2021 John White MS Memorial BEST BOWIE Thread -- Vote NOW for Finalists!

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Really, about the only knife that I think would qualify for something in this vein (although I do appreciate the mention, John ;)) :


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I’d totally forgotten about this year-end event. Someone mentioned it to me, otherwise I’d have missed it entirely. The Custom and Handmade section just doesn’t seem to have the same draw it once did…

Happy Holidays, everyone!
 
Thanks for the additional entries, folks! We are now closed to further entries - let the selection of finalists begin!

Once again, a BIG THANK YOU for all the nominations. And a special thanks to those makers who posted up their work. . You should all be proud of your creations. Without you, we'd have nothing to talk about here.

The fun continues with what usually proves to be the hardest and most interesting part - narrowing it down to five finalists. The procedure will be the same as before:

1) Each member may submit up to 7 suggested finalists. You don't have to submit as many as 7, but don't submit any more than 7. I think we can all agree that there is more than one knife on these pages that deserved a nod? Please take your time to carefully review all the knives.

2) Please include the post number where your selected knife can be found, and the number of the knife within that post if more than one knife is presented therein - this will help clear up any uncertainty in the case where there are multiple knives by a given maker among the initial entries. For example - a say post number 30 has 4 knives. You want the third. Put "Post 30, #3". AND DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE MAKER!

3) Your order or selection doesn't matter - one vote per knife up to seven, each vote counts.

4) Please try to include a few words about what appeals to you about any given selection. THIS is what makes the selection process most interesting.

5) When all votes are in, we add up the numbers (each time a knife is put forward by someone as a finalist, that effectively counts as one vote for that knife) and the top 5 will be voted on by poll in a new thread.

PS - If anything is unclear, please ask early.

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I'll cast a few votes to get things rolling. Hard to pick only 7!

Post 1, #2 Marc Aldrich - so clean, love the complementary sheath

Post 2, #1 Petr Melicharek - incredible guard and handle

Post 3, #3 Peter Del Raso - flawless grinds, fit and finish

Post 4, #1 Sam Lurquin - wild curves, classic Sam

Post 10, #1 Don Hanson III - great steel along the tapered tang, amazing ivory

Post 13, #1 Russ Andrews - nice flow and balance

Post 21, #1 Matt Gregory - very exotic mix of old and new
 
ferider ferider Roland, we just started narrowing down the finalists (see my previous post), but if you and anyone else wants to vote for this one, I'll count it. Thanks for the contribution.
 
Ugh, the narrowing....So hard. All the makers with nominated pieces have my utmost respect. I am also very humbled to have had my name mentioned among the nominees. Of course my choices are driven only by my own personal tastes and no slight is intended towards any that I didn't pick. Ok, onward....


Post 1, #2 Marc Aldrich - Even if my name wasn't on it I would pick it. I think oftentimes people feel more is better. Sometimes line, proportion and tasteful detail choices are enough.

Post 3, #2 Sam Lurquin - No engraving, no pattern welded steel, no mammoth ivory, but everything the modern Bowie knife has evolved to be. Fantastic flow and proportions. Light on adornment but imposing and brutal in attitude.

Post 3, #10 Peter DelRaso - You're going to get tired of hearing it. Flow, line, proportion, tasteful details. A knife like this is deceptively hard to pull off. It looks simple but it is not. The knife has only what it needs and there are some sophisticated choices being made.

Post 21, #1 Matt Gregory - If nobody is objecting to Peter DelRaso's Persian Fighter, then Matt's is fair game. Traditional Bowies aren't Matt's thang but all his pieces are creative, and very well built. This fusion bowie/tanto shows off his high level of craftsmanship, attention to detail and style.

Post 23, #1 Russ Andrews - At a casual glace it is fairly basic as bowies go but the devil is in the details. Fit and finish, flow, material choices, all done at expert level.

Post 3, #4 Peter DelRaso - Subhilt, far left. Expert grinds, flawless finishes, beautiful fit up, tasteful such and such, gorgeous yaddah yaddah, the perfect thing on the doohickey, whatever whatever. You know what I mean, Pete's stuff is the shit.

Post 4, #1 Sam Lurquin - Honestly, I don't love everything Sam does. But when he gets something right, he really gets it right. This is not my favorite Sam piece ever but it has enough to get my vote. The beautiful flow, great handle, that aggressive angled and curved subhilt (I might have to borrow that, just sayin') and the wide blade make a very formidable piece.
 
1. Russ Andrews Stag Bowie, Pg 2, post #23.

No competition after scrolling through the choices, when I saw this one, I saved the picture so I could look at it later! That’s one that would fit right in with my collection, especially the stag handled damascus hunter I own from Russ. Great lines with that subtle curved guard and massive dropped edge. Perfect stag taper too!

Excellent work Russ Andrews Russ Andrews !

2. John Doyle’s Coffin Handle Bowie, Pg 1, Post #17, Knife #2.

Excellent blend of old and new plus the checkering always puts his knife handles a step above! That’s just another cool knife that I’d love to hold. Keep up the great work J. Doyle J. Doyle !
 
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This was quite a bit easier for me than some years. Here goes:

Post 1, #4 - Paul DiStefano- This wasn't my favorite bowie of Paul's this year, but all of the ones I saw from him this year were among my favorites of all time. Paul is one to watch.
Post 2- Petr Melicharek- The whole package is outstanding, and ties together so well. The fire blackened texture really completes it.
Post 3, #6 - Peter Del Raso- Possibly my favorite knife I've seen this year. Maybe not a proper bowie, but I'm fine with bending the category. It's superb.
Post 3, #10 - Peter Del Raso- What can I say? It's outstanding. I especially love the spacer detail.
Post 7- Jason Fry- It's cool, it's meaningful, it's Texan to the core, and my brother made it.
Post 10- Don Hanson- love the handle shape, and the DH3 execution is top notch, as usual.
 
Awesome knives on display here for sure.

My selections generally run more along traditional lines, but this crop is chock full of so many impressive and emotive variations on the bowie theme and this is reflected in many of my choices.

Post 1, #1 - Aaron Wilburn - High contrast geometric damascus patterns aren't generally my thing, but this one grabbed hold of my eyeballs and didn't let go. Love it.

Post 1, #2 - Mike Aldrich - Just impossibly clean lines and execution on this subhilt. Captivating in its austerity.

Post 3, #4 - Peter Del Raso - Good heavens - those lines! Persian aesthetic is the impression it leaves with me - elegant and flowing.

Post 4, #1- Samuel Lurquin - Fierce. Intimidating. Sam's Tsavo has always had those elements when rendered with a traditional double guard and contoured handle - but they seem to have been amplified with a fullered blade, integral bolster and dramatic subhilt. This knife walks into the bar and the other knives get quiet, and give it space.

Post 10, #1- Don Hanson III - this is such classic DHIII. An aspirational piece of functional art. Simply beautiful.

Post 21, #1 - Matt Gregory- Love the Fogg-esque fusion of east and west in this piece. Totally cool knife.

Post 23, #1 - Russ Andrews. - This is what perfection looks like in a compact and portable bowie. Damascus and stag combo is pure class and the renowned Andrews execution is undoubtedly as perfect as human hands can make.
 
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The ones that spoke to me most...
Wilburn, 1,1. That damascus is ridiculous in so many good ways.
DiStefano, 1,4. Like my brother said, not my favorite one from Paul this year, but a darn good one in its own right.
Del Raso, 3,3. So darn clean. Impossible!
Andrews, 3,9 Just says "bowie" in my mind
Fry 7,1 This is the first time I've ever voted for myself in this contest, but I love Texas history too much to let it go.
Hanson 10,3- I wanted to make knives like Don Hanson when I grew up. Still haven't grown up, but his knives are still exceptional. Love the tapered frame, among other things.
Doyle 17,2- A vest bowie is still a bowie. I liked this one from John.
 
There is only one knife in post 10, so my vote should read post 10 #1 and has been edited accordingly.
 
For me it always comes down to which knives I’d like to own

in no particular order



POST 1 #2 MARC ALDRICH

POST 1 # 2 AARON WILBURN

POST 4 #1 SAM LURQUIIN

POST 19 #1 MATT GREGORY

POST 21 MATT GREGORY
 
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