How to rank the great slipjoint makers

AG, If Tony isn't # 1 and at the top of his profession in a lot of other ways. Then Reese is the Top Slipjoint Maker but hasn't developed his rank as #1 out of respect to his Father. I don't think anyone can choose between them and be fair to the other. Of course Tony is the Modern day go to guy about traditional slipjoint Knifemaking
 
A. G. Russell said:
How can you rank people doing such great work?

Is Tony Bose # 1 ?
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I recon this question is aimed at folks that patronage the custom makers "folders market" exclusively.. In that case, I must say its (#1) Tony Bose and (#2) Reese Bose at the top of the list..

Best,

Anthony
 
Where does the top end at 5 or 6 or 10?

I own knives by both Tony & Reese and agree that there is little to chose between them. I know who I would rank in the next three places but who do you put there?

A. G.
 
I'm not sure there's a fair answer to the question as someone (great) is bound to be left out.

Except on a knife by knife basis, how can you grade and prioritize the work of other such makers as Bill Ruple, Richard Rogers, Joel Chamblin, Terry Davis, Gene Shadley and a host of other makers of lesser fame (perhaps) but equivalent or nearly equivalent skill? (Some of whom regularly participate on these forums.)

In my estimation once you reach that exalted level of craftsmanship, the knives must be graded one against another with the winner (that day) hanging in the balance.
 
Blues said:
I'm not sure there's a fair answer to the question as someone (great) is bound to be left out.

Except on a knife by knife basis, how can you grade and prioritize the work of other such makers as Bill Ruple, Richard Rogers, Joel Chamblin, Terry Davis, Gene Shadley and a host of other makers of lesser fame (perhaps) but equivalent or nearly equivalent skill? (Some of whom regularly participate on these forums.)

In my estimation once you reach that exalted level of craftsmanship, the knives must be graded one against another with the winner (that day) hanging in the balance.
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Elliot,

Thank You so very much for putting this so eloquently!. :thumb up:
 
This is a hard Question to answer and be fair to all. The Slipjoint Makers in the top 5 are IMHO as already stated T. Bose R. Bose #3 Joel Chamblin #4 Eugene Shadley #5 Terry Davis. There are several makers not far behind these 5 and some even more famous and their knives even higher priced but are not traditional makers in the true sense. These are my opinions and aren't a disrespect to any maker.
 
From a personal stand point Don Morrow and Rusty Preston would rank right up there.
 
I agree with Elliott on some being left out, because it is so hard to make a "List" of the great makers. But, after handling many of the ones mentioned and owning a lot of them, I would need to add Ray Cover, Jerry Halfrich, Ken Erikson, Keith Johnson, Kerry Hampton, Ken Coats, Rusty Preston and last but not least Mike Alsdorf.
But that is just my two cents, not worth much.
Jim
 
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Let me throw another name in for your consideration would be Dan Burke. i know he is not very prolific but his skill level is up there with any of them. Mike
 
Would you consider the works of H.H. Frank among the top 5?

I'd post a pic but I don't have one and I don't want to Pirate one so if anyone has one to post I'd appreciate it.
 
I think that ranking craftsmen of this level would really be impossible...
Especially if the ranking is done by quality alone.
I can't honestly rank the knife makers because I don't have the experience with any of them.
However, I spent quite a few years collecting high end firearms and was very fortunate to become friends with a few of the most prominent custom rifle makers at the time.. There workmanship was of the level that, like some of the custom knife makers, the wait was usually a minimum of 5 + years....

They would be the first to tell you that there are others that can do work that is close to, or at the same level that they produced.
But it took them many years to achieve the reputation that they have.

So do you rank the knife makers by quality, reputation, longevity in the craft, or is it influenced by the amount of press that a maker recieves ?

I only know that I have seen some incredible work done by a lot of different makers. Any one of which I would be proud to own.
 
Mr. Russell, I would like to hear your top 10 or 15 in no special order. I may have to stop by your store sometime. sc

A. G. Russell said:
Where does the top end at 5 or 6 or 10?

I own knives by both Tony & Reese and agree that there is little to chose between them. I know who I would rank in the next three places but who do you put there?

A. G.
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I guess I look at things a little differently, but not entirely, because several names that I would have mentioned have already been listed. I consider price to value ratio as well as how a maker's work compares to others and then see if the prices are similar. I also consider the intended use and the intended market before I judge the maker's work.

When a maker's work is 90% or above as good as a "top" maker, but his price is only 10% of what that maker's work commands--I consider the 10% guy the top maker:D

Then there's availability;) Some guys only want to buy direct from the maker. Some guys will pay whatever it takes to get the knife no matter who has it.

There are a lot of great makers out there and the outlook for slipjoints seems bright to me. I'd like to see 100 top makers!
 
To be a fair judge, you would have to own and use a few representative knives by each of the top 20-30 makers. And I am assuming here, we are only talking about currently working knifemakers.
I am glad that Terry Davis has been mentioned more than once. He is surely in the top group!
There are categories as well. Some makers treat the steel, jig and dye the bone, and are generally sole authors. Is this different from someone who sends some of these jobs out?? A lot of parameters need to be set to make these decisions, if you are going to judge the best fairly.
On reflection, we may only reach a partial consensus if we pursue this, and we may only be capable of subjective choices. It's fun, but this exercise will never be the defining process.
 
Gray Taylor needs to be toward the top also.
Once you get lower than that #1 spot (That one is easy) ;), there are quite a few makers that deserve mention and I would be at a loss to "rank" them.
Then you have the guys who are quite capable of making a great one, but do not make that many. Ron Newton for instance.
 
You have to define what you mean by #1. Is it fit/finish, original design, useability, etc.

Then there is knife type, who is #1 in 4-bladers, sodbusters, texas toothpicks, etc. The Bose's would not be #1 in Scagel style folders, because that's not their style. For that style, i'd tip my hat to Jerry VanEizenga.

What about mirror-finishes, that certainly is a traditional cutlery skill? If you bring engraving into the decision, that would again change the ranking.
 
Bastid said:
Gray Taylor needs to be toward the top also.
Once you get lower than that #1 spot (That one is easy) ;), there are quite a few makers that deserve mention and I would be at a loss to "rank" them.
Then you have the guys who are quite capable of making a great one, but do not make that many. Ron Newton for instance.
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Man...I'm glad someone thought of Gray, Tennessee boys just don't get much respect. Five years ago if this question was asked, you'd have been hard pressed to come up with 15 names. Presently, I'm not sure you could list 15 and say you got all of the best covered. Calling anyone number 1 would be a decision I wouldn't want to make. I think I'd have Rick Browne on the list though and I haven't heard his name yet. Another that will likely be there shortly is Harvey Dean M.S. He showed me a Toenail pattern he was working on last year, it won't take long for him to catch on. He's been getting tips from Bill Ruple.
 
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