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- Feb 28, 2002
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all - I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday season.
This will be the third annual BEST BOWIE thread. As last year, this is more about gathering and displaying a diverse virtual assembly of the state of the bowie as it exists today.
Requirements are:
1) Definition - Flayderman wrote an entire book in search of a definition. There probably isn't one that all will endorse, so I'll try to be as inclusive as possible: a) fixed blade; b) 6" blade length and up; c) must be a custom piece. That's it. Fighters, camp knives and traditional bowies are welcome - as are both forged and stock removal blades. Plain or fancy, art knife or tactical - doesn't matter at all - sharing what YOU like is all that counts. To close one loophole from last year - no daggers.
2) Timing - the knife must have been made in 2009 - or first shown on Bladeforums in 2009 - let's try to keep things current.
3) Ownership - doesn't matter - can be a knife you made, a knife you own or somebody else's knife all-together. I would particularly encourage makers to show what they feel is the best bowie THEY made this year. This is no time to be shy. Also, feel free to point to the work of one of your fellow makers that stood out to you or caught your eye this year.
4) Number of entries - as many as you like that meet the above criteria. We'll run this over the holidays to collect as many entries as we can, then narrow it down to 5 finalists that everyone gets to vote on in an open poll. BUT - Please number your entries 1 through however many you have in any single post -. So to be (hopefully) clear - each NEW post should start with the first knife shown being numberd "1". This will make the process for selecting finalists MUCH easier. You are not ranking your entries (i.e., your favourite first), just numbering one through however many you tender to facilitate the vote counting. Also be sure to give us the name of the maker of each knife you enter.
5) - And on that point - I am looking for a volunteer to help keep track of the voting for the selection of finalists. I will caution you that this is a bit tedious, but it really helps to have a backup. Kevin and Marcel have both been gracious in volunteering in past years, so if someone else would like to help carry the load this year, that would be great.
6) Finally - the only "please don't". Comments on and discussion of the knives posted is most welcome and encouraged, but please don't quote an earlier post and reproduce the image already shown. This can lead to confusion when it comes to tallying votes, as the same knife shown 2 or 3 times has its votes scattered.
Beyond that - show us some knives and have fun.
I'll start off with a few in two consecutive posts to (hopefully) get the whole numbering thing started off right, then sit back and enjoy yours.
These are in no order than the sequence in which I could locate the pictures.
1. David Broadwell / Burt Foster Collaboration Subhilt. I was pretty much blown away when this piece was posted earlier this year by its happy owner. Two great talents combining to knock one out of the park.
2. Russ Andrews. This impressive piece was first shown at the inaugural CKCA dinner at Blade. I sure wish it had come home with me!
3. Dan Farr Combat. Perhaps my favorite piece from Dan's uniformly excellent table of offerings at Blade. Purposeful clip point blade of Cru-forge V on one end, with an innovative laminated walnut burl / carbon fiber handle on the other, with an all-business Paul Long sheath to carry it all together.
4. John White. The first of John's legacy series, this is a classic blend of ivory, damascus and elegant engraving.
5. Bailey Bradshaw. Persian Flame. This piece is as elegant as they come. Graceful, subtle curves, tight twist damascus, vibrant fossil ivory and an intricately carved / enrgaved and gold-inlayed guard that looks like it's on fire.
6. David Broadwell MLR Subhilt Fighter. One of my favourite interpretations of the subhilt fighter - anywhere at any price. This blade is as purposeful as it is elegant, as efficient as it is elegant.
7. Kyle Royer. I could go on about out Kyle. In fact, I have. This piece likely represents my favourite of the many exceptional offerings from this uber-talented young maker. I say "likely" because I don't know whet he made this week, and he seems to improve with every piece.
8. Don Hanson. Since you will likely see many outstanding ivory-handled Hanson bowies, I decided to post up a stag piece, just to be contrary. And just because it is beautiful.
9. Jason Knight. This fighter looks faaaast, doesn't it?
This will be the third annual BEST BOWIE thread. As last year, this is more about gathering and displaying a diverse virtual assembly of the state of the bowie as it exists today.
Requirements are:
1) Definition - Flayderman wrote an entire book in search of a definition. There probably isn't one that all will endorse, so I'll try to be as inclusive as possible: a) fixed blade; b) 6" blade length and up; c) must be a custom piece. That's it. Fighters, camp knives and traditional bowies are welcome - as are both forged and stock removal blades. Plain or fancy, art knife or tactical - doesn't matter at all - sharing what YOU like is all that counts. To close one loophole from last year - no daggers.
2) Timing - the knife must have been made in 2009 - or first shown on Bladeforums in 2009 - let's try to keep things current.
3) Ownership - doesn't matter - can be a knife you made, a knife you own or somebody else's knife all-together. I would particularly encourage makers to show what they feel is the best bowie THEY made this year. This is no time to be shy. Also, feel free to point to the work of one of your fellow makers that stood out to you or caught your eye this year.
4) Number of entries - as many as you like that meet the above criteria. We'll run this over the holidays to collect as many entries as we can, then narrow it down to 5 finalists that everyone gets to vote on in an open poll. BUT - Please number your entries 1 through however many you have in any single post -. So to be (hopefully) clear - each NEW post should start with the first knife shown being numberd "1". This will make the process for selecting finalists MUCH easier. You are not ranking your entries (i.e., your favourite first), just numbering one through however many you tender to facilitate the vote counting. Also be sure to give us the name of the maker of each knife you enter.
5) - And on that point - I am looking for a volunteer to help keep track of the voting for the selection of finalists. I will caution you that this is a bit tedious, but it really helps to have a backup. Kevin and Marcel have both been gracious in volunteering in past years, so if someone else would like to help carry the load this year, that would be great.
6) Finally - the only "please don't". Comments on and discussion of the knives posted is most welcome and encouraged, but please don't quote an earlier post and reproduce the image already shown. This can lead to confusion when it comes to tallying votes, as the same knife shown 2 or 3 times has its votes scattered.
Beyond that - show us some knives and have fun.
I'll start off with a few in two consecutive posts to (hopefully) get the whole numbering thing started off right, then sit back and enjoy yours.
These are in no order than the sequence in which I could locate the pictures.
1. David Broadwell / Burt Foster Collaboration Subhilt. I was pretty much blown away when this piece was posted earlier this year by its happy owner. Two great talents combining to knock one out of the park.
2. Russ Andrews. This impressive piece was first shown at the inaugural CKCA dinner at Blade. I sure wish it had come home with me!
3. Dan Farr Combat. Perhaps my favorite piece from Dan's uniformly excellent table of offerings at Blade. Purposeful clip point blade of Cru-forge V on one end, with an innovative laminated walnut burl / carbon fiber handle on the other, with an all-business Paul Long sheath to carry it all together.
4. John White. The first of John's legacy series, this is a classic blend of ivory, damascus and elegant engraving.
5. Bailey Bradshaw. Persian Flame. This piece is as elegant as they come. Graceful, subtle curves, tight twist damascus, vibrant fossil ivory and an intricately carved / enrgaved and gold-inlayed guard that looks like it's on fire.
6. David Broadwell MLR Subhilt Fighter. One of my favourite interpretations of the subhilt fighter - anywhere at any price. This blade is as purposeful as it is elegant, as efficient as it is elegant.
7. Kyle Royer. I could go on about out Kyle. In fact, I have. This piece likely represents my favourite of the many exceptional offerings from this uber-talented young maker. I say "likely" because I don't know whet he made this week, and he seems to improve with every piece.
8. Don Hanson. Since you will likely see many outstanding ivory-handled Hanson bowies, I decided to post up a stag piece, just to be contrary. And just because it is beautiful.
9. Jason Knight. This fighter looks faaaast, doesn't it?
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