JR Cook Hidalgo fighter w/ 'transition' damascus steel

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
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JR continues to apply new ideas and techniques to his traditional and proven knife designs. This full size stag handled fighter is the first knife offered for sale to feature what JR has named 'transition damascus.' My understanding is we'll be hearing more about this from JR soon, and seeing more elaborate examples.

The blade is 10 1/4 in. and OAL is 15 1/2 in.
A nice & trim leather basket-weave belt sheath w/ frog by JR is not shown.
Fittings are stainless steel and JR applied engraving to the guard.
JR used 1084 & 15N20 steels such that the spine is 1084 and the cutting edge is 1084 with 15N20.

The unique stag handle is dome pinned and tapers toward the middle from each end to form a prominent 'waist.' The image below suggests this but doesn't fully show what I'm talking about. While perfectly secure and comfortable in my hand, a friend with larger hands was not sure he liked this aspect of the knife. In general he prefers a thicker handle and thought the thinness overall in the middle looked "funny." My reaction was the opposite in part because I recognized this handle style as similar to some of the original surviving 19th century 'Bowie' knives, and I have always liked the look.

It's most often impossible to know why a given knife will sell or not sell at a show. JR's other knives quickly sold but this one didn't. Maybe, as I've suggested, reactions to the handle shape were mixed. But it could've been anything - or nothing. Anyway, as the weekend at Jerry's drew to a close I saw JR heading to his truck with a lone zipper pouch under his arm. Sensing an opportunity I inquired. As luck would have it, that knife was the JR Cook knife I'd liked best of those he made for the show. And, because is was less fancy than some of the others the price was modest by comparison. Sold! :D

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That is fantastic. The edge highlights are like elven rune characters. Magic.
 
Hi Buddy,

Fortunately the images as SO clear we can touch the knife. Well....

That crazy steel is reminiscent of the early Robbin Hudson or Daniel Winkler flame edge. Only this was NOT an etch! :eek:

Regarding the handle. You know my propensity for Hill Pearce's work. When I purchased this Bowie, and talked about the handle with Hill, he was adamant that the early fighting bowies were designed to pivot in the front fingers and be 'lively'. This was meant to dance around the opponent, not to grip and swipe. That's why many of his designs were intentional like this:

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I like it. The fittings are subtle and deluxe. I'm glad for you. :)

Coop
 
Sometimes, things just work out EXACTLY as they should. Buddy, you have never had any difficulty figuring out what you like in a knife - when a piece speaks to you, you know it right away. This knife found the right home. Congrats - it's a beaut! Like Coop, I was reminded of some C. Robbin Hudson pieces with the blade finish - but this is clearly its own thing. Very cool blade. Please post it up again come Christmas time. ;)
 
Beautiful Bowie! That steel looks spectacular and the stag is very nice.

Kind regards,

Jos
 
That is exceptional on all counts.
And...
The photos are as beautiful as the knife.

I wonder if Buddy's friend with the larger hands would have found the handle more to his liking if he gripped it further back on the knob.
Looking at your palm, align the handle with the crease your thumb makes when you move it.

Anyway, that is one of the best bowies I've seen in a long, long time.
 
Cool look'n piece from Cook. Congrats on the score Buddy. When I first saw this pattern back in January 2012 on Mr. Cox's knife, I was very impressed. Cook I know, but I'm not sure if I've ever met this Mr. Cox. I was told he was the brain child or inventor of this transition damascus and shared the process at an Uncle Al meeting. Really cool stuff.
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Buddy, very nice photo and probably my all time fav from JR. But that looks like two different knives in that photo.
What's up with that?

Yes, I've seen that damascus pattern before too. ;)
 
Don Hanson III said:
Buddy, very nice photo and probably my all time fav from JR. But that looks like two different knives in that photo.
What's up with that?

Yes, I've seen that damascus pattern before too. ;)
Click to expand...

It's a great looking knife, but I'm with Don those are two different knife images. Did you get a two for one special, Buddy?;)
 
Don Hanson III said:
Buddy, very nice photo and probably my all time fav from JR. But that looks like two different knives in that photo.
What's up with that?

Yes, I've seen that damascus pattern before too. ;)
Click to expand...

Wow, you're right Don, that does look like two different knives, cool! :D I'd guess that what we are seeing on the insert shot/close up of the handle is side "B" of the knife, mirrored. That's the only thing I can think of it being unless Buddy really did get a two for one deal? :) Great knife and picture Buddy! Thanks for showing it. :)
 
Don Hanson III said:
...looks like two different knives in that photo.
What's up with that?
Click to expand...

OK Don - you got me. :o
I suppose Coop will want to give me a few lashes for my photo-editing liberties. :(

Bottom line is I flipped the second shot along its horizontal axis (mirror image) to make it fit into the picture at the correct angle. It was a short-cut I was willing to take with the image of a knife I own, but not something I would do with an image someone was paying me to make. Not because it's 'bad' or 'dishonest' but because it is a short-cut born of laziness. In this case I was too lazy to change my lighting set-up just to capture the other side of a knife that nobody was paying me to shoot. :)

Actually, it's a commonly used technique out there in the larger world of commercial photography (which is where I learned it) and, I do believe I have occasionally seen it used in knife publications. The common mistake in applying the technique is when there is text of some kind (like the maker's name etc.) which will appear sdrawkcab. :eek:

I'm impressed that folks are looking so closely. :applouse:
 
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