2007 Knifemakers' Guild Show & images

I noticed the same about the Johnson and Young knives. It works on some of them but not so well on others. I think playing with hidden versus exposed tangs is fine and allows the maker to stray from his everyday. But some of the "new" blades I have seen on Johnson knives (and a little on Young) have not been in my realm of taste. Not that makers shouldn't experiment - I think experimentation can bring beautiful results. I just haven't necessarily liked the blade result seen (this Young is not his norm but is still to my liking, the large Johnson blade doesn't do it all for me though).

I really like the Ron Best knife. I have noticed his work over the last couple of years. For some one relatively unknown though (at least you rarely if ever see his name around here), his prices are quite high. I am not saying the prices are inflated, I am just saying it would be tough to spend that kind of money on someone who may not ever be better known. I am usually not someone who worries about resale value when buying a knife, but we are talking about several thousand dollars here.

I like Don's knife. It is a beautiful bowie. I am a little perplexed about the art knife award though. No offense meant, I do think it is a beautiful knife, but "art knife" makes me think of Rigney and Warenski daggers, of Dwight Towell and Virgil England. Bowies usually don't make me think "art knife" unless they are highly embellished with engravings and such. I congratulate Don on getting an award, I just wonder if this one makes sense. BTW, I like both the blade and handle on this knife :p

The Hibben...Gil always makes very thick guards/fittings. Often too thick for my taste. I think the knife fits his style a lot though (except for the damascus).
 
Thor I am said:
I noticed the same about the Johnson and Young knives. It works on some of them but not so well on others. I think playing with hidden versus exposed tangs is fine and allows the maker to stray from his everyday. But some of the "new" blades I have seen on Johnson knives (and a little on Young) have not been in my realm of taste. Not that makers shouldn't experiment - I think experimentation can bring beautiful results. I just haven't necessarily liked the blade result seen (this Young is not his norm but is still to my liking, the large Johnson blade doesn't do it all for me though).

I really like the Ron Best knife. I have noticed his work over the last couple of years. For some one relatively unknown though (at least you rarely if ever see his name around here), his prices are quite high. I am not saying the prices are inflated, I am just saying it would be tough to spend that kind of money on someone who may not ever be better known. I am usually not someone who worries about resale value when buying a knife, but we are talking about several thousand dollars here.

I like Don's knife. It is a beautiful bowie. I am a little perplexed about the art knife award though. No offense meant, I do think it is a beautiful knife, but "art knife" makes me think of Rigney and Warenski daggers, of Dwight Towell and Virgil England. Bowies usually don't make me think "art knife" unless they are highly embellished with engravings and such. I congratulate Don on getting an award, I just wonder if this one makes sense. BTW, I like both the blade and handle on this knife :p

The Hibben...Gil always makes very thick guards/fittings. Often too thick for my taste. I think the knife fits his style a lot though (except for the damascus).
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Thor, I can definitely see your point regarding Don's award, however IMO Fine Art implies not just fine embellishment, but artistic, unique and adventurous use of material and medium. And Don's selection and use of ivory as demonstrated here in utilizing the natural raw end supports this theory along with his signature single gold pin and his creative use of damascus guard and hammon patterns.

I have often thought that we should broaden our definition of the term "Art Knife" to include more examples from Fisk (ant knife, boo daddy) Dunn, Dean, Hanson (many folders examples), Hancock (forth of july hunter from other thread), and Fuegan among others.
 
Kevin Jones said:
....I have often thought that we should broaden our definition of the term "Art Knife" to include more examples from Fisk (ant knife, boo daddy) Dunn, Dean, Hanson (many folders examples), Hancock (forth of july hunter from other thread), and Fuegan among others.
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Dean, Fuegen, and Hancock are all in the Art Knife Invitational....that is 3 of 25 makers represented world wide. Much of their work DEFINES art knife, especially Larry, who has a very strong style(by this I mean that you can clearly tell that it is a Fuegen from across the room).

The thing that is so exceptional about Larry's work is that he always makes a strong fundamental knife, and then builds onto it(engraving, carving, sculpting...)until he is satisfied with it.

This year for the AKI adds Harvey Dean, Rick Eaton, Virgil England and Ron Lake. Of the 4 makers added, only one is a stock remover(albeit probably one of the two most desired folder makers alive right now), and two are highly placed in the ABS....that makes five of 25 or 20%....definitely increasing.:D Makers that are no longer participating are Bill Moran, Bob Loveless, and Yoshindo Yoshihara....I'm not sure if #4 is because of Buster or if someone else is not going to attend.

As far as the Guild Show goes, from what Coop displayed....for those makers....take a page from the ABS.....early contemporary (1970's-1980's) forged work was not uniformly evolved and polished...a lot was crude, and poorly finished, experimentation was key, but so was working towards designs that were pretty much universally sought after, and then, branching out, once a market was built.

The pieces shown from the Guild Show are geared towards the one or two possible buyers of the knife, out of say 100. The attempt should certainly be made at this point from these makers for more universal appeal. The Guild is in a bit of trouble right now, with many past lost opportunities, and leaders like S.R. Johnson should be focusing on appealing to as many prospective buyers as possible.

Does this make any sense?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kevin Jones said:
Thor, I can definitely see your point regarding Don's award, however IMO Fine Art implies not just fine embellishment, but artistic, unique and adventurous use of material and medium. And Don's selection and use of ivory as demonstrated here in utilizing the natural raw end supports this theory along with his signature single gold pin and his creative use of damascus guard and hammon patterns.

I have often thought that we should broaden our definition of the term "Art Knife"...
Click to expand...


In the recent Blade Magazine, under the 'What's Hot, Japanese Style' article, Don Fogg is quoted, ""It's [the hamon] really a wonderful addition. The hamon just dresses up a carbon steel blade and makes it look very nice and very classy."
I know in terms of function, the hamon may not be all that nessasary on some of the shorter blades. But the skill knifemakers such as Don have in the heat/quench-induced transition on carbon steel blades is an art of bladesmithing that I enjoy and can see as an 'art' form. On this example, an amazing result, IMO. And, should improve function on 13+ inch bowies like Don's award winner.


- Joe
 
Thor I am said:
I like Don's knife. It is a beautiful bowie. I am a little perplexed about the art knife award though. No offense meant, I do think it is a beautiful knife, but "art knife" makes me think of Rigney and Warenski daggers, of Dwight Towell and Virgil England. Bowies usually don't make me think "art knife" unless they are highly embellished with engravings and such. I congratulate Don on getting an award, I just wonder if this one makes sense. BTW, I like both the blade and handle on this knife :p
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I was as surprised as any :)

I can now see it as an 'Art Knife'
 
Even though I now make 'Art Knives' I'll not wear a larger cap :D

Now, back to the other photos, please:o

Thanks, guys!
 
I also want to say. The Knife Makers Guild put on a great show. Even though it was a bit slow, it was a very good time.:thumbup:

I stayed with Cliff Parker while down there and had a blast.
 
Thanks Coop!

A lot of very interesting knives in there. Congrats Don. Those folders (especially the dagger) are pretty darn cool too!

Jerry Halfrich's folders look good to me and that sure is an unusual Jess Horn.

Michael Tison's sowbelly raised my eyebrows too.
 
Bastid said:
Jerry Halfrich's folders look good to me and that sure is an unusual Jess Horn.

Michael Tison's sowbelly raised my eyebrows too.
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Jerry Halfrich is doing some VERY clean work. I was duly impressed. As I also was for Mike Tison. Both of them are fairly new makers and are maturing nicely.

Des Horn has matured as well. Jess Horn wasn't to be seen.... ;)

Coop
 
Thor I am said:
I noticed the same about the Johnson and Young knives. It works on some of them but not so well on others. I think playing with hidden versus exposed tangs is fine and allows the maker to stray from his everyday. But some of the "new" blades I have seen on Johnson knives (and a little on Young) have not been in my realm of taste. Not that makers shouldn't experiment - I think experimentation can bring beautiful results. I just haven't necessarily liked the blade result seen (this Young is not his norm but is still to my liking, the large Johnson blade doesn't do it all for me though).
Click to expand...

I liked the Johnson narrow-tang stag hunting/camp knife, but didn't care for the larger blade, either. Guess you need to have a liking for the bolo-style blade to appreciate it more. Plus, I have not seen the stag butt cap used much. That is something you won't see on many of his blades!
I do like seeing Steve and John deviating a little, though.

- Joe
 
STeven-I think Julie was moved into Buster's slot, and Tim Herman is out this year..I could be wrong. I thought the maker who recently made your awesome piece, Steve Rapp, was replacing Tim, but I noticed he was in the lineup for 2005...
 
rbslaughter1 said:
STeven-I think Julie was moved into Buster's slot, and Tim Herman is out this year..I could be wrong. I thought the maker who recently made your awesome piece, Steve Rapp, was replacing Tim, but I noticed he was in the lineup for 2005...
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Yeah, maybe could be Tim...not sure. Steven Rapp was certainly there last show...had a nice lineup, too.

Assume your goin' this year, be nice to meet as many new Forumites as possible.

Back to the Guild Show, it is not that "different" is bad, au contraire, "different" is good. "Not sexy" and "clumsy design" is bad, which I see in many of the pictures that Coop posted.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks for posting the pictures Coop. They are great! While the show could have been a little bigger and it would not have hurt, we had a great time and sold enough knives to make us happy. Charlie submitted knives and earned voting status this year and I will submit my knives for judging next year. It's a great show to meet the customers and other makers. We plan on continuing to support the Knifemakers Guild each year by having a table full of sexy, well designed knives. This is assuming that "Sexy" means pleasing to the eye and not some other body part.:D
 
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