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 his 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 is Tom Ploppert's Prototype Lock-Back Dino. To-date, I am not aware of any other knifemaker who has made a lock-back Dino pattern folder. It was acquired directly from Tom at the 2018 International Custom Cutlery Exposition (ICCE). Tom was fortunate to acquire some old, original Westinghouse micarta slabs with rich, buttery yellow color. He made this Dino with those Westinghouse scales, and all I can say is Wow!. Tom truly knocked this one out of the park! And as that Westinghouse Micarta ages and is handled, the color will only get richer and darker, like butterscotch. The blade is made from 440V stainless steel, and the spring is CPM 154 stainless steel. The liners are Integral with the bolster - meaning no seams - making a knife of this construction much more challenging and time consuming to build. The liners are heat treated and tempered 416 stainless steel. There are black spacers between the liners and scales, and an included leather lanyard with bead. The bolster, pins lanyard hole liner, and Federal shield are also 416 SS. The blade obviously does not have a half-stop. Fully opened, it locks up tight with no play, and the blade seating is dead center. The blade pivots around an Aluminum Bronze Bushing. Nice large nail nick, with a smooth pull. Tom's grinds are clean and symmetrical. The tolerances that he is able to maintain are outstanding! Nice walk and talk, too! Comes in a padded zippered Ploppert case.
