Art knives or User knives?

Paracelsus

Paracelsus

Joined
Nov 6, 1999
Messages
2,639
Well, a kind and generous friend entrusted me with his digital camera for one night. I managed to take some photographs of most of my custom knives. Most are forged plain tool steel hunters with the 3 to 5 inch blades.

I try to collect different examples of the Art of Bladesmithing. All of my custom knives are fixed blade hunters. I collect this style because I like it and can use these knives. And because they are much simpler to make than folding knives, and are consequently about the most inexpensive way to buy Great handmade knives. Most of my knives are One of a Kind. They range in value from $75 to several hundred dollars. But I like them all equally.

There are examples of many of the commonly forged tool steels, and a couple of stock removal pieces. There are mosaic damascus pieces, some great file work examples, and beautiful woods and stag. I have knives made by Daniel Winkler, Jim Crowell, PJ Tomes, Roger Green, Connie Persson, John Perry, GenO Denning, Herb Derr, and Tim Morgan. Have a look. Let me know what you think.

Go to:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=953840&a=6978796

Paracelsus
 
Very, very nice Para! Thanks for sharing. While I could easily stand to add any of those to my modest compilation, the Winkler is the star of the show.
 
Well, it's about freakin' time you got some pics of your collection!
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I really like that Herb Derr piece... and the Winkler... and the Morgan pukko... and the Dennings... and the...
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Kelly
My Custom Knife Collection
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice
 
I agree with Kelly, it's about time. Great collection! I know Herb Derr isn't as big a name as some of the others, but that is one stunning knife. #2 for me would have to be the Winkler, but they are all beautiful. I know you've got some new stuff coming, I look forward to seeing them.
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Fantastic quality looking collection Para.
Thanks for posting the link.
Gus
I would like to see more makers and collectors show and link to their stuff here. (Let's not let it get too commercial that can now go to the exchange area again.)

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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.
 
Art vs action?
Form vs Function?

I, for one believe that there is room for both. see my site www.weatherlycustomknives.com
look at the pictures of the art knives and then look at the tactical shark. they are esentialy the same knife. in fact, most of the parts are interchangable (sort of).

As for other examples, many Benchmades and microtecs have taken form to function.
 
Thanks everyone for your kind words. Glad you liked some of my knives. I think Blademan is right, the Winkler is the my favorite knife too. It was seeing Daniel Winklers knives featured in Blade magazine several years ago that started me down the sorry road towards knife addiction. I skipped right past production knives and started collecting hand forged knives.

The mosaic Herb Derr piece is really special too. I bought my father a 4 inch hunter in 2700 layers birds eye damascus with a stag handle and a pouch sheath with snake skin inserts for Christmas. Wish I had photos of that knife as well. Herb's forge work is really wonderful and his knives are a tremendous value.

Yes Darrel, I am a 'forged' knife guy. Somehow the hand work involved in the forging process, and the control over the optimal working properties of the blade that ABS makers strive for appeals to my sense of Art.

Senator, I'm really pleased that you like my knives. You have a great collection too. Phil, I knew you would like all the stag.

Jim (maker), I think function and utility are just as much a part of the Art as fancy materials and embellishment. It's not just that there is room for Both, as they are aspects of the Same thing. Sometimes the simplest things represent the highest Art. And Art without function is not a Knife.

I found a copy of photodeluxe and had some fun trying to fix the poor exposures of my photographs. Some of the knives look much better now. Have another look:
Para's Knives

Paracelsus

I'm awaiting delivery of Ed Caffrey's Mastersmith test hunter in 52100, 'Bound by Faith', and Tim Herman is making me a User grade Sliver with a D2 blade. I'll post pics and reviews when I get them.

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 07-04-2000).]
 
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