- Joined
- Sep 28, 2003
- Messages
- 1,235
How do you start a thread about a Jerry Fisk knife? He needs no introduction! His reputation is above reproach and his knives are among the elite of the ABS Mastersmiths ............. all I can add really is that I also found him to be a really approachable good guy, who displays a humility often found in the truly talented.
For those that know me it will be no surprise that Jerry has been in my must have short list for some time. The timing was fortuitous this year as 2005 marks his 25th year of knife making and to mark this anniversary he is stamping all the knives he makes this year with a "25 Year" Stamp.
This is the first, but hopefully not the last, knife by Jerry in my collection. It is also the smallest bowie in my collection, with a Blade length just under 8 inches, and an OAL of 13 inches. The reason I mention this is because the actual measurements surprised me after handling the knife....... Why? Well because it has a presence and stature to match any 10" bowie, it imposes its self on its handler, commanding your attention and drawing your gaze along its curves from tip to tail. This knife commands respect, that is as simply as I can put it.
At every turn this piece reveals a pardox, it draws from me conflicting analogies and similies........ on the one hand the lines and flow of the knife are almost organic, but its construction is precise, engineered. Visually it is both clean and simple, but look closer and the complexity of the damascus, the differential etch which flows with the blade, the contrast of bright steel with the dark stag, all lend it a complexity at odds with that initial visual impression.
Take hold of the knife and it becomes an extension of your arm, the balance seems to shift to match the intended purpose. The curve of the stag carver sits perfectly in you hand, such that all you really feel is the reassuring texture as it gently, but surely, grips your skin.
On the technical front the Blade is composed of 15N20 and 5160 steels. The pattern is a forged in traditional ladder pattern. Layers are 198. The mountings are of 400 series stainless with a sambar stag handle.
So having read my elaborate and verbose review I thought you may be interested in hearing how the maker describes it ....... "[ its a] Very plain piece but I like the way it looks " ..... you've gotta love that guy!
And a slighty different take on it .......
Stephen
For those that know me it will be no surprise that Jerry has been in my must have short list for some time. The timing was fortuitous this year as 2005 marks his 25th year of knife making and to mark this anniversary he is stamping all the knives he makes this year with a "25 Year" Stamp.
This is the first, but hopefully not the last, knife by Jerry in my collection. It is also the smallest bowie in my collection, with a Blade length just under 8 inches, and an OAL of 13 inches. The reason I mention this is because the actual measurements surprised me after handling the knife....... Why? Well because it has a presence and stature to match any 10" bowie, it imposes its self on its handler, commanding your attention and drawing your gaze along its curves from tip to tail. This knife commands respect, that is as simply as I can put it.
At every turn this piece reveals a pardox, it draws from me conflicting analogies and similies........ on the one hand the lines and flow of the knife are almost organic, but its construction is precise, engineered. Visually it is both clean and simple, but look closer and the complexity of the damascus, the differential etch which flows with the blade, the contrast of bright steel with the dark stag, all lend it a complexity at odds with that initial visual impression.
Take hold of the knife and it becomes an extension of your arm, the balance seems to shift to match the intended purpose. The curve of the stag carver sits perfectly in you hand, such that all you really feel is the reassuring texture as it gently, but surely, grips your skin.
On the technical front the Blade is composed of 15N20 and 5160 steels. The pattern is a forged in traditional ladder pattern. Layers are 198. The mountings are of 400 series stainless with a sambar stag handle.
So having read my elaborate and verbose review I thought you may be interested in hearing how the maker describes it ....... "[ its a] Very plain piece but I like the way it looks " ..... you've gotta love that guy!
And a slighty different take on it .......
Stephen
