My 2007 ABS Pro Bowlers, Prospects & Suspects

[ptgdvc]

FWIW, This list is represents my personal opinion of who I think is doing the finest work in June of 2007, nothing more and nothing less. I am posting it here for the possible benefit of newer collectors of forged fixed blades. I know every person on this list and consider all of them to be honest good guys with superior skills. However, every knife must be judged on its own merit, because everybody on my exalted list is fully capable of making an artistical or technical lemon.

Names and stamps are not guarantees of greatness.

My prospects are prospects, because they actually make a decent number of knives!
My suspects are suspects, because they don't currently make enough darn knives!

My ABS Pro Bowlers for 2007

Harvey Dean, MS, TX
Jerry Fisk, MS, AR
Larry Fuegen, MS, AZ
Tim Hancock, MS, AZ

Kevin Cashen, MS, MI
Steve Dunn, MS, KY
Don Fogg, MS, CA
Ron Newton, MS, AR

E. Russ Andrews II, JS, MO
Burt Foster, MS, VA
Don Hanson III, MS, MO
Greg T. Neely, MS, TX

*******************

My Favorite Prospects

Tom Ferry, MS, WA
Jason Knight, MS, SC
Shawn McIntyre, JS, AU
Rodrigo Sfreddo, JS, BR
Nick Wheeler, JS WA
John White, MS, FL

*******************

My Favorite Suspects

Jon Christensen, MS WA
Jim Crowell, MS, AR
Adam DesRosier, JS, AK
Dan Farr, JS, NY
Tommy Gann, JS TX
Jim Rodebaugh, MS, WY



The names in each section are listed in alphabetical order.

 

[Kohai999]

Not many I would remove from the list, would add, for myself:

ABS Pro:

J.D. Smith, MS
Mike Ruth, JS

Prospects:
David Mirabile, JS(AWESOME ideas)
Matt Diskin, JS

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Starkman1]

Thanks guys. As a new collector this information is certainly helpfull. Might you also add a category for those that may be suspicious?
Bob

 

[Kevin Jones]

FWIW, This list is represents my personal opinion of who I think is doing the finest work in June of 2007, nothing more and nothing less. I am posting it here for the possible benefit of newer collectors of forged fixed blades. I know every person on this list and consider all of them to be honest good guys with superior skills. However, every knife must be judged on its own merit, because everybody on my exalted list is fully capable of making an artistical or technical lemon.

Names and stamps are not guarantees of greatness.

I agree with your list, however believe your Pro Bowler "names" (most anyway) are just that; a guarantee of greatness.

Have you gotten a knife of inferior quality from any of the top guys?

 

[ptgdvc]

Have you gotten a knife of inferior quality from any of the top guys?

In a word, NO. But your words "inferior quality" imply to me a serious flaw in execution or an obvious defect. EVERYONE, that I mentioned, simply would never allow that type of work out of their shop. There is a better chance of me walking on the moon.

Have I ever gotten a knife that could have had a little better finish on the blade? Or could have had a nicer handle material? Or had a very minor imperfection in the fit and finish? Yes, but it is very rare. However we are dealing with the handiwork of human beings after all. As long as the knife very closely approaches perfection, I am willing to cut the maker a tiny bit of slack. However, Danbo would...

 

[jdm61]

Hey Pete........are you on the State of Arkansas's payroll? There are, of course many more, but i will add a couple to the pool. You have to put Jay Hendricksen on one of those lists, along with Ed Caffrey. I would put Bruce Bump on the suspect list because you always have to suspect that he will have a knife with a gun barrel hidden somewhere on it And let's not forget Big John Fitch, John Perry and Lin Rhea. From what I have seen of their test knives, I think that Don Hanson and Joh White may blow the lid off of the MS judging this year.:thumbup: Oh, and by the way.......didn't Nick Wheeler just graduate form law school? Of COURSE he doesn't have time to make enough knives.....lol.

 

[NickWheeler]

Thanks for the mention Peter. I think

Nope Joe, it's Matt Roberts that just graduated from Law School... and he still makes more knives than I do!

I'll have 5, count 'em FIVE in one spot come next week

 

[RogerP]

Good list - no real disputes from me. Two guys that are on my pro list:

Bailey Bradshaw:

Dan Farr:

Roger

 

[SharpByCoop]

Prospects:
David Mirabile, JS(AWESOME ideas)

Steven, I agree 100%. I just did a secret photo shoot of some blades by David and his two Canadian protogé's for forging--Lightfoot and Lambert.

Just amazing! You will see soon enough.

Good list. Not one error, but probably still a few ommissions.

Coop

 

[Don Hanson III]

Thanks Peter!

See ya next week,

 

[RogerP]

Kirby's forging??

Roger

 

[ptgdvc]

Joe,

The darn brown paper bag from Arkansas didn't arrive. :grumpy: That is why I only mentioned 2 guys from Arkansas in the top 12. I thought seriously about dumping Fisk or Newton, but I figured some people might get bit suspicious, so I left them on my list.

Roger,

Tell Farr to start making some darn knives. He doesn't listen to me.

Nick,

You are welcome, now prove me right.

P

 

[jdm61]

Thanks for the mention Peter. I think

Nope Joe, it's Matt Roberts that just graduated from Law School... and he still makes more knives than I do!

I'll have 5, count 'em FIVE in one spot come next week

Ah...thats right..........so what's your "day job" excuse, bubba? lol

 

[Kohai999]

Ah...thats right..........so what's your "day job" excuse, bubba? lol

Nick works demolition at an extremely large manufacturing facility.

He can tear your head off with his thumb and forefinger, Joe, but is extremely courteous and polite.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[jdm61]

Nick works demolition at an extremely large manufacturing facility.

He can tear your head off with his thumb and forefinger, Joe, but is extremely courteous and polite.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

LOL.......so thats how he is able to pound out those big burly blades. I on the other hand, have these Casper Milquetoast wet noodle forearms and have to wear an elbow brace. That and lack of talent is my excuse for my pitiful output Judging by the quality of his work, I think that Nick could safely quit his day job at any time should he choose to do so:thumbup:

 

[Kohai999]

Judging by the quality of his work, I think that Nick could safely quit his day job at any time should he choose to do so:thumbup:

ROTFFLOL....

Nick tried that.....his lack of output forced him to get a day job....he skillfully combines ADD AND OCD into one burly package.....he actually has made more knives as a part timer than a full timer, there is no rhyme or reason to the lad.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

Rumor I heard was the city asked wheeler to stop forging , ya see he would forge with his shirt off , it was then noticed that when he did this , the absentee rate of girls from the surrounding high schools went up , so ya see , it was really for the good of the school system

Best of luck on yer testing at Blade Nick !!

 

[Joss]

Don Fogg is clearly in the top league, but his circumstances are particular in that I haven't seen any piece produced by him in a long time. I think he's resourcing his heart by teaching, mostly, right now.

 

[jdm61]

Rumor I heard was the city asked wheeler to stop forging , ya see he would forge with his shirt off , it was then noticed that when he did this , the absentee rate of girls from the surrounding high schools went up , so ya see , it was really for the good of the school system

Best of luck on yer testing at Blade Nick !!

Yeah, he is a bit too pretty to be a smith.......I would suggest growing a beer belly and an accent and colorful vocabulary.

 

[NickWheeler]

Just for the record, I'm only 5'10" and 215 lb.

All this talk about burly and ripping heads off.... I can see it playing out in Atlanta now, just like in Braveheart.

"You can't be Nick Wheeler. Nick Wheeler is 7 feet tall and can lift an entire cow with one finger."