My 2011 ABS Pro Bowler, Prospects & Suspects Update

ptgdvc

ptgdvc

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Four years ago I posted this thread and it needs a little updating.

LINK to original thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Bowlers-Prospects-amp-Suspects?highlight=2007

My 2007 ABS Pro Bowlers, Prospects & Suspects

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.

My 2011 List Slightly Modified Top 16, it was absolutely brutal holding it to 16!

2015 will be 20 or 24 for sure. The two categories are divided by seniority, not skill.

The ABS Old Guard

Russ Andrews, MS MO
Kevin Cashen, MS MI
Harvey Dean, MS TX
Steve Dunn, MS KY
Jerry Fisk, MS AR
Larry Fuegen, MS AZ
Tim Hancock, MS AZ
Ron Newton, MS AR

ABS Young Turks

Tom Ferry, MS WA
Burt Foster, MS VA
Don Hanson III, MS MO
Jason Knight, MS SC
Shawn McIntyre, MS Australia
Rodrigo Sfreddo, MS Brazil
Nick Wheeler, JS
John White, MS FL

Top Prospects

Bruce Bump, MS WA
Adam DesRosiers, MS AK
Haley DesRosiers, JS AK
Tommy Gann, MS TX
John Horrigan, MS TX
David Lisch, JS WA
Tad Lynch, JS AR
Mike Quesenberry, JS CA
Lin Rea, MS AR
Kyle Royer, MS
Mike Ruth Sr., JS TX
Mike Ruth Jr., JS TX

Top Suspects

Jon Christensen, MS WA
Michael Conner, MS TX
Jim Crowell, MS AR
Dan Farr, JS NY
Don Fogg, MS ME (Retired?)
Greg Neely, MS TX
Jim Rodebaugh, MS WY
 
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Interesting.

I don't know enough to make a list of the old guard or top prospects and suspects, but if I were to make a list of ABS Young Turks it would be very similar to yours, except that I would swap out Shawn McIntyre and put in Kyle Royer, and I don't know enough about Tom Ferry's work.
 
Rodebaugh made over 70 knives last year... how many do you think is enough? The problem is that most people don't see enough of them and he doesn't get enough pictures. Besides the ones he made for sporting classic
 
Hey Peter,

That is what you get....."You didn't list my favorite"..."You didn't put my favorite in "X" category"! LOL

BTW, you forgot Scott McGhee in top prospects :D
 
Well, there are a lot of guys that should at least be ahead of me, if not simply replacing my name on the list... But I do appreciate the mention Peter. :)
 
NickWheeler said:
Well, there are a lot of guys that should at least be ahead of me, if not simply replacing my name on the list... But I do appreciate the mention Peter. :)
Click to expand...

I confess I have a blind spot where your knives are concerned Nick.
 
Peter,
What critetia did you use, deciding those who qualify to be on your list?
David
 
All of your Young Turks are pretty much in a class of their own, Ferry and Foster have a business sense developed enough to ideologically give a newly minted MBA a headache.

Don Fogg told me two years ago that he was pretty much done making knives...I doubt that you will see many more from him, if any, he seemed pretty sincere....he will be the next Jim Schmidt in my estimation, by nature of limited pieces, high desirability and rapid rising prices.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
2knife said:
Peter,
What critetia did you use, deciding those who qualify to be on your list?
David
Click to expand...

1. Raw technical skill, the ability to approach perfection in all aspects of the build.

2. Understanding of flow and proportion in the design.

3. A large body of work that is pleasing to my eye.

4. Being a good honest guy.

There is probably more, so I'll think about this some more.

P
 
2knife said:
I believe merit should be based on better knife design, performance qualities- if not more than technical bravura. (aestheitic) perfection, at least on equal footing. You have a popular group there, and much talent. But how do you quantify talent? You cant. You can say, these are the ones who impress you most! A list of names is more "exclusionary" than beneficial, even as a rough "guide" to consumers it is misleading.
My personal opinion...
David
Click to expand...

That is your personal feeling, David, and you are free to NOT produce an exclusionary list or to continue to promote Ed Fowler knives in the manner that you do....which could conceivably be biased at best.

If nothing else, Peter's list is good for discussion and spirited debate, and as long as that is inclusive and intelligent, how can that be bad?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
2knife said:
Steven,
While i am trying to figure out the context of your post, how many makers on Peter's list (do you think) makes a better working knife than Bill Burke? I'll wait for your answer..
David
Click to expand...

Context?

The context is that it is a baseline to begin discussion. Pretty simple.

Better than Burke? I think that there are makers that have more attractive ways of signing their blades than Bill but I don't know about better. I didn't create this list, Peter did, If it was my list, Bill would be in the Top Prospects category. He just had a knife listed in Food and Wine magazine by a Top New Chef if you did not know, although he was quoted as calling Bill a "blacksmith from Oregon".

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
2knife said:
Peter,
will you please edit your list and add Ed Fowler's name to the top? Thanks! Steven will be disappointed in
me if i do not ask.
David
Click to expand...

A signature is very important. It affects the aesthetics of the knife in many ways....it can throw off the entire look. Master chef’s are fond of saying, “We eat with our eyes first”, but did you know there’s research to back it up? Never discount the power of aesthetics.

You seemed not-at-all obtuse at Blade....meds not working tonight?

OTHERS are certainly able to discuss their preferences or offer their own observations, but Peter's list is Peter's list....it doesn't need amendment.

If you don't like it, and find the subject/list making off-putting, then STFU and go sit on a different side of the room. People disagree, they do it with me all the time.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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