Ed Fowler fixed blade

Whatever the market will bear, I can't blame the man for making a buck. As for my numerous amount of posts, what can I say, my job gives me a lot of free time :p . I can't afford a Fowler piece right now, or any custom for that matter, just wanted to know if there was anybody working in the same vein as him, and charging a lower price, that's all. Didn't mean to start a critique on the man himself, just his knife. Thanks for the help, I am weighing my options.
 
Silent hunter, I got to spend some time talking to Bill Burke at the Montana show last fall and i would highly recomend Bill's work. There where fowler knives there and Bill had some on his table you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two. Now i am not enamored with 52100 I personally feel there is to much smoke and mirrors involved in the mystiquee of the steal that said Ed turns out a quality product that you would be hard pressed to beat.
 
Keith,
Have you ever seen any knives by Eldon Perkins? I've seen his picture with a Pronghorn style knife on his belt but haven't seen any of his knives offered for sale. Another student of Ed's is Shane Justice, who I met and seems to be very dedicated.

Anthony,
Thanks, no hard feelings. But, I'm a little surprised you have one of Ed's knives after hearing your negative comments (toe fungus and no class).. are you thinking of selling it?
David
 
I think Anthony's comment was intended to be taken with a bit of humor. I was heartbroken when I found out how much I would have to pay for one of Ed Fowlers knives. However, I still plan to get one someday.
 
As I said before in this thread, I have one of Ed's pronghorns and I use it when I can.

Here's something to ponder. If Ed was just interested in money he could make dozens of different style knives with all different types of steels and handle materials, and due to his name recognition, he'd probably sell every one.
But that's not why he does this. If you believe nothing else, believe that he honestly feels that "clean" 52100 is the best steel for a working knife. I would not say I know Ed well but we've met at shows and talked on the phone over the last 20+ years and I know that he ruins more blades through testing in a year than many other makers total yearly production. The man believes in what he does and is passionate about it.

If they're not your style or whatever, cool, dont buy them, but dont knock the man's product or motives.

There's also the phenomena known as paying for a name. Why are Loveless's so much more than Steve Johnson's,Geno Denning's, or George Herron's knives? In my humble opinion all 3 of them make knives whose fit and finish far surpass Loveless's.

Anyway, good discussion, if we all liked the same things we wouldnt need all these makers.
 
tacmedic45 said:
There where fowler knives there and Bill had some on his table you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two.
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The one and only difference that stands out to me is the stitching of the sheath...

I took a long time, (many emails to Ed Fowler), for me to learn how to stitch a sheath like Ed does because I wanted my stitching to look just as cool...

And yet for some reason Bill has a much different way to stitch his sheaths....I have never actually seen a Bill's sheath in person, but from the photos the stitching used by Bill seems way easyer to do....

Why would he make his blades so much the same as Ed, yet change the sheath so much????????
 
it seems to me everyone is really saying the same thing, each in his own way. It is like Art appreciation - some like Impressionists, some like modern, some like surreal etc. You are paying partly for the artist's vision and partly for his "rep". You may love Monet and hate Picasso, or vice versa. If you are lucky enough to be able to buy what you like, (hah!), you will get what you pay for.
Having said that, if you like Ed's "vision" and you can afford it - go for it! Personally, as some others have said, his knives just don't hit me where it counts. I have held them at shows, and they are truly unique and special, but for me lack something I can't put into words, compared to some other makers/designs etc.
However, Ed has clearly been very generous to the knife community thru sharing his knowledge, and has been an inspiration to many. He has answered ?s for me both on the forum and via email even though he doesn't know me from Adam. As the Mastercard commercials say, that's "priceless"
 
But, I'm a little surprised you have one of Ed's knives after hearing your negative comments (toe fungus and no class).. are you thinking of selling it?
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I am a big fan of Ed's writing and bought the knife to test his theories.
It is not for sale at this time.
 
Anthony is very knowledgeable about knives and I respect his views immensely. I certainly take no umbrage at the comments he made. I'm sure that his post was not meant to be vindictive, but only to give us his honest critique.

What one of us might like, another might hate. What is important in a knife is quite likely different for each of us. We should never feel insulted because someone else doesn't like the same thing that we do.
 
Hello all.

I haven't posted here in a while but felt compelled to do so now. I feel that I should say a few things, the first is thank you to all of you that have spoken up for me and my work. I also would like tell Daquotah that the stitching on my sheathes is only, one very small step away from Eds' and not really any easier to do. I do it my way because I am not Ed. If someone wants one of my knives with a sheath like Eds' I am more than happy to make it that way. And finally I would like to say that My knives have a full lifetime warranty on them and a satisfaction guarantee. If it was my knife that Westflorida had and was unhappy with I would have done everything that I could have to make him happy If he would have contacted me. I am sure that most makers would do the same But they have to be notified of the problem.

Bill
 
Bill, a true gentleman as always.

A couple of things that are for sure. First, Bill will make you an excellent knife, and second, he offers a much broader selection of styles and materials than Ed does. Even his knives that are patterned after Ed's are different enough that I can recognize who made them with little effort.
 
burke531 said:
Hello all.

the stitching on my sheathes is only, one very small step away from Eds' and not really any easier to do.
Bill
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I have never seen your sheath in person,,,But from a photo is just looked like normal in-and-out stitching from the front?

With Ed's I have to cross over-go back, cross over go back...http://eastof29.tripod.com/daqotahforge2/id29.html
also at the top I then go under the back side going down about an inch and a 1/2 then tie off,,,and burn the ends,,,

Bill, do you have a better photo anywhere so I can stea.....er, Learn your ideas?
 
Thank you Keith,
If we ever met, I would like to buy you a beer.
(along with Roger)
Maybe Labatts?
I would also let Dan come along for the ride.
(Cuz he turned me onto ERA's work)

I wasn't trying to be a jackass with this post,
FYI, my toenails are pristine and lacking any fungi.
They really are quite nice.
 
Hey Anthony,

Sounds good - except maybe the part about letting Danbo tag along. :p Well, since he also introduced me to Russ' work I suppose I am also in his debt. Are you going to Blade this year?

Bill - I have seen and held the knife that Murray pictured earlier in this thread - it was very well done indeed. While I am no great fan of sheep horn, I have to say that it is one of the most comfortable and secure handles I have ever taken hold of.

Roger
 
lifter4Him said:
Anyway, good discussion, if we all liked the same things we wouldnt need all these makers.
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And that, Ladies and Gents, sums up my personal feelings about this whole situation. :)
 
Good thread guys.
Sometimes we agree to disagree. And that is okay in my book.
Randy
 
A few years ago in a phone conversation Ed told me he was destroying one out of every eight blades for testing. It made me wonder.. how many makers can say they have been so deligent to further the "performance" of their knives, alone? While there may be others just as dedicated to performance, the legacy he leaves for the "using knife" is legendary. In reality he has done more for the forged blade than anyone alive.

I'm just saying what I feel, and I know I'm not the only one. My question is, when will the ABS step up and recognize the man for what he has done? I have yet to see Ed get the credit he deserves from the established institutions. I have to think there are politics involved that have nothing to do with knives, but personalities instead. With so many other makers these days choosing to sell "high art" rather than the "using knife", it is an inspiration to see that Ed still does what he has always done. And that he is teaching others to appreciate what it has given him all along. The joy of it.
David
 
Big surprise that personality can win over accomplishment in organizations involving more than two people. :D

Ed has done a great deal to teach and write about the forged blade. Contributions more than anybody else? Maybe not, more visible perhaps, which goes back to personality and politics.

James Batson, Kevin Cashen, Howard Clark, The elemental Jerry Fisk, Larry Fuegen, Wayne Goddard, Don Fogg, Dan Maragni, Al Pendray, Steve Schwarzer and Dan Winkler have all made SIGNIFICANT contributions to the forged blade, and to the ABS. I am not even pretending to know all that goes on within that organization, due to the fact that I am not currently a member.

Ed Fowler is a great man, amongst great men. He is recognized as a major contributor to the forged blade, world wide. He is not working in a vacuum, everthing done before today helps to create things for tomorrow.

The ABS has generally valued the contributions of the group dynamic over the singular acheivements of the individual, Bill Moran perhaps being the lone exception.

"In reality he has done more for the forged blade than anyone alive."

You have got to be kidding. Have you ever heard of Daryl Meier? Very much alive, and doing his own thing, when the forged blade in America was a baby in diapers, instead of the vibrant adult that it is now.

The general consensus is that Meier, Moran and Fogg have each been equally contributory within thier own spheres as the others. I would not have a problem adding Ed to the list, but he is certainly not at the top of it.


And that is my take.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steve,
Thanks for your comments, what do you mean by "group dynamics"? I'm aware there is an "ABS Hall of Fame", which is a lifetime recognition for individual achievement, correct?

I'm not a member of the ABS either, maybe others will have remarks...
David
 
2knife said:
....My question is, when will the ABS step up and recognize the man for what he has done? I have yet to see Ed get the credit he deserves from the established institutions. I have to think there are politics involved that have nothing to do with knives, but personalities instead.
David
Click to expand...

What exactly is it that you say the ABS should do?

Roger
 
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