DDR Zaza MM3 Project

Its fascinating to me that no other knifemaker out there feels the need to give a historical accounting of their designs and ideas, dates of when certain elements were first used, even a psuedo disclaimer that any similarities to other makers work is just a coincidence..............how do you answer the question of outright theft of a singularily unique patented concept such as the Ken Onion speedsafe? Or was the Kershaw/Camillus lawsuit a dream? Your reputation for "being influenced" by other makers ideas....(Strider Tiger striping ring any bells??) is well known and well founded. A darn shame too, as your own ideas and earlier works stood on their own merits.

To suggest Todd's work has been influenced by YOUR work, is rather arrogant of you and could not be farther from the truth.


Tanya Begg
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Tanya, wrong forum!

Just kidding.

I am sure that Darrel's inspiration for the Tiger striping done with DLC coating was actually from the late Rob Simonich, a mutual friend of mine and Darrels.
Rob was the FIRST person to tigerstripe blades using this type of finish a LONG TIME AGO. Darrel and Rob collaborated on knives together almost 5 years ago, but I am guessing you are unaware of that. I was there the first time Rob showed off his tigerstripe finish. Rob, Darrel, Ryan Wilson and I were all eating lunch.

As far as the ROBO. Darrel did not invent this mechanism for Camillus. Nor did he invent a similar mechanism for CRKT. Or Buck, or MeyerCo, or S&W, or...well I guess you get my drift. Darrel told me at the Blade Show that he was licensed by Camillus to use the Robo assisted mechanism developed by the Camillus designer/engineer for a limited number of knives each year. I am sure Camillus then pays a royalty to their designer for the use of the mechanism. As far as who else they pay, I am not so sure. You may want to check with Camillus. My contacts there are no longer "In the loop".

As far as me defending Darrel, well he is my friend. I have known him for a long time as a customer and a friend and he is a gifted knifemaker and talented designer and engineer in his own right. He is also a gentleman and would never talk trash about another knifemaker (or their wife) in a public forum either.

As for Darrel being influenced by your husbands work or vice versa, I think its pretty clear based the knives of both parties that there is very little resemblance either way. No one will mistake Todd's knife for a Darrel Ralph knife or vice versa. Both makers have a pretty well defined style that would be hard for anyone to confuse.
 
I think my views on this subject have been clearly stated so I am not going to rehash or find new insulting ways to say it............where there is smoke, there is usually a fire.
 
I guess I am missing your point.

In your post you allude that Darrel:

1) Stole the Onion design for the speed-safe when actually he didn't.

2) Stole the idea for tigerstriping from Strider when again, he didn't.

It looks like it time for an apology or a retraction.
Any knowledgeable business person like yourself should know that what you are doing can be seen as slanderous.
 
Let's get back to talking about the Revishvili-Ralph MM3, shall we?

I think this latest DDR/Zaza collaboration came out exceedingly well.
 
Lawsuit? last I heard that was settled and there are only two companies that are "legally" permitted to use any type of assisted opening device. Kershaw and Camillus and only two custom makers are permitted to use assisted opening by that settlement, Onion and DDR. If I remember correctly, it was actually Blackie Collins who had the assisted opening idea long before anyone else. Tiger stripes on knife blades... I remember seeing a Ka-Bar from when my brother was back in the Marines that someone had polished off the parkerizing the make a tiger stripe pattern. That was in or around 1978.

If you do some searching(if the archives still have it) you will find some old discussions about makers who have been around for a while speaking up when a new maker claims to have had their ideas taken from them. Some makers speak up, some don't. Darrel is one that speaks up.

As Anthony calls Darrel a friend, so do I. I have sat back and watched Darrel take a lot of heat over varying things. Darrel is a big boy, in more ways than one! :p and can take care of himself. I am just a little frustrated at seeing this continue and not say anything. There have been misunderstandings stemming from 3rd parties that have caused grief for Darrel and others. Those 3rd parties don't want to step up and admit their involvement. Which makes them spineless at best. These misunderstandings seem to have really drawn the heat to Darrel which is unfair. As much as I would like to, it is not place to name names or dates.

Anthony - I haven't read any of the gun mags recently, are you still writing for them?

Back on point - What is the gem stone set in the Maxx handle? Garnet?
 
Dirk,

Yes that is a Garnet in the filigree inlay. What was so unique about these inlays is that Zaza and I conceived this idea about a year ago.



When he brought the inlays to the Chicago show the stones were not set yet.



He took them up to his room and set them Friday night.

How cool is that? He is a fantastic artist!
It was a pleasure for the second time doing business with Zaza.
Chuck Gollnick has the first ZD.

Anthony,



I am glad you are back in the writing loop.

It is always good to see fresh and honest writing about knives. The way you BRUTALLY test them is what I really like. No BS just the facts. The sledge hammer test into the tree. Then climb on it.
:eek:


Frank-H



They call it "quoting from" to borrow aspects of guitar licks etc, and no matter what influences are assimilated, each artist (who evolves to major status) makes it his own, Clapton, Duane Alman etc, "borrowed" but made things totally their own.[quote/]
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I agree 100 percent with you. There are always riffs and licks that

spill into others music. Hell a lead guitar player, piano player etc has to play a note the same way as another musician does. How can that NOT happen?

Thanks for the example.





Dear Mrs. Begg,

Your husband is a talented maker and we’ve spoken together at three shows now, at least. He was always warm and seemed sincere to me. I have never felt he was imitating any of my designs, and I know I’ve never told anyone he was. I certainly want him to tell me if he thinks I imitate any of his.



Your posts make me wonder if he walked away from these conversations with a different impression that I did. I hope not. My phone number and email address are easy to find and I’ve never heard from him about anything like this. You seem sincerely concerned for your husband’s work and I appreciate that. Out of respect for Todd, I don’t have anything to say about a rumored conflict until (or if) I hear from Todd for a one on one talk about it.



------------------------------



To everyone else: I’m just a knife maker, not a publicist trying to build a following. But it is refereshing to see that I have some good people who support me without my asking them to and believe in my work.
That is the greatest feeling in the world and I thank you for it.

These threads, sometimes, have a history of blowing up into 40-page smears and I don’t want to have to keep checking back here to find out what people are saying about me while I’m working. The New York show is near and i have much to do so I’ll just lay my position out now and hope everyone will move on to more interesting things. Before I do, though, I want to make sure you understand that nothing I’m writing in this post has anything to do with any other maker mentioned above this point.
______________________________________________ point

I have always been open with my work, tried to share everything I could with others, given due credit to everyone who helped me along my way and kept an open shop where anyone can come see in person how I do my work. For a long time I hosted/moderated a forum here, along with others, so that I could help answer questions from beginners and others hopefully to make their paths a little easier than mine was when I started out.



I’ve done a lot of designs since I became a full-time maker in 1993. I have licensed more than 90 of them to different manufacturers out there. This was simply good business for me and I couldn’t pass it up. Anyone who wants to use any of my designs can call me and find out how. I’m easy to work with.



The thing is, I just don’t get many of those calls, so I never think many other makers are all that interested in my designs… until I pick up a knife magazine.

I’ve been copied so many times it used to make my head spin when I looked at them. What really kills me is when factories put their versions of one of my original designs into production and stamp my name on them without my permission, knowledge or input. That takes real nuggets.



I work hard on new designs to give my customers something new and original – something of real value each time they buy one of my knives. Being copied damages my business and makes me furious. I used to complain about it until Anthony Lombardo made this statment a few years back to me: “Stop whining about it. That’s part of the knife making business.”



I think he’s probably right. I thought about his words a few years back and stopped the madness. What I did was to start focusing on the positive and documenting my work to inform collectors of my past work and to create a timeline chart of innovations and designs that I feel are worthy of noting. I built a new page on my website where I lay it all out and get it into the record. If anyone gets up in arms about that well .... so be it. I figure they must have another opinion or have something to hide. A diary has been the practice of many makers who want to make sure there customers have a record of events that happened in certain time frames and information about the knives they collect.
I also use this page as a protective sheild of information for people who have been led astray about me and my past knives and innovations. This is the sad part of it. Why should I have to do this at all?


It seems that whatever I do to protect myself it ends up making me a bad guy to some people in this business. Sometimes I think the general opinion is that I should just bend over and take it like a nice guy. Some feel I should let the innovations that I come up with or the branding items that I have been using for years on my knives not count ..... if it is convenient for them at the time.

I’m not going to do that. Any person or Darrel Ralph collector can go to my “Technology” page and see a record of what work I’ve done, when I’ve done it, and decide for themselves.



I don’t think that this will stop people from helping themselves to my designs and ideas. All I want it to do is to help me avoid the truly bizarre situation I find myself in when people copy my work, and then turn around and call me a no-good plagiarist for continuing to make versions of MY OWN DESIGNS. How "absurd".

It will also stop others from slamming me for items that I use that are licensed by me in a contract in good faith. I can let the public and collector know the real story, without the heresay and mis imformation getting into the subject.

Again I will let my knife making diary say everything I need to say. I will be adding more and more to it as the days go by. If you have an interest stop by and take a look. I invite anyone who wants to email or call me about the new items and pages I am adding to my site.



I love precision and technology mixed with the organics of the past and present. I like to innovate. I am back to innovating more and more now days. I have a web page called MY MUSE. On this page you will find new, old, prototypes, and other knives that are special to me. They will be posted for sale from time to time for those that like "special" knives. The MY MUSE page will have many of the knife innovations that will be recorded into my diary ” Technology” page for reference. It will also serve as a prototype design test page.
It will let me gage the popularity of a knife design and or feature.
Soapbox off

Thanks to "ALL" for your comments good or otherwise.
I feel we all just love knives and should talk about the positive.

BTW: Photography is my hobby! "The knife collector" has some great shots on her page. Take a look.
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Going back the the first post, the fifth photo from the top. Is that the Hyperstep II filework?
 
Darrel- well said although you certainly don't need to justify your work, here or anywhere else. Looking forward to seeing you in NYC.
 
Sam, Both knives have Hyperstep file work.
The first is HS 1 square , The second has HS 2 rounded.
I have another new pattern that I developed over the weekend for my new knife line that will be out soon.
It is "toooobular man" :D
 
My take away from this thread is that Darrel Ralph is a class act - I already knew he made awesome knives...
 
I agree that Darrell is a class act, and he has a loyal permanent customer in me!! We4 have been E-mailing regarding a knife I am ordering from him, he is such a nice guy!! I also appreciate his time he takes in his correspondences with me!!
 
Keith,



I still forge from time to time. I kind of let the mood "muse" strike me now days and go with whatever I feel is the right thing to do.



It seems that if I push in a direction that an element gets lost in the work.



I love Bowies. I think that is obvious even though I make more modern styles that I used to.



But to give the simple answer Keith I pulled out a big box of pre-forged billets that I made 7 years ago the other day.



They are all kinds of patterns and lay ups that I was going to forge to completion in the future. Well from me digging them out it must be that time.



I still forge 52100 blade and offset "differentially" quench them from time to time for folders so yes is the answer. I haven't made a full size 9"-12" bowie in many years.

I have a love for bowies as you can see in my work.

Our ancestors were people who really used knives to live everyday. The shape that they made there blades is no mystery. They had to live from the tools they had to use.
The bowie blade was one of them for sure. My favorite is the Woodhead blade shape.

Frank h
A 4.5 is in the works.
I dont know if a MAXX will be designed but the AK1 and another new knife will be for sure.
Thanks to all once again for the good words!
 
Darrel Ralph Dear Mrs. Begg said:
Your posts make me wonder if he walked away from these conversations with a different impression that I did. I hope not. My phone number and email address are easy to find and I’ve never heard from him about anything like this. You seem sincerely concerned for your husband’s work and I appreciate that. Out of respect for Todd, I don’t have anything to say about a rumored conflict until (or if) I hear from Todd for a one on one talk about it. [/size]
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Darrel,
I am concerned about my husbands work, and that of any other hardworking maker who busts their butts trying to make a living as well as express their creativity and develope a unique signature look or design.

To be absolutetly clear, there is NO RUMORED CONFLICT between Todd and you .

...........however, there just might be between you and me. :rolleyes: Anyone who knows me will tell you I am fiercely loyal and protective of my husband as well as my friends. I am also hot tempered and can be quite volitile( I blame the Korean in me)I shouldn't have posted here, THAT was wrong and unfair to you...........I AM going to call you about my views, and I hope you can change my opinions, show me I am wrong.

Tanya Begg
 
tntbegg said:
I AM going to call you about my views, and I hope you can change my opinions, show me I am wrong.

Tanya Begg
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Now THAT'S a great step in a positive direction. :thumbup: Here are two (three?) knifemaking people I really admire with differing viewpoints. Nothing a little one-to-one won't clarify and make good. Please do, Tanya.

I am 100% behind all of these folks, but this thread has taken a few wrong turns. I hope it's back on the high road again. :D

Coop
 
Tanya, you still are managing to put a "superior to you" posture on all of this for some reason, and a not so veiled put-down of Darrel in on your post just above here. Anthony and others had good advice, but it seems you are chosing to add more bitterness to the waters with every opportunity to post on this thread.

To be honest, "you" are changing my view of how interested I am in buying Todd's great work, and that's a sad thing because the work in it's own right is great. Truly - give this a good look over, if you do value your husband's reputation and standing in the community.

There is being a good defender, and then there is the posture of "no peace allowed if it wasn't my idea and on my terms" type of thing, which rarely works in the real world.

I like the look of Todd's work very much, I don't like the judgemental tone and condescention towards Darrel. Even if you think it is warrented it's not wise to publicly slap the wet towel like that. If you're going to talk in private with Darrel, it's not wise to leave the public message as one of "prove to me you're not a ******". That's hypocritical.

Frank H.
 
People, my heart is breaking. I'm in tears reading this thread. Here we have Zaza, my good friend, my traveling companion, whom I respect in every way, his art, his design... a man of great taste and of perfect integrity (well, perfect where it matters since he's not above a little intrique when necessary) and his work is being -- by virtue of connection with this knife -- brought into a bad light. People, I have been to the Kremlin, I have been to the Hermitage, I can tell you that Zaza's work and design are world-class and museum-grade. Then we have DDR, my good old friend whom I credit the modern resurgance of the custom balisong too. This is the man who had the courage to take on my challenge of 25 custom balisong knives, a project which captured the attention of the balisong community and sparked the current resurgence, and now hios work is being challenged. And finally, we have my new friends, the Beggs, whom I met just recently in Portland at Bladeshow West. When I went to Bladeshow West, I was thinking, there won't be anything new here; afterall, the balisong is at its end. But, then I saw Todd's absolutely innovative new design. Wow! So it pains me, physically pains me, to see such great and creative minds arguing.

Please, let's just go back to praising the DDR/Zaza collaboration. It is so good!

And when I get mine (any day now), I'll show you my new Begg balisong and y'all will love it too.
 
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