An exhibition of 20 AMAZING Michael walkers......

[Trisak]

Thanks for sharing. It's incredible!

 

[Jos]

From my book "The Great Collections"

WOW. This is fantastic!

Thanks for sharing these pics and the information.

 

[Stump_250]

Thanks for sharing.. those are awesome. Being new to some of this I just learned a lot about something I've never seen!

 

[ddd]

Thanks for sharing.. those are awesome. Being new to some of this I just learned a lot about something I've never seen!

Actually, very few collectors have ever seen one of these knives close-up
and even fewer have had the chance to experienced the amazing feeling
of handling and checking in detail one of Michael Walker's folders.

It is something a custom knife enthusiast can never forget........

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[ddd]

Here is a "Walker stainless Damascus" knife Michael Walker made for the
1995 San Diego AKI.
He says that this is the first forging and Damascus work he had done.
He chose stainless because it suited the style and created the effect he wanted
to achieve. Michael says (quoting from the 1995 AKI catalogue) that the handles
have "Impressionistic selective patterning". One piece of Twist pattern Damascus
was made and the center of the twist was cut out to make the stainless screw.
The only pieces not stainless Damascus are small accents of titanium and gold.
This, by the way, was an Open Bid knife.

This is what I consider amazingly beautiful......

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[737Ng]

Beautiful knives. Thanks for sharing those pics:thumbup:

 

[T.K.C.]

The Puffin IS my favorite!! Those are all amazing, amazing knives!!

 

[uccreading]

All I can say is What An Artist!

 

[ddd]

I couldn't resist showing one more truly amazing picture, a close-up of Michael Walker's
Crescent Shape Zipper from the collection of Ed Wormser....
The picture speaks for itself.......

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book "Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives"

 

[HTMD]

It's wonderful to see these, David. Thanks for sharing them.

The knives make me drool, but being an amateur photographer, so does the gear used to capture such images. From the EXIF data contained in the "5 Zippers" image above:

Eric Eggly, Point Seven, Inc.
Hasselblad H1
2 second exposure at f32
ISO 50
110 mm focal length

Cool! Thanks again for sharing.

 

[Joss]

Interesting. I wonder what f/32 in med format translates to on my 20D. I take those knife pictures at f/13 generally...

 

[ddd]

Yes, Eric Eggly of Point Seven Inc. took the RAW shots of these knives,
shooting them individually on a smooth grey background. I later process
these RAW files bringing life and beauty into each piece, I combine several
images together and create the background to finish the illustrations.

Eric shoots for my books using Imacon digital backs with his Hasselblad cameras
including at this time the CFH39 MP. These digital backs will produce an 8-bit
picture file that is 112 MB in size, or a 16-bit file that is 224 MB.

Such quality enables me unlimited options to create full page illustrations
of the highest quality for my books..... And, I do "invest" about 1,000 to
1,500 hours of photoshop work in creating the illustrations for each book...

I also enjoy every minute of this creative process...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[ddd]

When I realized that I did not show these two amazing Zippers that
Michael Walker made in the early 90s, I decided to see what
you think about them......... So here they are.

I myself agree with Ed Wormser, in whose collection these two folders
rest, that they are something very special - and to think that they were
made about 15 years ago!!

From the top:
"Blade Lock Zipper", mid '90s
Titanium handles, engraved by Patricia Walker (USA).
Overall length 7 3/4" (197 mm).
Ed wormser openly declares that:"This may be the most
beautiful knife in my entire collection".

"Blade Lock Double Zipper", early '90s
Titanium handles, engraved by Patricia Walker (USA).
Overall length 7 1/2" (195 mm).

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book "...The great Collections"

 

[Joss]

Impressive; however, I have to say that the Patricia Walker engraving / anodizing is hit-or-miss for me. I like the bottom one, but the top one leaves me cold. That 50% ratio pretty much applies to the other ones too.

That double zipper must be extra special to the owner and maker. Boy, what a piece...

 

[Lorien]

That is some mind blowing stuff there.

 

[cockroachfarm]

OMG! I love that "Puffin"!

And yes, I will be so crass as to ask: if that were to be offered for sale today (say, by a collector or a dealer and not by auction), what might the price be?

 

[David1967]

great pictures + knives :thumbup:

 

[ddd]

...And yes, I will be so crass as to ask: if that were to be offered for sale today (say, by a collector or a dealer and not by auction), what might the price be?

At the recent AKI Show, two of his knives were priced at $11,500. A third
was an Open Bid knife and, if I remember well, it was bagged by a collector
who bid $54,000....... That third knife was a prototype Double Sharktooth
Zipper.

So, only the sky and some collector's uncontrollable craving are the limit when
dealing with Michael Walker's folders....

All the best,
David Darom

 

[StickyRick]

I aquired this MW about 20 years ago. It has remained one of my favorites for all this time.

I have no idea what it is worth. As I recall I paid $800 to $900 for it. I would hope it has gained value. It's not for sale, and looking at some of his other works it's sort of a
"plain jane" model.....but I love her

I would be thankfull for any input from other more informed members

Thanks in advance.

 

[jaislandboy]

wow amazing work , sensory overload thanks for sharing