Larry Fuegen 'Tuxedo' Push Dagger

[Jon Brand]

Got a larger file. Enjoy..

 

[BowieBooster]

Jesus Christos, that is GORGEOUS!!!

 

[EScott]

A true work of deadly art.

 

[SharpByCoop]

That's a beautiful piece, Jon. No waffling from me on this choice. It's top-o-the-line cool and elegant.

REALLY glad you found Eric's great shot. I wanted to throttle you for posting CS's on impulse. (Crummy Shots )

You should be proud. That may do more to convert non-knife people into this world than anything else I've seen you own. Show it well. :thumbup:

Coop

 

[Jos]

Beautiful push-dagger. Stunning.

Kind regards,

Jos

 

[Jon Brand]

That's a beautiful piece, Jon. No waffling from me on this choice. It's top-o-the-line cool and elegant.

REALLY glad you found Eric's great shot. I wanted to throttle you for posting CS's on impulse. (Crummy Shots )

You should be proud. That may do more to convert non-knife people into this world than anything else I've seen you own. Show it well. :thumbup:

Coop

VERY true and thank you! To me this knife really crosses the art/knife boundary. Non knife people can love this for its amazing lines and great overall composition. Its cooler then any art I could possibly have on my wall and plays with light amazingly. This is a new direction for me and I'm proud to show this one off. I can confidently say girls love it too!

 

[bear1889]

Beautiful push dagger.....the more I look at this style the more it appeals to me as something of real interest.

 

[Jon Brand]

Update on some specifics. The bolsters are fluted and polished mild steel. All gold is 14k yellow gold and theres a pretty good amount. Handle material is creamy white mammoth ivory, not elephant or walrus as it looks. Liners are filed stainless. Alligator overlay on leather. The knife is only 6 months old or so as it was originally shown at Josh Smith's hammer-in.


I will try to get a picture of the frame it will display in sometime during the week so look for that.

 

[RogerP]

That may do more to convert non-knife people into this world than anything else I've seen you own.

Given its intended purpose, I very much doubt that. Nothing alienates non-knife people faster than a dedicated killing blade, however beautifully rendered. And yes, this one is beyond stunning.

Roger

 

[SharpByCoop]

Yeah, but it's SO cute!!!

Got it.

Coop

 

[Kevin Jones]

I expect most ‘non-knife people’ have probably never seen a push dagger must less know of its intended purpose.

I believe most of their reactions upon being exposed to Jon’s dagger would go something like “Wow, that’s a really beautiful and odd looking knife”, as opposed to “is that for killing people?” or some other condemnation.

IMO, knives like Jon’s push dagger and Art Knives in general offer great examples that there’s much more to custom knives than just the weapons aspect.

 

[RogerP]

Stop being so argumentative!!! How DARE you contradict me!!!! Sorry, that seems to emerging as an in-vogue response of late.

I don't pretend to speak for most non-knife people, but pick that knife up and hold it in your fist in the manner intended and I suspect that even the most ill-informed optimist will be able to discern its purpose.

Daggers in general I think people tend to "get" as something far removed from their own personal use knives. They have been widely portrayed in the entertainment media from the time of Shakespeare (Is this a dagger I see before me, handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee....) to the present day. They are never portrayed as innocent apple-peeling whittling knives that dear old Uncle Bob might have tucked into his overalls.

Push daggers are an even more obvious subset, because while a slender, elegant dagger may pass as something akin to an elaborate letter opener, there is no mistaking the message presented by a push dagger - particularly when held in hand.

The legislature up here (a group of non-knife people if ever there were) certainly isn't blissfully clueless as to the design clearly representing a concealed-carry killing knife. They are specifically indentified as prohibited weapons, with mere possession attracting criminal liability. They are the ONLY fixed blade knife so proscribed.

Then again, I could be wrong. Most non-knife people may look at it and say "Golly gee, how pretty!". You never know.

Roger

 

[BowieBooster]

I think if you'd have maybe a serrated, single edged drop point on one, some people might go for the fact that it's a tool to be used in the manner of a small hand saw. I agree with Roger: with a dagger on the end of it, only an idiot could fail to recognize its one and only purpose.

 

[Hmathews]

Nothing alienates non-knife people faster than a dedicated killing blade, however beautifully rendered.

That is a statement that I would have to disagree with based on the experiences we have had at Twin Blades. Non knife people we've shown knives to seem to be fascinated, even with the knives that would seem to be "dedicated killing blades". I think the reaction would most likely be..."That would fit great in my purse! How much is one and can you do it with pink handles?"

I presented a dagger to an Eagle Scout at a Methodist Church. I was swamped by people, both men and women, wanting to look at it and hold it at the reception that followed. Most had never seen a real dagger before much less held one. I took several orders over the next few weeks for knives because of the exposure. I was actually asked to present the dagger during the ceremony in the sanctuary. Not one negative comment and I was really expecting to hear from someone since everyone saw it presented.

I have had similar reactions in other places I have delivered orders like the Chamber of Commerce, and the beauty parlor my wife goes to. Both places have generated several orders and provided us with great customers that are now knife people.

It is a beautiful push dagger and I think it would be well accepted as an art form..

 

[RogerP]

That is a statement that I would have to disagree with based on the experiences we have had at Twin Blades. .

I wasn't aware that you made many push daggers. Can't find a single one in your extensive gallery.

So let's say that they don't immediately jump to the conclusion that it's a weapon (which I think quite likely). Let's say further that they are attracted by the aesthetic beauty and intrigued by the odd design. So... they ask - "Hey, what's a knife like that for?"

You'd have to be quite the politician to wrap that answer in smiles and sunshine, woulldn't you?

"Well, it's designed to be held with the handle completely concealed in your fist, that way it's almost impossible for your opponent to disarm you because he has nothing to grab onto but blade. Opponent? Well, by that I mean the guy you're trying to kill. Yes, it's a most effective design - particularly since the small size makes it concealable and the grab-it-in-your-fist handle means it's rapidly deployable - the idea is to get multiple shots in before the other guy even knows he's in a fight. And the best part? No special skill required. If you can throw a punch, you can use this knife.... Hey... where you going? I've got a lot more to tell you...."

A push dagger as a goodwill ambassador for sheeple? I aint buying it.

Roger

 

[RogerP]

I think if you'd have maybe a serrated, single edged drop point on one, some people might go for the fact that it's a tool to be used in the manner of a small hand saw. I agree with Roger: with a dagger on the end of it, only an idiot could fail to recognize its one and only purpose.

I guess, on the upside, the world isn't real short on idiot supply.

Roger

 

[Hmathews]

I believe you used the phrase "dedicated killing blade". That is what I quoted and referred to. We don't make push daggers often. Sorry if there was any confusion. We make all different kinds of knives and many of them aren't pictured on our web site. I do have a push dagger on my bench that I am finishing up at this time. There won't be any doubt what the original purpose of the design was and its design is directly based on a historical weapon. It should be heading to Coop for some pictures in a week or so.

I don't think most people would have to ask what the original purpose of a dagger was, nor do I believe that people feel threatened by objects of art or recreations of period weapons. "Weapons" sure don't seem to bother anyone that I have noticed and they sell well. They appear more often in these posts than other types of knives and if you look at the thread on displays, you will see that people don't mind displaying them in their offices and homes.

People seem to be facinated with current creations of weapons of past times and I believe that this facination would hold true for the push dagger. It sure has for the people we have shown the push dagger we have in the works. They pick it up and just grin. It isn't sugar coated and doesn't have sprinkles on it.(Just a little Jim Small engraving and a little gold.)

Push daggers probably aren't as popular as other designs. Charlie and I have picked up and examined a lot of push daggers over the last two years and most just don't feel very good or controllable in the hand. While we will make one for a customer order, they will not be something we want to make on a regular basis. It has nothing to do with it being an obvious weapon, but that we believe there is a limited market for them.

I would agree though that if I was going to make a knife whose purpose was to convert non knife people's interest to the world of custom knives, it likely would not be a push dagger. Probably wouldn't be a Bowie knife either.

 

[RogerP]

I believe you used the phrase "dedicated killing blade". That is what I quoted and referred to.

Understood. But I used that phrase in direct reference to the push dagger which is the subject of discussion.

I think we understand each other now.

I very much agree with your take on the varied feel of push daggers. I've handled quite a few at shows. Some feel so very right - part of your hand. Others... not so much. I would expect that Larry's dagger feels every bit as good as it looks.

Roger

 

[4W4K3]

Stunning; the detail is absolutely amazing. I've never had a push dagger but always wanted one.

 

[Lorien]

perhaps the perception of weapons in Canada carries with it the prejudices against weapons built into our laws and cultural fabric, which is different from those perceptions held within the United States regarding same.

As Roger stated, punch daggers are prohibited in this country distinctly because they intrinsically imply violent intent.