Backup100BLK

As released in the 2017 Mid Year Product Guide, Spyderco will be releasing Bob's version of the Traditional Chinese Fighter, the Darn Dao. It will be a Flash Batch serial numbered release. Blade is flat ground from CPM154 steel. Black G-10 handle scales. Includes a leather sheath with open top. OAL 16.27". Blade is 10.63" with a 9.86" cutting edge. Includes a trademark Spyderco Hole in the choil. Overall, a very faithful reproduction of my favorite piece from Bob. Of which very few were made.

Bob has told me that he made about a dozen miniatures. He doesn't like making them, because they take almost as much time to make as it would a full size knife. But for me, he made three throughout our friendship: a Mini Darn Dao with Ivory scales; a Mini Darn Dao with Blackwood scales; and a Miniature Tanto with Blackwood scales. Through the support of a good friend, I was able to score the Miniature Tanto that was offered on Nordic Knives earlier this week. And I am forever grateful for his generosity. In my earlier post, I mentioned that the hamagiri tip and the tapered tang were two of the design elements that point to this being a Bob Lum original. Now that I have the piece in hand, I can add two more: the bolster shape and the angled spine treatment.

Twenty-third in the series: two blade blanks. The Tanto was a template meant for Timberlines knives. While the Grandmaster Darn Dao was my second custom Lum. It's made with L6 steel and was extremely rust prone, so I sent it back to Bob for a refit. Unfortunately, it sat in his shop for years and was never completed. Normally Bob would never have a knife leave his shop unless the knife was completed, so this is a very rare item.

Eight in the series: four Darn Dao's.

Few people knew that Bob makes miniatures. I only found out when I stumbled onto a Stag Handled Tanto Miniature in the hands of a Japanese collector. I then asked Bob to make me a few. Of course I had to have a Tanto, and one of the Grandmaster Darn Dao. They were made as a match set with African Blackwood handles. I then asked Bob to make one more Grandmaster Darn Dao, but to dress it up. He did so with Ivory handles. These are scaled replicas of his full size models; including such details as tapered tangs, full bolster, and even the full spine swedge he often did on his tantos (see photo below). #7, #8, and #9 (Top to bottom): #7: is an Ivory Handled Miniature Grandmaster Darn Dao. Blade length is 3.5", OAL of 5.5". #8: is an African Blackwood Handled Miniature Grandmaster Darn Dao. Blade length is 3.5", OAL of 5.5". #9: is a African Blackwood Handled Miniature Tanto. Blade length is 2.25", OAL of 4". Unfortunately, Bob did not enjoy making these, as t...