John White Memorial 2015 Bladeforums BEST BOWIE - Vote here for the winner!

Which is your choice for the John White Memorial BEST BOWIE 2015?

  • Karl Andersen

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Russ Andrews

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Jerry Fisk

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Dave Lisch

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sam Lurquin

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
Perhaps I misinterpret, Roger. I've been known to have that happen. What I feel is the mention of "The Hanson Effect" (and I do mean all caps) is invariably couched in the negative for chances to be in the the top five (or six, or seven).

Your view, please... and thank you for the considered response, Roger.

Mike Krall
 
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Hey Mike,

I think it's plain that if a maker has several knives that are very appealing among the nominees, there is a risk that votes get divided among those knives and none make the finals.

That was certainly at play with Bruce's knives, at least to some extent because a number of voters cast virtual ballots for more than one of his knives, so it wasn't all a matter of vote-splitting.

But again, being in a position as a maker wherein you have more than one knife that captures nearly enough votes to make the finals is without question an enviable position to be in. It demonstrates a broad body of work that captures the admiration and respect of collectors and fellow makers alike. The Hanson effect is not a negative in the big picture, not by a long shot. I think we can agree that Don occupies an enviable position in the forged blade market. As does Bruce.

I'd be interested in your views as to how this thread differs from the Best Hunter thread as I am not clear on the distinction you were trying to draw.

Cheers,

Roger
 
Roger, after all the discussion and explanation, please remember the old advice…………."If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it."

Paul
 
sheathmaker said:
Roger, after all the discussion and explanation, please remember the old advice…………."If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it."

Paul
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You know I was just thinking that the event essentially hasn't changed in all the years since the first "Hey, why don't we try this?" occasion. I do keep an open mind, but I'm not looking to reinvent a perfectly good wheel.

Don Hanson III said:
I just finished a large Bowie and am working on another. Maybe more "Hanson Effect" this year. :D
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Awesome! I've already added one knife to my Best Bowie 2016 folder and I'm sure yours will go straight there too.
 
Once again, an epic group of knives represented here. Every one of the finalists (and almost-finalists) should be proud.

Sam's winning bowie is truly spectacular. Perhaps THE quintessential American Bowie rendered so incredibly by... a Belgian! Just awesome. But honestly I felt that Sam's multi-bar frame handled piece and his Cerberus bowie were equally spectacular. Yet neither one of those knives took enough votes away from the Musso to keep him from winning.

For me as a maker, I take a lot of inspiration from the many superb entries in this contest, and also try to take notes from the many superb opinions and comments offered by collectors.

I'd also like to nominate Roger for Best Best Bowie Thread Czar. Do I hear a second? :D
 
"The Hanson effect is not a negative in the big picture, not by a long shot."

OK, I see that. Thank you, Roger.

"I'd be interested in your views as to how this thread differs from the Best Hunter thread as I am not clear on the distinction you were trying to draw."

Seemed to me the Bowie thread had relatively fewer knives per maker than the Hunter thread. Certainly single knives for a maker in both. Certainly two to three knives per maker in both. More "higher numbers of knives per maker" in Hunter... or that is the impression I came away with. And that caused me to think, "Yeah, show them all!"

I guess that last is really my point... a past and continuing effort to "show them all" having the highest value. I mean, can you imagine this year's Bowie thread with included knives from Fuegen, Hancock, Keesler, Smith, Cashen, Rexroat, Draper, Caffree, Laurent (and on and on and on and on and on...)?

Just to say, I do understand a maker putting one knife in as their most prideful of the year. There is an inherent validity in that that "overrules" "highest value".

Mike Krall
 
The Best Bowie 20XX has no official standing in the world. It is confined to this little forum in this little web site. Given that, there is no restriction in who or how many knives can be submitted for consideration. Therefore I assume that other than the official pre announced closing time for nominations there is no limit, and it kind of seeks its own level with regard to quantity.

It is also sort of self policing in that obvious lesser quality and/or designs are probably not nominated leaving those that stand even a remote chance of becoming finalists and eventually a winner to rise to the top via popular selection.

It is a good system and has worked well for several years, and at the size it has become, it is a real chore to pick the finalists and even more so to pick a winner. I dare say that having many more knives submitted would not have changed much if anything.

It would not be in the spirit of the event, but if there were any change at all, I'd like to see just the makers submit as many as they would like to be juried and then all but one from each maker be eliminated from further consideration for finalist and finally the Best Bowie of 20XX. This, of course would leave the collectors and owners of the various pieces out of the loop, which in and of itself is a screwy idea, because those collectors are the ones who make the whole process possible and viable.

Back to my original position. I think it's pretty good just the way it is.

Paul
 
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Oh, I like it Paul. I wouldn't be here if I didn't, I promise.

I'm not campaigning for change. My thought is the most important part of this is as an exhibition. I feel that is true and I'm saying it out loud. If ten times the knives showed up, I'd enjoy looking at ten times the knives... I promise. And then I'd deal with dealing with it with ten times the smile on my face.

Mike Krall
 
Mike Krall said:
Oh, I like it Paul. I wouldn't be here if I didn't, I promise.

I'm not campaigning for change. My thought is the most important part of this is as an exhibition. I feel that is true and I'm saying it out loud. If ten times the knives showed up, I'd enjoy looking at ten times the knives... I promise. And then I'd deal with dealing with it with ten times the smile on my face.

Mike Krall
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You can seek out and add as many knives as you want as long as they were made in the year of the thread, ie 2015 Bowie thread knives be made in 2015.

If you want to see knives by Fuegen, Hancock, Keesler, Smith, Cashen, Rexroat, Draper, Caffree, Laurent.....contact the makers for photographs and post them....YOU CAN DO IT!!!

If you haven't noticed in the "contest", some people post knives that they have never seen in person, much less have held or own.

Nothing stopping you from kicking up the photo count....if you lack the ability to figure out how to that, there are threads that explain how to post photos on BFC.....if you lack the willingness...I have some choice words for that.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
You can seek out and add as many knives as you want as long as they were made in the year of the thread, ie 2015 Bowie thread knives be made in 2015.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
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If memory serves, I believe the original rules state submitted knives have to have been made in the current year -or- first shown on bladeForums in that year.

I agree with Paul in that if it's not broke. And as Steven says if you want to see more knives in the competition just submit more images. There's no limit in the nomination thread.
Besides, it's all in fun; basically it's a knife photo contest.
 
Well pointed and well explained, STeven. Yes I can... =]

Do you (or any other) have understanding of why some makers don't (won't) personally post their knives... besides the Paul Long point this "event" is really a small world?

Mike Krall
 
Mike Krall said:
Well pointed and well explained, STeven. Yes I can... =]

Do you (or any other) have understanding of why some makers don't (won't) personally post their knives... besides the Paul Long point this "event" is really a small world?

Mike Krall
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The answer is as long as the day, Mike.

Some think it's a popularity contest, some don't care, some don't have time, many makers don't post on BFC, or any other forum for that matter, some don't know about it........the list goes on.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I highly I doubt there is any one generalized reason, Mike. Makers are welcome to post their own knives - and have done so since day one. I don't think we can expect 100% participation from makers or collectors or any other group.
 
I suppose... as many reasons as there are people to have them.

Thank you STeven.

Thank you Roger.

Mike Krall
 
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