Don Fogg's "Midline Crisis" by SharpByCoop

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
7,353
All,

I just wanted to share with you my latest purchase (and it's going to be my last purchase for a while, I expect). I bought it more than a month ago, but it took a while to get here and I had it sent to Coop for some good pics first.

It's a large dagger made by Don during the mid 90's during his textured damascus phase. It was apparently made for an art collector as a piece of art - rather than for a knife collector as an art knife. It is a lifelong goal of Don to bring knives into the art collecting world, and you can see this in his most ambitious pieces such as this.

The damascus at the edge is a very tight ladder pattern with a shimmering effect. The copper habaki is also textured and shows gold accents. The fittings are of blued iron (and gold wire) and the handle is of bloodwood. The piece is shaped like a trapezoid: the textured flat and the reverse side of the edge are flat and parallel. The profile applies also to the fittings and handle, but the angles are much softer.

This is a big piece. It weights 760g.

Coop's magic:
orig.jpg


As you can see below, the underside of the dagger is flat with a different pattern in the damascus:
orig.jpg


Hope you like it!
 
That one would keep me happy for a long time. Beautiful piece in every respect. The texturing and the unique blade shape really set this piece apart. Congrats to you!

Roger
 
I find the flat side a cop out....Don likes to experiment with the themes of tension and dissonance, and that is certainly his right...but interest is lost towards owning this knife BECAUSE of these differences....in much the same way that the Cashen knives discussed in another thread are "different".

Obviously it works for you, so congratulations, and good score!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
From a performance standpoint, the trapezoidal grind makes a lot of sense for a thrusting blade. It leaves some people flat aesthetically. Not me. I like it alot. Kind of a yin and yang, spy vs spy thing.
 
I like to see the flat side, and to see it different from the front side. When I first saw pics of this on Don's site, I didn't realize that the 2 sides were different and I assumed they were similar. When I saw they were different I first thought that it was a drawback, but I now think that it doesn't detract from it in any way. I can see where Steven's coming from.

There's no arguing that Don's knives are different, and sometimes, they throw me off. After a time though I generally get to appreciate his choices.
 
I think that is a gorgeous knife and really like the opposite side contrast. Sweet pickup.
 
From a ninja perspective, the trapezoidal blade creates a large, sucking wound that will not easily close up like a conventional, double ground dagger. But I digress.
 
Thats one of my favorite Fogg's. Really like the texturing, and the way he carried it through on the habaki and butt cap.
 
Bladeandbarrel said:
From a ninja perspective, the trapezoidal blade creates a large, sucking wound that will not easily close up like a conventional, double ground dagger. But I digress.
Click to expand...

Have to be one rich mf'ng Ninja to be gigging a beotch with a Fogg Damascus dagger....might as well be using the Holy Grail for CrunkJuice...:D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Very cool. Don is an all time great and you are fortunate to own this piece. It may not be for everyone but that's why it's so cool to me. To me knives that can be polarizing to collectors are interesting. It creates thought. I'm sure Don made this knowing some would love it and some would hate it. That stepping out on a limb is what sets Don apart and makes him unique.
 
That's a great looking knife. I have seen it on Don Fogg's website but Coop did a great job photographing it.
 
Joss, congrats with this amazing knife. I think it's very cool. I really like the contrast between both sides of the blade.

If you ever want to part with it just give me call;):D

Marcel
 
great art is usually polarizing, I think.

As for gouging large holes in ninjas and the like, I think that although this knife is probably capable, that certainly isn't the intent. It is meant for loftier uses, such as human sacrifice to the volcano god or somesuch.

Weirdly, I'm with Steve on this one. Although it is incredible on one side, the other leaves me, well, flat.
I liked this knife a lot better when I thought that it was symmetrical.

It is an amazing work, and I think that if nothing else- ninjas aside- it is well and truly an art piece.
 
The"Artistic" sides of "useful" crafts such as fine furniture building and knifemaking often introduce jarring elements to provoke, and to extend the viewpoint. This magnificent effort of Don's would be eye-opening and a work of knife-art if symmetrical, and I'd probably be more comfortable with it; but it isn't supposed to be comfortable, is it?

I love it.

John
 
joss...lovely piece for sure...i love don's work and this piece is just too cool.....i love the texturizing.....ryan:thumbup:
 
Kohai999 said:
I find the flat side a cop out....Don likes to experiment with the themes of tension and dissonance, and that is certainly his right...but interest is lost towards owning this knife BECAUSE of these differences....in much the same way that the Cashen knives discussed in another thread are "different".

Obviously it works for you, so congratulations, and good score!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

I can see what you are saying about the asymmetric design. I have mixed feelings about that aspect of it myself. It looks like the texture was pressed in and trying to do it that way from two sides simultaneously would have been a technical problem,... but I think calling it a "cop out" is a bit harsh and inappropriate for this level of work. I'm sure Don could have figured a way to do it on both sides, if that's what he really wanted. The design is obviously "intentional" and a bold design risk. So,... if that's the way Don wanted it, I think it would have been more of a "cop out" if he hadn't done it that way.

I think it's a great example of the type of “ambivalence in art” that Don has so un-relentlessly and consistently produced. It’s a dandy and very successful sincere personal expression from Fogg… which to me totally outweighs it's awkwardness.
 
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Tai Goo said:
I can see what you are saying about the asymmetric design. I have mixed feelings about that aspect of it myself. It looks like the texture was pressed in and trying to do it that way from two sides simultaneously would have been a technical problem,... but I think calling it a "cop out" is a bit harsh and inappropriate for this level of work. I'm sure Don could have figured a way to do it on both sides, if that's what he really wanted. The design is obviously "intentional" and a bold design risk. So,... if that's the way Don wanted it, I think it would have been more of a "cop out" if he hadn't done it that way.
…
Click to expand...

Tai, we are both artists....."cop out" may be harsh and inappropriate...it might even be inaccurate, but that is how I feel about it...

Am one of those artists that feel that there is good art, bad art, effective art, and shit that doesn't even enter the art realm, but looks good anyway, like the diamond studded skull by Damien Hirst....all of which is up for discussion or debate...

This is obviously good art, but to me, not a desireable knife...the piece must speak to my aesthetic values, as well as those of the creator. I ONLY like symmetrical daggers, with the grind as centered as possible, and SHARP edges....and don't expect Don to make work with my aesthetic in mind....I have however, personally spoken with him at length about this....he appreciates all differeing viewpoints, as long as they are offered intelligently, rationally and with the invitation to discussion.

The complete lack of worked texture on the opposite side is too strident a contrast to the rich tapestry of dimensions and shapes on the "face"...the altering of geometry for blade, habaki and handle is unsettling...intentional, for certain.....but a letdown for this fan of a great, great man and artist.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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