Knife quality of Warren Osborne & Owen Wood?

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
7,351
All,

Anyone has any experience of those makers? Feel free to respond by email if you'd rather not comment publicly.

Thanks,

Joss
 
I have production pieces designed by Osborne (Benchmade brand 921 "Switchback" folding pocketknives) and they are elegant in their styling and efficient in their cutting.
 
Joss said:
All,

Anyone has any experience of those makers? Feel free to respond by email if you'd rather not comment publicly.

Thanks,

Joss
Click to expand...

Warren makes a great knife....he is quite prolific, and while not at the absolute top of his ladder(Walker, Lake, Frank, Horn, Hoel, Bennica, Loerchner)...he IS at the top of the second tier(Kious, Pease, Busfield, Steigerwalt, Sawby....). I have two knives by Warren, one graced with Julie Warenski-Erickson(sp?) engraving, and his work is without fault....has been consistently for years. The only downside is that there are quite a few dealers that get regular shipment of his work...that the percieved rarity is not there.

Wood make superlative knives....and is desired....the best of them are fairly expensive, requiring a fairly large investment($4,000-$6,000), with little opportunity to make a quick killing. The rarity is there, but am not sure about consistent demand....others would be able to knowledgeably opine about that.

Both makers are truly interesting people, and gentlemen.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Thanks guys!

Owen's knives look like they're probably not an option for me. As for Warren, he has that model I've seen referred to as "Cybex" and "Police", which I find very cool. Les has an example here:

http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/osbornedf.htm

However, I seem to recall having seen it in black MOP, or even black & white MOP, and it was stunning...

JD
 
STeven echoes what I have encountered. No one makes a better knife than Warren, but there are many who's work is more rare. (Why is it that a maker who has a SERIOUS work ethic will be ultimately penalized(?) for his smart production. Sigh....) Absolutely top-grade F&F. Almost exclusively backlocks.

Owen's knives are almost always liner locks, and most often are with an additional artist to engrave it.

There are two things that Owen does ESPECIALLY well, and that's his incredible multi-bar chevron damascus, and his usage of the diamond pattern blued backspacer. Recognizable and not imitated. Nice. :thumbup:

Coop
 
Not familiar with Owen's work, but I do endorse STeven's assessment of Warren's knives.

The second custom knife I ever bought was an Osborne interpretation of the Randall Model 1. It was clean to a degree that few attain. Because of my affection for that piece, I have followed Warren's work even though the bulk of his knives are of a type outside my primary area of interest.

Roger
 
SharpByCoop said:
Owen's knives are almost always liner locks, and most often are with an additional artist to engrave it.
There are two things that Owen does ESPECIALLY well, and that's his incredible multi-bar chevron damascus, and his usage of the diamond pattern blued backspacer. Recognizable and not imitated. Nice. :thumbup: Coop
Click to expand...

SORRY, DOUBLE POST.......... :)
 
SharpByCoop said:
Owen's knives are almost always liner locks, and most often are with an additional artist to engrave it.
There are two things that Owen does ESPECIALLY well, and that's his incredible multi-bar chevron damascus, and his usage of the diamond pattern blued backspacer. Recognizable and not imitated. Nice. :thumbup: Coop
Click to expand...

Here, in a beautiful liner-lock that Owen Wood made for me with Amayak Stepanyan
who carved and engraved the steel handle, you can see everything Coop mentioned
as typical of his knife art...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book "The Great Collections"
picture.JPG
 
I like both makers work, a lot. I once had Owen build me a matching pair of folders with perfectly (well closely) matched Mammoth Ivory from the late Rick Fields. They were really terrific and in a weak moment I sold them.

Warren's work is so nice but I don't own any. I did purchase a Policemate from Warren in NY years ago. I believe it had an integral frame and Carbon Fiber. That now resides with my brother, who might sell it back to me someday.

Win
 
Every time I see Warren at a show, he is walking around with that smirk that only a FAT wad of money gives a maker. I always ask..."sold out Warren?" He just nods and says something witty like "We heard you were dead";)

As prolific as he may be, for a maker to be so consistently in demand is a good thing. I seriously doubt he makes as many folders as McBurnett did, or as many folders as Loveless made of his fixed blades in younger years. Warren is on track to be one of those must have makers LONG after he is finished making knives.

I can't really comment on Owens sales as I just haven't been around him as much. Every knife I have seen from him displays second to none workmanship, and he is so friendly and humble that it is impossible for me not to find him at shows and at least say hello.

Owen and Mr. Stepenyan have created a really classy look on many folders. yours Dr. Darom is as nice as I have seen.
 
Thank goodness RP decided to go all forged knives as I was able to get this beautiful WO fighter from him when we first got to know one another. It is one of my favorites knives and one that is on the "don't sell in my lifetime list" WO has not made FB's for years and does wonderful folders. I had hear a rumour that he may begin doing FB but not confirmed.

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As a knifemaker myself I will say that both of these guys make excellent knives and I admire both of them. I have handled knives made by both of them and it is very hard to find a blemish on any of them. The fit and finish on all of the knives that I have handled is outstanding. When I was learning to make knives my mentor Dr. Fred Carter told me that the difference between very good and outstanding was the last five percent which may sometimes take ninety five percent of the time needed to make the knife. It is easy to see that these guys follow a simular philosophy.
Elvan Allred
www.allredcustomknives.com
 
Warren made 60% of the F/B knives used in the Blade Sports International cutting competition at last year's Guild Show.

Completely-single purpose knives that work HARD. Not his collector grade.

Coop
 
Here is a couple of knives from makers that I greatly admire. The first one is Tim Herman and the other is Dr. Fred Carter. Both of these guys do it all including embellishment. By the way that is a kangaroo on Tim's knife not a moose as some have thought.

Elvan Allred
www.allredcustomknives.com
 

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Here are seven of them with the black rough rubberized handles:

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Warren, as judge and competitor inspecting a competitor's knife after finished.

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I want one.... ;)

Coop
 
show (anything you see on their tables after the first day...second day mid-way through the show at most, is something they made that a collector or purveyor has asked them to put out on their table to help them sell it. I know both as not only knife makers but as individuals having spent time drinking/dining/b.s,'ing with both, they are quality gentleman that make top notch knives. I own and/or have owned pieces from both and currently have more knives on order from both. you can't go wrong with either.
 
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