Tom Ploppert is a part-time maker from Cullman, AL. He credits his inspiration behind his knife making passion to Bill Ruple - a master at making slip joint folders. Tom built his first slip joint knife in April 2009. He later took a slip joint making class taught by Bill Ruple and Rusty Preston (another Ruple alum). Tom has certainly been a good student. You can see the passion in his work and tell it from speaking with him. Tom's fit and finish, and attention to detail is obvious once you hold one of his folders. He's also a humble and personable guy. This knife is brand new, and direct from Tom's table at the 2022 Blade Show. It is a large 2-blade Remington 1123 bullet knife, slip-joint folder. Tom's grinds are clean and symmetrical. Both the Drop Point blade and the Spey blade, as well as the springs, are CPM-154 stainless steel. The liners are integral to the bolster, meaning no seams and much more challenging and time consuming to build. The liners are heat treated and tempered 416 stainless steel. The bolster and Remington bullet shield are also 416 stainless. The scales are two pieces of nicely matched presentation grade natural stag. Both blades have half stops, lock up tight with no play, and both blades have good seating between their respective liners. Of note is the fact that Tom's blades pivot around Aluminum Bronze Bushing, something he picked up from the late great Tony Bose. Nice large nail nicks on both blades, with firm, smooth pulls. Tom has definitely mastered walk-and-talk, and this knife is a great example. Comes in a Ploppert Custom Knives padded, zippered case.
