ABS Board of Directors Knife, 2005

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
Messages
1,705
I've been trying to make a decent photograph of this knife to take to Maryland next weekend for the Moran Hammer-In. I'm hoping Mr. Moran will autograph it for me.

The problem in photographing this particular knife is the mirror finish on the blade - and the engraving along with it. To get the engraving on the blade to show up the mirror finish ends up looking wierd and visa versa. I also found that creating a photoshop composite image so that everything shows up just does not look natural. So far, this compromise is as far as I've gotten.....

orig.jpg


The particulars:
OAL is 16 1/2 in. Blade of W-2 steel is 11 1/2 in. Handle material is Mammoth Ivory and was donated by Beaver Creek Trading Company. The sheath is wood covered with Shark skin fitted with a nickel silver throat.

The knife was created in the following order by Mastersmiths who currently serve on the ABS board:
W. F. "Bill" Moran, Jr. - forged the blade
Jerry Fisk - ground the blade
Joe Keeslar - engraved and file-worked the back of the blade
Jim Batson - heat treated the blade
Rick Dunkerley - applied the blade finish
Bert Gaston - sharpened and tested the blade (Bert also coordinated the whole project)
Greg Neely - fashioned the guard and ferrule
Harvey Dean - handle (frame type) and fit-up
Steve Dunn - engraved the guard, ferrule, handle as well as the throat of the sheath
Jay Hendrickson - sheath complete with nickel silver throat

B.R. Hughes said, "This is the best knife the board has ever made." :thumbup:

A couple of detail shots will follow.
 
That's a genuine piece of cutlery history you have there Buddy. And a beautiful knife in all respects. I don't know if "classic contemporary" makes sense as a description, but that's how this knife strikes me. It embraces the best of what the bowie knife (as a category) was and what it has become.

An autographed photo by Mr. Moran would indeed be the icing on the cake.

Roger
 
Just an incredible knife Buddy!

Thanks for such a clear display and a concise description.

Coop
 
Thanks guys, and thanks Coop for all of your help in getting me to the point that my images are of more use to folks who actually want to 'see the knife.'
 
Even without the significant provenance this piece stands out as a truley exceptional work. It is a collaboration that does not look like a collaboration can sometimes, it just works supremely well.

The sum of the whole is far greater than the sum of the whole, and that is saying something, from the blade profile , to the fileworked and engraved spine, the exquisite guard, the engraving, the handle, the mammoth ....... each in its own right superb, but together a masterpiece.

This is without doubt one of the finest bowies I have seen and it has gone to a very deserving collector. Congratulations to all involved.

Buddy ... the images are superb, any chance of some high res versions for my library? :D

Cheers,

Stephen
 
Stephen F said:
any chance of some high res versions for my library?
Click to expand...
Sure, just e-mail me and I'll send it by reply. Please mention what degree of resolution and file size you would like. Please notice that I substituted a revised image at the top. The lettering on the blade is much more readable.
 
Then I subtracted the red background from this one to make it easier to sign.
orig.jpg
 
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