Engraving Anyone? – Some Examples

[Kevin Jones]

How do you feel about engraving?

Are some types of knives better suited for engraving than others?

Should knives only be engraved by their maker or are collaborations acceptable?

Does engraving necessarily increase the value of the knife or just add additional cost?

Who are your favorite engravers?

I will start with sharing one of my favorite engraved pieces.

I Commissioned the D Holder/Bruce Shaw “Buffalo Hunter“ as I have always held an appreciation for the Plains Indian’s way of life and their pursuit of the Buffalo to sustain that way of life. Bruce Shaw was able to capture this very well here in steel.

 

[ckerwin]

I really like engraving and do believe that it adds value to a knife. My favorite engraver is Steve Dunn.:thumbup: He is da man!

 

[Tim Galyean]

I love the depth and the 3D of the engraving on that piece!!

 

[Kevin Jones]

Here's a couple more of my favorites:

Jerry Fisk - Southwest Bowie

Steve Dunn - Southwest Bowie

 

[Starkman1]

On some pieces it is very befitting, and both of these pieces are. However, too much, and the piece may become gaudy.
An engraver I may contact in the future is a hometown fella by the name of Andy Shinosky http://www.shinosky.com/

Bob

 

[SharpByCoop]

I have work from probably thirty different professionals. I could clog this thread up, but I won't. Yet...

Engraving is an aspect for artistry that uses knives and guns as it's medium. In most cases it can enhance the work. In some it won't. I'll show the good ones:

(Click to open to a larger frame)

Andy Shinosky was just mentioned. Good knifemaker, too. Here he did both:



Amayak Stepanyan: Hard to see where the engraver stopped and the sculptor began. Impeccable.



Manrico Torcoli: He and his Italian peers are some of the best in the world.



Joe Mason: Top level scroll work



Jim Small is VERY versatile. What a pleasure.



And of course, Julie Warenski: As elegant as her husband's work.



There are so many others deserving of this space. Give me a name, and I probably have an example.

The top engravers work is pricey, by every measure. They, too, are being paid, not only for their time, but for their accreditation. No different than the legends in knifemaking.

Coop

 

[jdm61]

Mr. Dunn's work is some of the best I have seen from a smith. Jerry Fisk's "scratchin", as he would call it, is rather nice too. I would love to see some of the gun engravers like Winston Churchill do some big fixed blades and mtal sheaths.

 

[RogerP]

How do you feel about engraving?

Are some types of knives better suited for engraving than others?

I like it well enough - though not on everything. it's a significant embellishment that has to work with the existing aesthetics of the piece (size, lines, proportions, textures, materials) and not simply take over completely.

Should knives only be engraved by their maker or are collaborations acceptable?

Collaborations are more than acceptable, though my personal preference is for sole authorship pieces.

Does engraving necessarily increase the value of the knife or just add additional cost?

Depends. It certainly MAY increase value, but there's no guarantee. It may make certain knives less saleable because not everyone loves the scratching.

Who are your favorite engravers?

In the forged fixed blade category - Steve Dunn, Larry Fuegen, Bailey Bradshaw, Ron Newton.
Roger

 

[mlovett]

WOW!!! Beautiful.

 

[Joss]

I remember seeing some bullino engaving that looked like a B&W photography. There was a man who took a picture of a fox crossing his garden and reproduced the fox on a knife perfectly. It was mind boggling.

I like engraving with moderation, and if it is very, very, very good. I don't like it so much as to be willing to pay the price and wait the time though.

 

[RAN]

I almost feel that it is requisite on a Dunn knife.

I love engraved knives but almost never purchase them on the secondary market..I'd rather send the knife to the engraver or have the knifemaker work in collaboration with the engraver.

I am seriously thinking of sending an Overeynder slipjoint to Joe Mason for some love

 

[dredd8]

How do you feel about engraving?

Who are your favorite engravers?

Some of my favorite engravers are Joe Mason, Bruce Shaw and Scott Pilkington.
Here are examples of Joe Masons' work:

Here is an example of Bruce Shaws' work:

Here is an example of Scott Pilkingtons' work:

 

[Kevin Jones]

Here's a spectacular SR Johnson / Joe Mason creation that I borrowed from Coop thread over on the Gallery. In my opinion this knife has it all. Wonderful engraving, gold inlay and probably as beautiful amber stag as I have ever laid my eyes on.

 

[RogerP]

I am definitely enjoying the eye-candy!

Roger

 

[cockroachfarm]

....Give me a name, and I probably have an example....

Adone Tizziano Pozzobon. Canadian.

 

[2toes]

Here is another fantastic creation by John Young and Joe Mason.

 

[Win Heger]

Some beautiful pieces here and I love engraved knives. I usually order a particular knife and then have it engraved. This can be a long process but I've never been disappointed.( Well, once, don't ask)

Here are couple I had done, Coop did his usual magic.

Win

 

[brightred]

i own two engraved knives only. one of them is this little fellow by dietmar kressler, engraving by rolf peters.

hans

 

[jdm61]

i own two engraved knives only. one of them is this little fellow by dietmar kressler, engraving by rolf peters.

hans

I like that. Very much in the classic English style. i would love to see some knives with the "Celtic" style engraving that David McKay Brown uses on some of his round action shotguns.

 

[gk2410]

This photo doesn't do justice but it's the only photo I have on this computer. A Scott Sawby stag handled Swift with oak leaf and gold acorn engraving by Tim George.