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 Tom Ploppert two-blade stag Barlow just came in direct from Tom's shop in Alabama. The scales are beautiful premium stag - highly figured, with great natural colors. The blades, as well as the backsprings are CPM 154 stainless steel. The liners are Integral to 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. The bolster and pins are also 416 SS. Tom's PLOPPERT maker's mark is on the ricasso of the main blade. Both blades have half stops, lock up tight with no play, and the blade seating of both is dead center. The blades pivot around Aluminum Bronze Bushings. Nice long pull nail nick on the main blade, and a conventional nail nick on the smaller pen blade. Tom's grinds are clean and symmetrical. The tolerances that he is able to maintain are outstanding! Tom has truly mastered the art of slip-joint folders, and this knife is a great example. Comes in a padded zippered Ploppert case.
