Elijah Isham Appreciation Station

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Standing Deadwood

Joined
May 16, 2018
Messages
8
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We all know how cool Elijah is in the knife design world, but did you know how cool he is in the real world?
This thread is to post pictures of his work, exchange opinions about his knives, and keep up to date on his new models. Here’s my story…

I’ve been a fan of Elijah since I first saw the Eschaton, and with the Blackstar and Abstruse soon to be released, I was happy to discover that he would be exhibiting at the SICAC knife show in Paris in September, along with some other makers whose knives I wanted to check out (Olamic, CKF and Liong Mah among them). I live in France, so only non-locking folders are legal to carry, and the Blackstar perfecty fits my parameters for both form and function. Knowing how limited the Blackstar release was going to be, and the low chance of grabbing one online before everyone else did, I knew this was my best chance to get one, to handle any other models Elijah brought along, and of course to have a chat with Elijah himself.
I arrived at the venue nearly two hours before opening time - the first in line! I read my book and watched the line form behind me. Finally, 20 minutes late, the doors opened and I headed inside. But Elijah was not at his table…
Was the exhibitor map wrong?
I saw him going into the building earlier…
After several minutes of rushing about, worried that all the other visitors were going to buy all the Blackstars that he’d brought along, I found him near Begg Knives, but not behind a table.
I said hello and told him how I queued up for hours to buy a Blackstar. He apologized, telling me that they hadn’t been delivered by WE yet, and that the blades were being ground that day, so he had nothing to sell at his table. He said he was really sorry to disappoint me and that he would ship me a Blackstar. I said that would be great, and would he like me to pay in cash right away or pay online, but he said no, he was so sorry that he would send me a knife for free when they arrived! I insisted that I wanted to pay, but he refused and asked me if there were any other of his new knives that I’d like. I said yes, an Abstruse, but I want to pay for it!

Yesterday, finally, my Blackstar arrived, immediately replacing my illegally-carried Kizer Feist. Last I heard, the Abstruse will be released in December, and Elijah also mentioned that a titanium Blackstar is planned, along with a damascus/damasteel Eschaton some day.

Thread Rules
1. Do not contact Elijah asking for free knives.
2. This is not the place for moaning about Chinese-made knives. [N.B. not all of Elijah’s knives are made in China, and he will be making his own customs in the US at some point] If you have a problem with a specific Chinese knife by Elijah, you can express yourself here, but saying “I refuse to buy Chinese knives or support people who use Chinese OEMs” is not helpful to discussion.
3. Do not contact Elijah asking for free knives.
4. Do not contact Elijah asking for free knives.
 
evilgreg said:
I'm glad to hear he's a nice guy. That said, allow me a shameless repost that sums up my thoughts on the Eschaton and many other Isham designs:

229.jpg


I do find the Pleroma design oddly compelling, though, FWIW.
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C'mon, man, you saw the title of the thread, read the story and still decided to take a piss in someone's Cheerios on Thanksgiving? Be a person, just for a day.
 
I kinda agree with the fork picture. But then I look at designs like the Theta and the Blackstar and a few others and start to think hmm... ;)
 
Standing Deadwood said:
Eh... It's an honest opinion, along with a compliment about the Pleroma, so I can't complain. Nobody wants to bar people from expressing contrary views.

(that was a reply to Insipid Moniker; I'll have to work out how to quote properly)
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Good on you for taking it as such. Just hit the reply button on a response and it should automatically quote the person.

I really didn't pay much attention to his designs until I saw the Blackstar. That's an exceptionally handsome, and very handy looking, little folder. And now you have one with a very, very cool story to go along with it! Congratulations, man, and after hearing that I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for more of his designs that interest me. The character of a designer/maker matters to me, and I'd much rather give my money to someone I want to see successful than anyone else.
 
When I read Isham's very articulate praise for Ray Laconico's work and talk about how he'd been EDC'ing one of Laconico's knives for the past month, it really made me pay more attention to him. He clearly has an eye for design and knifemaking that is continually evolving, and he seems to really regard and learn from the work of others who come at things more from the "knifemaking" side of things than from the "design" side, so to speak.

Anyways, prior to that I had just dismissed him on the basis of some of his crazier designs (which I still think are crazy as pocket knives). But now I'm watching his work pretty closely. Very interested to see what else comes out from him in the coming year.
 
Standing Deadwood said:
Eh... It's an honest opinion, along with a compliment about the Pleroma, so I can't complain. Nobody wants to bar people from expressing contrary views.

(that was a reply to Insipid Moniker; I'll have to work out how to quote properly)
Click to expand...

I really do want to buy one of these (and have said as much previously in other threads):

We-Knife-Co-Pleroma-Ti-Cf-er.jpg


It's odd and has unnecessary flourishes, but as I mentioned I find it altogether compelling (whereas the Eschaton doesn't do it for me at all).

EDIT to add: A link to me replying to an Isham post on instagram saying I needed a Pleroma can be found here from six months ago. I'm not an Isham hater, I just think some of his more over the top designs are in the lolwut category.
 
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LOVE the Zeta, Beta and Blackstar. I don’t care where his designs are made as long as WE, Reate or Kizer produce them. All top notch, all China. IMO Reate and WE (and higher-end Kizer) easily rival CRK, Hinderer, etc.
 
halden.doerge said:
When I read Isham's very articulate praise for Ray Laconico's work and talk about how he'd been EDC'ing one of Laconico's knives for the past month, it really made me pay more attention to him. He clearly has an eye for design and knifemaking that is continually evolving, and he seems to really regard and learn from the work of others who come at things more from the "knifemaking" side of things than from the "design" side, so to speak.

Anyways, prior to that I had just dismissed him on the basis of some of his crazier designs (which I still think are crazy as pocket knives). But now I'm watching his work pretty closely. Very interested to see what else comes out from him in the coming year.
Click to expand...

Where did you read this? I’d like to check it out. It seems like an interesting opportunity to get insight into how the most distinctly out there designer of today connects to arguably the most minimalist.

I’ve noted regularly that Isham seems very active following Laconico and others on IG. He’s often among the first to show love to other designers’ posts.
 
evilgreg said:
I really do want to buy one of these (and have said as much previously in other threads):

We-Knife-Co-Pleroma-Ti-Cf-er.jpg


It's odd and has unnecessary flourishes, but as I mentioned I find it altogether compelling (whereas the Eschaton doesn't do it for me at all).

EDIT to add: A link to me replying to an Isham post on instagram saying I needed a Pleroma can be found here from six months ago. I'm not an Isham hater, I just think some of his more over the top designs are in the lolwut category.
Click to expand...

Pleroma is on my must have list. It was my most desired future purchase until I learned about the Isham Abstruse.

I am with you in that most of Isham’s designs while unique just didn’t speak to me. Now suddenly he is at the top of the list of my desired knives. I’m a huge fan of swayback style designs like my Spyderco P’kal and so these knives are no brainers.

Ontop of that the Abstruse is a front flipper, a design beloved by me and the Pleroma has a very interesting semi integral design.

Bring em on!!
 
evilgreg said:
I'm glad to hear he's a nice guy. That said, allow me a shameless repost that sums up my thoughts on the Eschaton and many other Isham designs:

229.jpg


I do find the Pleroma design oddly compelling, though, FWIW.
Click to expand...
wow! posting that pic was Evil Greg .... Get it;)
 
I think that was incredibly cool of Elijah to take care of an obvious fan in that manner. Need more people like this in the knife world. I haven't found one of his designs that speak to me yet, but I love hearing awesome things about a maker. Great story Deadwood!!!
 
IMO Elijah is a craftsman/Artist who thinks out of the box constantly pushing the envelope of form and function and while his designs might not appeal to all the beauty of his knives and use of materials can't be denied. Lets face the fact that your not going to take one camping and baton some firewood but they sure would look better and be better suited to EDC than something like a Heeter. Side Note: No apologies given to Heeter Nations Yap Yapers.
 
RBid said:
Where did you read this? I’d like to check it out. It seems like an interesting opportunity to get insight into how the most distinctly out there designer of today connects to arguably the most minimalist.

I’ve noted regularly that Isham seems very active following Laconico and others on IG. He’s often among the first to show love to other designers’ posts.
Click to expand...

It was on one of his Instagram posts. I’ll have to look to see if I can find the one.
 
RBid said:
Where did you read this? I’d like to check it out. It seems like an interesting opportunity to get insight into how the most distinctly out there designer of today connects to arguably the most minimalist.

I’ve noted regularly that Isham seems very active following Laconico and others on IG. He’s often among the first to show love to other designers’ posts.
Click to expand...

I think it was this post.
 
Standing Deadwood said:
czQPhB3.jpg



We all know how cool Elijah is in the knife design world, but did you know how cool he is in the real world?
This thread is to post pictures of his work, exchange opinions about his knives, and keep up to date on his new models. Here’s my story…

I’ve been a fan of Elijah since I first saw the Eschaton, and with the Blackstar and Abstruse soon to be released, I was happy to discover that he would be exhibiting at the SICAC knife show in Paris in September, along with some other makers whose knives I wanted to check out (Olamic, CKF and Liong Mah among them). I live in France, so only non-locking folders are legal to carry, and the Blackstar perfecty fits my parameters for both form and function. Knowing how limited the Blackstar release was going to be, and the low chance of grabbing one online before everyone else did, I knew this was my best chance to get one, to handle any other models Elijah brought along, and of course to have a chat with Elijah himself.
I arrived at the venue nearly two hours before opening time - the first in line! I read my book and watched the line form behind me. Finally, 20 minutes late, the doors opened and I headed inside. But Elijah was not at his table…
Was the exhibitor map wrong?
I saw him going into the building earlier…
After several minutes of rushing about, worried that all the other visitors were going to buy all the Blackstars that he’d brought along, I found him near Begg Knives, but not behind a table.
I said hello and told him how I queued up for hours to buy a Blackstar. He apologized, telling me that they hadn’t been delivered by WE yet, and that the blades were being ground that day, so he had nothing to sell at his table. He said he was really sorry to disappoint me and that he would ship me a Blackstar. I said that would be great, and would he like me to pay in cash right away or pay online, but he said no, he was so sorry that he would send me a knife for free when they arrived! I insisted that I wanted to pay, but he refused and asked me if there were any other of his new knives that I’d like. I said yes, an Abstruse, but I want to pay for it!

Yesterday, finally, my Blackstar arrived, immediately replacing my illegally-carried Kizer Feist. Last I heard, the Abstruse will be released in December, and Elijah also mentioned that a titanium Blackstar is planned, along with a damascus/damasteel Eschaton some day.

Thread Rules
1. Do not contact Elijah asking for free knives.
2. This is not the place for moaning about Chinese-made knives. [N.B. not all of Elijah’s knives are made in China, and he will be making his own customs in the US at some point] If you have a problem with a specific Chinese knife by Elijah, you can express yourself here, but saying “I refuse to buy Chinese knives or support people who use Chinese OEMs” is not helpful to discussion.
3. Do not contact Elijah asking for free knives.
4. Do not contact Elijah asking for free knives.
Click to expand...

I believe the Abstruse is supposed to come out in January. With all the ripoff artists who get customers to pay up front only to dissapear on them and assortment of other BS we see from knife designers its always a beautiful thing to see a standup guy making cool blades.
 
RBid said:
That made me appreciate Isham even more, confirmed that the Yorkie is too small for me, and in doing the latter made me feel better about having just ordered my second Keen.
Click to expand...

What configuration did you order on your second?
 
He seems like a decent guy on IG and I had a few short interactions with him on there, as for his knives, they are definitely form before function although some are very much functional. I personal own a WE Zeta which is a very neat construction, works really well once you figure out the flipper tab which isn't perfect. The Eschaton was a little too artsy for me at the time and the others didn't quite grab me BUT I became super giddy and excited when he announced the Gigatherium (a bigger version of the Megatherium) and I will definitely buy one of those when they get released eventually.
 
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