First purchase in years

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
7,353
All,

As you might have noticed, I haven't been very active in recent times. Partly it's because I left my job in '08 and I don't have much disposable income right now, and partly because I have found it difficult to get excited (about stuff I can afford...) lately.

So I haven't bought anything since '08. However, last week an opportunity presented itself at Nordic that I couldn't disregard and I made a great purchase: a Kemal dagger...

I'll have to take better pics but in the meantime, enjoy the Nordic photos.....

CAF_574.jpg


CAF_574a.jpg


Am very happy. :D
 
I saw that and thought it was an unbeatable value- in all senses of the word.

There've been a lot of fantastic knives, (about 3 Kemals, which are pretty much as desirable as I personally think knives of that calibre come) up on Nordic over the past couple of months. Entire collections by the look of it.

Kind of sad, in a way, seeing these collections come up on a dealer's site. There usually is never a nice reason for it.

At any rate, the availability of a knife like you just got, Joss, is an unprecedented opportunity and I am very, very pleased for you.

It's a fantastic piece!
 
Sorry too hear that things haven't gone as well for you as you wished, but that is a nice score. Especially that handle... (stares wistfully)
 
Joss, great score, love the whole package but the deep hollow grinds appeal to me the most.

Marcel
 
Outstanding! For those who are curious, here is what 'Kemal' knives stand for:

Kemal, pronounced key-mall, was a partnership between Murad Sayen and Don Fogg. We joined our creative energies so that I could focus on the Damascus blades and Murad could turn his artistry into handles. Murad was an oil painter and photographer before turning to knives and had been making hunting knives when we met. Our partnership lasted for nearly a decade and during that time we produced museum quality work. It was the synergy of our individual drive and vision that made it work.

The name Kemal is an Arabic word referring to the state of balance between the creative power of the sun (Jelal) and the receptive power of the moon (Jemal). It can be literally translated as "balanced" or "perfect." We chose this name for our business as a living ideal for the qualities that we tried to build into each knife.

For the first year we shared my home and shop and threw ourselves into the work. Murad move to Maine during the second year and we use to meet in Portland at a small cafe to show each other the work and plan for the coming pieces. The object was to make the other gasp and there were many occasions when it was impossible not to. There are times in our lives when it is apparent that we are in the right place at the right time and Kemal was definitely one of those times.
Click to expand...
(Taken from Don Fogg's website)

Joss, you struck well. That this was offered is not sad, but rather a pleasure that the opportunity has extended itself to another appreciating collector. We all have the need to release pieces which are substantial (or even not). this opportunity opens the door for fresh ownership and enthusiasm.

Good stuff. This particular piece is incredible.

Cop
 
Not sure how the pearls are attached. The handle has a small crack that runs the length of it, that explains partly the price. Still, am very happy.
 
GREAT score Joss, CONGRATS!

Thanks for the info Coop. I hadn't known of the collaboration. That makes the knife that much more desirable IMO.

Peter
 
Joss,

Congratulations on a super knife.

You can't go wrong getting a Kemal knife.

Jim Treacy
 
Awesome carved furniture on this fine dagger.
Great piece indeed, Joss. Congrats.
The crack seems like it would be stable by now, live with it for a while and you won't even notice it. :)
Thanks for sharing.

Doug
 
That is a beautiful dagger. I'd not known about Kemal before, or maybe only peripherally- suffice it to say that my attention has been grabbed in a big way. Anything of Fogg's is nearly peerless IMHO. Thanks for sharing.
 
Cool dagger. Good to see you back, you were one of the big players when I joined this forum!
 
great score, love the Kemal knives
I would like to see a thread on them.

cheers,
dan
 
Blast from the past .....in many ways and and all of them good!

Very cool knife and great pick-up

Good to hear from you again!

Bill
 
Joss, if I may:

large.jpg


Murad (Credited alone. Jerry Rados blade?)
orig.jpg


Murad & Robbin Hudson
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Coop
 
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