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100 legendary knives?
- Thread starter 2knife
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Jay Hendrickson is not known for copying Moran. He studied and learned from Moran and makes similar knives with Moran's blessing. Actually while he does do the silver wire inlay handles like Moran, most of his knives are much different. Truth be known, in my opinion, his fit and finish is better than Moran's.
D'Holder makes many different styles of knives, not just the ones always seen on ebay, and he has served the Knifemakers Guild faithfully for many years as well as trained quite a few knifemakers.
Dave Murphy(Sr.) worked for Gerber for many years, and quite possibly made more knives for servicemaen during WW11 and Korea than anyone else. He is most known for his aluminum cast handled knives.
The Nolen brothers were very well known in the early years of custom knives and are considered among the best.
Corbet Sigman, still making knives in W. Va. is a legend.
I have to agree with you about Ed Fowler. He belongs in any list of 100 Legendary knifemakers. I am fortunate to count Ed and Angie among my friends and know a little about what goes into his knifemaking and what he has done in his career. He has a vision and a goal which he has not wavered from and I think he has come as close to it as is humanly possible at this time.
As quiet as it's kept, the internet is only a small part of the knifemaking world and many of whom we consider todays brightest stars are only well known on the internet. Custom knifemaking has a long and storied past and it's good to pay tribute to those who blazed the trail.
With all that said, you are correct, in my opinion that where Krause is involved politics come into play. They have one bottom line-profit. Look at how they pushed ken Warner out of the Knives Annual books after it was his idea and he did it for 20 years, as well as publishing Levine's Guide to Knife Values, 5th ed. without Bernard Levine. They bought out the old Fighting Knives magazine for one reason, to get rid of it. Sure, they said they would incorporate it into Blade. We're still waiting. Blade has always, again in my opinion, operated from the good old boys network, and still does. Krause is just a giant publishing company that puts out books on 50-100 different hobbies and could care less about knives, they care if books sell.
D'Holder makes many different styles of knives, not just the ones always seen on ebay, and he has served the Knifemakers Guild faithfully for many years as well as trained quite a few knifemakers.
Dave Murphy(Sr.) worked for Gerber for many years, and quite possibly made more knives for servicemaen during WW11 and Korea than anyone else. He is most known for his aluminum cast handled knives.
The Nolen brothers were very well known in the early years of custom knives and are considered among the best.
Corbet Sigman, still making knives in W. Va. is a legend.
I have to agree with you about Ed Fowler. He belongs in any list of 100 Legendary knifemakers. I am fortunate to count Ed and Angie among my friends and know a little about what goes into his knifemaking and what he has done in his career. He has a vision and a goal which he has not wavered from and I think he has come as close to it as is humanly possible at this time.
As quiet as it's kept, the internet is only a small part of the knifemaking world and many of whom we consider todays brightest stars are only well known on the internet. Custom knifemaking has a long and storied past and it's good to pay tribute to those who blazed the trail.
With all that said, you are correct, in my opinion that where Krause is involved politics come into play. They have one bottom line-profit. Look at how they pushed ken Warner out of the Knives Annual books after it was his idea and he did it for 20 years, as well as publishing Levine's Guide to Knife Values, 5th ed. without Bernard Levine. They bought out the old Fighting Knives magazine for one reason, to get rid of it. Sure, they said they would incorporate it into Blade. We're still waiting. Blade has always, again in my opinion, operated from the good old boys network, and still does. Krause is just a giant publishing company that puts out books on 50-100 different hobbies and could care less about knives, they care if books sell.
bandaidman
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as i recall...the book was originally published in france and was obviously aimed at a european audience. krause has republished it here
there are some nice knives in it....i do not suspect the exclusion of ed fowler was from politics....his fame is in no small part due to the articles he once wrote in blade (a krause publication).....something a european reader might not be familiar with
the pronghorn is an unique and interesting knife from a gifted maker
if i was writing a book of "100 top knives" for an American audience i would certainly include it
if i was a european writing for the EU....not sure...
there are some nice knives in it....i do not suspect the exclusion of ed fowler was from politics....his fame is in no small part due to the articles he once wrote in blade (a krause publication).....something a european reader might not be familiar with
the pronghorn is an unique and interesting knife from a gifted maker
if i was writing a book of "100 top knives" for an American audience i would certainly include it
if i was a european writing for the EU....not sure...
Les Robertson
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Dave and Phil,
Perhaps you have some "politics" of your own at play here. They left out a friend of yours.
Seems they left out a few others that probably should have been included.
Michael Walker
Ron Lake
Jerry Fisk (or is there another NLT)
GW Stone
John Nelson Cooper
George Herron
HH Frank
DE Henry
Jim Schmidt
Kent Draper
SR Johnson
I think one could aruge that leaving these makers out was perhaps more of a slight than leaving Ed Fowler out.
Paul Basch had a very successful book done on John Nelson Cooper.
Perhaps you should look at doing one on Ed.
You could easily do a book on 100 legendary custom knife makers. The only difficulty would be limititing it to only 100.
Perhaps you have some "politics" of your own at play here. They left out a friend of yours.
Seems they left out a few others that probably should have been included.
Michael Walker
Ron Lake
Jerry Fisk (or is there another NLT)
GW Stone
John Nelson Cooper
George Herron
HH Frank
DE Henry
Jim Schmidt
Kent Draper
SR Johnson
I think one could aruge that leaving these makers out was perhaps more of a slight than leaving Ed Fowler out.
Paul Basch had a very successful book done on John Nelson Cooper.
Perhaps you should look at doing one on Ed.
You could easily do a book on 100 legendary custom knife makers. The only difficulty would be limititing it to only 100.
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Don't forget Tom Mayo and Jerry Hossum.
PlaceKnives
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Jack Crain is mentioned in it
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Les,
That's an easy position to take. Could I not wonder the same thing when you recommend a maker whose knives you sell? Perhaps you've formed a friendship with some of your clients? It seems natural that it would be someone who collects and can appreciate Ed's knives that would mention his omission, without politics having to be involved.
-Jose
PS I've handled some of Jay's knives at shows and have been tempted to buy a few, he makes beautiful knives.
That's an easy position to take. Could I not wonder the same thing when you recommend a maker whose knives you sell? Perhaps you've formed a friendship with some of your clients? It seems natural that it would be someone who collects and can appreciate Ed's knives that would mention his omission, without politics having to be involved.
-Jose
PS I've handled some of Jay's knives at shows and have been tempted to buy a few, he makes beautiful knives.
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Les,
Yes, an argument could be made for every one of those makers. But the original poster mentioned Ed Fowler and I was agreeing with him. Had he mentioned one of them and I agreed then I would have posted that too.
My comment about Krause wasnt directly concerning Ed, after all he has a monthly column in Blade(one of the few remaining ones worth reading IMO).I was talking about Krause and Blade in general since they bought it. I've seen what they've done to some good folk, and they've made some changes I dont like. It is only my opinion. I can understand you defending them, they quote you enough in their dealer articles
Anyway, just MHO.
Yes, an argument could be made for every one of those makers. But the original poster mentioned Ed Fowler and I was agreeing with him. Had he mentioned one of them and I agreed then I would have posted that too.
My comment about Krause wasnt directly concerning Ed, after all he has a monthly column in Blade(one of the few remaining ones worth reading IMO).I was talking about Krause and Blade in general since they bought it. I've seen what they've done to some good folk, and they've made some changes I dont like. It is only my opinion. I can understand you defending them, they quote you enough in their dealer articles
Anyway, just MHO.
Les Robertson
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Guys,
First, I haven't read the book either, so I have no idea who is in it. So I wasn't defending Krause because they quote me so much. Now if I was getting a free table at the Blade Show....)
Dave you will correct me if Im wrong..doesn't Ed write a monthly article for them? I suspect he even gets paid for that.
All joking aside, when I think of legendary makers, I think of those who have been around 20 or more years.
Those who were innovators. Those who trained other noteable knife makers. Past Presidents and officers of the Knifemakers Guild and ABS, etc.
If making a great knife were all it took, the book would be the top 1000 makers.
Jose, you are of course correct. It is easy to list makers based on friendship or appreciation of their work alone. Of those I listed, yes I would consider Jerry Fisk and George Herron friends.
However, I think the merits of their contributions would outweigh any bearing my friendship with them would have with listing them.
My comment was not a slight against Ed. After all my list didn't even include Walter Brend. I bought my first model 2 from him in 1985. I hear some feel this knife is a "classic" as well.
Bandaidman brings up an excellent point as well. If your going to go world wide you have to include Dietmar Kressler, Owen Wood and Yashito Aida.
Lastly, there are always going to be makers who are not on a list....no matter what the category.
There was a thread on knives for Investment purposes started by Wolfman. If you go back and check it, oddly enough the only two makers listed there that are in this new book are Moran and Loveless.
So why didn't more makers of the "Legendary" blades show up on the Investment thread and visa versa?
Perhaps it was based on different criteria.
One of the great things about custom knives is that they mean so many different things to so many people. What one person feels is the most beautiful knife they have ever seen, the person next to them may have no interest at all.
It is what each knife means to the individual that moves them. On top of that if they form a bond of friendship with the maker of that knife. It makes that knife all the more special. This combination inspires respect, admiration and loyalty. Traits that all real friends have for each other.
Im curious to see a copy of this book and who the do and do not list.
You would think with all the quotable quotes I provide Krause I would get a free copy
First, I haven't read the book either, so I have no idea who is in it. So I wasn't defending Krause because they quote me so much. Now if I was getting a free table at the Blade Show....
)Dave you will correct me if Im wrong..doesn't Ed write a monthly article for them? I suspect he even gets paid for that.
All joking aside, when I think of legendary makers, I think of those who have been around 20 or more years.
Those who were innovators. Those who trained other noteable knife makers. Past Presidents and officers of the Knifemakers Guild and ABS, etc.
If making a great knife were all it took, the book would be the top 1000 makers.
Jose, you are of course correct. It is easy to list makers based on friendship or appreciation of their work alone. Of those I listed, yes I would consider Jerry Fisk and George Herron friends.
However, I think the merits of their contributions would outweigh any bearing my friendship with them would have with listing them.
My comment was not a slight against Ed. After all my list didn't even include Walter Brend. I bought my first model 2 from him in 1985. I hear some feel this knife is a "classic" as well.
Bandaidman brings up an excellent point as well. If your going to go world wide you have to include Dietmar Kressler, Owen Wood and Yashito Aida.
Lastly, there are always going to be makers who are not on a list....no matter what the category.
There was a thread on knives for Investment purposes started by Wolfman. If you go back and check it, oddly enough the only two makers listed there that are in this new book are Moran and Loveless.
So why didn't more makers of the "Legendary" blades show up on the Investment thread and visa versa?
Perhaps it was based on different criteria.
One of the great things about custom knives is that they mean so many different things to so many people. What one person feels is the most beautiful knife they have ever seen, the person next to them may have no interest at all.
It is what each knife means to the individual that moves them. On top of that if they form a bond of friendship with the maker of that knife. It makes that knife all the more special. This combination inspires respect, admiration and loyalty. Traits that all real friends have for each other.
Im curious to see a copy of this book and who the do and do not list.
You would think with all the quotable quotes I provide Krause I would get a free copy
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That sums it up for me. While I have occasionally sold a knife for more than I paid for it, it was always to get another one. I have never looked at my knives as investments, it would take the fun out of it for me.
We gonna see you in Timonium this Sunday Les?
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The number 100 also allows for a lot of room for discussion. I think there's probably a clear consensus what the say, 5 most legendary makers are. But when you push that down, you get to makers who are very, very good, but all have some pluses and minuses. The last 50 or so are probably very, very close to the next 50 in terms of quality, impact on the knife community, and reputation.
i have never in my life held a fixed blade as fine as the custom work of walter brend -- PERIOD. hasn't be been making incredible knives for 20+ years now? not long enough to get noticed, i guess?
this reminds me of when rolling stone magazine's greatest 100 guitarists of all time came out. they didn't even list yngwie malmsteen, who was the most influential rock guitarist of an entire decade (early 80's to the early 90's). neither did they mention alan holdsworth. only guitarists will appreciate what i'm saying.
it's only a group of editors' opinions, and they probably had a nice little war of their own.. but yes, it sucks to see one of your faves missing from a recognition list, i know the feeling of indignation.
this reminds me of when rolling stone magazine's greatest 100 guitarists of all time came out. they didn't even list yngwie malmsteen, who was the most influential rock guitarist of an entire decade (early 80's to the early 90's). neither did they mention alan holdsworth. only guitarists will appreciate what i'm saying.
it's only a group of editors' opinions, and they probably had a nice little war of their own.. but yes, it sucks to see one of your faves missing from a recognition list, i know the feeling of indignation.
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I think I am going to start to put together my thoughts on who are the 100 most influencial knifemakers and the 100 most legendary knives. The reasearch that I will have to put into this will be a great learnig experience.