Engraving Anyone? – Some Examples

[SharpByCoop]

Adone Tizziano Pozzobon. Canadian.

A familiar name, but after an hour of searching through my files (Oh, THAT was hard work.... It's like asking for a particular porn actress and then slogging through an hour of nekkid bodies. ), I couldn't pinpoint one image.

But, I came away with a smile for the task.

Coop

 

[peterinct]

Adone Pozzobon has his own website. You can view a lot of his work there. Off hand I am not positive, but it may be engravingarts.com. If not, i'm sure it can be easily found searching on his name.

As Coop stated there are many great engravers. I like engraving so much that I am currently learning the art.

I took a class from Steve Dunn actually. Great guy, VERY talented as a knifemaker AND engraver. I also like Andy Shinosky's work very much as well as Jim Small, Joe Mason, Julie Warenski, Tim George, Ray Cover, Marcus Hunt and Jere Davidson just to name a few. Of course Steve Lindsay and Sam Alfano are amongst the best as well.

Peter

 

[ddd]

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.

Yes, I suppose it was Steve Lindsay's engraving on a Steve Hoel folder
that impressed you, and understandingly so...

Here is a picture of that engraving from Steve's section on engraving
in the introduction of my first book on custom knives:
"Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives"

Steve's world class engraving art is truly incredible!

David (ddd)

 

[Joss]

That's it, thanks.

 

[Kohai999]

Dusty did a bang up job on a Lovett for me!

As an art form, the bullino stuff rocks, so does Tim Herman's color work......

As adding pleasing value to the knife....maybe.

In my experience, bank note scroll holds up well in carry, but bullino does not, thusly relegating the knife to the purely "art knife" category. Not my thing, but it works for others.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Kevin Jones]

I like fine engraving on knives as I believe it gives a maker the opportunity to demonstrate a very broad range of artistic talent from the laborious hammering or grinding of the steel to shape, to the very tedious and detailed task of engraving fine images into the steel.

Many knives will benefit aesthetically from the correct style and amount of engraving, however sometimes may not increase the overall value of the piece enough to recoup the cost of the engraving. This would be especially true of knives in lower priced ranges.
On the other hand, many engraved knives will benefit aesthetically and will raise the value of the piece well over and above the cost of the engraving. In my opinion, engraving also highlights other detail or features of the knife. In some cases, engraving can be used to cover flaws or to add a little pizzazz to an otherwise plain piece. I have found that engraving adds a little durability as engraved areas of knives generally don’t show scratches as much as polished or hand rubbed satin finished areas.

I always prefer knives to be engraved by the maker, with the exception of collaborations by maker/engraver partners such as Bob Loveless / the late Dan Wilkerson, D Alton Holder / Bruce Shaw, Edmond and Jere Davidson and of course Harvey Dean and Steve Dunn or Terry Theiss. My favorite knifemaker/engravers are Jerry Fisk and Steve Dunn. It’s practically gotten to the point where these talented artist’s knives are almost expected to be engraved. My favorite engravers in no particular order are Joe Mason, Bruce Shaw, Simon Lytton, Julie Warenski, Ray Cover Jr. and Rick Eaton.

 

[enoreeriver]

Here are a few from Mr. Sawby:
Mt. Lion and Antelope piece engraved by Jim Blair
Fly Fishing with Jade engraved by Ray Cover Jr.

Both of them worth every penny!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Judicious amounts of engraving can look great, but when it is overdone I don't care for it.

I think Steve Lindsay, Julie Warenski and Adone Pozzobon are about as good as it gets.

 

[TAH]

From what I've read and hear over the years, I have gotten the impression that Steve Lindsay is probably the finest, most collectible, American engraver. Not sure if that's true, but that is what has been stuck in my head. http://www.lindsayengraving.com/

Ron Skaggs and Julie Warenski also come to mind.

 

[SharpByCoop]

No different than knives and makers, the list of who is a favorite and who is collectible is subjective and varies piece to piece. Like I mentioned, there are at least 30 different engravers I have records of. Sometimes rarity of work is also a positive factor.

BTW, Some of the finest in the world do not do knives too much as they are bound to the higher-paying rifle and gun markets.

The clients who appreciate and collect these pieces are not your usual Bladeforums member. These guys are in another level of collecting and that's cool. We here are the 80% of the 80/20 rule.....

Coop

 

[TAH]

Coop,

Recently, I heard that Lindsay is no longer engraving knives. Is that true?

 

[Bailey Bradshaw]

Yes, Steve Lindsay is one of the top names. Sam Alfano is another, and seems to be even harder to find his work on knives anymore. I learned from Sam, and consider him a friend. He learned directly from Lynton McKinzie, widely condiered a world leading engraver in his time.

Winston Churchill is absolutely incredible, and to me(as well as many others) has truly elevated his artistic skills beyond what many even aspire to do. His composition not only in the scenes he cuts, but the inplementation of scroll and ornament is as perfect as I have ever viewed.

The bulk of the worlds best engravers are still concentrating on guns. There is just more work and recognition. Unfortunately, knives are still second chair to the fine gun market. Of course there are a lot emore $50k guns than knives....

 

[Kevin Jones]

From what I've read and hear over the years, I have gotten the impression that Steve Lindsay is probably the finest, most collectible, American engraver. Not sure if that's true, but that is what has been stuck in my head. http://www.lindsayengraving.com/

Ron Skaggs and Julie Warenski also come to mind.

Not only is Steve Lindsay a great engraver, but has one FINE website. :thumbup:

 

[Tinbasher]

I am quite new to the forum so this is only my 2c worth .
After looking at all the pictures and clicking the links I think the engraving by Manrico Torcoli stands alone , his attention to detail is fantastic right down to the double sided signature.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Adone Tizziano Pozzobon. Canadian.

Coop, cockroachfarm, here's Adone Pozzobon's website. His work is outstanding. As expected, he does a lot of guns.


http://www.engravingarts.com/main.html

 

[Joss]

BTT...

It is a bit strange to me that many of those engravers don't have a website.

Completely unrelated point, what do people think of some of the more geometric patterns - sometimes falling into a clear art deco category?

 

[ADD]

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:

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

Coop, please clog this resurrected thread... :thumbup:
I thoroughly enjoy perusing examples of Italian engraving, particularly shotguns.

Ed VanHoy: Not sure if this is an engraving or an etching.
Engraving, I think, by his wife.

 

[Jose Reyes]

Yes, I suppose it was Steve Lindsay's engraving on a Steve Hoel folder
that impressed you, and understandingly so...

Here is a picture of that engraving from Steve's section on engraving
in the introduction of my first book on custom knives:
"Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives"

Steve's world class engraving art is truly incredible!

David (ddd)

This is simply awe inspiring photographic quality work. I'm sure he has peers but I can't imagine anyone doing a better job. I don't collect folders but would buy this engraving...

 

[Kevin Jones]

BTT...

It is a bit strange to me that many of those engravers don't have a website.

Completely unrelated point, what do people think of some of the more geometric patterns - sometimes falling into a clear art deco category?

Ron Skaggs probably comes as close to an art deco motif as any engraver I can think of.

 

[Kohai999]

Noted author, Tom Turpin, on engraving:

"I suspect that there wouldn't be much of an argument that two Italian engravers are probably the very best at bulino style engraving. They are Firmo Fracassi and Angelo Galeazzi. I likewise suspect that there would be little debate that Winston Churchill is probably the best engraver in the US and many would concede that he might just be the best in the world. Ron Smith, in the style of engraving that he does which is uniquely his own, has no equal I believe. Having said that though, there are a considerable number of supremely talented engravers executing their art today."

This is a medium sized belt buckle that Firmo Fracassi did...the seller was asking $8,000....and it sold.....rather quickly.


Amongst those that I know...Firmo Fricassi is held as THE bulino engraver to have....but I do stand by my preceeding statement that it renders the knife fairly unusable...if for nothing else, the cost. Joe Mandt...in 1992, Winston Churchill engraving on a medium folding knife, with some moderate gold inlay ran about $15,000...do you know what a large fixed blade with commensurate engraving would cost NOW?....I don't even want to think about it.

Winston Churchill engraving:



Hey, Sean!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson