Thread: Gudy Van Poppel framelock folder

Gudy is a famous knifemaker who makes excellent folder, among other things. I saw this one when I first visited him last year, but it was sold pending payment. It kept niggling at me. For one, I didn't have a 'real' folder, and also at the Gembloux show I noticed I was the only one in our group who didn't carry a real knife.

so on 31 dec I asked him how much it would cost to make another. Turns out this one had become available again. I sent him the money and today I went to pick it up and sneak in some shop time while I was there.

This beauty is mine now. As with tools, I either make do with cheap or frankensteined things, or I go all in and buy the best I can buy without thinking about the cost. This knife is the latter category. It is high quality stainless, stonewashed. Tactical with rugged yet very clean decoration and grooves. The brass rings you see are cut from actual bullet casings. The liner lock is solid, and the knife pivots on bearings.

The close position is held by an internal little sprung ball bearing. To open it you either open it like a normal folder, or you can 'spring' it open with the lever. This requires quite some force though, and a specific technique. Gudy told me that it is not uncommon for people not to be able to open his knives that way.