Still kickin' - and pics to prove it

Hi, the older ones among you may remember me: My name is Stefan, and I used to make knife handles, occasionally. In fact, some of you may have grown very old while waiting for a handle from me... Don't want to bore you with my life story - the short version is: It sucks but is better than 2 years ago - but I just did not find a way to making woodworking a priority with everything else going on. But recently I have been getting back a bit - last but not least because Keith (keithsaltydog) has been kicking my butt for which I am very thankful. So, I still have a long way to go, but at least there is a little bit of movement. Just wanted to send a sign of life and some prove that I made it into the shop. These pictures are all of handles that had been ordered a loooong time ago - to the point that I will now contact people in the next couple of days to find out whether they are still interested. In the meantime, a few others have started making handles, and I can blame nobody if they checked in with these guys who do excellent work. In fact, most of mine will almost look a bit simplistic compared to others you may have seen here recently. Anyway, If you think you see yours, send me a PM, but I will also contact everyone over the next few days. These are phone pics, so the colors may not be 100% but you get the idea. Tbc. soon.

Thanks,

Stefan



2-tone amboyna, D-shape






Small petty handle, redwood burl & spalted maple






Bog oak, horn, nickel silver





koa and marbled horn - mine, all mine





figured African blackwood & Hawaiian signature wood





koa & spalted myrtle burl





Spalted Hawaiian Norfolk pine & marbled horn






Belize rosewood & horn






koa & spalted maple (I think...)





Spalted Norfolk pine & blackwood, similar to Marko's style





pre-WWII bakelite, horn, nickel silver





premium amboyna burl & marbled horn, D-shape






amboyna burl, bog oak, reconst. malachite, oval shape





thuya burl & horn






amboyna burl, horn, nickel silver, a la Marko





koa, horn, nickel silver







desert ironwood burl, horn, bakelite spacer





Honduran rosewood burl & blackwood





Hawaiian signature wood & rosewood burl





myrtle burl & horn






spalted Hawaiian Norfolk pine & horn

 

Stefan...virtually all of those handles have at least one specific thing about them that just straight grabs you, some multiple. ALL of the wood is gorgeous!!

Spalted myrtle burl lol?

I'm officially jealous sir.

 

Nice! Hope you can keep doing what makes you better/happy!

 

Yes, let me second that, every one of these handles has something that attracts your attention in a good way

 

I'm still loving the handles you made for me and these look great as well

 

Thanks! Cris, that myrtle burl was my only piece and I don't remember where it came from, I THINK it may even have been a freebie that someone added to an order. Walid, I hope you especially like the koa w/ nickel silver one and the thuya burl one...

Stefan

 

Hmm, that signature wood is mine....okay, not really, but if no one claims it.....

Glad to see you back at it Stefan, hope it was slightly therapeutic for you. Strong work for sure.

 

Simplistic? Not really. Elegant! Most assuredly! Stunning! Without a doubt! Glad to see you back up and running and it is easy to see you are still a top notch handle maker.

 

Dang those are beautiful handles!

 

Wow, you definitely have not lost your touch.

 

Wow , they are so clean and so good , it's clear you made few before ha ha . Good to see you in action again . I really like the signature wood , haven't seen it before

 

Wow, these are beautiful!! And as Cris wrote, each of them has something very unique. Many thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for your kind words, everyone! I am glad you like them. The longer I do this, the more I seem to come back to rather basic combinations that feature either one specific, nice piece of wood or a nice contrast of colors, figures etc. For example the koa handle with the marbled ferrule that I keep for myself: The koa piece is from an old tree, close to the bark, and it has an almost burly figure. Similar to burls there are a few little grooves and voids in there, and the piece is far from perfect when you compare it to the premium, evenly striped curly koa most people think of. But it still has a lot of 3-D chatoyance and the combination of that all just makes it an interesting piece - no need for added bling.

Stefan

 

Everybody will have to up their game.

 

Excellent comeback Stefan!

 

Stefan... They are just fantastic.
Keeping it simple makes it all about the wood. And damn you got some nice wood here. I am drooling over these pictures. Nice work and good to see you in action!

 

I love them all Stefan but damn does this one grab me by the ****....

 

The Hawaiian signature wood is really cool!
All stunners otherwise.

 

Thanks, guys. Well, I made a few extras and a couple of the Koa ones here also go unclaimed, so I plan on putting up a few for sale, maybe next weekend. Hope you will like some of those also...

Stefan

 

Now I'm anxious to see what we get in another two years! Glad to see signs of life and that your still with us. Hope things keep moving in the right directions for you!