Knives with "Soul"...or not.

Keith, I'm glad someone finally mentioned J.D.Smith.I've been admiring his knives for yrs.The 3rd.custom folder I bought was from him at the N.Y. show around 1988.I've followed this forum for almost 4 yrs.and never saw his name mentioned except on the Spyderco forum.At least they put an article about him in Knives 03.Keith if you own one of his knives I'd love to hear about it;)
 
I do not own one of JD's knives as of yet. I have admired his work for years and will add one of his bowies to my collection in the not too distant future.
 
Jim Schmidt's knives are loaded with soul. I love his knives. Never met the man, but sure wish I would've had the chance.

No doubt Ed Fowler's knives have soul, especially the bowies. It's funny, because SR Johnson was mentioned in the "no soul" thread, but I love his work and every one of his knives that I have owned seemed to have it's own special personality to it. Steve puts a lot of himself into each knife he makes. All you have to do is look closely.

Pete
 
Well I do think my Kershaw Double Cross has a hint of soul.
Soul and sexy at the same time .:D
 
Ditto on the Double...mine sees pocket carry everyday and used as well...;)

Pete, I got to meet Jimmy S a couple times at Ashokan, very giving individual and caring person, his knives were quite lovely! His artistry was exceptional, he is sorely missed...
G2
 
John,

I appreciate the compliments ;) I hope an occasional bad word during the process doesn't affect the knife's soul :confused:


Gary,

That is a DROP DEAD beauty of a sheath!! The knife is pretty HOT too!! NICE work :)

Neil
 
yeah G2 does some nice fixed blade sheaths doesnt he ? :D

It is a shame he doesnt make more....;)
 
This is a Walker reproduction of the "Black Tunstall" knife. (the original in a museum in N.Arkansas)IT HAS SOUL! It's a CLASS ACT! It's my everyday carry. I LOVE IT!

In fact, I wish more people would reconsider the "Black style" knives. The simple lines, coffin handle, silver work, etc... The man was a genius! CLASS, CLASS, CLASS! You won't hear many makers bringing them up, THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO MAKE, correctly. Ask Fisk...

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Sorry to take this thread of topic, but Darby, has the original knife been authenticated as to having been made by Black? I have read a great many articles that state that there has never been an authenticated Black knife found. That is part of the argument used against Black being the maker of the knife Jim Bowie had with him at the Alamo.
 
Keith, you are correct. It hasen't been authenticated. THERE IS HOWEVER a HEEP of circumstantial evidence to say it is. There has been many people sent to prison on less evidence. Jim Batson is an authority on Black and Bowie; I have had the privilage of conversing with him on this subject several times at length. I did not take notes, so I will not quote him. I will however ask you to find your January and February 2001 issues of BLADE magazine. In it is J.R. Edmondson's article on Black and "the" knives. After reading the article, PLEASE "STUDY" the pictures of the knives. CLASS, CLASS, CLASS!!! Then see how many makers will build you a TRUE reproduction, then more importantly, FOR HOW MUCH!

COOK, Anders, Walker, Massey, and Fisk all told me when they made ATRM's authorized reproductions of "Bowie #1", that it was the hardest knife to make they had ever built. Nine MS's of Arkansas were suppossed to make them; THESE FIVE DID, THE REST HAVE NOT. Massey's is on permanent display at the ALAMO. It was given to then Gov. Bush by Gov. Huckabee as a present from Arkansas to Texas.

Batson's book, James Bowie and the Sandbar Fight", is awfull good reading.

I believe the evidence; regardless of how circumstantial. I live in ARKANSAS though...;)
 
Another fan of Black's knives here :)
Is it true that he gets credit for inventing the coffin handle?
Back to the topic...
This (Bruce Evans) knife has soul. It is my link to history.
bkbk.jpg



I guess you could say that
certain things speak to certain people.
I'm a graphic artist, I just don't get modern art.
It has been explained to me in college, but I still don't *get* it.
Soul in a knife would run along the same lines I'd think....
 
Keith, the "experts" can't say, here is proof that leaves zero doubt. They can say however that the wood on the "Black" knives came from the same tree, and that the same man made them.

The burl wood is the same grain structure on all. They examined the "BLACK" knives and came up with twenty one characteristics for the knives. What are the odds of two different men making the same style knives and having that many of the same characteristics. The Carrigan knife does have a letter of provenance!!!

I went to Walker's for a short visit today. He said, "After examining the knives and reproducing them, I have no doubt that the same man made them. They are of like construction using the same materials."

I know! Circumstantial!
 
My definition of "soul" in a knife: It comes about when one aplies his/her own skills in making the knife. If you have ever gone looking for arrow-heads (points) and find one, it has a feeling about it that you can't describe. You certainly don't know the maker but you almost feel like you do because it is a part of him that was left behind. I think anytime an artist (person) puts himself or herself into their work weather it be an oil painting, carving, scrimshaw, anything made or built by hand even the stones laid in a building that this will bring about such a feeling. How many times have you seen someone's initials scratched into concrete which they poured or had a part in it, many, many times I'm sure. The caves which have been discovered with art work on their walls causes us to have a feeling about the place that we wouldn't have otherwise. I think when Keith mentioned that some of the knives that had the most soul were not always the best as far as some aspects are concerned, but they just had a special feeling about them. Then it is almost like a spiritual connection is made between the "beholder" and the "maker" that can not be explained. How many of us have something that was left to us by a friend or relative which causes us to feel closer to them than we could other wise. Probably, the more we know someone or know about them the stronger this will be. I think that when a knife has something about it that lets you know that it is hand made (not perfect) then it does have personality, otherwise it has the personality of a machine(machinality) about it. Even if it is perfect in all mechanical aspects it is still bland......!
 
Hi folks,
Soul? Finally the term I have searched for.
There was a day that I felt that art knives had soul. One of a kind with engraving inlayed diamonds, gold, repros from the past etc. I still feel this way to a degree when I see that certain one.
I also feel that creating knives that I would use and own for carry is a good realm to be in.
I still make one offs about 6 times a year to satisfy that urge. I have just found that it is not for me full time. I personally have to like the knife or it is a great struggle to make it.
Then I feel the person getting the knife is not getting my soul.

I understand that this is a wide open area. Everyone has there own ideas about what soul is. To me it’s fast forward. I like the high tech look. I like thinking advancement.
I also like making knives that will be used and are affordable.

The urge to make 2000.00-50,000.00 knives is not my forte’ any more like it once was.
I was taught a lesson by a dealer named Les Robertson.
A few years back Les predicted the total collapse of the high end automatic knife market.
At that time I thought he was nutz…….. BUT he was absolutely on target.

Since that time I decided to be a leader not a follower. So I just do what I want to do.

When it comes to SOUL I have certain rules that I follow for my knives. I want to add that I have improved and tried to improve with every knife style and design that I build.
The only way I can control the past is to make the future better and better.

I am going to get a little gritty here. I want to explain my reasoning about my knives.

1. When I was making all art knives I felt that the function of the knives were NOT tools.
Folks never used the knives. So the standards (not only with me as a maker but others) were that the knives were art and would never be used.
My answer was to force myself to make the best functioning knife that I could as a standard.
2. The knives at that time were pricey.
My answer was to find a way to make knives that were of my own design, affordable, but still add that certain look to them to give them something a little extra. Now I have added much more "soul"
after the blade show aspect came over me.
3. The satisfaction level was just not there for me at the time I made art knives.
My answer was to build what I wanted to build, and make any kind of knife the client wanted if it was within my power. I feel this is the real description of a knife maker.
I will build any knife as long as it keeps the lights on and it makes me happy.


I still make 6 art knives a year or so. I feel they are much better now about the art knives because because I set standards that I wanted to achieve for them. They function now even if they have 2 pounds of gold on them.

At this time I make several styles and types of knives. I am not perfect. I have made improvements as the years have gone by.
I have upgraded all of my knives have domed and rounded frames. This is all hand work. Titanium is not an easy material to rough 3/32 of stock off from. It takes longer and the results are that the knives function better in your hand. I have also added carving and sculpting to my knives. This I feel gives the customer more for their money and added more soul to them.
I have revamped the MADD MAXX series knives, and the EDC knives at this point to have rounded frames also. The Venturi Bali song frames are all rounded and sculpted, along with inlayed with natural handle materials. I will be adding more natural materials via inlays to all of my knife line in 2003. The day of the flat handled knife is over.
The day of the hand rounded profiled knife is here. At the blade show in 2002 I felt the same thing that some express about soul.
My reasoning changed at that point. I wanted to make a mechaniclay sound knife and add “soul” back into them ( like a one of a kind) without giving up the knives function.

Hopefully all of the upgrades will add more “soul” to my knives. That was the intent!
I plan on staying in the high tech realm. Its where I belong. My goal is to add “soul” to them like the finish art autos and swords from my past. I will still pound out a few knives at the forge and make a few wild one off’s from time to time.

Every person here has an idea about what soul is. That’s what makes the world go around.
This post has described the word I have been looking for since blade 2002.
SOUL!
 
I sure have enjoyed this thread. I want to add that in addition to many things mentioned. That there is something special about the knives that were made for me by friends. They become something more to me than objects and or tools (depending if I use them or not).
 
Hi Kit! Yes you are a soul man!
This thread finally described that word!
I like the countoured unflat frames alot!

the45guy
Thanks for the kind words!
 
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