Mastersmith Collaborations

RWS

RWS

Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
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I was wondering if there have been very many custom knives created as a collaboration effort between two or more Mastersmiths? A couple days ago I was fortunate enough to have the chance to purchase a beautiful Bowie style knife made by both Jim Crowell and John Fitch.
Are collaborations pretty common among ABS guys or are they going to become more common? I think it's a pretty good idea! I did buy that knife and it's on its way.
 
RWS, Myself and about 9 others became new Master Smiths last month at the Blade show ABS meeting and banquet. We were split into 2 groups of 5 and asked by the ABS to collaborate on a bowie and a dagger. My group is making the dagger. My part is to be the guard and pommel. It is to be done in 6 months although I havent seen the blade at my door yet. It and the bowie will be donated and sold at auction next year at the ABS auction. I can give more details as they come in. This should be exciting!!
 
Ahhh - RWS - so you're the #@!*^! that beat me (and a few others apparently) to that way cool Crowell / Fitch collaboration on knifeart. :mad: :mad: Just kidding buddy - nice score! For those that missed it entirely, here is it:

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I haven't come across too many Master Smith collaborations, but I'm all for the idea. Some interesting combinations spring to mind - let's see... a Fisk / Dean Southwest Bowie with a 10" damascus blade..... sorry, had to deal with some drool.

Here's a pic posted by Ron Newton in a recent thread of a fighter that he and John Fitch are collaborating on. Ron forged out the Fillicietti finger style mosaic billet from O1 and 15n20, then John forged a 6" fighter blade with hidden tang. I can't WAIT to see the final product here - should be something special.

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Cheers,

Roger

Edited to add:

P.S. - Bruce - who else is in your group making the dagger? Be sure to show us some pics of the completed project.
 
That dagger is going to be awesome. The fitting's on Burce's M.S. test dagger were really something to behold (as was the whole knife). They were stunning!
I am looking foreward to seeing the A.B.S. 2003 MS collaboration.
 
Ahhh - RWS - so you're the #@!*^! that beat me (and a few others apparently) to that way cool Crowell / Fitch collaboration on knifeart. Just kidding buddy - nice score!
Click to expand...
Thank you! I haven't received it yet. It should arrive today. I hope it's as nice as it looks.
Maybe collaborations will become the wave of the future. Eventhough not cheap, It sure caught my attention when I saw this one.
 
RWS, Myself and about 9 others became new Master Smiths last month at the Blade show ABS meeting and banquet. We were split into 2 groups of 5 and asked by the ABS to collaborate on a bowie and a dagger.
Click to expand...
Whenever the word "bowie" is stated I begin to breathe heavily for some strange reason. I would like to here more about these types of
projects as they get closer to completion.
 
RWS - first off, nice score on that Crowell/Fitch collaboration!

Secondly, in addition to folks who just enjoy complimenting one-anothers' talents or working as partners for the pure pleasure of doing so, some makers will also collaborate on knives during hammer-ins, where a few instructors may demonstrate separate parts of the knifemaking process.

A result of one such collaboration can be seen in this thread.
 
Here's an eye-popping collaboration from bladegalley.com. This dagger, which won Best Collaboration at Blade, is the work of SaraMi Liljeholm (gold work), Conny Persson (blade), and Roger Bergh (finishing work and handle).

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Cheers,

Roger
 
I have done a couple of colaborations, and both were fun. The first was with my group of new MS's from 2001. It was a mediteranean style peice with the damascus blade originating in Australia from Thomas Gerner. It then went to Murray Carter in Japan for grinding and finishing, to Greg Gotschalk for handle and ferrule made from damascus by Ray Rybar, to me for handle carving, engraving and final finish. Jim Jackson of England made the sheath. A well traveled knife for sure!! I also did one with John Fitch for Dan Delavan's "Evening of the cutlery art's". It was a "D" guard spear point bowie.

I like to see colaborations. The melding to two or more makers styles is interesting, and it makes a totly unique knife as none of the makers could make the same knife on their own with all of it's individual touches.

Any smiths out there want to do one?
 
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