Bladeforums BEST BOWIE - 2009 Edition

ptgdvc said:
Roger,

Have you no mercy?

P
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None. :)

Prepare to be hurt:

Posted for Jon Klein, an outstanding dongbone bowie by John Horrigan

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:eek:

Roger
 
Ben B said:
Having said that ^ I'll post up my Burt Foster Kitchen Bowie for consideration.

It is rumored that Col. Crain, as he helped carry away Jim Bowie, commented "that's a sweet octagonal integral hidden tang on that knife, sir"
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indeed it is rumored that Bowie's sandbar fight knife may have actually been a kitchen butcher knife, so I think this entry is as valid as they come. Good luck and happy new year!
 
Okay gang, we are now closed to additional entries - let the selection of finalists begin!


Once again, a BIG THANK YOU for all the nominations. And a special thanks to those makers who posted up their work. This is a record number of nominations and a spectacular assembly of knives by any measure. Each year, this thread is what you make it - and you all have made it pretty great.

The fun continues with what I think will be the hardest and most interesting part - narrowing it down to five finalists. The procedure will be the same as last year:

1) Each member may submit up to 7 suggested finalists. You don't have to submit as many as 7, but don't submit any more than 7. Please take your time to carefully review all the knives.

2) Please include the post number where your selected knife can be found, and the number of the knife within that post if more than one knife is presented therein - this will help clear up any uncertainty in the case where there are multiple knives by a given maker among the initial entries. For example - a say post number 30 has 4 knives. You want the third. Put "Post 30, #3". AND DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE MAKER!

3) Your order or selection doesn't matter - one vote per knife up to seven, each vote counts.

4) Please feel free to include a few words about what appeals to you about any given selection. THIS is what makes the selection process most interesting.

5) When all votes are in, we add up the numbers (each time a knife is put forward by someone as a finalist, that effectively counts as one vote for that knife) and the top 5 will be voted on by polll in a new thread.

Roger

PS - If anything is unclear, please ask early.


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Here are my votes:

1) Post 1, #1 - Broadwell / Foster Collaboration Subhilt. This piece has kind of stayed with be ever since it was first posted. I think what makes it special is that you can clearly see the work of both makers, yet it blends seemlessly into a spectacular piece.

2) Post 1, #7 - Kyle Royer Ring Guard - This young maker executes complex patterns and designs with aplomb. This one is a grand slam among his many home-runs.

3) Post 2, #2 - Bruce Bump OKCA Best Bowie / Best of Show. Those two awards say plenty and the picture tells the rest. Stag and damascus is one of my all-time favourite combos for a bowie, and this is one shows why.

4) Post 31, #5 - Ron Newton Best Damascus Oklahoma Bowie - A stunning piece - check out the tight control of the damascus pattern. From an aesthetic standpoint, this piece really shows a perfect blend of colour and texture - fittings, ivory and blade.

5) Post 1, #3 - Dan Farr Combat Bowie - This piece was a bit different for Dan and is a bit different for me, and I love it. It's all business - heck, it looks like a Dobermann on guard duty - but like the Dobe, shows its beauty throught its purposefullness. And I think the carbon fiber laminated handle is innovative and too cool.

6) Post 99, #1 - Larry Fuegen Bowie - All the Fuegen's posted are stunning - he doesn't make any other kind - but for some reason this one - the least elaborate of the pieces shown - happened to strike a chord with me. Beautifully presented by Buddy's excellent photo as well.

7) Post 130, #1 - Russ Andrews Redoubt Bowie - This one doesn't have the benefit of a pro shot to show it at its best, but not even a Coop pic could tell you that this piece was built from the start to fast in he hand. The balance and speed of this big blade make an immediate impression on those who have had it in hand. And Russ' fit and finish are as you expect - perect.
 
I feel that a couple of makers should be represented in this line up because of their body of work in 2009. They all have a couple of knives in here so I made a choice on personal preference. Here we go.

1. Post 1-#4 John White Legacy Series Bowie. Top grade materials understated elegance. What's more to say.

2. Post 2-#2 Bruce Bump OKCA Bowie. Love the steel and the overall look.

3. Post 2-#9 Matt Diskin Dogbone Bowie. Love the classic look.

4. Post 18-#1 Terry Vandeventer. Made so many great bowies this year. I picked this one, but could as well be his clamshell Bowie. I picked this one because I love ivory.

5. Post 23-#2 Shane Taylor Batwing Bowie. This one is in because of the theme, the steel and the execution.

6. Post 31-#2 Larry Fuegen S-guard Bowie. Same as with Terry, I picked this becasue I like the flamboyancy of this piece, it's larger then life.

7. Post 31-#5 Ron Newton Bowie. Love the steel and the overall appearance of this one.

That's it folks, although I would gladly make an other list and an other and an other:D.

Marcel
 
Here's my choices:
Post 1 #1 Broadwell/Foster
post 1#7 Kyle Royer Ring Guard
Post 5 Larry Fuegen Dress Bowie
Post 18 # 1 Terry Vandeventer English Bowie
Post 28 Hanson Fire Starter Bowie
Post 31 #5 Ron Newton
Post 52 #2 Tim Hancock
 
Here are my choices. There are many others that are stunning in different ways but these were all the "whole package". To me these represent perfect congruence in the matching of materials as well as beautiful flowing design. Some of these "wow" me every time I look at them.

1. Post 78 #1 Jason Knight - I'm a big fan of his work and this is about as nice as they get. For this style of knife, this is the best I've ever seen and one of my all time favourites.

2. Post 1 #2 Russ Andrews - WOW. Such subtlety in the lines and I'll repeat the refrain of "perfect"

3. Post 130 #1 Redoubt Bowie by Russ Andrews - again WOW. I'm really developing a thing for Mr. Andrew's knives.

4. Post 28 #1 Stoned Ivory by Don Hanson - speaks for itself

5. Post 1 #4 John White - This is just a stunning piece. The balance of elements is masterful.

6. Post 5 #1 Larry Fuegen Gentleman Dress Bowie - I just get lost in the details in this one. In my opinion though the sheath is wrong.

7. Post 18 #1 Terry Vandeventer - The nicest coffin handled knife I've ever seen.
Beautiful balance in the guard. The hand stitched sheath adds to a timeless quality in this piece. Truly a fantastic piece from start to finish.

-Stuart
 
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My choices are:

Post 5 #1. Fuegen. Larry has no idea how to make a bad Bowie. Superb.
Post 2 #2. Bump. He certainly outdid himself with this one.
Post 31 #2. Fuegen. Larry at his flamboyant best.
Post 18 #1. Vandeveter. Just a grreat coffin handle.
Post 52 #1. Hendrickson. More like Moran than Moran.
Post 1 #1. Broadwell/Foster. Likely winner, but I didn't like the sub-hilt.
Post 99 #1. Fuegen. I guess that I just love Larry's work!

Great competition and one that I'm sure the maker's enjoy.

Jim Taylor.
 
Here we go

Very hard for me so many great pieces.

No particular order

1) Post 1 #9 Jason Knight = Subdued elegance

2) Post 2 #8 Burt Foster = Not a typical Bowie but I love this knife

3) Post 14 #1 Bill Bagwell = In my mind what a Classic Bowie should look like if I would have been at the Alamo this is the knife I would have wanted at my side

4) Post 18 #2 John White = Saw this knife in person it felt good and the pattern is stunning

5) Post 23 #1 Hendrickson = Class act

6) Post 28 #1 Don Hanson = There where actually 2 of Don's knives I wanted to put up but I went with this one . This knife is Timeless

7) post 130 #1 Russ Andrews = Roger screwed up my whole voteing with this knife:D. To be honest it is just a proper looking Bowie and it got my nod.

If I could of had another it would of been Mr. Bumps piece post 2 #2. It is fantastic but these knives are more me.
 
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Very difficult to choose only 7 !.

My choices,

1. Post 2 #2 Bruce Bump OKCA Bowie Love this knife.
2. Post 1 #3 Dan Farr Combat Striking looking.
3. Post 1 #5 Bailey Bradshaw
4. Post 23 #1 Tom Ferry
5. Post 26 #1 Tim Hancock
6. post 31 #2 Larry Fuegen Just wonderful !
7. Post 99 #7 John Perry

Mick
 
My nominees in no particular order:

Post 1 #9 Jason Knight (simple perfection)
Post 2 #2 Bruce Bump (embellished perfection)
Post 5 #1 Larry Fuegen (the knife to beat, imho)
Post 31 #5 Ron Newton (Had to add this one, Damascus just keeps drawing me back)

Honorable Mention:
Post 105 #2 Newton/Chin (dog bones are not my thing, but this is stunning)
 
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In order of their appearance in the thread:

Post 1, #1, Broadwell/Foster Collaboration Subhilt

Post 1, #5, Bailey Bradshaw Persian Flame.

Post 35, #2, Kyle Royer first subhilt

Post 78, #1, Jason Knight

Post 99, #3 Fred Ott

Post 99, #7 John Perry

Post 130, #2, Dan Farr octagonal handle camp
 
Post 2, #2 Bruce Bump. This is the kind of knife that makes me crazy over knives.
Post 2, #5 Ron Newton. Oh yeah! Nice. Nice. Nice. Love this knife.
Post 2, #6 Josh Smith. Typical exacting work from Smith. Perfect.
Post 35, #2 Kyle Royer. What the heck is this kid going to turn out when he hits his
stride?
Post 52, #2 Tim Hancock. another brilliant Hancock Bowie.
Post 78, #6 Terry Vandeventer. I just love the lines, and subtle details on this knife.
Post 99, #1 Larry Fuegen. Another masterpiece.
 
Having NOT had the opportunity to handle any of the knives, the selections are strictly from the pictures:

1) #1, #7 Kyle Royer Ring guard/clamshell. Love the damascus, the guards, the mammoth and the takedown feature.

2) #1, #8 Don Hanson III. The hamon blows me away, as well as the popcorn stag and pointy shape. It just has a look that appeals to me.

3) #2, #2 Bruce Bump. The damascus is just OUTSTANDING, the engraving is perfect and killer piece of stag.

4) #2, #6 Josh Smith. The damascus is exceptional, the combination of materials and overall profile make it exquisite. Coolness of takedown and takedown tool.

5) #23, #2 Shane Taylor. That damascus is as cool as it gets, the pattern on the top of the blade, killer popcorn stag and buttcap make it an incredible knife.

6) #23, #1 Tom Ferry. Exceptional damascus pattern, excellent choice of engraving, outstanding piece of lumber and just beautiful lines.

7) #31, #5 Ron Newton. Epitome of elegant. Impressive combination of damascus and details in the spacers, guard and pommel.

It was TOUGH getting from a dozen to seven!

Peter
 
Damn, this was tough!!! A fabulous year for us big fixed blade fans.


Post 1 #1 Broadwell/Foster collaboration. My wife and I both wish we owned this beauty. That lava looking damascus, great wood, detailed appointments...wow!

Post 2 #2 Bruce Bump OKCA Bowie. I must add a Bump to my colection in 2010. Long and lean, love the guard...a modern/classic look to my eyes.

Post 14 #1 Bagwell Alamo Bowie. Unique. Great looking steel and just a touch of fancy in the handle. Nice!

Post 28 #1 Hanson Stoned Ivory. AKA Fire Starter (John Cohea), Pirate Bowie (Coop), and Stoned Walrus (Jon Brand). The definition of natural (organic, if you will) flow. This knife is just "right". We feel fortunate to have it in our collection. The "knife I'll never sell" (sorry Joe, but I heard ya!).

Post 35 #2 Royer's First Subhilt. Steel of the gods, that sharkfin detail on the top of the blade, just the right file work. Love her and another pride of our collection.

Post 68 #2 Harvey Dean Blade '09 "Came Home with Eli" Bowie. Classic fantastic! Wifee and I both wish it came home with us!

Post 99 #1 Fuegen beauty. Lust is the word when eyeing up this one


Thanks to Roger and all who are participating. A great way to start the new year and new decade. Profound thanks to all of the makers who create such fantastic pieces!!!
 
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Umm, Rob, hate to tell you but that is eight!!! And now I see you edited it.. foot in mouth



1 #7 Kyle Royer Ring guard
2 #2 Bruce Bump Bowie (AMAZINGLY AMAZING)
2# 6 Josh Smith takedown
2# 7 Terry Vandeventer Clamshell
28#1 Don Hanson Stoned walrus
35#2 Kyle Royer Subhilt
52#2 Tim Hancock AKI
 
Thanks Jon. Saw it after I hit submit. It gets extra tough, and fun, when you're doing this with "she who must be obeyed" :D who also happens to collect knives :thumbup:.
 
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