- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
2007 wasn't a hundred years ago or anything, but it's long enough back that some may not have been around to see this knife the first time around, and others who were might not mind a second look.
The knife is question is the Bladeforums Benefit Bowie - a collaborative piece by Jerry Fisk, Russ Andrews, Burt Foster and Dan Farr. It is - for reasons discussed below - simply one of my all-time favourite bowies, and one that I have kept in mind as a must-have piece if it ever became availabe. It did, and thanks to my buddy Jon Klein for brokering the deal, I managed to pick it up earlier this year.
Just be way of recap for those that missed it the first time, this knife started out as a pure design exercise run by forumite Stephen Foster. All the various elements of knife design - blade shape, fittings, handle - were presented in a series of images depicting several choices with the membership at large voting in a series of threads until a final design was arrived at.
The knife moved from concept to reality within the context of having it made both as a collaborative work, and as a charitable fundraiser. In this case, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation was the selected beneficiary.
The thread announcing the completion of the knife and the commencement of the fundraising can be found here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/477656-At-Last-The-BladeForums-Bowie-is-HERE
And here's another look at the knife:
Jerry forged the blade, Dan ground and heat-treated it, Russ did the fittings and handle and Burt did the sheath and final blade finish / sharpening. Beyond the makers, a number of others contributed time and talent to bringing the project forward, including photographers and fellow collectors.
One of the aspects of the project that made a lasting impression on me was the fact that Jerry forged out not one, but two big honkin' blades, as the project turnaround was super fast and a backup was valuable insurance in case of mishap. Dan fully ground and heat-treated that backup blade as well, but the primary blade was completed without a hitch. The backup now presents as an enduring artifact of the project knife at an earlier stage of completion.
So why is this one of my favourite bowies?
1) Just standing on it's own, it's a kickass knife.
2) As a design exercise, it is a unique product of the collective input of the forum membership. One would have to say it is almost suprisingly successful in this regard - we've all heard the line that goes ' a donkey is a horse designed by committee'. Occasionally, the committe does good - as they did here.
3) The makers involved - all good guys - all makers I have worked with before - and all managing to create a piece that stands on its own merit.
4) Maybe most of all - the knife itself is symbolic of good people working together to do a good thing for a worthy cause.
Anyway, that's enough rambling - I'll leave you with some better looks at the knife:
Roger
The knife is question is the Bladeforums Benefit Bowie - a collaborative piece by Jerry Fisk, Russ Andrews, Burt Foster and Dan Farr. It is - for reasons discussed below - simply one of my all-time favourite bowies, and one that I have kept in mind as a must-have piece if it ever became availabe. It did, and thanks to my buddy Jon Klein for brokering the deal, I managed to pick it up earlier this year.
Just be way of recap for those that missed it the first time, this knife started out as a pure design exercise run by forumite Stephen Foster. All the various elements of knife design - blade shape, fittings, handle - were presented in a series of images depicting several choices with the membership at large voting in a series of threads until a final design was arrived at.
The knife moved from concept to reality within the context of having it made both as a collaborative work, and as a charitable fundraiser. In this case, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation was the selected beneficiary.
The thread announcing the completion of the knife and the commencement of the fundraising can be found here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/477656-At-Last-The-BladeForums-Bowie-is-HERE
And here's another look at the knife:
Jerry forged the blade, Dan ground and heat-treated it, Russ did the fittings and handle and Burt did the sheath and final blade finish / sharpening. Beyond the makers, a number of others contributed time and talent to bringing the project forward, including photographers and fellow collectors.
One of the aspects of the project that made a lasting impression on me was the fact that Jerry forged out not one, but two big honkin' blades, as the project turnaround was super fast and a backup was valuable insurance in case of mishap. Dan fully ground and heat-treated that backup blade as well, but the primary blade was completed without a hitch. The backup now presents as an enduring artifact of the project knife at an earlier stage of completion.
So why is this one of my favourite bowies?
1) Just standing on it's own, it's a kickass knife.
2) As a design exercise, it is a unique product of the collective input of the forum membership. One would have to say it is almost suprisingly successful in this regard - we've all heard the line that goes ' a donkey is a horse designed by committee'. Occasionally, the committe does good - as they did here.
3) The makers involved - all good guys - all makers I have worked with before - and all managing to create a piece that stands on its own merit.
4) Maybe most of all - the knife itself is symbolic of good people working together to do a good thing for a worthy cause.
Anyway, that's enough rambling - I'll leave you with some better looks at the knife:
Roger
)
