Completed: 2013 • Boston Art Knife Classic (BAKC)

Coop, you did a great job with the show pics...on top of the usual great knife pics!

The show WAS more sparsely attended than the last one, and it was clear that the events of the preceding week were the major contributor to that :(

Having said that, the knives were just superlative, and there was more time to talk with the makers :thumbup:

I drove up Sat AM from CT, and it was the easiest trip I've ever made to Boston....the cops who usually blanket the Mass Pike were likely getting some well deserved rest, and there were many fewer cars on the road.

Didn't make the dinner, since my wife and I went out to eat with my son who is a senior at BC...that whole school was on "lockdown" on Friday, since it is about a mile and a half from the area in Watertown where the suspect was :eek:

Bill
 
Thanks so much for the pics Coop, they are wonderful. Great to see so many familiar faces.

I spoke to Howard Hitchmough yesterday and he did pretty well at the show so he was happy. Considering that when I called him on the Friday night (they had not caught the lunatic yet) he was considering not going at all.

A real shame that the timing for the show was so unfortunate........

I am looking forward to seeing you at Blade in a few weeks and I will stop by and catch up.

Cheers mate

Steven:)
 
Thanks folks! I'm working on the remainder today. Here's some I've finished:

Jay Hendrickson, MS with his unmistakable and appealing style.
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Alexis Lecocq worked with Simone Fezzardi on this nature scene
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A peek into his build quality. The angle of the protective little nickel silver stopper mismatches the bevel, so the edge remains untouched. Thoughtful.
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Here's one of the TWO 'twins' which each had a compelling amount of bid tickets for them.
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VERY delicate finish with fingerprints. I suggested he sell them with white gloves. Really.
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Lastly, Owen Wood worked with Italian engraving master Giovanni Steduto to bring this forward.
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More later. Feel free to comment on individuals.

Coop
 
Those pics are really the "next best thing to being there" !

There was enough variety at the show - from art deco to classic ABS - so that there was something for everyone. I imagine it was tough, Coop, to fully capture Rodrigo's pierced integral, given that is was actually a "hollow" handle - I love the subtle way you can see the background "peek" through :thumbup:

It is too bad Rodrigo's "long dagger/short rapier basket hilt" got trashed by Delta - I would LOVE to have seen an image of that one in all its glory !

As it was, from a fixed blade perspective, that particular piece was the definition of the word "masterpiece" in my eyes. Unbelievable steel, incredible shape and symmetry, fantastic guard.....and INTEGRAL as well. At least Rodrigo will have the world's nicest wall hanger....

Bill
 
THanks for the report Bill. I have more to post, but since we're talking about Rodrigo, here's the subject in case:

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Rodrigo wants to trash it or make it a wallhanger? I say he's WAYY to talented a bladesmith, that a little creative welding won't resurrect this treasure.

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And yet another masterpiece.

Coop
 
The way he explained it to me....he COULD spot or Mig weld it, but there would be no way to do that without leaving an obvious sign...or at least something that would be obvious to Rodrigo...

Bill
 
Rodrigo has got to be one of the most talented bladesmiths on the planet. In my opnion. Gary
 
^^^ I agree. And if he chooses NOT to weld them back on it's only because his personal standards are in the stratosphere.

(I say base jump to a manageable level and let someone enjoy that piece for it's magnitude!)

OK, we're almost finished:

Bill Ruple brought the Heart of Texas into the heart of Boston. Can you say 'Devin Thomas feather damascus'. I thought you could.
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Twice!
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Shane Taylor, MS does NOT make traditional classics. He slays them with these:
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Oh, THIS was easy.... ;) Almost six feet long, I had NO idea how I would do it. In the end I laid it over a table, stood on chairs, slammed it with strobes, and then brought the components back under the tent for detail shots. In the end, a plausible presentation.
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Edmund Davidson and Jere Davidson (no relation) decorated RWL's design 'Max's Crooked Skinner' up to the nines.
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Jim & Joyce Minnick have a recognized and desirable style. They also had a good show.
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One of our VERY favorite knife couples is Bertie and Melinda Rietveld. Bertie is so extremely talented, and it was his wife Melinda who designed and pressed him to implement the 'stanhope lens' as his signature mark.

Seaspray folder with bolster release
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Griffyn Battleaxe: Modern take on Mamluk-period battle-axe inspired by Metropolitan Museum exhibit in NYC. Lens is in the eye.
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Mystique dagger
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That's it for now. I may have another of Bertie's from the show, but I haven't opened the box from a noted dealer yet.

We hope you have enjoyed the elegance of this unabashedly 'High Art Knives' display.

Thanks for viewing. :D

Jim and Susan Cooper
 
WOW!! Some incredible pieces once again Coop! That Lockaber Ax must have been a challenge to photograph.

Thanks,
Peter
 
Some cool pieces shown. Those Taylors and Rietvelds are super nice!! Coop, your photos are as usual top notch!!

Marcel
 
Hello guys!
The Boston Show was wonderful, despite the problems in Boston. I felt really honored for being invited to share space with such select group of excelent knifemakers, it was one of the most important shows to me.
The problem with my dagger was a great disappointment to say at least, it is the most difficult piece I made in my whole live as a knifemaker, I have been dreaming in making this dagger for some years, and it gave me the best proudness I ever felt when finishing a challenge piece. It was the best piece (and the most expensive) I had to the show, to open the damaged box at the hotel and see the dagger broken, is something that I can't put on words...
 
Wonderful work, Coop. You are a fantastic asset within the world of custom knives. You bring both the show and the knives to life before our eager eyes.
 
Wow So much cool stuff I am at a loss for words but I can say Shane is killing it I just love his work and yours Coop Thank you.
 
Thank you for sharing.

The knives alone are fantastic - but getting pictures in that quality is an art by itself.
Not that I need to mention, but it can't hurt.
Thanks again for sharing these, and also the pictures of the great people at the show.
red mag
 
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