Knives from the 2005 Chicago Show

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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For the second year, I have been priviledged to attend and be the 'show photographer' for Ed and Kathy Wormser's Chicago Custom Knife Show. The amount of knifemaking talent that this show has garnished is unsurpassed. Along with makers, many of the very best dealers in the nation were also set up and displaying and purchasing.

I was busy from setup on thursday eve to my first photo shoots by 8:00am on friday--working nonstop until 6:00pm, and then the same thing on saturday. It was all work and no play to manage what was coming at me....

(I did enjoy every knife and every visit to my little studio. I wouldn't love this so much if that wasn't true.)

I did NOT work alone, though..... My friend Leta Blanton took time away from her husband Rob Blanton's 'Elite Custom Knives' table to run around the show with my point and shoot camera and take table shots of makers for the more important 'people shots'. I did not give her the very best flash setup and so some of the photos came out pretty dark, which I corrected as best as possible in photoshop. I apologize for my oversight, not her ability.

She brought out the best in people, and with HER infectious smile it was a hit! Thanks so much, Leta!

I have not yet gone in and edited each photo with the names, but I will do this in the next day or so.

I have 50 people images and 40+ knife images all finished. I am still working on printing and delivery.

So, without further ado, I present to you the people AND the knives of the Chicago Knife show. (This is going to take some time, so sit back when you can.... :D)

People photos

Knife Photos

Do me a favor, please: Come back and remark on a few things.

1. Who surprised you with their work?

2. Whose knife/knives represents your collecting interest.

3. If you had a choice of two knives: one as a user, and one for your collection, what would they be?

Thanks for looking!

Coop
 
hey Jim,

Congrats on your work. Here are answers to your questions:

1. Who surprised you with their work?
- Ron Lake

2. Whose knife/knives represents your collecting interest.
- Todd Begg
- Charlie Bennica (if I can afford his work...)
- Phillip Booth
- Don Hanson
- Owen Wood
- Dietmar kressler (if I can afford his work)
- Nick Wheeler

3. If you had a choice of two knives: one as a user, and one for your collection, what would they be?
- User: Nick Wheeler camp knife (top one)
- If I can afford it, D. Kressler Chute, or one of the Bennica. It's impossible to say without the price.
 
Coop great photos thanks for sharing!!
I hope I got this right.

For user in fixed blade I'ld take the o'hare, S30V & ironwood? For Folder Overendyer double blade I like traditional style.


In regards a collectors piece. I'ld take the cowles collaberation.
Mitch
 
Thanks for the pix Jim!

One that surprised me was AT Barr's piece, he just gets better and better. As for which represents what I collect . . . er none of them, maybe Dusty Moulton, others are WAY out of my range.

As a collector I would love the Lake or Owen Wood, and as a user, Sean O'hare or Nick Wheeler.
 
Hey, those two Wheeler knives are lookin good! ;) :)

I loved the Chicago show, and look forward to many, many more.
 
TREMENDOUS work Coop! And I don't doubt that it was a lot of work too. THANK YOU!!

Okay,

1) Surprise? Easily Don Hanson with that wicked tactical.
2) Makers whose work reflects my interest - Hogstrom, Wheeler, Hanson
3) User choice - Wheeler Camp knife. Collector choice? Hanson tactical.

Soo many wonderful knives - a true feast here!

Roger
 
beautiful pics Coop
tie for me
Don Hansons work and that T.Bose Lockback whittler
 
1. Who surprised you with their work?

Chuck Gedraitus with that Balisong.

2. Whose knife/knives represents your collecting interest.

Hanson and Wheeler fixed blades

3. If you had a choice of two knives: one as a user, and one for your collection, what would they be?

TWO FOLDERS :eek:

Tony Bose for every day

Michael Walker for the collection

Really really close Honorable Mention: Kious/Cover Parrots & Cockatoos :thumbup:
 
Would really like to own that knife Anders H made!!!!

Love the ones by Joe Kious and Steve Hoel!!!! :eek: :p :eek:
 
Speachless. Thanks for capturing so many amazing images and sharing them, it's like knocking back 2 Haagan-Dazs chocolate-chocolote chip pints in one sitting, wow.

Sugar buzzzzzz

Frank H.
 
SharpByCoop said:
Do me a favor, please: Come back and remark on a few things.

1. Who surprised you with their work?

2. Whose knife/knives represents your collecting interest.

3. If you had a choice of two knives: one as a user, and one for your collection, what would they be?

Thanks for looking!

Coop
Click to expand...

1. Don Hanson's tactical blows my mind. It is such an odd piece for him, but it looks so right. This is not to say that I would buy it, because it does not fit my taste or collecting preferences, but I SO respect his willingness to experiment, and it looks like he did a great job.

2. My collecting interests (stylistically) Khalsa wedding knife, the two Steigerwalts, the Schwarzer and the O'Hare.

3. Dig this, I would pick the Begg for a user, cause it looks totally useable, and it is SEXAY, and the Wheeler Camp Knife for the collection, the top one.

Good shots, Coop, sorry I could not make it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Wow! Awesome pics!!!

First off, I am pretty overwhelmed seeing my name mentioned here... what a kick that is! :)

As per your questions Coop... about the only good answer I can give is that the knives there that really tripped my trigger are Don's and Ken Steigerwalt's.

Don has a really good eye and puts materials together that just plain work. Normally I don't really like tactical folders all that much, but Don just nailed that one. Good on Don for getting the award!

Steigerwalt's knives just blow my mind. Those two are ridiculous! That first one just makes me crazy. I love it. From a maker's standpoint, I wouldn't even know where to start on a piece like that. Just outstanding!

Thanks Coop!!!
-Nick-
http://www.wheelerknives.com
 
I love the Begg, is that the Unagi?

You know I have talked with Anders Hogstrom before and while making beautiful knives, to me he just didn't seem like he had a real passion for the craft. I may have caught him on a bad day, but that was my read on him.

I love doing business with the makers who have a fire inside them, like Bob Lum for example, I think he really enjoys what he's doing. Murray Carter is another maker who is passionate about his work. Phil Boguszewski also, I'm rambling. Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing.
 
Thanks for taking the time to actually study the knives--and not just skim through them. When we do this we pick up on things we may otherwise not have noticed.

1. Who surprised you with their work?
A number of men: of course Don Hanson's tactical, A.T.Barr, Pat Crawford, and that incredible Hendricks 'parasite' fixed blade with the small dagger inside.

2. Whose knife/knives represents your collecting interest.
Hanson-tactical, Tighe 'tsunami', DDR/RPB 'Mad Maxx'. Notice the approachable cost factor.... ;)

3. If you had a choice of two knives: one as a user, and one for your collection, what would they be?
Collector knives: That incredible Steigerwalt 'Best Folder', The equally impressive M. Walker folder, That stunning Wood/Stepanyan small all-engraved wharncliff, and something by Charles Bennica. Someday.

User: Crazily, those WTC Lake folders look so damn useful in their workings and size, THAT would be my choice. Well, the CRKT version... ;)

There is some notable work in the Engravers world: Evrything that was done by Manrico Torcoli was mind-boggling (The two Loveless's and the Hoel dagger), Tim Adlam's work on the two Khalsa pieces was comparable to Julie Warenski's styling and quality, and that gave me pause. There are two colored folders that Ray Cover Jr. did. His coloring drips off the page it is so vibrant! The truly artful and sculpted work from Amayak Stepanyan (who now lives in CO) is very tasteful and unique. And no surprise: Who no one does better 'English Scroll' than Brit Simon Lytton.

Glad you all enjoyed these. This was my pinnacle show of the year, as the AKI has been handed off to another... :(

On behalf of all the makers--Thanks again!

Coop
 
I think I need to add an "honourable mention" addendum in the surprise category for that Sean O'Hare knife. Sean has been doing really crisp, clean work for some time now, but this knife to me shows he's gone up a level alltogether. Great work Sean.

Roger
 
First off, Thanks Coop - seeing this post was like receiving a favourite monthly magazine, I just could not wait to get a quiet moment or ten to paw over it.

The pictures are, as ususal, quite superb, and seeing this array and diversity all together is wonderful.

Now for my answers:

1) The most Surprising: Easily Don Hansons tactical. There are many pieces there that are simply stunning, but the accolade of surprise goes to Don. Why was I surprised? Well firstly it is not the sort of design you associate with him, and secondly I think in his first(?) attempt Don has produced the most stunning and thoughtful "Tactical" piece I have ever seen. It is a piece I would buy and keep in my collection.

2) Collecting interest: The cornerstone of my collection is the forged fixed blade, so Don hanson and Nick Wheeler are my immediate choices. But I also have a thing for engraved pieces and unique folders, as such the work of Bennica and Kious showcased here interests me, as does Ray Covers and Torcoli's work.

3a) User Don Hansons tactical

3b) Collection Bennica/Cover/Torcolio collaboration.

Honourable mention goes to the Kious piece with the Dragon/Warrior theme, and also the Ken Steigerwalt "Best Folder" , one of the most elegant folders I have seen.

Cheers,

Stephen
 
thanks Jim as always fantastic pics.

Surprise. Wayne Hendrix. Been following Wayne for a long time. That is a definate style I have never seen from him. Don's tactical is also a surprise.

My collection interests are broad.
Bose, Steigerwalt, Overeynder, Hansen, Wheeler, Wood, Cowles, Kios and Rapp.

2 knives.

Tough one.
Collection: Loveless set. (as if I could afford it) :)
Realistically (Bose, Overeynder, Cowles)
User: Nick and Danbo's top camp knife.
 
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