Dr David Darom's latest book

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Martinsite said:
I have been featured in BLADE regularly, yet I don't advertise with them.
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Hi RJ,

And you had the COVER- right? Your Rampage folder exclusive with Les.

I guess Chuck's accusation that Blade offers editorial in return for advertising does not apply in your case- along with Shane and Cliff.

striper28
Look at blade magazine, the more advertising you buy the more articles they run on you, or even put your knife on the cover. You may not be a top maker but your paying to make people think you are.
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Seems that you and the other 2 got your coverage in Blade based on merit and excellence in knife-making.

Kirby Lambert had the cover in February of this year for his Inferno folder, and he had never advertised with Blade either.

Take care and see you soon,

Regards, Neil
 
Kirby Lambert had the cover in February of this year for his Inferno folder, and he had never advertised with Blade either.
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Actually Kirby has had an ad in the last 5 issues of blade since then? :confused:
march page 92
may page 89
june page 60
july page 89
august page 119

Congrats to RJ, Cliff and Kirby for making the covers of blade magazine :thumbup:
 
striper28 said:
I think that by being in these books the makers are going to be imortalized forever. This book will show a variety of talents form the beginner to the best and how they make their knives. That's what this book is about, 100 custom knives in the making.

edited, back to the shop
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I don't think that the editing was necessary.

Immortality depends upon the strength, and distribution of the books discussed, and how frequently that they are referred to.

There are MANY great makers featured in books that are forgotten, the market is a fickle one, subject to the same variances as any other.

Fashion often dictates what people buy, but the books help get the name out there for beginning makers, and keep existing makers names on peoples wish lists.

Some makers will not suffer from now until eternity, if their names never appear in print from now on, for whatever reason; Russ Andrews, Ray and Ron Appleton, Kit Carson, Harvey Dean, Jerry Fisk, Bob Loveless, Bill Moran, Tom Mayo, Ken Onion, Scott Sawby, John W. Smith, just to name a few. The fact that purveyors and collectors snap up everything available is a testament to that.

Many makers will never get to that level of recognition, even with press, makers like Jack Busfield, Rod Chappel, Gordon Chard, Pat Crawford, Barry Dawson, Ron Gaston, Mike Zscherny...desired by certain people, but not seen as the "A" list.

Then there are the variables, that may very well benefit from exposure in magazines and books, like Barry Gallagher, Chuck Gedraitis, Heather and Kevin Harvey, hell, even Mike Ruth, who got best new maker last year at Blade, and I own that knife. You never know who is going to be hot, and who will not.

Word of mouth helps, too. I am big on Burt Foster, consider him a close personal associate, and have turned on two collectors to his work, as I think he is greatly undervalued, Matt Roberts as well.

We all have our favorites, and we all bet on the horse that we like, or think will win, or both, depending on the mood.

Regardless of these thoughts, when the third book becomes readily available, I will get it. I own 5' of knife books, stacked side by side.

Chuck, and Neil, you are both professionals-act like it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
The only thing that matters to me is if i enjoy the book. I have enjoyed the first two, and am sure that I will enjoy this one.
 
striper28
Actually Kirby has had an ad in the last 5 issues of blade since then?
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Yes he certainly did. If you read what I wrote, you will see that I said he HAD never advertised....

So once again your absurd theory of Blade Magazine giving press only to those who advertise is again flawed. I guess you are just jealous.

Kirby's February 2006 cover, was on newsstands and sent to subscribers in December 2005. The issue was put to bed in October 2005. He was, I guess, slotted in for that a month or so before.
So this comment of yours, in my opinion, is ridiculous.

Your continued attacks on Blade Magazine is an gross insult to knifemakers, advertisers, the company and their staff who work there and most of all to the readers.

Just because YOU don't get the coverage that YOU want or think YOU deserve in Blade does not mean that everyone who does is getting it unfairly.

Neil
 
Neil,
I did not mention any makers names in any of my posts in this thread until they were used as examples of makers getting published for their knives and not buying ad space. Great, so maybe my statement was wrong but I am still entitled to it!

Kirby got the cover, good for him! I wish him more success.

I made a statement based on my perceived view on how I thought that blade magazine might operate. It was my perceived view, not yours, not Kirby's, RJ's or Cliffs!!

I stated my opinion which I am legally able to do. It was just my opinion and now I get jumped all over on because I stated my opinion?

Like you You said this is a public forum and I can say whatever I want!
 
and I am starting to get a little steamed.

Take it offline, or I am going to get really mad.
Do either one of you want that? I hold grudges for years, as I said before, you are professionals, act like it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
striper28
I stated my opinion which I am legally able to do. It was just my opinion and now I get jumped all over on because I stated my opinion?
Like you You said this is a public forum and I can say whatever I want!
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Correct- you have the right to speak your mind as does everyone else.

But, it seems to me that you are taking cheap shots and hurling dirty accusations at F & W Publications, Blade Magazine their staff and the editors.

You are insulting and trivializing the knifemakers who get written up/editorial in Blade by telling them that they didn't get it on merit but rather that they simply bought it. How dare you?

striper28
Look at blade magazine, the more advertising you buy the more articles they run on you, or even put your knife on the cover. You may not be a top maker but your paying to make people think you are.
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I think you are bitter and jealous and full of sour grapes.

In spite of the fact that this is indeed a free forum, one could be a bit more thoughtful and considerate before one dumps on the knifemakers (no names) who were fortunate to get editorial in Blade- no matter what their advertising habits are.


Neil
 
It takes a lot to get Steven Steamed, I apologize.

I would like to openly apologize to Neil, any knifemaker, dealer, subscriber to blade magazine, employee of Krause publishing and anyone else I missed for making the statement that I did. I had no idea that it would cause so much drama.

Life's too short for these quarrels.

Chuck
 
Getting back to the Darom books...

I heard about how Makers had been included quite some time ago and it also caused me to look at the books in a whole new light. The photos are still great and the printing is still great but what went out the window for me - and maybe for some of the people who have expressed similar views here - is the journalistic credibility of the book's content.

What's that? you ask.

Well, let me give a few examples. When you pick up a catalog from Macy's you also have great pics but you expect the copy to tell you how great the products are because that's what the writer is getting paid to say. You know that up front. The purpose of a Macy's catalog is to sell goods. On the other hand when you buy a book about cars, you expect objective criticism and the author's honest opinion. And these may be both positive and negative because you're expecting information, NOT a sales pitch. If a company tries to pass a sales or promotion catalog off as a "book" without stating up front how products were chosen to be included, then that makes the content suspect because the objectivity of the author toward his subject is suspect.

Another example, you read a review of a restaurant in the newspaper. The reviewer says the food was great and the service too. Now you know the reviewer gets paid for writing the article but you still expect his honest, unbiased opinion because that's what the newspaper pays him to write. That's why you believe the reviewer and maybe eat at the restaurant. If you find out the reviewer gets paid by the restaurant to write the review, then his "opinion" is expected to be biased because the restaurant ain't gonna pay him to say how lousy the service was. Normally when an author writes a book, the book publisher/book buyers pay his salary, NOT the subject he's writing about.

The difference is between the commercial marketing of product and/or public relations on the one side and unbiased, journalistic reporting on the other.

When I heard the selection process for inclusion in the books included paying money and giving knives to the authors, the books became marketing and public relations tools in my opinion. Before hearing this, I too had wondered why some Makers I would have expected to see were in and why others were out... sort of all fell into place then.

So at least the pics and printing are still great...
 
Mr. Wilkins

The initial focus of this thread was 3rd David Darom book.

It very quickly turned into something totally different that went on for 3 pages.

In the spirit of fairness to striper28, I would respectfully suggest that perhaps you can start a new thread to further your comments and opinions about Dr. Darom and his books?

This thread (the non-Darom part) has been resolved by striper28's last post- just above yours- why don't we let it be.

I, for sure, will be very happy to engage you in a discussion about Dr. Daroms books, especially book #3.

Anyway, just my 3 cents.

Neil
 
Perhaps the mods will split the thread?

My post contains all I have to say about the Darom books and was made in response to other posts in this thread. I don't feel a need to start a new one.

Glad you guys sorted out your other issues. :thumbup:
 
In order for Blade Magazine to stay a viable aspect of F&W publications it has to turn a profit. How much of a profit is only known to F&W publications.

As a collector if you want the magazine to continue to be around then you get a subscription.

As a maker if you wan to use Blade magazine as part of your advertising plan then you advertise with them and yes pay them for it. In turn Blade gets your knife photos and contact information into the hands of knife buyers that you may or may not have access to. A fair trade.

There seems to be some problem in this thread with those publishing Blade or this newest book from turning a profit. As has already been pointed out "no profit...no magazine or book".

As a maker if you felt that the pay out to get into any of the 3 books was worth it, then you paid the price. If you did not, then you did not pay the price. Simple as that.

As a book buyer, you either bought the book for its content or you chose not to for any number of reasons. Simple as that.

All magazine support their advertisers, could be an article, profile, inclusion in an specific item article or possibly a free ad in a "sister" publication. There is nothing wrong with this.

However, neither Blade, Knives Illustrated, Tactical Knives nor Knife World restrict their articles to only those who advertise with them. Several examples of this have already been written about.

If you want to know why your favorite maker is not in the book, call the maker and ask him.

If you really feel strongly that this maker should be included in publications, perhaps you should write an article. Remember to include good "Professional" photographs or be willing to send the knives to the publication and let them photograph them. Perhaps you should consider doing a book on your favorite maker (if their body of work will support a book).

If you don't think things are fair or like the way they are going. Stop complaining get off your ass and do something about it.

P.S. I have never looked at or bought any of the three books discussed here.
 
Most makers have no idea how to play the knife magazine game.

I will give you a few clues.

Its called persistence! The makers that get the most features or mentions are persistent!

They get high quality (read costly) photos taken of their knives, they call magazine writers/editors/ad people and hound them for an articles, and they actually don't make excuses when a writer says, "send me a knife to take a look at!" That doesn't mean "send me a free knife to keep, btw !"

Most writers who are prolific (1-2 articles a month) desperately need new things to write about and would love to actually see something new or innovative to focus on.

FOR EXAMPLE--CHUCK GEDRAITIS---you posted some pics of some great Scagelesque folders that would have made a great color photo in Blade or KI magazine. Did you get professional pics made? Did you send a knife to a writer to write about it for an article on Scagel-inspired knives? Believe me, a good writer would love to write that article, but in the end it up to YOU to make it happen. That is cool knife with a great, unique look that will appeal to many collectors. Make it happen!

Knifemakers are typically their own worst enemy when it comes to promotion. Not everyone reads Bladeforums.com.
 
Dear Hilton,

I am trying to procure his book however in the mean time would you be kind enough to share the pages on Nico Pelzer, please. I would be most grateful.

I extremely like his knives. Which I believe is one of the smallest folders.

Thank you.

Vijay.

vijay.smea@gmail.com
 
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