T.A. Davison Custom Barlow Bog Oak D2 Sheepsfoot Slip Joint Pocket Knife (2.65" Blade)

The T.A. Davison Custom Barlow in Bog Oak wears wood that spent centuries buried in a peat bog. A D2 sheepsfoot blade and an acorn shield round out a slip joint made from scratch in Mississippi.

• D2 Sheepsfoot Blade - The straight edge and rounded tip give fine control for close work. The blade has a hand rubbed finish and a nail nick. D2 is a tool steel known for long edge retention, though it takes more work to sharpen. Although it is mostly corrosion resistant, you should wipe it dry and add a drop of oil now and then.
• Bog Oak Covers - Bog oak spends centuries in peat, where minerals and tannins darken it to a deep brown-black. Davison inlays an acorn shield into the covers.
• Firm Slip Joint Action - The blade takes a firm pull to open and snaps shut hard on its backspring. Flush half stops let it pause partway with the spring sitting level with the frame.
• Stainless Steel Build - Stainless liners and a stainless front bolster keep the frame rigid and resistant to rust. A coined edge along the liners adds the kind of hand-shaped detail collectors look for on a custom slip joint.

About T.A. Davison

Todd Davison sold his first knife in 1981 and has spent his career on traditional slip joints. He has built several thousand of them, each one made from scratch. Every blade is freehand ground in Mississippi, with no jigs or arm rest, and the heat treating is also done in house. Todd works from photos instead of patterns, and each knife leaves his bench as its own build.