Best Blades-What’s Next?

[tgann]

that is why the forum is so cool .i have never seen a cris reeves knive like that.seeing these knive gets my fired up to get in the shop. thanks kevin
tommy

 

[Kevin Jones]

I guess folder blades are fair game too.
Here's a carved Robert Eggerling "wave pattern" damascus blade on a Ken Steigerwalt auto folder:

 

[SharpByCoop]

How about a step back to what was.....

My favorite maker, Hill Pearce, stopped making knives over 15 years ago. I own only two integrals from him, but some of the modern integrals I have been seeing are still playing catch up.

Here's two examples of mine:

That's one piece of steel from the tip to the handles.

He learned forging from the great master Sid Birt. Here's another that is mindblowing for the forged crowd. Historical Khyber, 14" blade with the T-section forged in.

These ought to raise the bar for aspiring smiths....

Coop

 

[RogerP]

Having had the opportunity to handle those beauties, I'd wholeheartedly endorse Coop's description - "mind-blowing" indeed!

Roger

 

[Bigfattyt]

I really like subtle patterns. So that you have to really look.
One from Shiva Ki

here is a close up of wootz damascus

 

[Bigfattyt]

I have multiple knives from a few different makers including half a dozen by Harald Moeller, a dozen by Brian Lyttle and so far 2 by Rodrigo Sfreedo with one in the mail and another 4 or so on order.

RS is doing some wonderful knives and these both have been up on different occasion but are so fine that they deserve another look.

and now because of a major players request and I know how much he love to handle this knife when he visits (I do enjoy those immensely) here is the Pendray Bowie

There a many other great knives and I love the works of Brian Lyttle also and could post a variety of knives from him but these will suffice for this thread at the moment.

wow, just wow on those thee. For some reason the last bowie with the subtle blade pattern and the beefy handle calls out to me (in a soft siren voice........hold me, something needs to be cut.........sell a kidney, you only need one kidney)

 

[RogerP]

wow, just wow on those thee. For some reason the last bowie with the subtle blade pattern and the beefy handle calls out to me (in a soft siren voice........hold me, something needs to be cut.........sell a kidney, you only need one kidney)

And it's even more impressive in person.

Roger

 

[Bigfattyt]

Ah, come on, RogerP..........is that a cutting/testing center set up in your back yard with the pics of Dan Farr's competition cutter? Now you are just being mean (coming from some one with no back yard and tiny garage). I like the rougher finish on the second knife better than the presentation grade.

 

[RogerP]

Actually, that is an official competition rig - built by Dan and set up in his ginormous back yard. The second knife is the one Dan used in the competition (he was a finalist that year). My knife was to be the backup - just in case.

Roger

 

[Charles M]

Oustanding Coop. Those forged damascus integrals are beyond incredible. Love the details. I especially enjoy the German hunting knife. And this is coming from a guy that does not collect forged knives

 

[Joss]

Custom steels are still a confidential area, but I find it interesting. I have 3:

1) A bowie made by Howard Clark out of 1086M, a steel he designed and for which he ordered a custom smelt.
2) A tanto by Louie Mills made out of his own tamahagane.
3) A tanto made by Don Fogg out of "blister steel" made from scratch by Richard Furrer.

JD

 

[RogerP]

That IS a pretty interesting trio Joss.

Roger

 

[SharpByCoop]

No discussion of blades in the 21st century can leave out the progress that RJ Martin has accomplished. Witness these 'grinds':

There is something for everyone in this thread!

Coop

 

[Kevin Jones]

I have posted this one recently, however It's one of my favorite examples of a pattern welded blade. And besides it's being shipped away to be on display for a few months, I will miss her.

 

[canineforge]

Here are a few results Don Hanson gets with some of the Howard Clark 1086M steel. Being similar to W2 with a little less carbon, this steel gets great hamon results.

This is Don's first forged 1086M bowie:

A later one with Ozark walnut handle:

1086M makes a great carbon steel 'with-hamon' blade:

- Joe

 

[sreeja]

This shows the art of knife making.It is really awesome.All of them is an example of great art work.Really amazing.

 

[Keencutter]

Here is one photographed by SharpByCoop that is beautiful, but there are sooooo many and there is so little time...Hope you don't mind me posting it here.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Love this one and the Smith above. :thumbup:

Don, great sheath too. Who's the sheathmaker?

 

[canineforge]

Kevin, Bob Schrap made the sheath for the Hanson stag bowie. I think Bob is making sheaths full-time now?

- Joe

 

[Doberman_Dave]

It looks to me that a common quality here is the appearance of the 3rd dimension (depth), whether real with fullers, etc., or apparent with layers/grain/hamon. Is this a new thing, or has it always been a quality shared by the "best"?

Dave