Best Bowies 2021 Finalists- Vote!

Your Choice for Best Bowie 2021

  • Aldrich

    Votes: 14 22.2%

  • Andrews

    Votes: 3 4.8%

  • Gregory

    Votes: 17 27.0%

  • Hanson III

    Votes: 10 15.9%

  • Lurquin

    Votes: 8 12.7%

  • Wilburn

    Votes: 11 17.5%
  • Total voters
    63
  • Poll closed .
Richard338

Richard338

Gold Member
Joined
May 3, 2005
Messages
7,239
Amazing batch of knives this year, and thank you all for your participation.
These choices are the top 6 by number of votes for a particular piece.
Some makers had more than one knife nominated.
Del Raso Knives Del Raso Knives had lots of votes, but spread among 4 pieces.
(sorry Peter, you could have been a contender!)

Voting closes in 24 hours.

Marc Aldrich
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Russ Andrews
AEPexkI.jpg


Matt Gregory
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Don Hanson III
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Sam Lurquin
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Aaron Wilburn
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All wonderful

I voted for Matt Gregory‘s piece

its the most unbowie like piece here…..but if you look close maybe not so much

its got a coffin shaped handle

a pretty butcher knife style blade but oh so well done

if you look past the perfectly executed Japanese influence its very Bowie like in shape and form but most of all if I could have one it would be that one

Happy New Year
 
JParanee said:
All wonderful

I voted for Matt Gregory‘s piece

its the most unbowie like piece here…..but if you look close maybe not so much

its got a coffin shaped handle

a pretty butcher knife style blade but oh so well done

if you look past the perfectly executed Japanese influence its very Bowie like in shape and form but most of all if I could have one it would be that one

Happy New Year
Click to expand...
Its an awesome knife but all I kept thinking was carrying that and using it on game and food prep and getting the wrap all full of blood and guts and grime... no losers here though all of them are beautiful
 
All are awesome specimens!!! I like the first one the best!!! Good luck Marc!!
 
lobo9er said:
Its an awesome knife but all I kept thinking was carrying that and using it on game and food prep and getting the wrap all full of blood and guts and grime... no losers here though all of them are beautiful
Click to expand...
Most of these modern cord wrapped handles are resin soaked or brushed and they actually clean up real easy and need cut off if ever replaced they are rock hard

I’ve been carrying resin soaked handles for decades and they are tough and grippy
 
I think I just brought this to a tie, but that pattern weld on Aaron's knife is just out in space! And, to me a Bowie is a Bowie and not just a really beautiful big knife. All of these are state of the art level to be sure.
 
They were all stunning work. I flip flopped between Aaron and Russ for for a while but in the end I went with Aaron. Fantastic damascus, flow and detail. I really would have liked to have seen higher res. photos of Russ's.
 
JParanee said:
Most of these modern cord wrapped handles are resin soaked or brushed and they actually clean up real easy and need cut off if ever replaced they are rock hard

I’ve been carrying resin soaked handles for decades and they are tough and grippy
Click to expand...
no doubt, its beautiful and functional looking. I see a lot of nooks and crannies that could fill up with blood, fat, and guts. I bet it'd clean up fine once you can get back to your house or running water. Ive dropped a few knives in deer cavities in my day and spilt some liquid corn too lol. its a nit picky critique just my 2 cents. its a beautifully made bowie. they all are. No disrespect intended.
*edit
Also its in the lead!
 
All are very nice but Matt’s as an outlier got my vote as well, not sure how he ended up in this grouping but it stands out as different.
It’s always hard to choose a favorite when they are all this good!
G2
 
Congrats to Matt Gregory winner of the 2021 Bladeforums John White Memorial Best Bowie Award!

Congrats to all of the participants. This was one of the closest we've had. It was a two or three-way tie when I went to bed (headline could have been Dewey defeats Truman).
The Bowie is alive and well in 2021. Past competitors still have it and some great work by newer people.
Marc has certainly joined the pantheon of great makers.
I'm so glad it wasn't a tie as Marc and Matt also had the same number of nominations, so it would have to be settled in combat.
Russ won last time this was held and made another great piece this year. Coop's pics really let us see the maker's talents.

Matt, I'm having a plaque made in recognition of this honor, I'll contact you to work out the delivery.
 
Congratulations to Matt! He made a beautifully crafted piece. I was surprised a couple of the finalists didn't get more votes. Russ' knife is just beautiful. I sincerely thank everyone who cast a vote for my entry. I am humbled to be considered next to the other makers represented. I'm glad it didn't come down to combat. I would miss Matt. 😁

Thanks to Coop for the great images. And a special thanks to Richard for hosting this thread!
 
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