MS Dagger Project Completed

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
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This collaboration dagger was made by the newly recognized ABS mastersmiths from the year 2003. It was auctioned in June, 2004 by the ABS at the BLADE Show in Atlanta and fortunately for me the bidding was light and I was able to win it.

My plan was to eventually write a little article about the tradition in the ABS of newly recognized mastersmiths getting together and making a collaboration knife for auction at BLADE. (This year the project was a beautiful boxed pair of dueling bowies!) I never got the article off the ground but I did send the dagger to Coop for photographing. Heather & Kevin Harvey (Heather forged the damascus for the blade and Kevin ground it) suggested having the South African gentleman who makes their beautiful display boxes also make one for this dagger. Heather & Kevin generously offered to make a brass plaque for the box, bring the box with them to BLADE this year and help me outfit it for the dagger.

Brian Coetzee (e-mail: woodbox@polka.co.za) and I began to communicate and Brian suggested using Transvaal Beech, Sneezewood and Panga Panga (all native South African woods). The cost worked out to approx. $170 - which I thought was very reasonable given the quality of Brian's workmanship, the exotic materials, the generous size etc.

First, here is Coop's (one of them) fantastic image of the dagger (Thanks Coop!!!):



And secondly, here is Brian's display box with the dagger and plaque in animated GIF form. Wait for it to load and watch what happens.



I will be asking Brian to make another box for for me soon and I would encourage anyone who was interested to contact him directly. While there are lots of good ways to display knives, for presentation daggers nothing beats a beautiful handmade box.

The then new Mastersmiths who collaborated on the dagger were:
Heather Harvey (forged damascus)
Kevin Harvey (ground blade)
Sava Damolvac (fluted gold-inlaid handle)
Bruce Bump (cross and clamshell guard, pomel and related fittings)
Michael Vagnino (sheath - not pictured)

Special thanks to Heather & Kevin Harvey and Brian Coetzee. This was a totally fun project and a great way to meet a number of fine bladesmiths and artisans for the price of a single blade. ;)
 
Congratulations Buddy! That box sets off the stunning dagger well.
 
Congrats, this is a stunning piece. For what it's worth, the fittings are what get me the most.
 
Wow,
That piece is way cool. I wish I could have seen it and fondled it. What an awesome seed to sow into the ABS!
JP
 
Im proud to be a part of this project. I remember making those fittings while under the influence of hydracodone. I had just had a knee recontruction done from a snapped ACL and had allot of time on my hands. Thanks for showing it here. That box is sweeet.
 
That is incredible! :eek:

BTW, that was a nice price on the box. I'm comissioning a glass topped fitted box for a knife and it is costing me much more.
 
Beautiful dagger and excellent presentation box - congrats Buddy.

Roger
 
Buddy, I have always been overwhelmed by the beauty of that piece. Congrats to YOU! :)Now, knowing all the makers whose talents are involved, makes it clear why.

Bruce, without question the hardware commands the eye. Your work is outstanding! :)

That box is an exemplary fitment to the package. Absolutely top-rated.

This knife was challenging to photograph, and I will offer it is one of my most daring displays. Unusual needs for a MOST unusual knife!

Coop
 
Glad ya'll enjoyed this.
Also, when I said the article never got off the ground, I should've said that it is still my intent to do it...just haven't done it yet! I think it's an interesting story about the ABS and the investment its active members have in the organization - and what that MS stamp can mean for a bladesmith's career.
 
That is a beautiful dagger, a fantastic collaboration. I look forward to seeing the final article.

Coop - That is a very stricking and distinct composition - Congrats.

Stephen
 
OAL for the dagger is 18 inches.

Here are a couple of Coop's images showing the sheath which is an elegantly simple affair.




I decided to swap out the red velvet for green and rotate the dagger so the handle is on the right. I like it better this way but does anybody know how it 'should' be situated?
 
What a beautiful piece. congratulations.

I would guress that the orientation in the box would be so that the pommell is toward your favored hand--in other words, if you are right-handed, the dagger is now oriented "correctly" in the box.

The box is also beautiful, and compliments the dagger nicely.

I guess that if I ever commission something from Bruce Bump, we will have to get him a hydracodone prescription. :D
 
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