Take Down Tanto

April, John

"My name is John April, I have been interested in and collected knives since I was a kid. My father always had a jackknife in his pocket, and somehow always found use for it, and I realized what a great tool it was. In my early 20's I would save up and buy higher quality factory production knives made by Benchmade and Blackjack. In 1991, I bought a Lansky sharpener and learned how to sharpen knives so they will shave hair. Over the years I could afford more expensive knives, I have collected 1800's antique knives, and the knives of some of the great 1970's custom makers. In 2004, I was walking through my woods, and I found a deer antler on the ground. I picked it up, held it in my hand, and decided I was going to make a knife with it. I took an old chef's knife, drew a blade shape on it with a magic marker, and proceeded to cut out the shape with the $29 bench top grinding wheel I had bought to sharpen my lawn mower blades. I drilled holes, made my own copper rivets, pounded a slot through a sheet of brass with a screwdriver and hammer, cut it out and assembled it. It's horribly made, looks terrible. However, I still have it, use it, and love it."