Your tutorial helped greatly. Working with brass liners was something new. I probably bent 2 or three pieces beyond repair at first. Ti is a little more durable. I also learned how to solder bolsters on and got past my biggest fear, peining pins. I was always afraid I was going to crack something.

In comparison, I thought the slipjoint had a smaller learning curve than the linerlock. I'm absolutely sure that my linerlock experience helped out quite a bit as well. It was a lot of fun to make and I will definately be making more. I really like the liner lock and I will probably continue to make more of those than anything else.

With your talents Chris, I don't think you will have any problems at all making a beautiful linerlock knife.

Bill

[Mace]

Bill,
This knife looks so nice it makes me hate you!!!
What a clasic beauty....you don't see these very much.
Very nice.
Mace


PS. That stubby cigar you gave me at the last NCCA show was great....I had it the other night.

[rhrocker]

Extremenly well done Bill, I like the photography also.

[Bill Vining]

Thanks guys.

Hey Mace, maybe I'll give you a whole cigar at the next show.


Bill

[Robert Dark]

Bill:

It usually takes something special to ring my chimes, but I hear bells.

That is absolutely beautiful............

Gonna have me one of those some day......

Robert