Harsey Knife
 

I am, as of this morning, in receipt of a most excellent Bill Harsey, Jr. Custom Applegate-Fairbairn Knife, made of CPM S-30V steel.

The craftsmanship and attention to detail is incredible. He truly deserves the outstanding reputation he has within the knifemaking community.

It is literally a work of art, yet sharp enough to shave with and as pointed as a needle. I suspect that I could cut a 55 gallon drum in half with it, and it would still be in decent shape. I understand that Mr. Harsey has cut rifle barrels in two with an S-30V blade before.

I suspect that Colonel Applegate would be very pleased with this latest version of his knife.

Would anyone like to see pictures?

TR

I cannot believe you posted that without a PICTURE!

Yes.

You actully think that you needed to ask ?? Or are you just making us suffer until you get around to it ?!?!?!

OWNED!!
 

This is going to be good!

How about we start with a dressed teaser?

TR

Re: Harsey Knife
 

Thanks for the high complimnets Reaper, one small thing I have to address for the sake of saving my own rear, I can cut shavings, small type, from the surface of a rifle barrel, never tried to cut one in two, yet. Thanks!!!!!

Naked steel.

Should I keep putting these up?

TR

Re: OWNED!!
 

You know he's going to pull that knife out an inch at a time now.

edit, well now, its nice to be wrong...lol

so what does a knife of such high calliber as that pictured set a man back?

Like most good things in life, a premium product sells for a premium price.

These are hand made to exacting standards from the best materials currently available.

I will never need another knife of this particular type unless I lose this one or have to leave it somewhere.

I believe that they are going for $375 in CPM S-30V, and to me, are worth every penny. Mr. Harsey can give you the exact sum. His name, and the Colonel's is on every one he makes.

Front side with the Applegate Fairbairn signatures.

TR

nice sticker....
 

I'd like to get my hands on one of your "Yarborough's" though;)

Re: nice sticker....
 

You will get one for free, if you accomplish your mission.

Family tradition and lineage in this pic.

TR

Great knives.... thanks for posting TR. :cool:

Question.... Was that knife made in Bill's shop by him... or was it made by another larger operation based on Bill's criteria?

By Bill personally, in his shop, for a specific customer.

He was very accomodating with the personal special requests as well.

I am VERY satisfied. I have it on good authority that it is pretty much guaranteed for life.

If the TS doens't me burning bandwidth, here is another one.

TR

Modern era, by request.

TR

Those are some beautiful knives. Kudos to Mr. Harsey.

I'll admit I'm a bit envious TR.

Sorry, I appear to be on a roll.

TR

Sir Reaper, Many thanks for the pics of the knives. I may have to buy a print from you! For those who are wondering, this is the knife I've made for Col. Rex Applegate since 1984. A portion of the sale from each knife goes to the late Col. Applegates estate. The customs are hand made by me here in my shop. The knife pictured is among the very first made from CPM S30V steel. This is the steel Chris Reeve and I pioneered in the Yarborough knife. This was the first ever commercial use of that steel, but we'd both been working with it for a year before it was on the market. It was Chris who suggested the alloy to Crucible, friend or not I "don't use nothin" unless it's the best steel available. This stuff has some remarkable traits and it exceeds all expectations. All the blade shaping and grinding are done freehand by me on belt grinders I built myself (not just another pretty boy knifemaker...). This knife was designed by both Applegate and Fairbairn during WW Two because of the documented problems with the Fairbairn Sykes Dagger. The knife was never produced because the war ended. Col. Applegate brought the drawings out about 1980 and here we are.

Mr. Harsey, Do you have a book or pics you could share to show the process of you making one of these knives? Hell, I'd buy the book. Reading your description of this knife makes me want to see how it's done.

New TV show - American Bladesmith

Not yet but working on the pics! Just got a digital camera around here. Might have to have Reaper come out. Bill

More than happy to shoot anything you send me.

Might even send some of it back!

You want full-sized pics of my S-30V A-F for yourself, just let me know.

TR

THANKS! We'll talk.

Alright, last one, unless someone has a specific request.

Thanks again, Mr. Harsey! You are a true Master of your craft.

TR

The Riddle of Steel

Fire and Wind come from the Sky, from the Gods of the Sky.
But your God is Crom, and he lives in the Earth.

Once Giants lived in the Earth, Conan,
and in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom,
and took from him the enigma of Steel.

Crom was angered and the Earth shook,
and Fire and Wind struck down these giants,
and threw their bodies onto the waters.

But in their rage,
the Gods forgot the secret of Steel
and left it on the battlefield.

And we who found it, are just men,
Not Gods, Not Giants, just men.

The Secret of Steel had always carried with it a mystery,
you must its secret Conan, you must learn its discipline,

for no one, on one on this earth can you trust,
not men, not women, not beasts,

*lifts sword*, this you can trust!

Personally I see a documentary on The History Channel in the making.

Bill....if you want to get something going alone those lines, I've got some contacts up here in Seattle. You're only a hop-skip-and a jump away.

I think a show is a DAMN ASSED GOOD IDEA.

BTW....TR.....Love the pics. You have some great talent there (that is, IF you took those pics). I love how you've got it set up against that GARAND. Your's ???

Ooooh! Aaaaahhh!:lifter

Mr Harsey:

Works of art, and I don't say that lightly.

Terry

Who will they get for him to yell at? :D

Seriously, one of those Discovery Channel specials on the bladesmith and how it ties into who gets it. I'd buy that one just to watch him craft a knife from start to finish.

Hell....I'd let him bark at me, just for the opportunity to watch the Master at work.

Bill: NO NO NO...YOU STUPID PIECE OF SHIT !!!!! THAT"S NOT WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO !!!!!

Me: Ohhh...you mean I'm not supposed to mix 420 stainless steal with Kevlar ??? But I thought you'd want one that was strong and didn't rust ???

Bill: ***Slice***

Me: ARRRGGGHHHHH **splirt...splirt...splirt...**

American Chopper meets American Bladesman
 

I think the "Mrs." Harsey can keep Billy boy in check... she could be similar to Paul Sr.'s character and Bill could function as lil' Pauly from the chopper show!! LOL Sdiver could be comical relief/whacko like the youngest brother on the show. :D

I can just hear it now...
WIFE's character: " DAMN IT BILL....get off the blankety blank computer and get back to work! And clean up this shop and quit goofing off with Sdiver....we have deadlines to meet!"

Yep, I took them with my cheapie camera.

The Garand used to belong to the U.S., but came to me for $185 through the DCM several years back.

Trust me folks, Bill is Paul, Sr., at least, in appearance. Much better attitude though, more mischievous, like Paul, Jr. Course, with a one man shop, he could play all of the parts, yelling at himself, goofing off on himself, hiding from himself, the possibilities are endless!

Best part is, he has no dish or cable, so he has no idea what we are talking about. Someone needs to tape several episodes (assuming he has a VCR) and mail them to him.

Bill, you would be a natural for a Discovery Channel or History Channel episode!

TR

You've got a great talent there Boss-man. I know alot of photo hogs that couldn't come up with shots like that. Nice work.

BTW.....$185 for that Garand. I just busted a nut. I want another one (M1) so bad. Had to get rid of my old one.

I want a nice M-1 Garand also. I completed basic training with one.

Terry

You want one the easy, expensive way, or the hard, cheap way?


Sdiver:

Thanks for the kind comments. I am trying to learn and be like MM.

TR

TR:

I guess easy and cheap, is not an option.

What do I need to do, and how expensive will it be?

Terry

I am not exactly sure what Sir Reaper is referring to, But I know that Springfield Armory makes brand new Garand rifles in 30-06 and .308 that run roundabout $900-$1000. I believe that The CMP also has some garands still available to eligible individuals.
Here is a list of their eligibility requirements. Last I heard, CMP garands started at $400 for a shooter.

Damn, you learn something new every day. Looks like I am eligible. I guess I'll have to start allocating funds for a garand now.

Damn kids!

Always underfoot, trying to butt in....

He's right again, as usual.

You can pay big bucks for a collector item (like a Winchester, or a certain serial number range, or condition), or pay medium bucks for a Springfield new manufacture rifle, or pay the least (starting at $400) and get a CMP rifle, after you meet the requirements for:

U.S. Citizenship

Age

Membership in CMP Affiliated Organization

Marksmanship or other Firearms Related Activity

Be Legally Eligible to Purchase a Firearm

Order Form and Purchaser Certification and Agreement

Good luck!

TR

TR:

If you ever find yourself looking for something else to do, I believe that you have a talent for commercial photography. Very impressive photos, and not just because of the impressive subjects.