Broadwell/Cover collaboration - 'Dragon Slayer'

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I get a chance to photograph some of the finest work out there on occasion. David Broadwell and Ray Cover Jr. have been a team effort for many years, and their work is *always* inspiring.

Rob Blanton commissioned this knife from the two of them. I am not 100% sure of the details, but he was very involved in the concept.

The dagger sports a mosaic damascus blade forged by Tom Ferry. The body of the knife is titanium with some anodizing.

Let's look at the BIG photo:

orig.jpg


It's a 'flipper'. Those ears are carved from the blade itself. It's a classic motif, with the added bonus of the sheild and helmet being an integral part of the bolsters design.

As is always the case, Ray Cover's engraving will stop you dead in your tracks with the detail. As is also the norm, David's fitment and subtle texturing adds more engagement to the eye.

This is one knife that is above and beyond. I know you will enjoy the ride! :)

Coop
 
In a word-Masterpiece

This belongs in a museum,a spectacular work of functional art.

Coops pix are perfect,as usual.
 
sky masterson said:
In a word-Masterpiece

This belongs in a museum,a spectacular work of functional art.

Coops pix are perfect,as usual.
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Certainly true.
 
Don't know what to say.

WOW.

Looks like to me the chose the right photographer to represent that beauty too.
 
SBC, the link you provided in your post has some terrific knives.

This one is no exception in that it is exceptional.
 
Bluntness is not necessarily a bad thing.

The craftsmanship is outstanding. The engraving is top quality. The blade to handle ratio is excellent. The knife looks terrible, but is photographed with the usual Coop panache.

Wait, back up here, Kohai, how can you say the knife looks terrible?

Well the grinds on the dagger blade look weak, and overall shape do not work for the handle. While Ferry is a wizard of metal, there are patterns that would have worked in a more interesting manner for the knife, like raindrop. The knife looks like another canvas for some super engraving. Not so much knife really, as knife like art object. I am sure that this is a quite expensive knife and am just not feeling it. Quick show of hands, how many are ready to buy this one right now, and have the cash to do it? (sound of crickets chirping) :D

Great photos, Coop, you always impress me.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I would like to thank David Broadwell and Ray Cover for taking my ideas on the Dragon Slayer project and turning them into what I feel is truly an exhibition quality piece of cutlery. It was really a fun project and the finished product exceeded any expectations I had. Coop, as always your photography is tops. Thanks again to everyone involved in this project and for the comments.
Best regards,
Rob
 
I've been hearing about this knife. Tom said he had fun forging the flippers.

Kohai999 said:
Well the grinds on the dagger blade look weak, and overall shape do not work for the handle. While Ferry is a wizard of metal, there are patterns that would have worked in a more interesting manner for the knife, like raindrop.
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I have to disagree with you here Steve. I think if you inspected the grinds they are contoured. It is hard to describe. We have two of David's knives and both have his unique grind that looks fantastic when you hole it in your hand.

Second, raindrop damascus on a knife with a four figure price tag?!?!? Tom can make raindrop in a couple hours. The dragon scale mosaic damascus took days to forge. The complexity of the damascus has to complement Ray's unique engraving. Using raindrop would have been like putting boots on a turkey. The knife must be congruent, i.e. the complexity of all the pieces should match. IMO this knife pulls it off very well.

If I had the money I would buy the knife.
 
Chuck Bybee said:
I have to disagree with you here Steve. I think if you inspected the grinds they are contoured. It is hard to describe. We have two of David's knives and both have his unique grind that looks fantastic when you hole it in your hand.

Second, raindrop damascus on a knife with a four figure price tag?!?!? Tom can make raindrop in a couple hours. The dragon scale mosaic damascus took days to forge. The complexity of the damascus has to complement Ray's unique engraving. Using raindrop would have been like putting boots on a turkey. The knife must be congruent, i.e. the complexity of all the pieces should match. IMO this knife pulls it off very well.

If I had the money I would buy the knife.
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I understand your disagreement, Chuck.

I have handled a fair amount of Broadwell's in my day, and sometimes the grinds rock, and sometimes they are a little "washy". From this pic, it looked like a washy day.

I do not feel that the "dragon scale" mosaic looks anything like dragon scales. Tom could have manipulated many patterns to give chatoyancy to the blade, maybe I am not seeing it here, and to my eye, it competes with the engraving, does not complement it. Having never seen boots on a turkey, I am not sure what that would look like. :D Never underestimate a well done raindrop, I think it looks superb on the right knife. Firestorm would have maybe been a better suggestion, raindrop just came to mind, and you made my point by saying "if" you had the money. And are you saying that if you had a spare $10,000, this is the first knife that you would buy with it?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Tom ferry called me today to talk about another upcoming project. He did not mention any critiques of this choice of material, but in his conversation talked of the complexity of the pattern. Take that as you may.

Somehow I forgot an important piece of information that David Broadwell had given me before I rec'd the knife. Here is his full description of the materials and specs and the idea for the theme. I think it adds to the piece and gives it more credibility than it already has. :D

Theme: Armour and Mythology
Blade: Tom Ferry mosaic damascus steel
Liners: Textured and anodized titanium
Handle overlays: CP titanium
Pivot: Stainless steel
Rear covers: Stainless steel
Back: Stainless steel
Lock: Inlaid side lock
Blade length: 4 1/2"
Overall length: 10 1/4"

Knife dealer Rob Blanton asked Ray Cover and myself to create a folding dagger after showing us engravings of "St. George and the Dragon" on two shotguns, one about 100 years old, the other contemporary. He wanted that "feel" for this knife, but gave us freedom with out own artistic abilities.

On our drive back from the Chicago Knife Show Ray and I began mentally and verbally designing the knife as we do all of our collaborations - we bounce ideas off each other and feed off each other's energy. Ray asked if I could make the pivot into the shape of a shield and place a helmet on the rear to give this knife a dimensional make up that was not typical of most knives. I had to think that out, but we came up with a folder that created no screws for Ray to engrave around and no pins to make disassembly difficult.

The "dragon tails" guard of this knife is integral with the blade, forged into that rough shape by Ferry. It makes a "flipper" for one handed opening. The shields at the front of the handle are actually the pivot for the blade. They screw together precisely and lay over the front of the engraving plates.

The helmets at the rear also cover the ends of the plates. This was to symbolize the finality of the knight's mission. His shield and helmet were thrown down over the dragon's body, or in this case over the scenes depicting the struggle and defeat of the dragon engraved on the handle plates.

This is the first folding knife in an exclusive series for Blanton based upon the "armour and mythology" theme.
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Coop
 
a 4 1/2" blade to a 5 3/4" handle borders on the unacceptable for a piece of this magnitude.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
This is one of those pieces that goes beyond likes and dislikes (though they may exist), beyond "do I accept this as fully right or do I call it wrong".

Immense craft. Vision, execution, guts, immense craft.

Chosing to buy it or not, it has expanded the perimeters.

Great photos Coop.

Frank H.
 
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