BladeForums BEST BOWIE 2010 - Here are your finalists - let the voting begin!

[D lisch]

Thank you to everyone who had any thing to do with this thread. to be picked and in the final 5 is a big deal for me. The last few days have been a rush of ups and ups as many of you know I get all wound up about all this knife stuff. I am pushing hard to find myself and the knives that will define me as a maker. I am still looking learning and trying new stuff. I would say that I am in the refining process . There is no way that I can express just what an inspiration it is to be part of this grouping of fine makers. No matter the outcome I am a winner just by being part of this thread. Too many to thank by name so thank you all very much.

 

[sheathmaker]

The Sfreddo is SO not a bowie that I simply cannot comment about the incusion of it in this poll without being insulting.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

I just didn't have balls enough to say it, but I agree.

Paul

 

[JParanee]

I just didn't have balls enough to say it, but I agree.

Paul

Amen boys ya both are so right No offense but that ain't a Bowie Don't get me wrong its awesome and I would love to have it.

 

[peterinct]

^^^^^

I can understand those viewpoints, BUT...doesn't the Moghul Fighter conform to the definition provided?

It's interesting to hear different resons for choices, it's harder to pick losers than winners amongst the choices!

It is getting addictive watching the balloting progress

 

[Kohai999]

^^^^^

I can understand those viewpoints, BUT...doesn't the Moghul Fighter conform to the definition provided?

There are fighters that look like bowies, and fighters that look more like daggers....this is a fighter that looks more like a recurved, assymetrical dagger than anything else...it is CLEARLY not a bowie, and that is why I have a problem with it.

Very likely the BladeForums Bowie of 2010 as voted on by it's own members will not be a bowie.

BladeForums Fighter of 2010? So very likely.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[RogerP]

I can understand those viewpoints, BUT...doesn't the Moghul Fighter conform to the definition provided?

Yes, it certainly does. A couple past winners arguably fall closer to "fighter" than "bowie" - particularly Burt Foster's laminate piece that won the inaugural thread.

Also, if Bruce had named his piece "Justice Fighter" would anyone be saying "Yer crazy! That aint no fighter!"? Once outside of the big brawny wide-bladed deep-clipped Southwest profile, there is a TON of overlap between fighter and bowie in terms of design.

Then again, I don't know that there has been a single year when there hasn't been some discussion of what is and isn't a bowie.

I understand that indivisuals have strong views on the subject, but the fact remains that there isn't a contemporary and universally accepted definition of the term. Arguably, there never has been. Witness the hugely varied styles of antique bowies - all made at a point in time much closer to original than any knife today.

Like I said - this thread affords individuals the opportunity to choose for themselves what qualifies, without having some external and likely arbitrary definition foisted upon them. Everyone who wants a vote gets a vote.

Roger

 

[RogerP]

No matter the outcome I am a winner just by being part of this thread.

Amen to that. :thumbup:

Roger

 

[peterinct]

As usual STeven, your perspective makes sense. I figure semantics can take the fun out of participating in an enjoyable activity. It's been a great year for this thread.

In my opinion, and i'm sure many others, looking at a picture is no substitute for holding the knife (as spectacular as the pictures may be!).

The knives, and pictures of them just continue to improve.

The "Justice" is gaining in the lead

 

[Kevin Jones]

"Blade Forums "BEST BIG Knife of 2011" or

"Blade Forums, Knife of the Year" and include anything/everything as long as it custom. But then, what's a custom knife?

 

[D.Crawford]

Wow, what a contest. I've gone back and forth and have come to these conclusions:

-When Rodrigo Sfreddo originally posted the Moghul fighter I must have spent an hour studying every little nuance. If we were voting for "Best Knife" this one would likely get my nod. However, "Best Bowie" is something different to me and I see this knife as a fighter.
-Bruce Bump's Justice Bowie while amazing is likewise (in my eyes) more fighter than Bowie. It's resemblence to last year's winner also weighed on my thinking which is why I earlier went with his Newell Bowie.
-Dave Lisch really popped up on my radar with his beautiful Bowie this year.
-Jerry Fisk is a NLT for good reason. The Artifact Bowie goes together so well without being a "theme knife". It is artistic, tasteful, and dead serious.
However,
-Nick Wheeler created the knife I (and I believe Jim Bowie himself) would select on that sandbar in Mississippi or to go into a time capsule to be the one representation of a true, fighting Bowie. He did it with a "meat and potatos" knife which speaks volumes to me about his design and execution. Just a superior piece of work.

My vote goes to Nick.



David

 

[Murray White]

Roger -- what happened to the link to the RS Moghul?

 

[RogerP]

^^^ All 5 knives are showing for me - anyone else not seeing it?

Roger

 

[sheathmaker]

Roger, first the Wheeler disappeared and now the ONLY one showing is the Fisk? the missing ones have that little blue question mark.

Paul

 

[Jon Brand]

I kinda see the point Peter had about great makers losing out by having multiple knives submitted. I really think we lost many great bowies that should have made it to the final rounds.

 

[D.Crawford]

I kinda see the point Peter had about great makers losing out by having multiple knives submitted. I really think we lost many great bowies that should have made it to the final rounds.

I thought the same thing. DH3 and John White had so many beautiful pieces that it probably worked against them in this format.

 

[Andros]

All of them are beautiful. However, for pure aesthetics I would choose Bruce Bump's Justice Bowie. My second choice, would be Nick Wheeler's W2 Fighter as I think this should have the best balance and practicality of them all.

 

[RogerP]

Roger, first the Wheeler disappeared and now the ONLY one showing is the Fisk? the missing ones have that little blue question mark.

Paul

Weird - there must be some kind of problem with Fototime as the Fisk is the only knife not hosted there.

But all 5 still show for me. And I just went to my Fototime gallery and there is nothing that appears to be amiss?

Anyone else? Any ideas?

Roger

 

[Murray White]

I'm still getting all but the RS and I have done an number of different refreshes in different ways. I did not close BF totally though as it appears that I'm not alone.

 

[sheathmaker]

Roger, it must be your fototime, because every picture you posted in the nominating thread is gone also.

Paul

 

[RogerP]

I kinda see the point Peter had about great makers losing out by having multiple knives submitted. I really think we lost many great bowies that should have made it to the final rounds.

I thought the same thing. DH3 and John White had so many beautiful pieces that it probably worked against them in this format.

It certainly can happen that way, but there isn't necessarily a connection between multiple entries and vote-splitting. DHII has had multiple entries each and every year, and has made the finals multiple times and won once.

Bruce Bump had several entries this year (at least 4 I can recall) and one piece both made the finals and holds a late lead. Nick also had 4 submissions - one of which made the final and another of which came real close.

On the other hand, the two Fuegen bowies received nearly the exact same (it might have been the actual exact same) number of votes, neither of which was sufficient to make the final 5. But then again, you can't necessarily assume that had there been only one, it would have inherited every single vote that went to the other.

Roger