Buddy Gaines has been making custom knives since 1985. Gaines makes superb knives, both fixed and folders, ranging from everyday user knives to art knives to full fighters and Bowies. Gaines knives use only the highest grade steels and materials ranging from ATS-34 to Damascsus. Gaines really knows how to pick his materials after making custom knives for over 22 years, as we can see here with the Exhibition Grade Mother of Pearl scales on this little straight knife. This is a piece aimed to satisfy the standards of today's collectors while remaining affordable enough for the person who wants an excellent knife fit for every day chores, serving as a utility knife with a custom look and feel.
Gaines shows art in minimalism through a series of fine countours and lines. The general shape of the knife is a tried and true design made with performance in mind. Gaine's bevels and grinds are some of the cleanest you'll ever find. The ATS-34 blade is entirely hand made, right down to the hand rubbed satin finish, The bevels are long and sweeping and create a shape similar to the handle in the oposite direction. This brings the blade together with the handle to form a knife that is superbley balanced and comfortable to work with.
The pearl scales are a matching set and are of exhibition grade quality. If you examine them closely, they are flawless - no pits, scratches or fills. The effect of the white pearl in light makes tones of green and purple, having an almost holographic effect. Pictures 5 and 6 above show the "clouds" or "fish-scales" in the pearl scales.
The fit of all parts to make this one tool are what I wish I could make all knives have. Gaine's gets material's so close and and cuts with such precision that every piece alligns and fits perfect. No gaps or spaces, no uneven surfaces - just flawless fit. The Stainless Steel bolsters, given a brushed appearance, are a great example of Gaines quality in assembly. Pictures 7-12 show examples of how great this assembly is.
This is a great knife for the user who wants a smaller, folding knife sized blade in a full, tapered tang style package, or the collector wanting to demonstrate a knife superior in fit and finish , grade of materials and overall construction. This knife comes with a brown leather sheath.
