First of a pair from David Broadwell

Bastid

Bastid

Goat herding fool and resident vermin breeder.
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About three years ago, David came to Atlanta for a pen show and stayed at my house. We started talking about a project of a matched dagger and bowie set. About a month or so later David sent me a few design drawings and we bounced some basic and loose guidlines around. When you know a makers style, I have always found it is better to turn them loose on a knife rather than put a bunch of constraints on them. Every time I have done that the knife exceeds my expectations. David has done exactly that on this one.

Jim Cooper sent me the picture of the dagger that David has just completed and from the picture the knife is everything I thought it would be and more. Can't wait to actually see this pup.

The materials for the dagger and bowie were purchased at the same time and David will be starting on the Bowie in a year or so.

The handle is carved Mastodon Ivory with antiqued carved bronze fittings. The blade is a twist pattern by Nick S. The finial (one of the many surprises David added to the initial design) is something new that David has done for the first time. (Inlayed with a Mastadon cabocon). It was an idea he had as he was finishing the knife up.
 

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It could not be going to a better collector.An absolutely stunning piece.
Congrats and thanks for sharing.
 
That knife would scream Broadwell even if you hadn't told us the name - his wonderful signature organic flow is there in spades. What a tremendous piece! :eek: Congrats to you and to David. I can't wait to see what the matching bowie looks like. :D

Cheers,

Roger

P.S. - give us the dimensions ya Bastid! :grumpy:
 
That is a serious piece of investment grade work. I hope you bring that to BLADE and let me check it out.
 
Wow, that's a stunner... like most of his work!
I was talking to David about a sub-hilt, I hope to own one of his knives in the future.
 
There is SO much subtlety going on in this piece even my collage can't begin to capture it. Look back at the waves carved in the handle, and you can see they aren't the same on both sides. You HAVE to study it to see the distinctions.

Then there is that stippling under the fineal. The detail in that tiny maker's mark button. And the deep grinds with, like, a 3" wheel on the blade. It's pretty sexy. The coloring in the GIANT piece of mammoth.

I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to handle it. Thanks to all!

Coop
 
Wow that is a truly impressive knife!!!

I picked up his video about a month ago. It's amayzing how easy he makes his sculpting look. He's such a natural at this that it is awe inspiring.

Thanks for the post,
Sean
 
And I was very fortunate to have it made and photographed by David and Jim.

I have not seen the knife yet, so I do not have all the specs.
 
I would very much love to own this knife !!!!!!! Great work guys !!!!!!!


I believe that is walrus ivory.

Don Hanson lll
 
Probably the most beautiful knife I've ever seen. I'm honestly at a loss for words.
 
RogerP said:
That knife would scream Broadwell even if you hadn't told us the name - his wonderful signature organic flow is there in spades. What a tremendous piece!
Click to expand...

Yup.

David is one of the best in the world, and his work carries a distinctive aura and flow that few can emulate. Smolen is underrated by the masses also. He does some very nice, interesting damascus w/o ever looking like he uses dies ... patterns are unique and look "hand made" rather than die assisted.

My very favorite knives in my collection have a disproportionate representation by David's work. From hunters to folders to awesome tour de force subhilts... the guy is versatile and a master.
 
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