Kevin Cashen MS bowie

Matthew Gregory

Matthew Gregory

Chief Executive in charge of Entertainment
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Jan 12, 2005
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I'm not certain if this has been posted here or not, but I just stumbled into it on Kevin's newly updated website. If you haven't scoped it out, it's a really nice improvement. I'm not a huge damascus fan, nor do I particularly care for African Blackwood - but somehow the combination on this one does it for me.

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Too many times I've missed the opportunity to score one of his blades, this is yet another. I wonder where it ended up?
 
That is SWEET! Classic Cashen with an added twist of some stippling - nice!

Roger
 
I pretty much love everything Kevin makes; so, it's no surprise that I love this one as well. :)
 
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I couldn't imagine anyone NOT liking that! The profile is perfect and the materials, fit and finish are excellent.

Peter
 
Used to own this one from Kevin, BuddyS has it now, blade sings like a tenor:

Do own this one from Kevin, picked up from my good friend Roger P.

As you can see, shape wise, it is very similar to the one posted by the OP.

Also, this one:


I think Kevin is a genius, and a mostly under-appreciated one at that. He makes well proportioned bowies with superb balance and presence. They feel good in the hand, and they have amazing attention to detail. The many other blade shapes that he crafts are often historically inspired, and he can put together the final product about as well as anyone.


A candid shot at Ashokan 2005 conference, in case you didn't get the memo, snazzy smoking jackets were required evening wear, fez headwear optional.

He creates lovely and functional damascus in wonderfully designed and crafted blade shapes. Very few of my fellow collector-friends have a grasp on how simply awesome Kevin is, and I am cool with that, as he is mostly booked out for many years at a time. It is my most sincere hope that he gets his well overdue recognition at some point, and hopefully before he passes on.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Kohai999 said:
I think Kevin is a genius, and a mostly under-appreciated one at that. He makes well proportioned bowies with superb balance and presence. They feel good in the hand, and they have amazing attention to detail. The many other blade shapes that he crafts are often historically inspired, and he can put together the final product about as well as anyone.

He creates lovely and functional damascus in wonderfully designed and crafted blade shapes. Very few of my fellow collector-friends have a grasp on how simply awesome Kevin is, and I am cool with that, as he is mostly booked out for many years at a time. It is my most sincere hope that he gets his well overdue recognition at some point, and hopefully before he passes on.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

I think so, too. I've met the man several times and had some interesting discussions about the physics and metallurgy of blades.

Quiet, humble, modest; but quite brilliant. I grow more impressed with every meeting.
 
I'd like to second everything STeven said, and offer a round of applause for that sword.

Roger
 
i agree with everything steven wrote. plus, kevin is a master of the optical illusion. he is able to forge and grind blade shapes that deceive the eye: recurve edges that are straight, raised swedges that aren't raised... ironically, tai goo is the only other bladesmith i know who masters this art as well :foot:

i spent last weekend in the woods and had this bowie with me. a hell of a knife and even a good chopper!

best regards,
hans

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I'll second (or thirds) the accolades offered by STeven and add I've NEVER seen a Cashen I didn't want!
 
Kevin does make some super nice blades and is a walking encylopedia of all things knifey. I got to spend a bit of time with him at Blade over the last few years and especially the Mid-Ohio hammer-in a couple of years ago and to those who say that he is a controversial figure, I say maybe so, but unfortunately he has extensive data to back up most of his opinions. LOL One thing that he told me that I found interesting for a guy who is so into detail and control of the process was that he really doesn't like to do highly complex damascus patterns, but enjoys simple stuff like random and twist. Damascus patterning is apparently he only part of knifemaking where he values randomness and a bit of unpredictability. He also said that those smallswords are the biggest PITA of any style he does. LOL
 
Kevin's love/hate relationship with the rapier is fun to discuss with him. It's pretty obvious what drives him. My last conversation with him was dominated with the underlying theme of the silversmithing going on in his latest project. I sure hope he shares a pic or two...

I've never understood the controversy, aside from the fact that people respond poorly to someone calling BS on their sales pitch, or just wish to maintain a contrary position to what might be perceived as authority. However, I really wanted to avoid the Kevin Cashen metallurgy theme in this thread and focus on the Kevin Cashen bladesmith theme, as the shadow of his passion for the minutiae tends to eclipse the fact that he's an amazingly talented bladesmith!

I also like his leatherwork:

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