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

[BowieBooster]

Congrats to Mr. Bump and all the finalists!

 

[Bruce Bump]

What a race! I checked it every 10 minutes but never logged in to comment for fear of jinxing it somehow. This is the toughest competition I've ever taken part of.

I humbly accept this prize. I cant thank everybody enough for your votes of confidence in my bowies, this one and last years bowie also. Without going into a long speech, I just want to say its a great feeling to be honored by my peers.

Thanks to Roger and Lorien and everybody else that puts this together each year.

 

[RogerP]

Like I said, I wasn't gonna be the first one to draw fire ... nice survival technique.

Why not:

"Any fixed blade custom knife reflecting reasonable design and blade influence from any 19th Century knife/knives then generally accepted or represented as "Bowie" knives, including, e.g., hand forged Texarkana period knives, Sheffield Bowies, California/Frisco knives and Searles Bowies. Designs must primarilly reflect the infuence of 19th Century Texarkana, California or Sheffield knives, and not those of other regions or time periods prior to the 19the Century. This would by definition exclude, e.g., quillion/bullock/kidney/Scots daggers, dirks or other such knives, Scandinavian knives, middle-Eastern knives, Scots dirks, or other traditional knives of European, Asian, Middle-Eastern or African cultures, but would include fighter designs reasonably reflecting "Bowie" (as defined above) influence.

Blades may include clip points, "butcher" type or spear point blades or variations thereof, including a sharped clip or top swedge, but may not include dagger blades/grinds."

At least that's a starting point to let the arguing begin from. Under what's been accpeted, then, a Scots dirk is a "Bowie" and eligible for the voting.

How about starting your very own "purist bowie contest" where you can sit as final arbiter of what is and isn't a bowie?

Or start your own thread debating / discussing same and argue to your heart's content?

In case you hadn't noticed, this thread is about selecting from among 5 exceptional finalists.

That has been done. At least some have found it informative and entertaining. I know I have.

Roger

 

[RogerP]

What a race! I checked it every 10 minutes but never logged in to comment for fear of jinxing it somehow.

I know Bruce - I checked in just as often and you were always "here". It was amazing watching the voting unfold in near real-time, since this was a close horse race most of the way.

Congrats again.

Roger

 

[Kohai999]

As soon as I am finished with World Peace, I'll get right on it.

I think the safest course is to call a knife, whatever its maker called it.

If Jerry Fisk says his a Bowie, or Nick Wheeler says his is a Fighter, that settles it for me.

That's flippin' hogwash, amigo. People(even makers) can be, and are frequently, just wrong.

In 2009, Bruce put this pic up, calling it a "dagger"....when I made an appeal, pointing out examples, we agreed that it would be called a "dirk".

.......It would seem to me if people had a beef with the Sfreddo piece, the time to mention it would have been in the submission stage. This end-game piling on of "that unworthy Persian just don't belong!" seems misplaced and decidedly ill-timed.

If you feel that way, perhaps you could modify the rules for your next contest....it seemed perfectly reasonable the way it shook out.



Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[ptgdvc]

Congrats Bruce! Back to back winners!

Roger, Thanks for a a great annual BladeForum tradition.

All of the top ten are just that, the cream of 2010.

STeven, your well reasoned perspectives are always appreciated!

 

[peterinct]

CONGRATS Bruce! I've loved that bowie since I had first seen pictures of it.

ALSO, CONGRATS to Murray for depicting it so well in the picture, AND owning that BEAUTY!

THANKS to Roger and all those that helped with the tabulations.

This was the best year yet, and hopefully next year will be even better!

Peter

 

[BowieBooster]

Roger, you asked for a working defiinition in this post:

... And no-one has asked anyone to prove a negative. What has been asked of those who want only "pure" bowies included, and all "fighters" excluded is to go ahead and give us a working definition of those terms by which we can measure prospective sntries. Still waiting....

Roger

I then decided to put my money where my mouth is, and proposed this:

"Any fixed blade custom knife reflecting reasonable design and blade influence from any 19th Century knife/knives then generally accepted or represented as "Bowie" knives, including, e.g., hand forged Texarkana period knives, Sheffield Bowies, California/Frisco knives and Searles Bowies. Designs must primarilly reflect the infuence of 19th Century Texarkana, California or Sheffield knives, and not those of other regions or time periods prior to the 19the Century. This would by definition exclude, e.g., quillion/bullock/kidney/Scots daggers, dirks or other such knives, Scandinavian knives, middle-Eastern knives, Scots dirks, or other traditional knives of European, Asian, Middle-Eastern or African cultures, but would include fighter designs reasonably reflecting "Bowie" (as defined above) influence.

Blades may include clip points, "butcher" type or spear point blades or variations thereof, including a sharped clip or top swedge, but may not include dagger blades/grinds."

Roger, I was then shocked to see you post this:

How about starting your very own "purist bowie contest" where you can sit as final arbiter of what is and isn't a bowie?

Or start your own thread debating / discussing same and argue to your heart's content?

In case you hadn't noticed, this thread is about selecting from among 5 exceptional finalists.

That has been done. At least some have found it informative and entertaining. I know I have.

Roger

So, what, you say you're waiting for someone to give you a working definition, then you blast me for posting one and essentially tell me that if I don't like it, go start my own thread? Why ask (hell, it actually sounded more like a demanding plea!!!) for a definition when you obviously didn't want one?

 

[sheathmaker]

Congratulations, Bruce!

Roger and Lorien, Thank you both, it was great.:thumbup:

Paul

 

[RogerP]

So, what, you say you're waiting for someone to give you a working definition, then you blast me for posting one and essentially tell me that if I don't like it, go start my own thread? Why ask (hell, it actually sounded more like a demanding plea!!!) for a definition when you obviously didn't want one?

Well that's a fair comment - though my question was somewhat rhetorical, it was asked. I don't see your response as providing a working definition, but be that as it may, it was unfair for me "blast you for it" as you have pointed out. I so aplogize for that.

I do maintain, though, that lashing out at a finalist during the final stage of voting was ill-timed. That knife was there for all to see for days during the submission thread - that would be the time to voice your collective gripes about it - not when voting in a close contest is not only underway, but in its final stages.

But I would ask, for the remainder of the thread, that we make some effort to just stay on the topic of the finalists, and the winner.

This year has seen record numbers of submissions and by far a record number of votes. Clearly a large number of people found it to be of interest and worth their time, however ill-conceived a few highly vocal critics perceive it to be.

Roger

 

[Hmathews]

Congratulations Bruce! What a group of fantastic knives! The decision on which knife to vote for was very difficult. I liked them all! As much as Charlie and I are alike and our tastes in knives are very much alike, we went for two really different knives.

When our boys were in some of the little league sports they didn't keep score because they didn't want to have any losers. We never agreed with that policy, but in the case of these knives we really thought there were five winners.

 

[Lorien]

Congratulations Bruce!:thumbup:
Well done, my friend

 

[fisk]

Congradulations to Bruce and the other finalist. When any maker pushes the mark forward we all benifit. Man, there were some dozzies of that next 5 shown. I now wish for world peace.

 

[timcsaw]

Congratulations Mr. Bump and all of the others who's knives were considered. As far as I'm concerned, they are all winners in their own right.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Congratulations Bruce.
Two wins in a row is quite an accomplishment, but no surprise considering your amazing talent and determination.

 

[SharpByCoop]

Congrats to Bruce for an exceptional knife. I am glad for you!!!

Kudos to Murray White, too. All-around winner!

Thanks to Roger and Lorien for the work they've done. Despite semantics, this has simply opened up the taste buds for what we'd like to enjoy for 2011, and we can learn from it.

Makers are already upping their charge. I smell a great year ahead!

I'm in agreement: to simply add the title of Best Bowie/Fighter for next year and hopefully stay on track.

Who's going to start the Best Folder thread? talk about MORE diversity. LOL!

Again, thank you. Again, CONGRATS!

Coop

 

[Russ Andrews]

Congratulations Bruce..! Good competition
and a very memorable piece..

 

[nikoknife48]

Congrats Bruce !

 

[jklein7401]

Congratulations Bruce, certainly a well deserved honor. Murray you are fortunate to own such a fine piece and I know you must be very happy.

Jon

 

[JParanee]

Congrats Bruce well deserved

Congrats to all the makers that where repesented here especially the top 5

Special thanks Roger fav thread of the year for me



Thrilled to see My Foster was so close to getting in the main

Congrats Burt and me