Dangerous Weapons? Or Just Functional Art Collectibles?

[RogerP]

I think that a great number of the "great unwashed masses" have no idea what you are talking about when you say "custom knife" and just assume that it is some Klingon or Freddy Kruger flesh slashing instrument straight out of Central Casting.

There's no doubt about THAT my friend. The masses are awash in ignorance and misperceptions. "All knives are weapons" is just as skewed and ill-conceived a viewpoint as "no knives are weapons". Some knives are designed as tools, some are designed as weapons. Again, a point I thought would have been beyond debate.

Roger

 

[RogerP]

Well that may be, however everyone else here is discussing knives in general as this is much larger than just a Bowie issue. Evidently you are the one that doesn't follow.
I'm not going to respond to any more of your post, so write what ever you want.

Absolutely un-believable

Sorry Charlie, you don't get to tell me what to post and what to think. Though you sure do keep trying. My point, which you are more than free to disagree with, is that some knives are weapons. Period. Saying "this is bigger than just a bowie issue" is a convenient way for you to ignore that rather obvious point. Bowies, daggers etc. are all part of the bigger picture.

Roger

 

[Kevin Jones]

Sorry Charlie, you don't get to tell me what to post and what to think. Though you sure do keep trying. My point, which you are more than free to disagree with, is that some knives are weapons. Period. Saying "this is bigger than just a bowie issue" is a convenient way for you to ignore that rather obvious point.

Oh - and you know what - if you don't want to respond to my posts, just don't. Repeatedly announcing that you won't respond to my posts seems just a bit odd.

Roger

Roger, where has ANYONE said in this thread that KNIVES WERE NOT WEAPONS? What's been said is that the majority are not used as weapons, but tools.

I had to respond one more time as I can't believe you are not getting this. Why do you continue to try to ruin threads for the rest of us?

 

[hardheart]

what makes a bowie a weapon? I could describe a claw hammer to someone who was never introduced to the concept of basic carpentry, and I would have them swearing up and down that it was an implement of close quarters maiming because of deliberate design elements for blunt impact, trapping/clearing, ripping of flesh, joint locking, etc.

I have a hard time telling camp and combat knives apart until someone shows me what the maker calls it.

 

[RogerP]

Why do you continue to try to ruin threads for the rest of us?

Sorry - not going to play your games.

what makes a bowie a weapon? I could describe a claw hammer to someone who was never introduced to the concept of basic carpentry, and I would have them swearing up and down that it was an implement of close quarters maiming because of deliberate design elements for blunt impact, trapping/clearing, ripping of flesh, joint locking, etc.

I have a hard time telling camp and combat knives apart until someone shows me what the maker calls it.

Good question. Go read Flayderman's book on the history of the Bowie knife. It's worth the time and money.

What makes a sword a weapon? Does it have to be used as a sword to be a weapon?

I agree that a great many knives are difficult to categorize - but some are designed as weapons.

Roger

 

[jjtjr]

The knives I primarily collect - Bowies - are weapons. Arguably one of the most famous / infamous edged weapons in American history. Good ol' Jim didn't make a name with his knife by chopping 2 by 4's.

Roger

From what I have read, the knife that Jim Bowie used at the Sandbar fight was most likely a butcher knife. I guess that all butcher knives are weapons.
Jim Treacy

 

[RogerP]

From what I have read, the knife that Jim Bowie used at the Sandbar fight was most likely a butcher knife. I guess that all butcher knives are weapons.
Jim Treacy

If we are to belive the writings of his brother Rezin, it was given to him for use as a weapon - not to quarter a chicken. All butcher knives are not weapons. That one was - as the events of the Sandbar quite graphically demonstrated. The specific details of the knife which Bowie subsequently commisioned are lost to history, but there seems to be fairly universal acceptance of the fact that it was not designed for food preparation.

Roger

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

Another waste of bandwith, this thread..

 

[jdm61]

Another waste of bandwith, this thread..

Hey.....we get bandwidth at a flat rate no matter how little or how much we choose to waste While the bowie is a darn good "do-it-all" toll, early on, one of it's primary purposes was as a replacement for a small sword, cutlass, etc. Today, the larger examples more likely fall into the "wall hanger" category, like some of the blades that it replaced. The likelihood of some miscreant skulking down a dark urban street with a Musso or Shively reproduction secreted under his jacket is pretty slim these days.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Well what started out as a productive thread addressing the general publics less than desirable perception of custom knives turned into something less as so many threads do.

So let's try to get back on track.

What are some ways to help custom knives be perceived as accepted collectibles by the general public and even more specifically accepted by the broad art and collectible communities?

Jerry Fisk is seeking out support and exposure from mainstream publications such as USA Today, Gardens & Guns and Forbes.

 

[Jon Brand]

Makers could make very nice knives for famous celebs.

Or hold alot more of those BFB type auctions/drawings and make large donations

 

[Kevin Jones]

Makers could make very nice knives for famous celebs.

Or hold alot more of those BFB type auctions/drawings and make large donations

I agree Jon, projects such as the Blade Forum Benefit Bowie are definitely a step in the right direction. Even though I was a little set back the other day by the initial response to the Blade article by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

 

[RogerP]

Jerry Fisk is seeking out support and exposure from mainstream publications such as USA Today, Gardens & Guns and Forbes.

I am doing, and have done, the same. Positive exposure in the mainstream media is of incalculable value.

Roger

 

[Charles M]

Makers could make very nice knives for famous celebs.

I know of a few famous custom collectors like Kiefer, Seagal, Steven Tyler.

But... Charlton Heston they are not.

If you want to advocate for knife rights, donating to or joining the AKTI is a very good place to start.

 

[jdm61]

I know of a few famous custom collectors like Kiefer, Seagal, Steven Tyler.

But... Charlton Heston they are not.

If you want to advocate for knife rights, donating to or joining the AKTI is a very good place to start.

I didn't know that Mr. Tyler was a knife knut...one more reason for me to like him, although his musical output was more than sufficient. Angelina Jolie would be the ideal spokesperson. People have already accepted the fact that she is a slightly strange little girl and dig her anyway. The fact that she is also extraordinarily hot would also help sell posters

 

[BladefulArt]

1) Do you think the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s response would have been the same if I had been seeking their permission to print the letter in a golf or stamp collector's magazine? No

•2) Do you believe custom knives are generally perceived as dangerous weapons by the general public rather than an accepted collectible? Maybe

•3) Do you believe this negative perception has to some extent stifled the growth of custom knives as compared to other collectibles such as coins, watches and such? Yes

•4) Are you for or against laws and regulations restricting the use and transportation of custom knives and shipping of knives to and from foreign countries? Mostly against

I have experience of knives being portrayed as weapons, no matter on what type. People done found out that I'm a knifemaker enthusiast in school, and I think people are losing trust with me because of it. One student went as far as spreading rumors about me being "dangerous." Why? Just because I'm a knifemaker wanna-be.

Im trying my best to avoid teachers, precise the ones I trust, from finding out. If students don't trust me, what would teachers do? So far, theres only 2 teachers that knows, both of whom I trust. As for as knife laws, I consider most of them nonsense.

For example, I know that switchblades are designed as weapons, but in all reality, a kitchen knife would be far more dangerous and lethal, it would also be far safer to use.

I can also target the U.K laws, as their the most strict I heard of. The kitchen knives can't even have points on them from last I heard.

Would they ban the use of points on shovels? Unlikely, but a tool is a tool (or/and art.)and that what U.K needs to understand. If people was to use chair legs as lethal weapons, would they ban chair legs as well?

Oh, and people calling some of their knife designs "fighting" knives doesn't help the situation at all. No modern knife is used strictly for fighting as far as I know, so instead of calling them "fighting" knives, why don't we just call them "tactical" knives like they should be called? To be honest, it pisses me off when I see a knife named as a "fighter." Its an insult to the industry.

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

instead of calling them "fighting" knives, why don't we just call them "tactical" knives like they should be called?

Tactical.... oh geez... please call them anything but tactical. Tactical is a hyped up buzz word. Just call em what they are knives.

 

[BladefulArt]

Tactical knives, and its not hype as thats what they are. A chef wouldn't just call his/her knife a knife, he or she would call it by the type it is.

And millitary clients would call theirs tactical knives, not fighters, because like I said, thats what it is. Afterall, modern millitaries usually don't use their knives as primary weapons, therefore calling them fighting or combat knives would be misleading. Tacticals are the best to refer to them by as the word tactical applies to both a tool and tactical weapon use.

Tactical-adj-of or relating to tactics: intended for a paticular purpose

This applies to the tactical advantage a edged tool, such as a tactical knife, would give if, for some unfortunate reason, a person actively enrolled in millitary, policeforce, or any other such duty, would come across an event to where their primary weapons would be illsuitable. As for a particular purpose, that would be as primarily a tool. Thus, tactical is more of a correct way to refer them by...not the hyped up "fighter" or "combat", and just calling them knife would in no way be specific. For example, if a guy was to say "hand me a knife!" if he was hanging down a oil rig by a single rope, and if a person was to give him a pocket knife, he would be in severe trouble. Even if the pocket knife was to have a button release, it still could potentially be to weak to save the guy's life. However, if he says "give me a tactical knife!", chances are, he would have the knife he needs.