Ed Fowler's "Knife Talk"

tknife

tknife

Joined
Mar 18, 1999
Messages
9,966
If you love knives, which obviously you do or you wouldn't be here, get this book! Even if you don't agree with Ed's knife philosophy, you will gain a lot from him. I felt as though I were sitting around a campfire with Ed, listening to great stories. You can see the thought and work that goes into creating one of his knives. (But the book is not some ad for his work, it goes into so many details of knives, and life in general.)
 
Knife Talk is an exceptional book that is not just about making custom knives and technical jargon. There is a lot of Ed's philosphy and thoughts which are incredibly well written. There are stories that are very funny and some that are very thought provoking.

Ed is not only a master bladesmith, he's a master wordsmith, too.

Some of my favorites are:

How he and his wife met (At a knife show).
The little boy who Ray Appleton befriends
Ed's view on taxes.
Knife etiquette
A story about the late Dick Iiams.

There are some great pics and if you're looking for technical info on forging it is here, too.

It is my favorite knife book.

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com
 
About a week and 1/2 ago I called Ed at Willow Bow to ask a question about a damascus knife he made. He wasn't home at the time of the call, but in several hours he returned my call. We spoke about damascus and of course his favorite 52100. I am glad I wasn't able to buy the damascus cause last week I found a small Fowler hunter thanks to Jailhack who was kind enough to tip me off on two Fowlers he saw. I believe the knife is a bird and trout 3 1/8" in 52100. I have always liked the Pronghorn, but Ed said," my little knives will do everything my big knives do" so after talking to the seller I sent the money off and should have the knife sometime this week.
I was so happy I wrote Ed about it and sent him a check for his video and book. I can't wait to get all three.
I have enjoyed reading the posts of Kodiak PA and Phil and the rest of you Fowler owners. Now I can continue my search for a Pronghorn which is always part of the fun of being a knife collector.
Oh by the way, I will be using my Ed Fowler knife. I hope to stick it in a fine Pa Buck this fall. It probably wont be the first time as the previous owner is from Pa also. Regards, Jim

[This message has been edited by sixgun (edited 06-24-2001).]
 
Three of the best blades I've ever done were from 52100, and I wouldn't have had the first clue how to work it if it wasn't for this book.
Eds insights into knife function as well as community philosophy are great to have whether you're a maker or a user of blades. All that, and he's a great guy, to boot.

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Oz

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken!" -Tyler Durden
Check out my egocentric homepage! THE place for Fiona pics! (And a couple of knives, if you're into that sort of thing...)
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
Where can you get a copy of Knife Talk?

------------------
Jason Cadden
jc.gif

Webmaster
Smoky Mountain Knife Works, Inc.
jcadden@smkw.com
 
Jason you can get a copy directly through Ed @307-856-9815 or through:

Amazon.com
B&N
Knife World
Krause Publications

Just about anywhere finer knife books are sold.
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Also, Ed has a fantastic video on how he makes 52100 bearing quality knives. Best 2 hours I have ever spent in front of the tube.

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com
 
I look forward to Ed's Knife Talk article every month in Blade Magazine, the book is great in fact it's about time for a new copy mine has been thumbed through many times. I really do suggest you get the video also even if you have no plans to forge a knife. It's a thrill every time I get an E-mail from Angie or Ed, but the best yet is...

View


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Will Work 4 Knives
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=254126&f=0" TARGET=_blank>
View
</A>
(To see my photos...click on the Logo)
 
Phil, I'd be proud of that pic too! I've been surprised a couple times to find an email from Angie, very cool! Hey, do you realize you have a Fowler in EACH HAND!?
smile.gif
 
I reckon some folks are tired of my talking about how great Ed's book is, and how cool the tape is also. I'm going back thru the book for the second time now, and am sure with my ravaged memory, will have to read it many more, before I truly "have" what he has to say.

I know that even the first reading changed my outlook on knives tremendously. I'm still gonna buy some folders, but am nearing the end of that, I think. I know that I look at fixed blades quite differently than I did before reading the book. The vast majority of what Ed says makes very good sense to me. It is obvious that he has been looking for the perfect high performance knife for many years. I'd bet that every knife he makes he learns at least a little from the experience. I can't help but wonder how many of his competitors -- am willing to concede that Master Smiths are likely to be much like him -- think about the "big view" about their knives, like Ed does.

I ordered my first custom this last week. Am sure it won't be my last. And, I did so because of Ed's book.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Hi Phil Could you tell us the blade length and OAL of your new Fowler knife? Also did Ed tell you when he made this knife? Sure is a pretty one. Thanks Regards, Jim
 
Jim, the blade length is 3 1/2" a little shorter than the 4" of where most Prong horns start at, OAL 8".
When I first saw the knives Ed had brought to Atlanta I didn't see my perfect knife and we talked about him making me a Fawn (smaller version of the Prong horn). As I was leaving on Sun. Ed told me to go look at one more knife he had made for a customer that was stalling him, to see if I wanted it. I did, everything about it was just what I was looking for.
If you click on my Logo and go to "My Knives" you can see a bigger pic of my knife.

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Will Work 4 Knives
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=254126&f=0" TARGET=_blank>
View
</A>
(To see my photos...click on the Logo)
 
Ed Fowler is great, as well as his knives and his book, wich was a great inspiration for me when I got started seriously into knifemaking last year, even though my knives have nothing to see with his.
I have taped a evry interesting interview wih Ed during the Blade Show and am just transcripting it. It will be availabile at Cutelaria Hoje on 07/01.

View

P.S.: Ed is the one wearing the hat...

------------------
Ivan Campos
Full-time knifemaker...finally!


http://www.bitweb.com.br/users/campos

Visit Cutelaria Hoje - The first Brazilian virtual knife magazine
(English/Portuguese)
http://www.cutelariahoje.com.br
 
By this time, Ed and Angie Fowler, as well as Phil, know how I feel about them. They are all 1st class folks and I've read the book at least 5 times.
Now to my point. I've watched Phil post that pic of him and Ed 3 or 4 times now and I finally have to ask. Exactly where is Phil's other hand???
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Dave, I'll never tell, but maybe you noticed the extra twinkle in Ed's eyes and I will tell you I did get his wallet.
wink.gif
 
Wow, do I feel foolish. I've been bragging for weeks that I own an Ed Fowler Pronghorn. Then I get my Letter of Authenticiity from Ed and Angie and guess what? I don't own a Pronghorn, the letter says, "The model you have chosen is called the Long Yearling."

The Long Yearling??? :confused: I never heard of a "Long Yearling" and now I have one. Don't get me wrong, I still love my knife, and what's in a name and all that, but this leaves me with a lot of corrections to make. So I may as well start here.

View


Okay. I was confused for a while, but Ed was kind enough to send me an e-mail to straighten things out.

"Hi Phil:
All my knives are pronghorns, except for the bowies and some others.
Your Pronghorn is a long yearling Pronghorn. If it had grown older
before I harvested it it could be an adult pronghorn, had it grown
longer it would be a long Pronghorn. or if I had harvested it a 18
months earlier it would have been a fawn. Had it grown to one of the
big boys it could have been a short camp or a camp. The last two names
don't fit, but make it simpler for folks who want to order something in
particular. Folks want to see a name on a type of knife, what the heck
they are all knives. The species of knives I make are named after one
of my favorites of natures realm, the Wyo. Antelope or what are
generally known as Pronghorns. Look at a herd of them and at first they
all look alike, study them for a few days and you discover special
characteristics, each an unique individual, all guided by a Darwinian
process, similar but still individuals. One of Angies and my arguments
goes like this:
What is this knife?
A pronghorn
No its too short.
A yearling
No it is still too short
OK call it a fawn
The handle is too long.
Call it a long handled fawn.
silence--------

Ed
 
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