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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 12:22:02 GMT -5
I dug up an old Victorinox 'army knife' from a drawer that I had forgotten about, and started thinking it would be neat to make scales for it.
Someone from another forum mentioned that Victorinox was already putting stone scales on these knives, and they are rocks by nation. Here's the rock types they have on the site:
0.6200.53 Victorinox: RocKnives series Bijou/Classic - Blue St. Cross scales, Brazil;
• 0.6200.54 Victorinox: RocKnives series Bijou/Classic - Andeer Granite scales, Switzerland
• 0.6200.55 Victorinox: RocKnives series Bijou/Classic - Pantheon Granite, Italy;
• 0.6200.56 Victorinox: RocKnives series Bijou/Classic - Rosa Betha, Sardinia
• 0.6200.57 Victorinox: RocKnives series Bijou/Classic - Bethel White, Canada
• 0.6200.58 Victorinox: RocKnives series Bijou/Classic - Baltic Brown, Russia
I noticed there was no US rock in that collection.
I was curious... if you had to pick ONE rock that best represented the US's wealth of rocks... which would it be?
Ohio Flint Ridge Flint?
California Rose Quartz or Amethyst?
What do you think would be the most common here, or least available rock elsewhere? Thanks:).
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Post by deb193redux on Aug 23, 2013 13:20:51 GMT -5
most common here and least available elsewhere are two different things. also those examples are trade names, not rock types. all of the examples are granite, and they come from a region, which may or may not also be found all over the country. if you wanted to stick with granite, and you wanted to go with "not elsewhere", you go with llanite because it occurs nowhere else in the world. if you wanted granite very common in the US but not so common elsewhere, maybe one of the varieties form New Hampshire, Vermont, or Georgia where most commercial granite in the US comes from. If you wanted any rock that was particularly American, you might consider picture jaspers which seem to be more common in the US Northwest than anywhere else around the planet. FYI, iteresting article on granite counters: www.forbes.com/sites/stephanefitch/2010/11/23/granite-countertop-craze-has-cost-u-s-more-than-gulf-war/ |
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 14:29:59 GMT -5
Daniel... that is a truly wonderful and informative answer:). Thanks:)!
I was already thinking picture jaspers... while I know there are imported types (Chinese painting stones, flower stone), I haven't seen any that looked like the owyhees.
(and the article was insightful... never occurred to me how many rocks are being redistributed all around the country on people's kitchens).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2013 14:35:44 GMT -5
Plastic  |
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 14:45:47 GMT -5
LOL! Plastic:P. HAAA!!! That cracked me up:).
I thought and thought about it... what DO we have? And I think of the first rocks that really blew my mind and made me think I LIKE ROCKS!!! Owyhee Picture Jaspers. Really, nothing I've seen ANYWHERE have pictures like that... and in some cases pictures of even the desert landscapes they come from.
Then I started wondering... hrm... morrisonite? Bruneau? Willow Creek? Carrasite? Do any of those resemble rocks from other countries?
Granite really is not terribly distinguishable, and I think Llanite would not be such a great knife stone just because of the different hardnesses (quartz and feldspar together).
Still thinking how great Daniel's answer for this was!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2013 14:46:02 GMT -5
I have a bit of a knife collection. I thought it would be cool to have a granite scaled swiss army knife. There are none for sale at the moment. They sold those knives in 1989'ish!
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 15:08:13 GMT -5
Granite covers such a broad base of rock... I discovered that when I was countertop shopping. The hardness and porosity range was gigantic! I can't think of a granite type that I could look at and say... Oh! That's an American granite!
I know JamesP was saying that Georgia granite is indigenous, but it's not that different looking from say grey Italian marbles. Not different enough to be instantly recognizable anyway. Another thing would be granite porosity... if countertops need to be sealed, how badly would a knife that sat in your pocket and handled with greasy or dirty hands regularly stain?
But a nice picture rock, with a discernible picture... maybe Deschutes or Biggs even, that entire family of picture rocks, is instantly recognizable.
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 23, 2013 15:25:48 GMT -5
I like Daniel's answer too. llanoite would be great if you wanted a granite type stone. Or Mariposite as it's a stone unique to America. I got to say though, that nothing makes me think America more than dino bone or AZ rainbow wood. I'd say Fordite except it's synthetic and I'd fear it would get dull fast in a knife scale as it's not hard enough.....Mel
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 23, 2013 15:31:38 GMT -5
Wouldn't an American rock have to be something made in China?
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 15:32:21 GMT -5
I like Daniel's answer too. llanoite would be great if you wanted a granite type stone. Or Mariposite as it's a stone unique to America. I got to say though, that nothing makes me think America more than dino bone or AZ rainbow wood. I'd say Fordite except it's synthetic and I'd fear it would get dull fast in a knife scale as it's not hard enough.....Mel Ahhh... dino bone or rainbow wood!!! But there are other places that have dino bone right? I can't think of anyplace that has rainbow wood... or even hickorite/wonderstone?? |
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 15:32:40 GMT -5
Wouldn't an American rock have to be something made in China? Uh... NO! LOL! Far as I know... making pocket knives is a very US thing. Also, with flight restrictions on pocket knives, and the restrictions about carrying knives to schools, the appeal is really to a very limited market of collectors and personal users. I'm not sure I can pull off scales without a saw anyway. Just thinking what I could make them with if I could:). |
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Post by phil on Aug 23, 2013 16:11:24 GMT -5
Candy Rock from the southwestern states of NM, Ariz, and Utah. Afaik, it's a totally unique rhyolite particular to here. I'd add a photo, but I get the message this forum has exceeded it's allotment.  Another choice would be Alibates Flint. Totally unique to the US. Again, sorry, no pic. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2013 16:15:15 GMT -5
I think we are seeking iconic rocks. Dino bone certainly says "USA" to anyone in the world. It is an icon.
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 16:17:07 GMT -5
Why do you think that? There's dino bones found all over the world, including in China. Or do you mean Americans are the only ones who slab it?
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 23, 2013 19:03:12 GMT -5
Hmmm, I know other countries have dino bone but I don't know if it's agatized, gemmy, or available. I've been collecting almost all my life and I've never seen gem bone from anywhere other than the US. I do have an agatized slab from Canada but it does not have the color of our US stuff.....Mel
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 19:19:44 GMT -5
Hmmm, I know other countries have dino bone but I don't know if it's agatized, gemmy, or available. I've been collecting almost all my life and I've never seen gem bone from anywhere other than the US. I do have an agatized slab from Canada but it does not have the color of our US stuff.....Mel Good to know, thanks Mel. I haven't seen any dino bone from anywhere else either... very curious! |
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The Dad_Ohs
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Aug 23, 2013 19:34:23 GMT -5
I am currently working on a set of scales with some Blu-G that I got from H2MM, and a set made from very colorful Jasper. I've been debating a handle for a non folder made from a Sheen OB, but not sure how well it will hold up so that may be a display only knife. I got a plastic handled Pirates of the Caribbean folding knife metal blade and body and everything else is plastic that I want to do in stone. It's a big knife almost 15 inches x 4 inches.... closed. thinking of one rock for the handles and another for the bolsters, to get rid of as much plastic as possible and replace it with rock. maybe rainbow pet wood for the bolsters.... anyways.. someday I will get them done and post pics. Good luck with it!!  |
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 19:52:27 GMT -5
How interesting Mario! Would love to see pix when you are done with them! I'm thinking and thinking about what slabs I have that would have 2 'pictures' so I can make 2 scales... not so easy when you are thinking 'pairs'  . |
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 23, 2013 20:17:19 GMT -5
Actually making pocket knives is not such a US thing these days. In older times Germany is where most were made, then later the Japanese became very good at it. But now, with the exception of custom makers, China is the headquarters for most knives. Companies like Schrade, Columbia River Knife and Tool, Cold Steel, Bolker, Colt, Smith and Wesson etc etc.all contract with China now. A good US made knife like an Esee will be real pricey these days.....Mel
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Post by helens on Aug 23, 2013 20:46:17 GMT -5
Is that right? I don't know anything about that market... I've seen some incredibly beautiful knives with rocks, and just came across this old victorinox in a drawer and started wondering if I could do something with it myself... so much inspiration around from people who do beautiful work using stones in knives.
I am more curious about this use of stone on blades than anything right now, and even if I did make some scales, I doubt I'd make many. It's just a fascinating subject:).
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