Edmund Davidson

T

Thor I am

Joined
Oct 20, 2005
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206
It's seems like there is very little information on the forum about Edmund Davidson and his knives. His name pops up here and there but that is it.

Is that because:
a) Maybe there aren't many of his knives out there?
b) His prices are rather high
c) Other

Judging from the pictures (I haven't seen one in person, yet), his knives seem to be beautiful examples of integral work.

Any comments on his work from those here who have seen it or know it?

Thanks,
Thor
 
I know both the work and the maker. Edmund is a low key guy. Considering the work involved in making integrals, and the quality level he achieves, I'm not sure I agree with the statement that his prices are high.

I also think he is a maker deserving of more press.
 
Based on what I've seen, his prices are not high. Personally, I find most of his designs uninspired... There are a few exceptions, but most of the knives I've seen leave me go "oh-hum". I have often looked at his stuff.
 
From what i've seen, only a few pictures, he sticks to one style. This does, at least give his knives some element of recognized style. Nothing wrong with that, he isn't trying to be someone else. I don't know that I've ever seen his knives at a show, can't recall..
David
 
The only thing about Edmund Davidson knives that could be considered sticking to one style would be that he mostly makes integrals. His styling has much variation. If you check the Gallery section of his website you will see what I mean.

I have handled one of his Japanese styled knives and it was of exceptional high quality. Outstanding workmanship and reasonable prices.

www.edmunddavidson.com
 
OK, let me retract my high-price statement - or at least clarify it.

"High" not with respect to the quality of his work or the product you get when you pay the price, but rather "high" with respect to the overall market of custom knives. I know this can be apples and oranges, but it does play into the number of knives out there among the standard knife collector population and therefore into the number of people who own his work and can comment on it or start forum threads about it.

So with respect to the general market, knives in the several-thousand dollar range are high-priced knives.

No disrespect was meant with my original comment towards the maker or his work. In fact I spoke with him just a few days ago on the phone and he is a very nice guy. I also look forward to meeting him and seeing his knives in person at ECCKS next week.
 
I've seen his website before but never handled his knives. The integral wakizashi on his website is really exceptional. I also love the mammoth integral set. Great looking work. I'd love to get a closer look sometime.
 
Dan Cook wrote a great 4-page piece on Edmund and it has a bunch of shop and knife photos. He is not as 'unknown' now.

He has a sidebar that really caught MY eye:

Edmund Davidson Tip:

"Get that knife photographed! I've spent a ton on photography and it has paid off," he says. "My goodness, have that thing photographed! If you don't have a photograph the world can't see it. There are an awful lot of wonderful knives that were never photographed. If you don't make a photograph, it will just go into somebody's collection"
Click to expand...
He goes on to praise his vendor, Point Seven, but that's irrellevant. His point is well-made and it IS relevant! (Reread my sig line! ;))

Coop
 
I've never thought of ED as unknown. He has ben around for a long time, and is highly respected. We competed for a contract for Ted Nugent's World Bow Hunters, back in the late 80's, or early 90's. Mike
 
Edmund's Integrals have an amazing fit and finish and one does not
usually see them at Knife Shows mainly because he has a several year
waiting list which leaves him nothing to lay on the table. His art knives
are usually fully engraved by Jere Davidson (as you can see in the
attached picture, or scrimshawed by Linda Karst-Stone. The ecceptional
quality of his integrals make them greatly desired by collectors and
hunters all over the world

A full section in my book "Art and Design in Modern Custom Fixed-Blades"
is dedicated to Edmund Davidson, his background and his Integrals.

Edmund Davidson's art of making Integral knives will be the subject for
the first book in a new series I shall now begin creating. This series,
"Great Custom Knifemakers of the World", will display the
knifemaking processes and the knives made by individual world-class
custom knife artists. Each 112-page hard cover art book quality volume
will be dedicated to one knife artist. The first volume,
"Edmund Davidson - The Art of the Integral Knife",
will be introduced to the public at the June 2008 Blade Show in Atlanta.

David (ddd)

picture.JPG
 
Coop,
I'll definitely check out that issue of Knives Illustrated. Thanks.

David,
The series of books sounds fabulous and the first edition will certainly hold a lot of interest for me. I love integral knives.

I never thought of Edmund as an unknown. My initial post was mainly referring to the fact that I don't see his name much on this forum and even when I do, it is rarely as a review or comment about particular knives. Most threads his name pops-up in have him in a list of fabulous knifemakers, great integrals, knives I'd love to own but don't, etc. Not discussions about his actual work.

I am glad I started this thread - some good info is coming up that I otherwise might have missed (like that KI edition). Thanks everyone for the good comments and info.
 
I have seen Edmund Davidson's work here, and it is amazing!! I LOVE his work! I hope to someday be blessed enough to own some of his work.
 
I knew about Dr. Darom's upcoming book. But I wasn't going to let the cat out of the bag..... :p

Coop
 
By the way, even though Edmund has a Web Site, he himself is not
connected and only recently decided that it is high time to get to
know how to work his new computer. Spending 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
in the workshop does not leave him with much time to do this... yet.

This is also the main reason that you don't see him on the Forums......

His Web Site is:
http://www.edmunddavidson.com/

David (ddd)
 
I have had his site bookmarked for awhile now. Thanks for psoting it for those that may not.
 
I bought one of his hunters in 1994 and gave it to my son last fall. I'll post a pic when I get back home tomorrow. It is a full tang with maroon micarta slabs. Very nicely done.
 
Edmund has been around a long time and I have always admired his work. I've always liked his tactical/utility knives and liked the fact that he used different steels. I had picked up a 7" Camp knife made with S-7 and it was very well done.
I'm not a big fan of his fancier work, though.

Win
 
Edmund has been making custom knives for 20 years now.
The two knives shown here commemorate 10 yrs of knifemaking,
1986-1996, and twenty yrs in the business, 1986-2006.

The "20th Anniversary Knife" is a Full-Integral, this is the #1 of 5, made to
commemorate Edmund's 20 years of custom knifemaking. The design for
the 4" (102 mm) blade was taken after the Bob Loveless Nessuck pattern.
The handle is Edmund's B.C. Skinner design. Steel is new CPM 154-CM
and the handle material is double dyed (green and black), stabilized box
edder wood. Engraving is all hand cut by Jere Davidson, Overall length 8
7/8" (225 mm).

By the way, At the coming NY Show Edmund will be bringing
5 Integrals that were made specially to be sold at the show.....

David (ddd)

picture.JPG


picture.JPG
 
Edmund is a great friend and has a passion for knives that is found only among the best makers. He creates his knives with a desire for perfection. I spent a weekend with him about a year ago. We went through the process of laying out and milling an integral loveless pattern. To me being a beginner with mills and lathes and such I was amazed and intrigued at the ability he has developed. We shared much common ground that allowed us to become fast friends.
Ed & computers.....he realizes that he must communicate more, so he did get one....internet connections as of last week are still a challenge for him due to his location. He has taken some outlook classes and is practicing, when he can fit in the time.

His knives , he has to date over a hundred knife order backlog and it keeps growing. Dr Dave's book will as always provide a fantastic glimpse into this growing iconic maker who humbly says hes making the best tool he can.....

To see his work ...come to the guild show this July in Orlando.....he always sits in the back....;)
 
John,

actually the book will be an in-depth high quality photographic study
of his Integral making processes as well as an exhibition of many of the
knives he made over the past 20 years.

David (ddd)
 
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