Need info about Bob Lum and "Chinese Folder"

elysium (k) · #1

I am newbies here, so if my question has already been asked, sorry.

I love green "Chenese Folder" and i want know all about this knife!!

I want to write article for russian knife-fan, about "Bob Lum" and about his knife "Chinese Folder".

Maybe someone can help me find information about Bub Lum (his biography, history,

interview, etc) and some information about "Chinese Folder" (pictures of prototype, traditional blade geometry of chinese knife, etc).

Anyone?

-------------------------------------

Sorry for my bad english. :-(

o(^_^)o

The Cool · #2

What a strange coincidence <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Here's some pics of a traditional chinese folder - perhaps the inspiration for Bob Lum?

The folder is called Shi-Lin, and is made by a family of knife-makers in Taiwan that spans 5 generations.
The folder in the pics was made by the latest knifemaker in the family. (the others are retired).

The folder is non-locking, and it available in different sizes and handle materials.
The blade is San-Mai (triple layered steel), and razor sharp.

Many thanks to Joe Chen for the Shi-Lin.

The Cool · #3

More pics <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

zardoz · #4

That is absolutely beautiful. Do you have a source or supplier details?

The Cool · #5

Yeah. Sure I do. Email me for details.

Clay Kesting · #6

Here's some pictures of an older version of a similar knife.

Clay

Life's too short to waste on instant coffee.

Clay Kesting · #7

Also a deluxe custom Chinese Folder that I just found at Arizona Custom Knives. The handle is giraffe bone with titanium bolsters and the blade is Devon Thomas stainless damamscus. Now that's a knife I'd like to find in my knife roll <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>.

Clay

Life's too short to waste on instant coffee.

Edited by - Clay Kesting on 2/27/2003 12:13:37 PM

Clay Kesting · #8

Trying again.

No joy <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>. Here's the <a href="http://www.arizonacustomknives.com/disp ... 3">link</a>.

Life's too short to waste on instant coffee.

Edited by - Clay Kesting on 2/27/2003 12:21:43 PM

Edited by - Clay Kesting on 2/27/2003 10:11:05 PM

The Cool · #9

That Lum is awesome Clay.

Joyce Laituri · #10

Hello elysium,

Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

I've emailed Bob Lum this thread. If you'd like to contact him directly via email, please email me and I will forward you his email address to you.

jlaituri@spyderco.com

Bob is an American of Chinese decent. His name means, "forest" in Chinese and he's been a fulltime maker since 1986. He produces ethnic lockbacks, art knives, traditional folders, tacticals, hunters, boot knives, Tantos and Chinese folders. His custom prices vary anywhere from $400. - $1000. He is also a professional, and very talented photographer.

Clay....that Devon Thomas Damascus, giraffe bone Lum is indeed absolutely amazing!

dialex · #11

Welcome aboard. If I remember well, at bladeforums.com there was recently a posting where some Bob Lum's Chinese folder prototypes were shown. Three sizes, Spyderco picked up the middle one for production.

elysium (k) · #12

The Cool: big thanks for pictures of a knife Shi-Lin and useful links.

Joyce Laituri: yes, i email you! i want contact with Bob Lum and ask he some question :-)

dialex: yes, i was in a in BladeForums, and find in Archive "Mini-Review: Spyderco Lum Chinese folder". but all photos form review are missed .. i understand that a lot of time went, but I don't lose hope to find photos with your help.

o(^_^)o

Carlos · #13

Hey Clay,

I think we need to start making trouble for a sprint run of Lum Chinese folders with bolsters and bone scales. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Clay Kesting · #14

elysium (k)

I have the photos of the prototypes but they're too big to post and I don't have the time right now to reduce them. However I'll email them to you (and anyone else who wants them).

Carlos, I'm right with you brother. The Chinese Folder shape looks much better with scales and bolsters than I'd have imagined. What do you think, stainless bolsters and white bone handles? Or even white micarta to keep the price down.

Clay

Life's too short to waste on instant coffee.

jjcoolay · #15

Is that chinese folder from Tawain a liner lock or does it have a lock similair to those french knives who's name escpaes me at the moment.

The Cool · #16

jjcoolay - It's a slipjoint (no lock). Albeit a very strong one.

elysium - Let me know if you need bigger versions of those photos.

Carlos · #17

I've already emailed elysium an image of the prototypes.

Clay, how about ivory micarta?

The Cool · #18

Are you serious Carlos?

White micarta is great. Sign me up <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Clay Kesting · #19

Carlos,

I was actually thinking of ivory micarta when I typed "white". My scrimshawed Moki Everina has ivory micarta slabs and they loook superb.

However I was thinking about it last night and I'm not sure if this project is feasible. Remember that the custom Folder is made with full liners at least on the lock side so it wouldn't be difficult to add scales and bolsters. OTOH the Spyderco version has a nested partial liner on the lock side only so it would require complete redesign and tooling to add scales <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>.

BTW I also emailed the pics to elysium, guess his ISP's going to be busy today <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>.

Clay

Life's too short to waste on instant coffee.

Carlos · #20

The Cool: We are just making trouble. It not being planned anywhere.

Clay: I just found out from Sal that they need to order 400 kilos (minimum) of any colour of micarta that they are going to use. Explains why they have largely stuck to black in the past. Though they did use burgundy for the special Jester.

Edited by - Carlos on 3/1/2003 1:46:49 PM