 
Dovetail
Joints
Another option available on your custom cabinet is to add dovetailed
joints. Dovetails are an "old school" way of making joints, or joining pieces together. This style joint is
noted for its resistance to being pulled apart, it's tensile strength. A series of pins cut to extend from the end of
one board interlock with a series of tails cut into the end of another board. Once glued, a wooden dovetail joint requires
no mechanical fasteners like nails or screws, and is an incredibly strong design. Cutting dovetails requires a high degree
of accuracy to ensure a snug fit and can be difficult to master. The pins and tails must fit together with no gap between
them so that the joint interlocks tightly with no movement.
The dovetail joint probably pre-dates written history. Some of the earliest known examples
of the dovetail joint are in furniture entombed with mummies dating from the First Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, as well
as the tombs of Chinese emporers.
Because of the precision and accuracy needed for both pieces to
line up correctly, and to "look right" on the finished piece, making dovetails is a time consuming process.
It is one of the more difficult joints for a woodworker/cabinetmaker to make correctly.
Aside from it
being difficult to master and having great strength, the dovetail joint is quite beautiful and adds a different look
to the overall piece. A look that instantly shows you are looking at old fashioned hand-made quality.
below: Photos of hand tools used for inlay and beading work. This work is available but is considerably
time consuming. You can inquire to see if may be available on your custom piece.
Directly below: A large walnut Bowie cabinet with custom dovetail joinery.
(click each photo to enlarge)
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A close up of the completed dovetails on each corner of the cabinet
 A custom dovetailed cabinet built from solid walnut.
This cabinet was custom designed to house large bowie knives of the Smithsonian size
having lugged double hilts. This large cabinet's outside dimensions are 44" tall x 22" wide, providing
ample room for the bowies to be displayed without the look of them crowded together.
This cabinet has
the following specs added...
~ A third door hing located along the center of the
door to provide additional strength in design. Two hinges would likely hold just fine, but to ensure a strong hold over time
as the door is opened to access your knives, a third support was added for good measure.
~ Dark
red velvet background which provides a very "rich look"... "rich" meaning that if it were something you
could eat, it would harden your arteries ; ) ... and compliments the darker coloring of the walnut very nicely.
Other colors are available, and really just depends on your personal preference and the handle material (and color) on your
knives. Black micarta, for example, doesn't show up well when displayed against a black velvet background. However
stag looks great against the black color.
~ Keyed lock
~
Interior electric fluorescent light
~ Knife rests made from solid walnut to match the cabinet
~ Custom Randall engraving
~ Deluxe style (curved top) door
rail
~ Crown stag door pull buffed to a nice sheen
~ Authentic
Randall Made Knives logo snap installed in door pull to complete the
Randall Made Knives theme on this custom piece.
~ And of course the custom dovetailed joinery
cut into the solid walnut which takes this custom cabinet to the "next level".
The authentic
Randall Made Knives snap is the exact same snap used on the sheaths that come with your Randall knives. These snaps were
provided to us by Gary Randall, owner of Randall Made Knives in Orlando, FL to add that "special touch", and complete
the theme, of your custom Randall Display. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Mr. Randall for his continued support and generosity.
Large Dovetailed 5 Knife Bowie Cabinet
Price as shown: $1874.72
(plus options added ,
ex. keyed lock, interior light, etc.) |
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