Does anyone know the relationship between these two makers?
When I first started collecting, Russell Easler's standard drop point was among the first customs I bought. One or two years later, he adds a bit of detail with some black lines in his bolsters. At that same time I come across a couple of Claude Montjoy's knives for the first time, both drop points with what seems like the exact profile and grind and wide stainless bolsters, along with the same lines on the bolsters. Back then I thought maybe they were friends or one was a protegé of the other.
A few months ago I saw on Only Fine Knives that Easler's done another variant of his standard design, this time with a "carved" guard and black lined file work along the tang. They're still on the site if you want to look. Then a couple of weeks ago I saw what appears to be the same exact styling, down to the shape of the "carved" guard and lined filework, on eBay for a Montjoy knife.
I'm not trying to stir up anything, I'm just curious if one is indeed the protegé of the other. And if not why the two of them are turning out knives that look almost exactly like each other. I mean, I know Loveless has the many Loveless protegé and offshoots, but I don't think this is quite like that.
When I first started collecting, Russell Easler's standard drop point was among the first customs I bought. One or two years later, he adds a bit of detail with some black lines in his bolsters. At that same time I come across a couple of Claude Montjoy's knives for the first time, both drop points with what seems like the exact profile and grind and wide stainless bolsters, along with the same lines on the bolsters. Back then I thought maybe they were friends or one was a protegé of the other.
A few months ago I saw on Only Fine Knives that Easler's done another variant of his standard design, this time with a "carved" guard and black lined file work along the tang. They're still on the site if you want to look. Then a couple of weeks ago I saw what appears to be the same exact styling, down to the shape of the "carved" guard and lined filework, on eBay for a Montjoy knife.
I'm not trying to stir up anything, I'm just curious if one is indeed the protegé of the other. And if not why the two of them are turning out knives that look almost exactly like each other. I mean, I know Loveless has the many Loveless protegé and offshoots, but I don't think this is quite like that.