06/11/2026
I have a friend who used to work at a winery. One day, while unloading trucks, he found this blade lying on the ground. Apparently, it had fallen off one of the trucks. When he brought it to me, he thought he had discovered a hidden treasure and was handing me something truly special.
The problem was that it wasn’t a rare collectible or some long-lost custom blade—it was simply a worn-out piece from a looper. In other words, junk. But he was so excited about it that I didn’t have the heart to tell him his great find was destined for the scrap pile. Instead, I decided to see if I could turn it into something worthwhile.
I cleaned up the blade, added a little laser engraving, and then promptly set it aside for several months. After all, no project is complete without a healthy period of procrastination.
A few months later, I found the motivation to put some scales on it and rough out the handle. Then, in keeping with tradition, it sat untouched for several more months.
Today, while doing a little organizing in my office, I spotted the knife sitting there staring at me as if to say, “Are you ever going to finish me?” So I finally did.
Introducing the Duckbill.
The handle is made from olive wood, and yes, it’s a little beefy. That’s because I shaped it to fit my hand, and my hand isn’t exactly dainty. The blade may have started life as a discarded piece of machinery, but it now has a second chance as a working knife.
It’s not fancy. It’s not expensive. It probably won’t end up in a museum. But it’s finished, it’s unique, and it’s razor sharp—which is more than can be said for the blade when I first got it.
