Knifemaking schools?

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Nov 20, 2001
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I don't want to take that too seriously, but I've heard of the "Maryland school", the "Arkansas school", etc. I have no idea what they are.

On the other hand, I see clear influence connection between some makers. For example:

- Sid Birt, Wayne Valachovic, J. D. Smith, Robb Hudson, Hill Pearce have designs that share something, in my eye at least.
- Similarly, several makers in Montana and the Pac NW share an affinity for mosaic damascus and extra long, fast looking bowies which add up to some type of common lineage.
- Also, Jim Schmidt, Barry Davis, and (surprisingly) Kaj Embretsen have all used damscus in some distinctive ways (in a way that Dellana for example doesn't use).

What do people here think? What schools are generally recognized and acknowledged, and how are they characterized? What more informal groupings would you suggest?
 
Have never been to the Maryland school, however have visited the ABS school in Arkansas a couple times and am very impressed with it.

Would actually like to take the "Introduction to Bladesmithing" course and most likely will in the future.
 
Have never been to the Maryland school, however have visited the ABS school in Arkansas a couple times and am very impressed with it.

Would actually like to take the "Introduction to Bladesmithing" course and most likely will in the future.

Kevin,

I can't believe that this requires explanation, but, Joss means "school", as in "movement", as in a bunch of knifemakers doing similar stuff.

In reference to Joss's question....it is basically makers gathering around similar styles.

Within the New England School, for instance, you have the Northport School(Dan Maragni, Phil Baldwin), the Fogg/Fikes School(Don Fogg, Burt Foster, Nick Wheeler, Matt Lamey), and the biggest, Schmidt School(Jim Schmidt, Barry Davis, Christof Deringer, J.D. Smith, Wayne Valachovic, Bill Saindon,Dellana, Bill McHenry, Chuck Gedraitis....)

It is a way to track influences and follow the lines to the original innovators...even though, as you know, you can go back hundreds or thousands of years, in some cases to find the ROOT influences.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
The Maryland School would have been started by Bill Moran and include Mastersmiths Jay Hendrickson, Hanford Miller, A. G. Barnes, Mark Sentz and others.
Jim Treacy
 
While I've never heard it refered to as a "school", the SCAK (South Carolina Association of Knifemakers) would qualify, and has a decidedly Herron influence.
 
Hey Joss:

Bronk's is having a week long course at his shop in Bothell just before the hammer-in. I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for. I know it's $850 and covers several things. I'd like to go but I have to resolve the insurance/Children's Hospital issues first. Biggest bummer is tha it's five minutes away from my house.
 
This thread is seriously leaving me shaking my head and saying aloud, "Really??? I mean... REALLY?!?!?!?!" :confused:

ROFLMAO!!! :D

Thanks for including me STeven. :) I'll proudly claim graj-EE-ating from dat schoo.... ;) :D
 
Ok, re-read. Are you saying that you can see makers based upon a school of thought or something they attended? If I am reading the right, seems interesting if so.
 
Ok, re-read. Are you saying that you can see makers based upon a school of thought or something they attended? If I am reading the right, seems interesting if so.

It is like this: "The Hudson River School was a mid-19th century American art movement by a group of landscape painters, whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism."

So the New England School of knifemakers are all people who influenced each other....I'm not sure if Chuck Gedraitis ever even MET Jim Schmidt, but his work is CLEARLY influenced by him, by way of McHenry Forge and J.D. Smith. You can see the Fogg influence AND the Schmidt influence in many of the knives by Don Hanson.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
History defines, in retrospect, the various 'schools' of thought, art, politics, economics etc. They are typically found to have originated in a certain place and time, linked to certain individuals who were particularly influential locally and, in time, abroad.

In the modern world of American handmade knives following the period marked by England flooding young America with factory made knives, individual makers can be identified that influenced others in ways that created a lasting and unique American identity. I think of this as a large tree with different trunks that grew together over time so that there is much mixing an cross-influence in the present day.

As I said - speaking only of the modern period of handmade knives (the last 150-200 years or so in America) - the four distinct trunks of the tree about which there is general agreement are (from oldest to most recent):
1. James Black/Jim Bowie/Arkansas trunk
2. William Scagel/Bo Randall trunk
3. Bill Moran trunk (it is a common mistake to equate Bill Moran with the Bowie knife style per se)
3. Bob Loveless trunk

It is easy to see the ongoing influence of these four in the great tree of modern knives. There are many mixtures and cross-overs etc. Enthusiasts will disagree and want to vote their favorites into originator status but those are largely emotionally based arguments of the present . History will decide.

This formula is not all-encompassing or without flaw by any means. If you go back further in history you can see a similar tree with trunks involving Greek, Roman, Persian designs. Going back even further one must take into account Egyptian influences.

In the modern world of handmade knives it will be important to watch the strong and growing Tribal/Neo-Tribalists but history will ultimately confer upon them 'school' status, or not. I would include what is referred to as the 'New England' school in the same category. Only time will tell if these or other ('Tactical' for example) movements will ultimately become historically identified with a leader/originator in time and place, an active and talented group of apostles (so to speak) who spread the word (meaning work) which is then widely adopted and embraced by the public at large over the course of generations. In the final analysis, these are the key elements of a 'school' or 'movement' as defined by history.

These are my thoughts based on a certain amount of reading and research plus time spent in the knife collecting world. But I do not claim to be an expert and am open to different ideas and ways ot thinking about this.

Addendum: I should add, though I think it goes without saying, that the term 'school' is used very casually, and inacurately at times - as Joss implies in his original post.
 
Kevin,

I can't believe that this requires explanation, but, Joss means "school", as in "movement", as in a bunch of knifemakers doing similar stuff.

In reference to Joss's question....it is basically makers gathering around similar styles.

Within the New England School, for instance, you have the Northport School(Dan Maragni, Phil Baldwin), the Fogg/Fikes School(Don Fogg, Burt Foster, Nick Wheeler, Matt Lamey), and the biggest, Schmidt School(Jim Schmidt, Barry Davis, Christof Deringer, J.D. Smith, Wayne Valachovic, Bill Saindon,Dellana, Bill McHenry, Chuck Gedraitis....)

It is a way to track influences and follow the lines to the original innovators...even though, as you know, you can go back hundreds or thousands of years, in some cases to find the ROOT influences.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Obviously STeven, I only scanned the first line and posted prematurity in haste as I was being called to the telephone. But thanks for calling me out as someone that doesn't have a clue as to give you a chance to show your knoweledge.

But then someone so knowledgeable and who knows me should have realized no explanation was necessary. For now on I will be sure to read the complete post before I respond.
 
Hey!

Don't forget the Tucson School! :D

a2.jpg
 
...historically identified with a leader/originator in time and place, an active and talented group of apostles ...widely adopted and embraced by the public at large over the course of generations...
Yes, I predict history will smile upon the "School of Tucson."

 
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Ahh, okay. A style of craftsmanship based upon a regional or centric idea of blade (or any other item) design.
 
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