Ivan Campos - Knifemaker

About Cats, Mice and Knives

ivancampos — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:45:26 +0000

Very long ago, far far away…

“There was a man who was really, really upset with a mouse that came to live in his kitchen. No trap, poison or broom blasts were any good to get rid of the little devil. So one day the man decides to ask for help from the cats who lived in the village.

The first cat, big and strong, caused more good than harm destroying everythihng on his way, uselessly.

The second cat was agile and fast, a black belt in feline matial arts, but he only managed to et himself tired.

The third cat had came from the capital of the kingdom and was a master in military strategy but his beautifully elaborated, preciselly detailed plans resulted in complete failures.

In despair, the man went to the village to talk to the oldest cat in the community, th was laying lazilly on a porch. After agreeing to help, the cat went calmly to the man´s kitchen and, menuts later, went out with what was left from the cat in his mouth.

Amazed, the other cats asked the elder feline how could he accomplish suc feat. His simple answer:

_I am a cat and cats eat mice.

Why am I telling you this story? Because every time I start making Scadi style knives it comes to my mind. You can find prettier, more modern, more beefed up knives but when it comes to being practical, nothing beats a Scandi with its compact size, comfortable handle, light weight, practical shape and extreme versatility. And within this concept, my Simplicity line is hard to beat with its excelent cost x benefit rate wich is even better now with these sale prices!

All Simplicity in stock for US$ 80.00 with kydex sheath

Or US$ 100.00 with leather sheath

(plus US$ 14.50 for shipping)

All knives are made of 1070 carbon steel and have a Scandi type grind. See the knives availabile bellow:

From top to botton:

Model 08 with maple handle

Model 01 with pau brasil handle

Model 01 with maple handle

From top to botton:

Model 07 with maple handle

Model 07 with pau brasil handle

Model 07 with imbuia hadle

And I also am working on the model 04 Brazilian Hunter, like in the picture, but with a 4″ blade and a yellowish colored angelim pedra wood handle

All knives available on a first come, first serve basis as usual so I suggest that you don´t delay your order!

New Scandi

ivancampos — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:41:29 +0000

This one is not a pukko, too! I love these little Scandi style knives and from time to time come back to them as I find these light, no-frills knives to be the most practical utility knives I know.

Here is one I just finished, It has a 3 3/4″ long 1070 steel blade and a maple handle with sucupira wood bolster, very confortable to hold. Its Scandi edge is very sharp and perfect for those who prefer it thin. This is one of those projects that start from a drawing in a steel bar and get ready in a moment, just because I get so curious to see the result, and it ended up very cool! Availabile on a first come, first serve basis for US$ 185.00, plus US$ 14.50 for worldwide shipping, and it includes a pouch style leather sheath.

It´s a lot of steel!

ivancampos — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:16:27 +0000

Some of the chef´s knives I am working on. All are 1070 steel and are ready to be heat treated and then ground. It is a lot of steel!

Karambit!

ivancampos — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:38:54 +0000

This is not a knife you will see me making very often, that´s for sure! The karambit is one of the many blade styles of Indonesia and has become very popular in the West amongMartial Arts practitioners and defense systems students. I have made one some ten years ago and this is my second, in 3/16″ t hick 5160 seel, with 4 1/4″ long blade and an overall lenght of 8 1/4.
The tiger strips were done with acid etching and the whole knife´s contour is texturized, including the iner part of the handle hole. The most interesting part, though, are the semi-translucent green g-10 handle slabs wich were installed over red spacers and then textured, so depending on the light you can see the red under thegreen in a very organic way, like if it was alive, to them. I have never used this combination and it is really fantastic!

Availabi,e now for US$ 245,00, plus US$ 14,50 for worldwide shipping.

Some new woods

ivancampos — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:46:44 +0000

Some woods I just received: ebony slabs (the darker ones), Arizona ironwood slabs and snakewood block.

Experimental Simplicity

ivancampos — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:00:22 +0000

I made this knife in parallel to a custmoer´s order with wich it has some similarities. It still has no name and I am considering adding it to the Simplicity line, and would like to hear your opinions about, by the way. Its blade is about 1 1/4″ long 1070 steel with a Scandi style grind and its handlee was made from imbuia wood – lookis familiar? Maybe because it came from a gunstock!

US$ 145.00, plus US$ 4,50 for shipping. Comes with a leather sheath.

Conceptual Maori Tanto

ivancampos — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:58:44 +0000

I became inspired to make this knife after a friend had given me a silver hei matau (the fish hook used by these people as a talisman) and I thought the theme would fit this 9″ 5160 steel blade perfectly, so I choose to finish it with a different type of etching, done in two parts, so to leave in high relief the maori war paint inspired drawing that follows the lenght of the blade and added two stylized hei matau made of pau brazil wood to its cord wrapped sisal handle. The bead on the lanyard is also made of the same wood. Overall, one of my most unique and exotique creations.

US$ 345,00, plus shipping. Includes leather sheath.

For a good churrasco…

ivancampos — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:50:12 +0000

Here is another chef´s knife I have finished recently to my friend Adriano Amadeu (Bide). This one is very practial and compact, with a 6″ Western style damascus steel blade and Japanese style pau brasil wood handle. These knives are easy to carry around and a joy to use in informal events like a good churrasco (the Brazilian barbecue).

This one is sld but a similar piece goes for around US$ 300,00-400,00.

The largest one so far

ivancampos — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:34:29 +0000

One of my first knives of 2012, with a 10″ damascus blade this is the longest bladed gyuto I made so far and it has a redwood handl wit buffalo horn bolster and pommel. Tis one really stand out and has a great balance.
This knife is availabile for immediate delivery for US$ 595.00 , plus shipping.

More TIBOs!

ivancampos — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:25:40 +0000

I have made a few TIBOs latelly and have two left, both made from 1/8″ thick titanium and about 2 3/8″ long, heat colored and decorated with wide aplication of tungsten carbide. Each of them goes for US$ 55,00 SHIPPED worldwide.
Obs.: note that only the TIBO in the center is availabile.