"Best in Show": knife judging

Kevin Jones said:
I'd say it's pretty obvious that a lot of high end knives are actually made specifically with cutting in mind, even if the maker suspects that they will probably never be used for cutting. Loveless knives would be one example. ;)
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That makes more sense Kevin. ;)

I was thinking more about art/embellished knives to be honest...shame I didn't actually write what I was thinking!

I'm sure you all get my point.:o

Ian
 
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Kevin Jones said:
I'd say it's pretty obvious that a lot of high end knives are actually made specifically with cutting in mind, even if the maker suspects that they will probably never be used for cutting. Loveless knives would be one example. ;)
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deleted = a redundant comment
 
irbailey said:
That makes more sense Kevin. ;)

I was thinking more about art/embellished knives to be honest...shame I didn't actually write what I was thinking!

I'm sure you all get my point.:o

Ian
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Ian, I was more adding to your statement than disagreeing with it.
Some makers create Art Knives without a sharpened edge.
But to beleive just because a knife is beautiful it can't perform to a high standard is a mistake in my opinion. And I know you weren't implying that.
 
I was just wondering
Do any shows have a tomahawk or hatchet category for judging?
I like hatchets....:)
 
Probably not every regional show could rely on having enough submissions to make a Best Hawk / Hatchet award meaningful, but Blade certainly could. I like 'em too.

Roger
 
Roger and Kevin, Glad you understood what I was getting at.:thumbup:

Quite often what's going on in my head doesn't quite match up with what my fingers are doing on the keyboard...:rolleyes::D

Cheers,

Ian
 
irbailey said:
Roger and Kevin, Glad you understood what I was getting at.:thumbup:

Quite often what's going on in my head doesn't quite match up with what my fingers are doing on the keyboard...:rolleyes::D

Cheers,

Ian
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Ian, I think most of us have had that happen from time to time..... :)
 
WoW, What an education.

Thanks for all who shared their knowledge and insight.:thumbup:

Mark Behnke
 
Knife judges and aficionados! :D

Just for fun, looking at these photos of a knife- (No maker needs to be mentioned.) What is the most obvious problem if you see one? (not just the photo quality) ;)
..to me there is one issue.

-withdrawn- dont want to risk offending-
David
 
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y'know what? I'm just gonna remove this whole post : )
 
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For me this has been a great thread, lots of honesty and very valuable information, some I only felt existed, now I know.
 
Ed Fowler said:
For me this has been a great thread, lots of honesty and very valuable information, some I only felt existed, now I know.
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Ed,

As you have said, a thread with lots of honesty and valuable information.

As I have said, you are one of the finest knifemaker/writers alive, if not THE finest.

So with that, why don't you spare the economy of words, and let us know what you have learned from this thread and what you personally feel about it?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven: Thank you for the compliment!

I do not feel I am the greatest maker, I just make what I feel I must make, the knives that come to me, through my life style and the knives of makers past that I seek to understand.

Many years ago I entered a judging competition at one of my first big shows, naturally I did not win. The knife I entered had a lot of thought about function and nature as I understood it at the time. The judges wrote comments to the makers suggesting what we needed to change in order to compete successfully in the competition. I considered their thoughts very carefully and soon realized that if I made their kind of knife I would no longer be me.

I have never entered the judging competition again for that reason.

There have been a few judges that I have respected highly, Paul Bash, Roger Comings and a few others, their thoughts remain prominent in my mind.

I judge my knives my self and sometimes ask others to judge them and share their thoughts with me, these are folks from what I will call my venue - not because it is better but because it is one I understand. My goal is to make the ultimate functional knife for the environment and life style I know, if I can achieve that I will leave this world a happy man.

What I learned is that judging today is done by folks far from my realm. Most of those who responded honestly presented their case and I appreciate that greatly.

I would never attempt to make a knife I did not believe in to satisfy the judges. Am I right and they wrong - no.

The judging competition has developed a market for their kind of knives and this is good for our knife community.

Still I feel there is more and hope one day to leave this thought more prominently for others to consider, our community will survive only through diversity and an appreciation of each individual's contribution.

I do not wish to divert this discussion from its intent, you asked and I tried to state my sentiment simply and honestly.
 
Ed Fowler said:
Steven: Thank you for the compliment!

I do not feel I am the greatest maker, I just make what I feel I must make, the knives that come to me, through my life style and the knives of makers past that I seek to understand.

I do not wish to divert this discussion from its intent, you asked and I tried to state my sentiment simply and honestly.
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Ed,

The discussions go where they will, and you have certainly not diverted it.

While I think you are a fine maker, and that is enough...that was not what I have ever meant about HOW I characterize you. You are a fine maker who is a WONDERFUL writer...truly gifted on multiple fronts.....and stubborn as the day is long.:)

What brings value to these discussions is the take away, and the move forward. What we understand, how we think about it, and how it affects our future endeavors. That was the question, and you answered it honestly, with depth.

Thanks, and Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Would it be that deleterious to the knives in the competition if they were used to cut a single piece of paper? As a user who has never held a multi-thousand dollar knife, and would probably use it regardless, I am unsure of how a single cut of thin paper would affect a 2000 grit satin finish. That way the judges can determine that the knife can cut, have an idea of the edge geometry in use, while leaving the knife in (hopefully) pristine condition. I cut with my knives before sending to the end customer to make sure they are acceptable to me, although I have yet to achieve a high level finish on what I make. I would personally disqualify every knife that could not cleanly slice the paper (but that is me and I'm a nobody in the grand scheme of things).
 
Ed: I agree there is no value in building a knife for judging that compromises your personal philosophy. From my experience, I don't think I could win an award with a knife like this, because my heart would not be in it, and it would show in the final product. And, if the knife won, I would end up with the horror of having to build knives I didn't like!

But in the Tactical Knife category, I have found that there has been no need to do this. Two knives I entered were "stock" models, that I had built for years, and no modifications were made to the knife entered for judging.

And this year, I was fortunate enough to benefit from the real-world experiences of the judges, who stood there with the final two knives and asked each other "Which knife would you rather ruck around on a 25 mile hike?". They chose the lighter knife.

Over 30 years ago, I handed one of my first knives to a great friend and mentor. He was a great outdoorsman, the best I have ever known. He looked at the knife and said "It's nice, but I wouldn't walk across a frozen pond with it".

Meaning, it was too heavy! And I have never forgotten that lesson.
 
Thanks for a very interesting read :thumbup: I particularly liked the insight into how those who judge do so .... makes for a learning curve for the rest of us ....

I don't often come onto this forum as often as perhaps I should for the education side of things but it seems fairly straight forward to me why judging at knife shows is done the way it is ....

Having said that I was very taken with the idea that Jerry Fisk makes a "cutter" every year to demonstrate what his knives can do .... can anyone direct me to a write up or review of this ?

Any pointers to other top end makers who have done a similar thing would also be very welcome ....
 
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