Back on my Feet!

Finally shook off that damn flu, evidently it has made the rounds here this winter. I will be taking the flu-shot this Fall. 103F fever is no fun.

I badly need to update some things on my main website and will try and do that this weekend. I am raising the price on the Mytuko Cobalt to more accurately reflect the production costs. I hate to raise prices but there was no more getting around it.

I am working on getting the newest production version of the Mytuko Mini finished now too. These are redesigned along the lines of the Mytuko Cobalt and the new knife will be called the Mytuko Mini Cobalt. Seems pretty self-explanatory! The new knives will be ground from the same cobalt alloyed stainless as the Mytuko Cobalt. This steel is a big step upwards as far as edge holding goes from the 1.4116 stainless used the original Mytuko Mini. If anybody is thinking about getting a Mytuko Mini, now is the time as they are just about all sold out and I will soon withdraw the last ones from sale to insure that I retain a few samples for my archive.

Getting good quality leather sheaths made in quantity is a big hassle. If anybody knows a good sattler with experience making sheaths, drop me a line! I have some good guys for making one and twos by hand, but I need a company who can machine sew the parts in quantity.

My new WilkinsGRIP N_Dura4 grips for Spyderco's Endura 4 folder are ready to ship. I have them in Black G10 or Swimming Pool Green G11 ready to roll. Your choice of a matching black or Swimming Pool Green Steel Crossbolt Spacer as well as new screws are included. These grips are really nice too, I have been testing a set for several weeks and they totally transform the knife. You gonna like 'em! Only drawback is the Endura can be frustrating to take apart and put back together. I will be doing a tutorial as soon as I can.

Price is €120 each for orders shipping outside the EU or €142.80 for orders shipping inside the EU.

Been Sick as a Dog ...

This year is something. As many already know, I lost my Dad in February and even though he was 82, it was still unexpected. I'm still not near over it but have been back in Berlin cranking on the newest grips and knives and trying to get my business back on track since mid-March.

On the 4th of April, last Saturday, I started feeling really sick and my throat hurt so bad on Sunday that I went to the Emergency Room. They treated me and gave me an antibiotic script and told me to see my ENT Doc Tuesday. I did and he diagnosed it as more viral than bacteria... anyway, my fever hit 103 F Tuesday evening (39.5 C). My wife and I got it down – mostly she did, I was bonkers – and went to the hospital where they said, yeah that can happen with those viral infections.

Anyway, the 9th was my birthday and the first day without fever last week. I saw the ENT Dr. again Thursday and he took cultures for the lab and said maybe what I have is influenza. Blood test in the hospital had been OK but this is way tougher than the usual sinus infection / scratchy throat thing that tends to devil me.

To make a long story short: I have been really, really sick and in bed since last weekend. I think I am on the mend now but it will be middle of the coming week before I can even think about driving to the workshop. I know, I don't need this shit. I don't. Certainly not right after my Dad's death.

I have tried to keep up on email but if I missed you, try me again this coming week.

I have the first small run of the new WilkinsGRIPs for the Spyderco Endure ready, if I can get well enough to get them cleaned and packaged and pics up.

I have had some incredibly comforting mail from customers/friends over the last weeks, many very unexpected but all deeply appreciated. I really appreciate everyone's support and understanding in the last difficult months. I hope to get this flu-whatever-it-is behind me and move forward asap.