Bladeforums - Best Bowie 2007

RogerP said:
Yes, it is work - and I appreciate your help.

Simply stated - NOBODY KNOWS FOR CERTAIN EXACTLY WHAT JIM'S KNIFE LOOKED LIKE........Is there some requirement that bowies be "ugly" to be authentic?

This thread has, in my view, comprehensively demonstrated what the "state of the bowie" looks like in 2007.

Please don't read more into this thread than needs be. There has been good discussion, some truly great knives and a lot of fun to this point. I hope it continues

Roger
Click to expand...

1. Thanks for the work, Roger, it HAS been fun!

2. There is a butt for every seat...there is room in everyone's neighborhood, collection, and mind, for differing viewpoints and aesthetic preferences...and room to share these thoughts on BladeForums...we always need to remember that....because....without that...why are we here?

3. This thread is NOT THE OFFICIAL BLADEFORUMS BOWIE OF 2007, not like the BladeForums Bowie, which ran under the beneficence and :thumbup: of Spark, the BladeForums owner....this thread is a public extension of what a lot of us "oldtimers"(LOFL) do with PM's and emails....please everyone, take a step back and see it for what it is...mmmmkay?

Happy New Year, knifeknuts!:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
1. Bailey Bradshaw Grapes of Wrath post #1
2. Burt Foster laminate post #1
3. Tim Hancock post #3
4. Don Hanson Sinistre post #5
5. Don Hanson Ozark post #5
6. Nick Wheeler Peck Award winner post#6
7. Jerry Fisk post #83
 
Thanks Don, STeven - and everyone.

Just a couple hours left, gents - get the votes in!

Roger
 
I can see that I might get mad at MYSELF for the voting... LOL!!!

Somehow I forgot to include the BF fowie and that absolutely spectacular Neely. The Neely, is to me, the epitome of a Bowie knife. Greg is right at the top of the heap with his F&F.

Too bad this isn't a super serious thread, cuz then I could get all kinds of mad at myself for my blundering.

LMAO! ;)

I'm still happy with my seven choices though. Oh wait... I forgot to vote for myself. Damn it!!! ;) :D
 
1)Foster Laminate
2)Fisk persian
3)Wheeler peck knife
4)Dean feather pattern
5)Knight Maple
6)Sfreddo Leaves

Best I can do
 
Neely from Post #1
Wheeler Peck Award winner.
Rhea knife from post #9
Bagwell dammascus bowie from post #14
Sfreddo from post #25
Andrews from post #25
Batson from post #92
 
That's a wrap - voting for finalists is now closed.

My sincere thanks to all who have contributed to the discussion, the posting of photos and the voting.

Our five finalists - garnering the most votes among this stellar group - are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Andrews, Russ - Stag and Damascus (post 25)

Dean, Harvey - Feather Damascus (post 4)

Foster, Burt - Laminate Fighter (post 1)

Hanson, Don - Guild Show Winner - (post 21 / 103)

Knight, Jason - Maple / carbon (post 5)

I'll set up a thread for voting by both poll (for paying members) and open forum vote (for those with a basic membership) tomorrow - um, I mean, later today.

All of the knives in this thread are winners in my book. They deserve a hearty (if only virtual) round of applause.

Roger
 
For easy access. Let me know if I posted a wrong link.

Post #25: Andrews, Russ
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5176555&postcount=25
Image only:
http://www.fototime.com/4BB4F5BC9FF73B0/orig.jpg

Post #4: Harvey, Dean; Feather Damascus
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5174270&postcount=4
Image only:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/10456kaj/K04187-DeanHarvey002.jpg

Post #1: Foster, Burt; Laminate Fighter
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5174060&postcount=1
Image only:
http://www.fototime.com/8CCD020C32C5D6C/orig.jpg

Post #21: Hanson, Don; Guild Show Winner
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5175631&postcount=21
Image only:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/canineforge/Don-Art.jpg

Post #5: Knight, Jason; Maple/Carbon
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5174280&postcount=5
Image only:
http://www.fototime.com/059D27A4366FEB0/orig.jpg
 
Upon the recommendation of our friend in Roswell, I've decided to add to the mix.
The fact is: Gorgeous as all of the knives pictured are, they just seem awfully "precious".
My feeling is that a utilitarian piece of the material culture ought to be usable. Not that any of the pretty ones can't be used. It's just...would you ever be willing to?
Really, my whole trip is that I've got no patience to do precious and I'd rather sell 5 knives for $100 than have to look at one for $500. Adjust those figures to fit your own reality.
Anyway, this isn't my favorite Bowie of 2007. It is the most recent - and -it's got the most instructive picture.
It's a BIG d-guard, bigger than I generally like but, that's what the customer wanted.
The blade was forged from a piece of line shaft from the ruins of the stamp mill at the Thomas Cruse, Drumlummon mine in Marysville, Montana (background). If I had a gun to my head, I'd say it runs about 60 points of carbon.
The guard was forged from wrought iron, taken from a link of 1860's anchor chain (inset).
Handle looks like walnut but it's cocobolo.
So, there she sits. Please take no offense re my bad attitude concerning "art knives". I've found my niche and am quite happy in it. And, with few exeptions, all the competition is beautiful.
"Very pretty. Very pretty indeed. But can they fight?"
Donald Sutherland
"The Dirty Dozen"
MHSaa.jpg
 
dbrock76 said:
Upon the recommendation of our friend in Roswell, I've decided to add to the mix.
The fact is: Gorgeous as all of the knives pictured are, they just seem awfully "precious".
Click to expand...

Nice knife you have contributed, looks fairly stout and serviceable.

While that may be a fact...what you offer up looks like what MUCH of the forged blade did in the '70's and early 80's.

What you call "precious" I call elevated craftsmanship, moved up from "folk art" into, simply, art with an edge.

Thanks for posting, truly, and Happy New Year.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
dbrock76 said:
Upon the recommendation of our friend in Roswell, I've decided to add to the mix.
The fact is: Gorgeous as all of the knives pictured are, they just seem awfully "precious".
My feeling is that a utilitarian piece of the material culture ought to be usable. Not that any of the pretty ones can't be used. It's just...would you ever be willing to?
Really, my whole trip is that I've got no patience to do precious and I'd rather sell 5 knives for $100 than have to look at one for $500. Adjust those figures to fit your own reality.
Anyway, this isn't my favorite Bowie of 2007. It is the most recent - and -it's got the most instructive picture.
It's a BIG d-guard, bigger than I generally like but, that's what the customer wanted.
The blade was forged from a piece of line shaft from the ruins of the stamp mill at the Thomas Cruse, Drumlummon mine in Marysville, Montana (background). If I had a gun to my head, I'd say it runs about 60 points of carbon.
The guard was forged from wrought iron, taken from a link of 1860's anchor chain (inset).
Handle looks like walnut but it's cocobolo.
So, there she sits. Please take no offense re my bad attitude concerning "art knives". I've found my niche and am quite happy in it. And, with few exeptions, all the competition is beautiful.
"Very pretty. Very pretty indeed. But can they fight?"
Donald Sutherland
"The Dirty Dozen"
MHSaa.jpg
Click to expand...

I would put the heat-treatment of any of the 2007 finalists against your knife any day. Just because it looks rough doesn't mean its tough, eh?
 
The only problem I have with very nice looking knives that were manufactured to be a work of art is the fact that whether or not they can live up to the job just taking them out and using them would not only ruin them it would be reckless and irresponsible. Exhibition knives are nice and yes a lot of science went into the steel to achieve a certain look but using them would be like taking a painting outside and letting sit out in the rain. When I look at a knife I try to picture it all scratched up and used. If still, in my imagination, looks like a rugged and well made knife than it gets a thumbs up. Those beautiful engraved shotguns are a different story. You take them out shooting all day long and it will still be a beautiful gun at the end of the day. Not so with art knives. I can pick them up and marvel at the craftsmanship and beauty but I would never take it more than three feet from the table and I would certainly never use to cut anything.

The Arabians made beautiful steel, but unlike our culture, they used it for its intended purpose.
 
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