(This may make Jeroen wish he was dead just so that he could roll over in his grave...)
Years back a friend of mine was over to dinner and challenged me to make a 'tactical sax.' I went him one better and the next time he was over for dinner I presented him with a Tactical Folding Sax... which he bought immediately. Since then I've made a few more, tweaking the design each time until this one. This is a prototype for a possible production version of this knife.
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Normally I would make the scales in Textured G-10 but this is a prototype... and the cocobolo is pretty...
Here's a pic of the lock engagement- because some one always asks...
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Blade length: 4 inches
OAL (open): 9-1/8 inches
Thickness: 7/16 inch
Weight: 5 ounces
The prototype features a chisel-ground O-1 tool steel blade, stainless fittings, titanium liners and cocobolo scales. Naturally a production version of this knife would include a stainless steel blade, G-10 scales and a pocket clip.
Oh- here's the other side:
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Haven't bought a knife in about 5 years but I'd buy one of these. I like it.

Michael,

Thank you for writing, "(This may make Jeroen wish he was dead just so that he could roll over in his grave...)"
I nearly sprayed my computer with coffee when I read that! Jeroen, no offense please, it was just funny.

The folding sax is amazing inasmuch as it is an idea that stems from a roughly 1300 year old prototype and presents itself as such a modern looking and sleek pocket knife. My take on it is you should make two models a big one with g10 grips or whatever but also make a much smaller one with wooden or embellished grips as a "gentleman's" knife.

Thanks again for the laugh!

I was actually planning a 3-inch blade version; if it gets much smaller than that the handle doesn't 'work' right in the hand. There was some real temptation to make the scales thicker and carve them but that wasn't appropriate for this particular knife but I like your idea of doing the smaller, embellished version.

Oh yes- no offense intended Jeroen; just a bit of friendly ribbing.

that has a very striking resemblence to my lebendwell pocket knife,
http://www.kingofknives.com/Cutlery/Brands/LE...Knife.html its not as close a resemblence as i thought i remembered but when folded looks quite similar. the shapeof the handle is stainless steel and skeletonised sort of.

Me Want! Me Want! Will this be a regular addition to your tactical folders??

I've had the pleasure of handling it and it's a great feeling folder in the hand. Unusual shape yet it fits well!

If this takes off as a production piece, any chance there might be a broken-back version someday?

Actually, ever since I started to appreciate your work in folding knives, I've wanted to see you do a "tactical folding baselard". If you kept the cross and pommel "lobes" short (as in your recent traditional baselards) it might work pretty well. Maybe with a pocket clip?

-Eric

Looks great Tinker!

Beautiful! Good to see that the thumb stud appears to be reversible for us lefties. I would definitely prefer the wood grain scales though. The shape is very pretty, would love to see how the 3 inch version looks.

Michael,

Yeah, I came back for another look! I have to agree with another writer who said he prefers the wooden scales. The knife is streamlined and sophisticated looking so the wooden grips seem to suit it more than military style grips would.

I noticed the prototype has a chisel grind and I'm wondering why. Is there any benefit to a chisel grind on a knife blade?