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

StickyRick said:
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:o

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

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Don't under estimate a "plain Jane" Michael Walker. It is worth many times
what you paid for it......... AND, she is a real beauty!

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
I think it is time to add a few more truly amazing Michael Walkers,
that have been hidden away for may years in major European
custom knife collections. The 20 something knives already displayed
in this thread are just a drop in the sea.....

Here are three outstanding zippers (two of them double zippers!)
come from Italy. Ones mind cannot even imagine how much time
is invested in one of these creations....

There will be an 8 page in-depth fully illustrated story about Michael
in my coming book with a display of truly unbelievable knives!

Enjoy!

Anyone else like to contribute some more Michael Walkers and make
this thread a one-of-a-kind exhibition?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my next book "The World of Art Knives", (May 2010)
WALKER-Uliassi-1.jpg
 
God damn! Hello new desktop wallpaper!
 
I was wondering who resurrected this GREAT thread.

While the zipper blade is a work of art in itself, I prefer the Walker's from the original post to the newer ones.

It is a PLEASURE to view them all in one thread.

Peter
 
peterinct said:
I was wondering who resurrected this GREAT thread.

While the zipper blade is a work of art in itself, I prefer the Walker's from the original post to the newer ones.

It is a PLEASURE to view them all in one thread.

Peter
Click to expand...

Actually, Peter I did :) as I have some newly created composite
illustrations of Michael Walker's folders, set for my next book.

The full page illustration (above) of the three zippers displays knives that
Michael made quite a few years ago... But I know what you are talking
about and will soon please you with some of his amazing modern pieces.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
This is one of MY favorite Michael Walker designs....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my next book "The World of Art Knives", (May 2010)
Walker-K04693.jpg
 
Multigrinds on blades is a design vehicle that has not been explored enough. I think the concept has a bright future.
 
Here is one Michael Walker creation that created quite a buzz that
probably still echos in the corridors where high end custom knife collectors travel....

This is a new Button Lock folder with a new double sharkstooth blade,
titanium handles with mosaic inlays of gold, gold-shakudo mokume,
palladium white gold - silver mokume and silver shakudo mokume.

It was made for the 2007 San Diego AKI and was an open bid knife.
The highest bidder got it. His bid was quite high....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my next book "The World of Art Knives" (May 2010)
K04594-Walker-Michael-003.jpg
 
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what a phenomenal knife!:eek:
 
Wow. It's emotionally charged, that's for sure.

Smart to use a very neutral background and let the colors really grip the viewer. Nice.

Thanks,

Coop
 
How are the zipper blades made? What's the material of the core / center?
 
Joss said:
How are the zipper blades made? What's the material of the core / center?
Click to expand...

EDM machining, wire rather than sinker would be my guess......core is anodized titanium.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
EDM machining, wire rather than sinker would be my guess......core is anodized titanium.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

I thought that quoting Michael from an 8-page section
about his incredible knife art in my new book will shed
a ray of light about his Zipper art...

Creating the Zipper Blade
“It all began through a series of trials and errors.
The first blade was created in the early 1980’s. It had a 416 stainless
steel body with a TIG welded (Tungsten Inert Gas welding technique)
wear resistant tool and blade steel (Vascowear) edge.
This knife was on display at the Cutlery Museum in Soligen Germany
for some time and is in a private collection in Germany.

When heat treated, the 416 stainless steel was about Rc-40 and the
Vascowear about Rc-61. The filler rod was 308ss, a very ductile stainless steel.
My idea was to make a blade that had a very hard and wear-resistant edge
and a tough body that would bend slightly as opposed to breaking.
This had always been the goal with edged weapons since the beginning.
There are many examples of this in history, including the Samurai swords,
and I was looking for a way to achieve this with modern stainless steels.
The 416 stainless steel, Vascowear blade performed as expected but
left a lot to be desired aesthetically. The blade could be bent almost
to a full circle, the edge would crack about every 3/8 of an inch (9 mm)
but the blade did not break in two.

Replacing the 416ss with titanium gave me a much tougher blade body.
Many combinations were tested, trying to weld titanium to 154-CM, 440C,
Vascowear D2, etc., all failed, so another joining process was needed.
The only solution was a mechanical joint with integral rivets with a plus
or minus fit of about one ten thousandth of an inch (0.0001”).

Now I began a new trial and error process and aerospace technology
was needed and used. Many more broken test blades were sacrificed
until a solution was found. Finally one successful blade was made and patented.
In the beginning about one of every four blades was a success. The flaws
could only be detected after the blade was finished to a 800 grit or finer finish.
The flawed blades were scrapped and the process started all over again.

Over the years I had the process refined to what one can see today in my
Zipper and Shark-Tooth blades. It has been an exciting and most
interesting journey”.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
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ddd said:
Here is one Michael Walker creation that created quite a buzz that
probably still echos in the corridors where high end custom knife collectors travel....

This is a new Button Lock folder with a new double sharkstooth blade,
titanium handles with mosaic inlays of gold, gold-shakudo mokume,
palladium white gold - silver mokume and silver shakudo mokume.

It was made for the 2007 San Diego AKI and was an open bid knife.
The highest bidder got it. His bid was $53,500.00....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my next book "The World of Art Knives" (May 2010)
K04594-Walker-Michael-003.jpg
Click to expand...

David, this is just spectacular!!!! Thank you very much for showing it. Ciao Tore
 
ddd said:
5 Zippers by Michael Walker.......
from the collection of Ed Wormser, USA

From the top:
"Crescent Shape Zipper", mid '90s
Tiny blade lock with zipper blade, stainless Damascus blade and bolsters.
Overall length 5" (127 mm).

"Blade Lock Zipper", 2003
Stainless Damascus blade and bolsters. Meteorite handle with gold accents.
Overall length 7 3/4" (197 mm).

"Blade Lock Zipper, late '90s
Stainless Damascus blade and bolsters. Gold and mixed metal inlays in handle.
Overall length 7 3/4" (197 mm).

"Blade Lock Zipper", 2002
Stainless Damascus blade and bolsters. Gold and mixed metal inlays in handle.
Overall length 7 3/4" (197 mm).

"Small Blade Lock Zipper", 2001
Stainless Damascus blade and bolsters. Gold and mixed metal inlays in handle.
Overall length 6 1/4" (159 mm).

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

As shown in my book "The Great Collections"
picture.JPG
Click to expand...

Wow! :D
 
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