Engineering artwork? (High End Folders)

J

jbib

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I look at the high end folders and ask myself how could anyone use them as an EDC? It makes me wonder if most of them wind up in display cases. In my opinion with handmade pieces its no exaggeration to call them artwork. The only thing missing is a guild master to evaluate the masterpiece. Is this generally accepted or am I missing the story?
 


This Cold Steel AD10 Limited Edition 3V full Ti , is about as "high end " as I go ,especially for a user .

Less than $200 on sale . Well engineered and great materials , a tank .

There are some others here that will use much pricier knives for hard work ; but mostly more just pics , light use carry ,or vault queens . 🤷‍♂️
 
What's the percentage of knives that are made by robots? I'm sure many are made by people, but if we are talking about Art, we need to compare apples to apples.
 
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ferider said:
Lots of very useful and successful tools are „art“, even exhibited in museums like MoMA:

View attachment 3003325

View attachment 3003326

View attachment 3003332

View attachment 3003335

Etc.

There is a strong overlap between good design and art. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these things…
Click to expand...

I don't think we are going to know what Art is in the near future......heck, we aren't going to even know what We are? (Human) Modified/hybrid.
*I think Art is (near)dead
 
I don’t have any real high-end knives, compared to many that I’ve seen here. The most expensive one in the collection right now is a Hinderer Eklipse, followed by a couple of CRK’s, and a few more in the $300 range. In the event that I need to sell them, those that are worth the most aren’t worth devaluing - I’ve been beaten to death enough on the exchange selling anything that can remotely be considered a user, scratching up something higher up on the food chain to me is like throwing money away. I don’t buy them to sell them, but you never know when the need may come up. I have plenty of cheaper knives that I don’t mind getting banged up from use, so the most comfortable of those to use are the ones that get carried the most. Mostly ones under $100, but occasionally I’ll grab a nicer one if I feel like ‘dressing up’ a bit. But the nicest ones, they stay in their cushy cases until they come out for a little fondling.

A few exceptions to this rule are my David Mary’s - a set of kitchen knives and a handful of household work knives - that I know I will never sell, and I bought them specifically to use. And they’re so well built, I don’t think I could ding them up if I tried.
 
jbib said:
I look at the high end folders and ask myself how could anyone use them as an EDC? It makes me wonder if most of them wind up in display cases. In my opinion with handmade pieces its no exaggeration to call them artwork. The only thing missing is a guild master to evaluate the masterpiece. Is this generally accepted or am I missing the story?
Click to expand...
I think it really depends what you consider "high end". Everyones definition of high end is different.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I don't think we are going to know what Art is in the near future......heck, we aren't going to even know what We are? (Human) Modified/hybrid.
*I think Art is (near)dead
Click to expand...
The twin knives you made were art in my book … so I don’t think it’s dead.

In any case, craft vs art has been an active discussion for many years…. it’s personal to say what‘s what IMO. All stops with robots, of course, you’re right.
 
ferider said:
The twin knives you made were art in my book … so I don’t think it’s dead.

In any case, craft vs art has been an active discussion for many years…. it’s personal to say what‘s what IMO. All stops with robots, of course, you’re right.
Click to expand...

Beep Beep, 01110010100011

*Edit: Thank You, I actually value Your opinion Alot! Those knives were killing me, I'm glad they're done. Haha!
 
jbib said:
I look at the high end folders and ask myself how could anyone use them as an EDC? It makes me wonder if most of them wind up in display cases. In my opinion with handmade pieces it’s no exaggeration to call them artwork. The only thing missing is a guild master to evaluate the masterpiece. Is this generally accepted or am I missing the story?
Click to expand...

I am guilty to some degree. There is a too nice to use mentality if a knife is too expensive or pristine. I just don’t purchase knives that I would be afraid to, or unwilling to use.

Not that there is anything wrong with purchasing new and keeping unused. Some may be about the collection as opposed to the use. Not me but different strokes as they say.
 
Danny Linguini said:
Sorry, there’s no beep-beep in the grinding or those handles. You guys put your heart and soul into those things, and it shows.
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Blood, swears, and a few tears if I'm being honest......if All goes well, it can become....

"crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women".
 
ferider said:
The twin knives you made were art in my book … so I don’t think it’s dead.

In any case, craft vs art has been an active discussion for many years…. it’s personal to say what‘s what IMO. All stops with robots, of course, you’re right.
Click to expand...
Somebody still has to do the designing and programing the machines .

AI's can recombine , reiterate , but I doubt they actually have a creative spark . So much hype / big money .
 
My CRK Large Sebenza 31 Night Sky lefty has been in a leather slip in my pocket every day for the last year and a half since I got it. I have a Hawk Talon in my pocket most days too. Amd another small Sebenza. My favorite knives all seem to be in the 450-1000 range. My knife collection is 15-20k valuation. That's substantial, but still about 1% of my net worth. I work a desk, so my knives open packages, cut food, etc, but in an emergency, I would trust any knife I carry to cut through a car door. I enjoy carrying usable art. And I'm not saving it for the next guy (my son) who will prefer to see some wear marks from his dad, I think.
 
This was my first high-design folder, an Eschaton dreamed up by the late, great Elijah Isham at the peak of his powers. Would never use it. I just like it for what it is.

The frame is a single piece of titanium. Ceramic ball bearing pivot flips like a dream. CF scales. Close to a 4 inch blade. The whole thing weighs 3 oz. Amazing fit and finish.

2v2ewweaGxAWtWs.jpg
 
Once a couple years ago at work, someone asked me why I carried a silver ballpoint pen clipped inside my shirt pocket.

My response was that I write every day, and had grown tired of using a bic pen. Hadn't really thought about it until then, but the guy seemed to think he was making a point and probably thought I was foolish.

Using finely made things brings me enjoyment every day.
 
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