Knives of the Blade Show - 2009

Wow!
An outstanding display of custom knives, razors and hawks.

John's hawk is very nice and Terry's Shell Guard Bowie is incredible and there's not much more to say that hasn't been said about Kyle's Sub-hilt.
 
Some fantastic knives and pics .. Amazeing how much I missed and how nice this thread is to show these fantastic knives some I remember well
 
Awesome pictures sir i couldn't make it to blade this year but this is for sure the next best thing. Thank You!!:thumbup::D
 
Great work as usual, Coop!:thumbup: That little fighter was my first attempt at a straight "commando' handle with a buttcap. I may have to use this picture for an ad in TK. Even the tactical guys at the show complimented me on this one. I must give props to Mr. Hanson for providing the walnut. It looks fabulous and it is very easy to work with. If I can get a big enough piece for a sheath, I want to put an authentic "London best" oil/alkanet root dye finish on it. Hey Don............got any more in the pipeline?:D
 
jdm61 said:
Great work as usual, Coop!:thumbup: That little fighter was my first attempt at a straight "commando' handle with a buttcap. I may have to use this picture for an ad in TK. Even the tactical guys at the show complimented me on this one. I must give props to Mr. Hanson for providing the walnut. It looks fabulous and it is very easy to work with. If I can get a big enough piece for a sheath, I want to put an authentic "London best" oil/alkanet root dye finish on it. Hey Don............got any more in the pipeline?:D
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Yep, a very good no non-sense get er done knife.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Yep, a very good no non-sense get er done knife.
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Thanks, Kevin. That little knife was intended to be a kind of prototype for a knife to sell to the military. This one may end up in the hands of a USMC Sergeant Major. I hope that I can reproduce it again...lol. The next one will probably have a blackwood handle, as that is my "micarta substitute" AND my ebony substitute.:D
 
That is, for me to shoot. These are exceptional knives that have SO much going on, that capturing it all in a single rectangle is damn near impossible. I do the best I can.

For some of these, the lighting or angles were so complex that I took a gazillion shots before I cried "Mea culpa!" and settled on the selection.

The knives are always deserving of the extra work. These are the ones in which I struggle to deliver.

Mardi Meshejian walks in with this monster. I left it till sunday morning before the show opened, and shot it against a wall away from my tent, with a gaggle of lights. He was fine shooting just the knife, but I felt the 'package' included the stand.
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Gary Root works with Ray Rybar often, and had some young artist carve the cobra on this handle. I can't impress upon you how worthy this carving was. But you needed to look at it from 360°. Gary's work always goes beyond traditional.
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Ray Rybar is a devout Christian, and he proudly makes works that reflect his beliefs. This particular piece of stag has something like 144 carved ghoul faces in the handle. Is it creepy? Yes. That's the intention.
Those medalions are larger versions of what is in the blade. He wanted me to show them, too. Yikes!
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Back to more traditional work, Richard Rogers never ceases to impress those who understand uber-precision. His work is always intricate. In this case there are six blades and four tools that needed showing. What does it look like compacted? Believe me this wasn't easy figuring out a display.
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Bertie Rietveld and I go way back (I own a particularly smart slender blade from him). His 'dragonskin' damascus is now legendary, as are his dagger skills. The bevels are really deep. Getting both to show well isn't as easy as plopping it on the table and firing when ready. ;)
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Add in a dose of blued and polished steel and it's a photographers dream. :eek:
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I love the bottom three pieces. The top 3, less so, especially Rybar's work, which I have never been partial to. The pictures are superb. I can imagine how hard it must have been to capture that multiblade, while minimizing the hot spots.
 
You must have heard me sing the praises of Kevin Casey's work by now. I find his steel particularly well forged, and his folders incredibly precise and simply clean.
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Daniel Chinnock has more going on in this folder than my shot shows. Filework everywhere. What a treat.
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Matt Diskin is VERY versatile. He has folding autos and historical replicas in his portfolio repertoire. This Dogbone bowie and sheath show his skills proudly.
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New ABS JS Mike Quesenberry presented this set to the judges to pass. I wish I could show you how clean the rubbed finish is on the knives, but from this distance you will have to take my word.
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I'll finish up later today with works from Shawn McIntyre, Jeremy Marsh, Daniel Winkler, Joe Olson, and a pair from Tom Overeynder.
 
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Unfortunately I did not take photos of all but one of the following knives. Blade management allows Point Seven to shoot all the award winners. It's a great deal for the recipients!

BLADE Show Custom Knife Awards

Hugh Bartrug Best Of Show: Matsusaki Takeshi

Best Handle Design: Zaza Revishvili

Best Tactical Folder: R.J. Martin

Best Sword: Vince Evans

Best Of The Rest: Reese Weiland

Most Innovative Design: Daniel Winkler (If this is his AXE, I have it.)

Best Utility Hunter: J.R. Cook

Yvon Vachon Best Miniature Knife: Yoshio Sakachi

Best Art Knife: Tim Hancock

Best Fixed Blade: Jerry Fisk

Best Bowie: Mike Ruth

Best Folder: Matsusaki Takeshi

Best Fighter: Harvey Dean

Best New Maker: J.A. Bardsley

Best Knife Collaboration: Richard Rogers and Simon Lytton

Best Damascus Knife: Jimmy Chin

I would love to see the work by Matsusaki Takeshi. I have handled a few of his pieces, and I'm not too surprised at his winning two awards.

Coop
 
That Diskin dogbone is terrific and I was very impressed with Mike Quesenberry's work across the board.

Roger
 
That little fighter was my first attempt at a straight "commando' handle with a buttcap. Even the tactical guys at the show complimented me on this one.
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Way to go Joe :thumbup: It's really great to see some of the other side of your knifemaking skills :D
 
:eek:Holy Mackeral!!! Thanks Jim!

I "almost" feel like I went to blade now:thumbup:

I wonder why on the one Quesenberyy his name is opposite?
 
Coop, you indeed left a few of the best for last. There are some out of the ordinary and extra ordinary knives in this bunch.

I especially love those daggers, but that Diskin Bowie is something else too. I think that guard is very cool.

As for the Rybar dagger. The theme of that knife is Ezekiel 37 "Valley of Dry Bones". This knife is out of the ordinary and after reading that prophecy I had a better understanding/appreciation of this knife. Someone may still not like it, although I do, but the symbolism will at least be much clearer.

Coop, thanks again for showing so much great and wonderful knives.

Marcel
 
ironbikemike said:
Way to go Joe :thumbup: It's really great to see some of the other side of your knifemaking skills :D
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Yes, Mike, I can occasionally create something other than mountains of dirt and sandpaper scraps on the floor of my shop. You can come buy again if your tetanus shot is up to date...lol.:D
 
The best of the best. Remarkable work going into knives these days. The bar is raised again this year. I'm in Awe. Wonderful shots Coop.
 
WOW!!!! What an amazing talented group of knifemakers! These are all beautiful blades. Thanks for sharing their talents and yours, Coop.
 
Excellent work as usual, Coop.

There are some spectacular knives in this thread that made me say "Wow!". But, for some reason, the knife that made me say "Whoa!", was the filet knife by Walter Brend.
 
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