Have we entered a “Golden Age”?

[Jon Brand]

We've seen a surge in photography also. Lets not forget that. Digital age is the golden age.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I'm not saying the internet is solely responsible for the rise in quality and innovation,
but I feel it's played a part. Lot of sharing of information going on.

I totally agree.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Kevin,

I don't want to take you on here, but the overall view lead off expressed may be myopic to say the least.

You have chosen to focus on a small segment of knifedom, as your point focuses on the changes to ABS work(which have admittedly been significant, and positive).

Let's look at folding knives for a moment, shall we?

The '70's were primarily about lockbacks, in the '80's we had primarily liner locks....however, in the early '90's we had a veritable explosion of locking mechanisms and devices....far too many to list, and that ran well into the mid 2000's.

We have not seen that surge in the last 4-5 years.....as a matter of fact, we are still seeing makers digest and interpret these mechanisms.

I simply use this as an example...if your viewpoint is one of folders, then the so-called Golden Age was from 1993-2005(and might just possibly be when Michael Walker created his first Linerlocks, depending upon viewpoint of course), and is passed.....but because custom knifemaking is still in its' infancy in America(The first Knives Annual was published in 1981) we don't know what the Golden Age is, and probably won't for another 50 years.

It is only through the looking glass of distance and time that we can really know what part we play in history(I made this up on the spot)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

For not wanting to take me on here it looks like you put quite a bit of thought and effort into doing so.

In any case, I wasn't necessarily focusing on ABS knives, just used them as an example in my opening post as the advancements/innovations are more recognizable than other sectors.

Your focus seems narrow in your only addressing folding knife locking mechanisms? Consider how far folders have come from aesthetic, materials, embellishment and perhaps even quality perspectives.

 

[jdm61]

Kevin,

I don't want to take you on here, but the overall view lead off expressed may be myopic to say the least.

You have chosen to focus on a small segment of knifedom, as your point focuses on the changes to ABS work(which have admittedly been significant, and positive).

Let's look at folding knives for a moment, shall we?

The '70's were primarily about lockbacks, in the '80's we had primarily liner locks....however, in the early '90's we had a veritable explosion of locking mechanisms and devices....far too many to list, and that ran well into the mid 2000's.

We have not seen that surge in the last 4-5 years.....as a matter of fact, we are still seeing makers digest and interpret these mechanisms.

I simply use this as an example...if your viewpoint is one of folders, then the so-called Golden Age was from 1993-2005(and might just possibly be when Michael Walker created his first Linerlocks, depending upon viewpoint of course), and is passed.....but because custom knifemaking is still in its' infancy in America(The first Knives Annual was published in 1981) we don't know what the Golden Age is, and probably won't for another 50 years.

It is only through the looking glass of distance and time that we can really know what part we play in history(I made this up on the spot)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Good points, but I'm not sure that the Golden Age of Folders has passed. When people talk about the Golden Age of American or English custom firearms, those times are usually considered to be from no earlier than say 1730 up to the widespread introduction of mass produced cartridge firearms for civilian sale after the American Civil War. In all but the last 30-40 years of that period, the gunmakers were using what could be described as "mature" technology whihc was merely being refined and even in the case of percussion firearms, many of them were not that dissimilar from their flintlock ancestors. Repeating firearms like Mr. Colt's revolver were the big game changer. The analogy here may be that the manufacturers have adopted the designs of the custom knifemakers in this last decade or so and that may be the end of the folder revolution because they must now be built to a price point.

 

[Kohai999]

For not wanting to take me on here it looks like you put quite a bit of thought and effort into doing so.

Literally 15 minutes, total.

Your focus seems narrow in your only addressing folding knife locking mechanisms? Consider how far folders have come from aesthetic, materials, embellishment and perhaps even quality perspectives.

I used folders as an example to your ABS blades....and from my vantage point of history, there was a lot more happening in the early '90's....and I believe it was because certain specific makers emerged onto the scene, along with the buyers interested in patronizing them.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[jdm61]

A couple of questions for you to ponder if you so desire, STeven. Are there so many good makers now that it is tougher for a few to really stand out? Kind of an information overload. Likewise has the unfettered sharing of information possibly homogenized the folder side of the custom knife game a bit in recent years? I think that you could argue that many of the ABS knives tended to look quite similar 10 years back once the school in Arkansas got rolling. We speak of an "Arkansas School" style or ABS 101 knife, but the style is not quite as easy to define these days as in the past, IMO. I personally see the ABS smiths branching out quite a bit more recently as those who learned from that smaller group have found their own muse, so to speak and taught others themselves.

 

[Kohai999]

A couple of questions for you to ponder if you so desire, STeven. Are there so many good makers now that it is tougher for a few to really stand out? Kind of an information overload. Likewise has the unfettered sharing of information possibly homogenized the folder side of the custom knife game a bit in recent years? I think that you could argue that many of the ABS knives tended to look quite similar 10 years back once the school in Arkansas got rolling. We speak of an "Arkansas School" style or ABS 101 knife, but the style is not quite as easy to define these days as in the past, IMO. I personally see the ABS smiths branching out quite a bit more recently as those who learned from that smaller group have found their own muse, so to speak and taught others themselves.

Joe,

I am going to go to the OKCA show in Eugene, OR next week. While there, I will probably see 100 tables of makers who make very good drop point and clip point hunters, and for those makers to stand out will be very difficult.

Then...there will be makers like Michael Bell, Thad Buchanan, Bruce Bump, Bill Ruple....what makes them stand out? I think great skills, a great, innovative or niche product and a great(or at least colorful) personality....the same thing that has made makers stand out since the beginning.

Nothing has changed....except...you always have to innovate....something has to get better....could be pricing, could be styling, could be design. The minute you think you can rest on your laurels, unless you are really one of the designated big dogs, you will be a dust speck on the unconscious collective memory...does this make sense?

There has been no homogeneity of the folder...when I spoke before of makers still digesting and creating designs around mechanisms created during the "rush" of the 90's, I meant just that....maybe there was just too much good stuff born during that time to be disseminated to the masses of makers....I was not trying to intimate that stagnation has occurred.

Look, I remember vividly when the "average" ABS bowie looked like it was ground on one of those old water propelled river rock wheels and finished on a brick....and at the same time Don Fogg and Jimmy Fikes, Dan Maragni and Jim Schmidt and select few others were hand rubbing to 1500 grit, with no fish hooks. It wasn't lack of information or resources that many in the ABS lacked, it was the leadership of a visionary with technical mastery...that happened to be Jerry Fisk.

It is absolutely clear to anyone watching that the forged blade has grown exponentially in the US during the last 5-10 years, but is there any question that the ABS has absolutely crapped away epic momentum and public goodwill to foment GREAT change in favor of provincialism and personal self interest on the part of the so called executive member individuals involved?

Instead of saying how great things are, we should be looking at mistakes made, and learning from them. I don't see that happening, and the recent debacle between Jay Hendrickson/Moran Foundation, the Reno Expo Committe and the Knifemakers Guild shows how far we have to go before we as a community can move forward, not only technically, not only socially, but also with clearly defined purpose, where there is minimal wasted energy and maximum yield of increased visibility and regard within previously inaccessible venues.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[RogerP]

"Golden age" almost infers vast differences in makers' quality between two periods of time, which I don't see as existing today to that degree.

Or it could mean that there are vastly MORE makers of excellent to exceptional quality now versus then.

Roger

 

[ddd]

Nothing has changed....except...you always have to innovate....something has to get better....could be pricing, could be styling, could be design. The minute you think you can rest on your laurels, unless you are really one of the designated big dogs, you will be a dust speck on the unconscious collective memory...does this make sense?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

This is a beautifully phrased and very true fact of life. Understanding this gives one
a better chance to succeed.... Or maybe the only chance...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[RogerP]

I will also say that browsing the Knives Annuals from ten-twenty years ago is always eye-opening.

Coop

Bingo.

Roger

 

[Kevin Jones]

Or it could mean that there are vastly MORE makers of excellent to exceptional quality now versus then.

Roger

Exactly Roger.

And it's not just the big names either. It's surprising how many relatively unknown makers are producing high quality knives.
You can find evidence of this by covering the entire floor at Blade Show.

 

[Kohai999]

It's surprising how many relatively unknown makers are producing high quality knives.
You can find evidence of this by covering the entire floor at Blade Show.

You can find evidence of this at any show in America, Kevin...even gun shows.

I will personally guarantee you that at any given moment, at a gun show, there is a somewhat successful maker doing very high quality work, that no one outside of that region has ever heard of, may be realizing good prices, and has no e-mail or internet, and doesn't care.

And this has been going on since almost the beginning....it's because the expectation level has been raised along the way by the "best" makers, and some people just don't want to have to compete that hard.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[betzner]

Or it could mean that there are vastly MORE makers of excellent to exceptional quality now versus then.

Roger

I think this is one of the points I was making in a previous post about making a case about their being "more qualified master smiths now", or something like that.

There are many, many more mastersmiths now - ergo many, many more makers producing "excellent to exceptional quality versus then" - no doubt about it - but I just don't see any "Golden Age", which infers some kind of renaissance in knife making.

Bob

 

[Kevin Jones]

You can find evidence of this at any show in America, Kevin...even gun shows.

I will personally guarantee you that at any given moment, at a gun show, there is a somewhat successful maker doing very high quality work, that no one outside of that region has ever heard of, may be realizing good prices, and has no e-mail or internet, and doesn't care.

And this has been going on since almost the beginning....it's because the expectation level has been raised along the way by the "best" makers, and some people just don't want to have to compete that hard.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Very true.
Went to six knife shows last year and don't think there was one where I didn't find makers doing very high quality work who are basically unknown other than to a small group of core clients.

Please don't think I'm trying to down play the Internet's impact on the custom knife industry as it's had a tremendous positive effect, however there's a BIG custom knife community out there beyond your computer screen.

Get to a knife show this year if you get half a chance.

 

[Don Hanson III]

You can find evidence of this at any show in America, Kevin...even gun shows.

I will personally guarantee you that at any given moment, at a gun show, there is a somewhat successful maker doing very high quality work, that no one outside of that region has ever heard of, may be realizing good prices, and has no e-mail or internet, and doesn't care.

And this has been going on since almost the beginning....it's because the expectation level has been raised along the way by the "best" makers, and some people just don't want to have to compete that hard.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

So true Steven. My father made several thousand knives for 20+ years and never went to a knife show, he never had trouble selling either. The first 5 years I was fulltime making 300+ knives a year, I didn't go to shows, or advertise. The next 5 years, knife shows and dealers put me on the map. The next 10 years advertising and the internet...well, lets just say I'm happy

 

[ptgdvc]

In the case of Don Hanson III, it is clearly the Platinum Age.

 

[Don Hanson III]

In the case of Don Hanson III, it is clearly the Platinum Age.

Thanks Peter, but I wouldn't go that far. I like the sound of 'Iron Age'

 

[mendezj]

I believe that as far as folding knives goes, yes, indeed, this is the Golden Age. Blade steels and treatment are now better than they have ever been, and the same applies to craftsmanship. I've never seen a better folding knife than one from Tony Bose. Maybe stag is not as good as it has been on occasions in the past.

The same would apply to fixed knives as a result of presently available steels and steel treatment.

As far as so called "Art" knives, well, I don't follow them.

 

[RogerP]

I think this is one of the points I was making in a previous post about making a case about their being "more qualified master smiths now", or something like that.

There are many, many more mastersmiths now - ergo many, many more makers producing "excellent to exceptional quality versus then" - no doubt about it - but I just don't see any "Golden Age", which infers some kind of renaissance in knife making.

Bob

My point is that the existence of a "golden age" depends upon both definition and perception. You defined it in terms of the work of the best makers now exceeding the work of the best makers "then". If it doesn't, no golden age.

I think an indication of the existence of a golden age is justifiably present in there being more makers now producing knives of higher quality versus then.

Which is where perception comes even. Some maintain that things are much the same today in this respect. I very much disagree. The quality of work that I see across the board is significantly elevated now versus 10 years ago and particularly as compared with 20 years ago. There is no way to quantify it of course, though as a few have mentioned, looking at the Knives annuals from 10, 15 or more years back can be very informative. Heck, even the Knives annuals themselves are much better now.

A further indication of a golden age in knifemaking / collecting is the impact of the internet itself. The information available today and its rapid dissemination is a large part of what makes this a golden age for collectors. We are exposed to a broad cross-section of the work of makers at all levels literally on a daily basis. When someone like Murray goes to a show, we get a detailed pictorial presentation within days - as opposed to maybe a half-dozen pics in a magazine months after the fact. Written reviews such as those done by STeven are also more current - and more candid - than would have been available before the 'net.

I'm not suggesting the print media is without value - it is of immense value. But today we have that - AND this.

Frankly, if this isn't a golden age, for custom knives I can't imagine what one would look like.

Roger

 

[betzner]

My point is that the existence of a "golden age" depends upon both definition and perception. You defined it in terms of the work of the best makers now exceeding the work of the best makers "then". If it doesn't, no golden age.

I think an indication of the existence of a golden age is justifiably present in there being more makers now producing knives of higher quality versus then.

Which is where perception comes even. Some maintain that things are much the same today in this respect. I very much disagree. The quality of work that I see across the board is significantly elevated now versus 10 years ago and particularly as compared with 20 years ago. There is no way to quantify it of course, though as a few have mentioned, looking at the Knives annuals from 10, 15 or more years back can be very informative. Heck, even the Knives annuals themselves are much better now.

A further indication of a golden age in knifemaking / collecting is the impact of the internet itself. The information available today and its rapid dissemination is a large part of what makes this a golden age for collectors. We are exposed to a broad cross-section of the work of makers at all levels literally on a daily basis. When someone like Murray goes to a show, we get a detailed pictorial presentation within days - as opposed to maybe a half-dozen pics in a magazine months after the fact. Written reviews such as those done by STeven are also more current - and more candid - than would have been available before the 'net.

I'm not suggesting the print media is without value - it is of immense value. But today we have that - AND this.

Frankly, if this isn't a golden age, for custom knives I can't imagine what one would look like.

Roger

You're right. It's all a matter of perception. My perception is obviously different than yours on this issue. In fact, interestingly, my perception is about right on with Steven Garsson's - and I was intrigued that he used dates of 1993 - 2005. It's a timeframe during which I "perceive" some of the most creative work was done and designs came from.

So I respectfully (and completely) disagree about there being any type of "golden age of knifemaking" currently in process. What's going on know is what I would consider to be progression. Certainly not some kind of "enlightened age".

Best,

Bob