2016 John White MS Memorial BEST BOWIE - FINALISTS SELECTED!!

Fantastic level of skill on display here, all knife here are truly works of art and deserve to be finalists in this. How ever I can only select seven so here they are.

Post #1, knife #1 - Quesenberry - everything about this piece integral damascus, gold pins, executed flawlessly.
Post #60, knife #4 - Fuegen - this one with the carves ivory and fittings is perfect in every way.
Post #71, knife #1 - Fisk - great style with with remarkable engraving truly makes for a stand alone knife of pure excellence.
Post #26, knife #3 - Hanson - elegance of design with outstanding bark mammoth ivory make this a stand out knife.
Post #52, knife #1 - CAS - eight bar turkish pattern damascus coupled with gorgeous stag, it doesn't get any better than this.
Post #55, knife #2 - Patton - Loveless inspired with an incredible damascus pattern blade, what is there not to like.
Post #5, #1 knife #1 - Jean-Louis - multi bar damascus and stag, this piece just has great visual balance to me.
 
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Post 1 - #1 Mike Quesenberry dog bone: John White would absolutely love. What a great piece.

Post 3 - #1 Russ Andrews sub-hilt: I have loved this sub-hilt since the first sighting. Russ' attention to detail from steel to final construction shines through.

Post 6 - #1 CAS subhilt: Filled with lust, here. Unique sub-hilt design, but the stag, the grind, the look. I'm hooked.

Post 10 - #1 Don Hanson Slim Fighter: Immediately says fighter/Hanson, in the same breath. Love what Don gets out of the steel. He makes it talk. And that ivory!

Post 13 - #3 Sam Lurquin fighter: I love Sam's work. His hamons are smokin', like on this piece. This upswept look has me coming back to look again and again. Wicked!

Post 26 - #3 Don Hanson all bowie: This bowie really speaks to me. Love the blade profile, random damascus, presentation ivory from the Hanson patch. A beauty!

Post 63 - #1 Mike Quesenberry bowie: So darn clean and sexy to me. This one and post 59 #1 draw me in. Had to flip a coin for my seventh choice between these two.

Thanks Roger for this blockbuster thread. Amazing work this year.

- Joe
 
Ok, I just have to do this and not second guess it. If I had to pick them again tomorrow my choices might be different. I'm truly in awe of the skill and artistry displayed in this thread.

In no particular order:

Post 5, #1 - Jean-Louis, multi bar and stag
The handle is fantastic, the damascus is fantastic, the lines and proportions are fantastic. Interesting detail from tip to tail without any one area causing distraction. Just a beautiful piece with great flow.

Post 6, #1 - CAS stag subhilt
Great lines and again, detail without distraction. I love the converging guards.

Post 13, #6 - Claude Bouchonville big subhilt Kolton
I'm a big fan of Claude's work. Such a great eye for lines. I like the Kolton model but this long subhilt model is very cool indeed. Great style yet still all business.

Post 25, #1 - Sam Lurquin Ebony Fighter
So imposing yet so tasteful. Great lines and proportions with stylish design elements. Everywhere you look there are attractive details without being overdone.

Post 30, #4 - Will Morrison
Will has been on fire this year. So many incredible knives coming out of his shop. I really dig his style and sense of aesthetics. Extremely well crafted knives with beautiful handles and simple but very tasteful appointments. I could have picked any of his knives but #4 just speaks to me. Perfect proportions and a super handle.

Post 57, #1 - Ben Breda
Are you kidding me? This thing is all kinds of yummy. I always liked Ben's style.

Post 74, #1 - Robert Burns La Brea Bowie
Nice lines and serious bowie proportions. Lots of detail for the eye to enjoy but not overwhelming.
 
Post #14 - #1 Will Morrison 'Cutlass Bowie'

Post #63 - #1 Mike Quesenberry, MS

Post #10 - #1 Don Hanson III W2 Slim Fighter

Post #13 - #3 Sam Lurquin

Post #14 - #2 Erik Markman
 
For me, it is always about lines. It's a hard thing to describe for anything. When all the lines of a knife are right to all others, there is a realness to it... a weight. I don't have a knife vocabulary to apply to my choices so I can't describe them. They do all have every line.

1-1 Mike Quesenberry

6-1 CAS

22-1 Marc Aldrich... what fewest number of minimalist lines does it take to make a real knife?

26-3 Don Hanson

30-5 Will Morrison

60-4 Larry Fuegen
 
1-1 Quesenberry Dogbone-Tim Hancock is the one who really brought this style of dogbone out. The handmade handle rivets, wild damascus and takedown construction.......Mike does it that way but adds the serious difficulty of making it integral. That's over the top, but it doesn't look it....looks clean and RIGHT!

13-1 Steve Nuckles ST-very hard knife to make look right with the wire inlay and all....and he did it. This is a knife that I would purchase for the right price!

26-3 Don Hanson Bowie-Love the shape, the steel and the ivory....probably one of my favorites by Don in a long time.

59-2 Mike Quesenberry Fighter-This is the style of knife that Mike makes that I adore...they are quick, pointy, solid and sharp as hell. A very slick style, not over the top, but not plain Jane either.

60-4 Larry Fuegen Cowboy Bowie- Pretty sure that Larry made this for Phil Lobred(RIP) and that I have handled this knife countless times. It's pretty damned close to perfect.

61-3 Dave Lisch Ring Fighter-these are fantastic knives that Dave makes, and not too many makers can even come close.

Good luck to everyone!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Again, in no order

#1, 1 Mike Quesenberry -- as many have said, a great Dog Bone and wonderful tribute to the style done so well by JW

#1, 3 CAS Shell Guard -- never tire of seeing CAS knives and maybe someday will own one

#52, 1 CAS -- traditional bowie with great damascus and fittings

#34, 1 John Doyle -- another nice shell guard with nice clean lines

#50, 1 Bens -- Seward and Brada -- a fine collaboration

#60, 4 Larry Fuegen -- never tire of seeing the artistic creativity of this maker

#74, 1 Robert Burns -- a wonderful expression of the genre

Now just one more thing to add but not putting it into the running as I don't interpret it as a Bowie but rather as a Persian fighter and it is the first knife on a table of all the knives that I would be desiring to add to our collection. #61, 5 Daniel Stephan. Fits my tastes exactly and is something exciting to look at all the time.
 
Seems like this is agonizing to choose just a handful from, every year. This year was no different.

Post 1 #1 Quesenberry Everyone has already explained why, but I'll add that normally dogbone handles do nothing for me. This transcends every boundary, for me. Very Mike.

Post 6 #1 CAS Again, no further explanation needed. Wow.

Post 14 #1 Morrison This is really my vote, if I were required to select just one. Triggers everything for me.

Post 19 #3 Tendick A modern iteration of a true classic, and a genuine fighter. I want this one so badly it hurts.

Post 34 # Doyle Nothing gaudy, or over the top, just clean and elegant details, like everything John makes.

Post 50 # 1 The Ben's Collaboration Again, does anything really need to be said here?
 
So many great knives to choose from, it's been difficult to choose.

Post #1 Mike Quesenberry. Dog bone Bowie. This is the best knife I've ever seen, in fact I've placed an order for one!

Post 1-2 Bruce Bump. Cattle Baron Bowie. Bruce constantly makes exquisite knives and this is one of them.

Post #18-4 Karl Anderson. 5 bar Turkish twist Bowie. Karl just keeps turning quality pieces out and this is one of them.

Post #28 Tad Lynch. Damascus Bowie. Having many of Tads knives in my collection, I've just got to give this one my vote.

Post #30-2 Will Morrison. Bowie/Fighter. Wills work is so clean and precise I love it.

Post #47. Mark Cooke. Carbon fiber Bowie. This is another one in my collection. Mark in my opinion is going to be one of the great knife makers in the future if he keeps at it. For someone so young and new to the game, is work is superlative.

Post #56 Ben Seward. Bowie/Fighter. Another great piece from Ben, who is also destined for great things in the future.
 
POST 52, #1: Claudio-CAS

POST 3, #4: Cody Hofsommer

POST 13, #5: Sam Lurquin

POST 61, #3: David Lisch

POST 74, #1: Robert Burns

POST 62, #4: Don Hanson III
 
Post 1, #1 mike quesenberry
Post 13, #2 sam lurquin
Post 45, #1 mike quesenberry
Post 50, #1 ben squared
Post 60, #1 jay Hendrickson
Post 60, #4 larry fuegen
Post 62, #1 claude bouchonville
 
Well, here are my chosen ones!

Pos # 1 - Knife # 1 - Mike Quesenberry - It's the most beautiful Dog Bone I've ever seen ..

Post # 13 - Knife # 2 - Sam Lurquin - I love the combination of aesthetics and aggressiveness of this knife.

Post # 36 - Knife # 1 - D Lisch - Beautiful damask, and great creativity in the guard of this knife.

Post # 52 - Knife # 1 - CAS - That's right, I'll take this one of ours. The damascus was very beautiful, the revelation was perfect and has beautiful reflections ... I love this knife ...
 
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I would thank everyone that gave my work a nod very cool I love all these knives as they show that bowie knife is alive and well. where it will go in 2017 should be fun to watch with so many great makers pushing the bar ever higher. with that said I am only going to vote for one knife it should be the clear winner as I said when it was first posted that IMO it is the finest bowie that has been made in some time once again love all these knives
my hat is off to
Mike Q post 1 knife one
 
Post 14, #1 Morrison Cutlass Bowie. This one is it. From the first time I saw it, I knew this one was it for me this year.

As for the other 6, I simply can't narrow it down. I tried all day yesterday, but I just can't do it, so I'm going with my one pic. It's tough to do something unique without overdoing it, and like the Musso winner last year (I think it's was Sam Lurquin) this one stands out without being cartoonish. Well done. :thumbup:
 
Mike Q Post 1, #1. There can only be one. This is it. Does it get better than this?

Will Morrison Post 14, # 1. I have to give a vote for this one. Saw it on ig and it moved me.

Tad
 
Well done gents. Tough choices indeed. Don't sit on those votes - keep 'em coming!

Every year when it comes to tabulating votes, it's inevitably a dogfight for the last two spots - every vote counts!
 
My favorite thread of the year as has been already said by others.
My picks this year

Post #1 Pic #1 Mike Q. I had the pleasure to hold this one in hand. As near to perfection as it gets. I would love to have this one in my collection.

Post #2 Pic #3 Lin R. Love the forged fittings.

Post # 10 Pic #1 Don H. The Hamon :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Post #13 Pic #1 Steve N. Classic Moran. I had a chance to hold this one at Blade. WOW Steve did a nice job and won the Moran award. Much deserved.

Post # 34 Pic #1 John D. Shell guard :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Post # 36 Pic #1 Dave L. Pierced Ring D. This is one that really rocks my boat.

Post # 50 Pic#1 Ben & Ben these 2 youngsters really have it together. Enjoyed watching this one on Instagram :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I think this was my toughest year to pick 7 as I could easily pick about 10 more that would be contenders.

Thanks Roger for keeping this alive.

Bing
 
Thanks, Mike. Even a single vote in this company is high praise indeed. Looking forward to seeing which one takes it.
 
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