Ed's table: Blade 2009

[Karl B. Andersen]

Hmm.
Good thread. But I've also spent many hours talking to Ed.
I see that there are numerous posts here regarding Ed's making the same knife over and over and not going beyon certain borders.
I'd bet a LOT of money that Ed sees each and every knife new and unique unto itself. Each one taken to a new limit of his abilities.
His knives may APPEAR the same to the untrained eye, or the untrained knife enthusiast, but ask him once how they differ from the ones he had five years ago!!
They're in an entirely new realm of performance.
His knives are changing all the time - the changes are just not all that easy to see.

That's a good quote: "You can have any handle material you want, as long as it comes from a sheeps head".

Slightly re-worded, but once he told me, "I'll put anything on a knife for a handle, as long as it comes off the head of a sheep."

 

[JParanee]

Some makers enjoy making only what they like they might give you some room when it comes to size and materials but when they feel they have achieved a certain level of performance and design and there order books are full then who are any of us to tell them they are not on the right path. I have nothing against a maker that takes design input on a knife I think it is very cool but I also respect a maker that is commited to making what he believes is the best blade he can make. I have seen some customer designs that simple should not have been made others that where fantastic. My favorite type of maker is one that I can tell him how I want a blade to feel for a certain size and they prouduce what I was looking for. Example would be I want a fighter that is so and so length I want it to be fast but I want it to have power also etc. etc. You all get my point

 

[Jose Reyes]

Hmm.
Good thread. But I've also spent many hours talking to Ed.
I see that there are numerous posts here regarding Ed's making the same knife over and over and not going beyon certain borders.
I'd bet a LOT of money that Ed sees each and every knife new and unique unto itself. Each one taken to a new limit of his abilities.
His knives may APPEAR the same to the untrained eye, or the untrained knife enthusiast, but ask him once how they differ from the ones he had five years ago!!
They're in an entirely new realm of performance.
His knives are changing all the time - the changes are just not all that easy to see.

Good point, Karl, I agree whole-heartedly... :thumbup:

 

[shaldag]

Guys who are always out to do something new all the time I think often burn out, whereas those who keep their nose to the grindstone to perfect whatever it is that they want to leave as material evidence of their being here, find a richness and depth that only familiarity with one's own personal ideology can bring. And with it a lasting impression of their work.

Why couldnt someone do both, y cant someone perfect something new and move on, someone like Michael Walker comes to mind here.

Why couldn't someone do both?
Can you do either?


Apparently Ed Fowler has enough variability in his work to satisfy a number of collectors of his knives, aside form the many who simply want a great custom user. Yet this is not good enough for you.

I have no idea of why Ed chooses to do the type of work that he does. But he has the reputation and the talent to further diversify if he so wishes--and does not. His choice. He has made a lasting contribution to the knife world.

All you (Severedthumbs) do is criticize his choices. While you are at it, why don't you suggest that he get out of Wyoming and move down to South Miami Beach?

 

[Lorien]

I don't understand why you seem so hot under the collar about this Shaldaq.
Also not sure why you seem to be spittin venom at me, unless I misunderstand what you are saying

I never said there aren't people who can have both diversity and innovation in their work, while also being distinctive in their own right, who leave a lasting mark. It's just rare.

 

[Kohai999]

I don't understand why you seem so hot under the collar about this Shaldaq.
Also not sure why you seem to be spittin venom at me, unless I misunderstand what you are saying

I never said there aren't people who can have both diversity and innovation in their work, while also being distinctive in their own right, who leave a lasting mark. It's just rare.

He isn't hot under the collar at you, Lorien, he is pissed at SeveredThumbs.

He is quoting you to make his point to Severed, who he has little patience for....If you knew Shaldag, you would understand the how and the why.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[severedthumbs]

He isn't hot under the collar at you, Lorien, he is pissed at SeveredThumbs.

He is quoting you to make his point to Severed, who he has little patience for....If you knew Shaldag, you would understand the how and the why.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

STeven no reason to get hot and bothered about SeveredThumbs tonight. shaldog need to chill the hell back. makers can be innovative and perfect at the same time.

Okat Ed has perfected the cutting aspect of his knives now how about about working on perfecting aesthetics of his wears?

 

[Kohai999]

Okat Ed has perfected the cutting aspect of his knives now how about about working on perfecting aesthetics of his wears?

Severed, I'm not one that drinks the koolaid in this case, although Ed Fowler is a friend of mine.

How about for HIS aesthetics they ARE perfect?

I tried to get him to build me a wooden or elk horn handle, with bronze guard, and he refused, for a variety of reasons...Ed knows what he wants to do, and he does it.....he would do it for NO money for as long as he was able...you "get" Ed or you don't.

I have a couple Bill Burke knives that are built "in the style of" without being clones. I am very happy with those knives. Here is one of them, they are unlike anything else that I own.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[shaldag]

I don't understand why you seem so hot under the collar about this Shaldaq.
Also not sure why you seem to be spittin venom at me, unless I misunderstand what you are saying

I never said there aren't people who can have both diversity and innovation in their work, while also being distinctive in their own right, who leave a lasting mark. It's just rare.

He isn't hot under the collar at you, Lorien, he is pissed at SeveredThumbs.

He is quoting you to make his point to Severed, who he has little patience for....If you knew Shaldag, you would understand the how and the why.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Lorien, Steven is absolutely correct. I was only quoting you to make sure that the context was not lost. I apologize if I was not clear on this. I have no issue with your post.

Steven,
thanks for setting this straight.

 

[shaldag]

It just seems to me that we have a knifemaker who does exactly what he likes to do, satisfies enough customers to have a backlog, and yet there seems to be a few rude people who whine that he does not satisfy their wishes.

If someone does not like Ed Fowler's knives, there are several other knifemakers anxious to sell their products, and it should be relatively easy to find what you want.


Most of the makers that I know (I do not know Ed Fowler) are in the business primarily for the love of it. They entered a profession that allows them to do what they want, on their own terms. Some of them are very successful at it. Why does that bother some people?

 

[severedthumbs]

Most of the makers that I know (I do not know Ed Fowler) are in the business primarily for the love of it. They entered a profession that allows them to do what they want, on their own terms. Some of them are very successful at it. Why does that bother some people?

that doesnt bother me. what bothers me is that I cant state my opinion about a makers workwith out you rude person trying to belittle my opinion.

 

[shaldag]

that doesnt bother me. what bothers me is that I cant state my opinion about a makers workwith out you rude person trying to belittle my opinion.

Yeah, you stated your opinion all right--

these knives are not visually appealing at all.

and set the tone for the rest of the discussion.

 

[swissdagger]

It just seems to me that we have a knifemaker who does exactly what he likes to do, satisfies enough customers to have a backlog, and yet there seems to be a few rude people who whine that he does not satisfy their wishes.

In online forums I always try to be as clear and friendly as possible. I really wonder how my post can be classified as "rude"...
Maybe I'm not able to make my point as I am not a native english speaker???

 

[shaldag]

In online forums I always try to be as clear and friendly as possible. I really wonder how my post can be classified as "rude"...
Maybe I'm not able to make my point as I am not a native english speaker???

I was not referring to you as rude, even though I do not agree with your post. Anyway, your English is much better than my Switcherdeutsch (did I even spell that correctly?).

 

[chuckinohio]

How about for HIS aesthetics they ARE perfect?

I tried to get him to build me a wooden or elk horn handle, with bronze guard, and he refused, for a variety of reasons...Ed knows what he wants to do, and he does it.....he would do it for NO money for as long as he was able...you "get" Ed or you don't.

It just seems to me that we have a knifemaker who does exactly what he likes to do, satisfies enough customers to have a backlog,


Most of the makers that I know (I do not know Ed Fowler) are in the business primarily for the love of it. They entered a profession that allows them to do what they want, on their own terms.

That sums up the discussion in my mind, and sometime in the future if I ever get a chance to encounter the man, I will look at his knives in an entirely different light.
His work to me does not seem that appealing, and at first look at the pictures of his blades I thought to myself BLAH, I'd have to see one in person to develop any feeling for it.
As far as them all being the same, I am sure that if you talked to him about two seemingly IDENTICAL knives that he produced, he could tell you about how different they acted on the anvil during forging, how he really likes one because it gave him a tough time yet still came out fine, or how that piece of rams horn came off of a sheep killed by ole buddy Bob up on Stabby Mtn. Each piece will have its own character, they are HAND MADE after all.

This discussion actually gave me another insight into certain makers work, and I shall not be so quick to discount that which I have not experienced. Thanks guys.

Chuck

 

[Lorien]

ah. I see. My mistake.

 

[PhilL]

I'd bet a LOT of money that Ed sees each and every knife new and unique unto itself. Each one taken to a new limit of his abilities.
His knives may APPEAR the same to the untrained eye, or the untrained knife enthusiast, but ask him once how they differ from the ones he had five years ago!!

...His knives are changing all the time - the changes are just not all that easy to see.

Karl, no bet here, to Ed and many others each knife is unique. His knives do have face a style that can be recognized as his from 20 feet away. But that doesn't make them all the same.

There are subtle differences as his knives have evolved over 30 years. But, I'm not sure how trained your eye has to be to pickup these differences. If you want to make Ed's day ask him to explain his design choices. It's what he lives for.

I'd bet a LOT of money that Ed is as excited about each new knife as any maker you can name.

I've attached a photo of one man's collection from 2007, it's been added to since then.

Does anyone need help seeing a difference between each piece?

 

[peterinct]

I do not know Ed Fowler other than from Blade this year and last year. Conversing with him is a pleasure as was handling the knives on his table. This year, there was another fellow helping Ed at his table that was very informative. He showed the function of some of the knives based on varying hand positions for different models.

That made a lot of sense, and the knives ALL felt good in the hand.

I do think for the price, I would choose other knives, but I have a LOT of respect for Ed Fowler, his knives and his contribution to the knife world.

As an aside, I stopped by Audra Draper's table and I asked her how she happened to become a bladesmith. She credited time spent at Ed Fowler's ranch and his generosity in spending his time showing her the craft.

Peter

 

[Jose Reyes]

Phil,

That pic always gives me "collection envy"... :thumbup:

 

[PhilL]

As does your avatar Jose.