In the broadest of terms any knife that is appreciated for it's artistic appeal rather than used as a tool or weapon could be considered an "Art Knife".
Stay with me, Kevin......
Ken Onion coined the term "mid tech" to mean a knife that had parts manufactured by outside businesses, but assembled by him, ground, and finished by him.....the term got misused by others to the point that Ken had to re-state what he meant multiple times in multiple forums.
Phil Lobred created the AKI to have an association formed for the purpose of creating a one-day show and sale for an invited group of discriminating collectors. The emphasis is on more innovative work. Past AKI shows have been the showplace for these makers to unveil new models, new locking mechanisms, new trademarks, one of a kind creations and overall a lot of really creative work.
The following is a direct quote from his website:
"Throughout history the worlds greatest bladesmiths have designed and built art knives and certainly knifemaking in America has seen many changes in the past 200 years, but never in history has there been a greater renaissance in knifemaking than in the last decade.
With advanced steels and an emphasis on workmanship, a handful of contemporary knifemakers create fascinating examples of this art form today. With the
emphasis taken off the utility aspect of this most useful of all hand tools and placed on creativity and execution, Art Knives by important makers are rapidly gaining popularity as unique collectibles.
The 1983 Art Knife Invitational is an effort to place 16 such makers before a select group of collectors for the purpose of viewing and purchasing some of the most spectacular art knives being made in the world today."
-Phil Lobred
May 1983
It is obvious when you read that old introduction that the American art knife scene, even the term itself, was in its infancy. The term Art Knife was discussed and selected as the most descriptive. That is why it was put in quotation marks. There was really nothing else to call these fabulous new knife creations at that time. The term fit and it stuck. Two shows were produced, one in 1983 and one in 1984. Both were held at the MGM Grand Hotel, Reno.
So...all of you that don't like the term "art knife"...don't use it. The term has use and merit, and value....It is my feeling that it will outlive us all, even though it is frequently misused.
I personally don't see art in a Ford Taurus, or an American Standard urinal, or in a yellow plastic bowl from China, but it does not mean that someone else does. I can call crappy art, crappy art, but someone else might say the same of my stuff. I am not going to fight about it.
A little historical perspective is good for the discussion, no?
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
