New Hogstrom Dagger

[SharpByCoop]

Nice pic.

Would you buy it?...Probably one of the most important questions.

THanks for the pic props. Came out good.

"Would I buy it?" Thats a preposterous question tossed flippantly at me, to the expense of the maker and buyer.

It is unimportant, or rather, irrelevant, even though I applaud the work.

No. I wouldn't buy THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of the knives I photograph and enjoy admiring. I wouldn't buy a Loveless, unless it was a super deal to return a profit. That doesn't make them unworthy for the next guy.

I have the ability, more than most, to appraise knives candidly and positively. I do NOT have the ability to remark in any negative way. You understand this. This has given me a chance to look and find the goodness in any work. Sometimes it's near impossible. Other times, like now, it's completely apparent and easy.

The owner is happy, and so is the maker. :thumbup:

Coop

 

[Kohai999]

THanks for the pic props. Came out good.

It did.:thumbup:

"Would I buy it?" Thats a preposterous question tossed flippantly at me, to the expense of the maker and buyer.

That's bullshit, amigo...it wasn't flippant....it's the bottom line. It's EASY to toss out compliments if you are not willing to put the mortgage money on the line....I have. My Sensei is famous for this: "Talk is easy, action is difficult....Action is easy, true understanding is difficult" To understand...you must do. To do, you must talk...You are doing the first part, but do the second part VERY selectively...this is not necessarily enlightened...or enlightening. I can't tell you what to say, but can only comment....and what you say does not pass the smell test. If you cannot be honest, then it may be advantageous to do what I do......and say nothing.

It is unimportant, or rather, irrelevant, even though I applaud the work.

No. I wouldn't buy THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of the knives I photograph and enjoy admiring. I wouldn't buy a Loveless, unless it was a super deal to return a profit. That doesn't make them unworthy for the next guy.

As far as Loveless goes, the question is...are you going for greatness or a return? My Dixon Fighter is one of the best The Shop has ever put out...I know it, and so do the few fortunate enough to handle it...However it does not need to be both...it could be one or the other.

I was taken to task for pointing out my experiences on another subforum for stating what I thought was obvious and it involved the education of "the new" collector...it isn't all sunshine and roses, and I don't want to fight with you over this, but how does championing the willfully different and not necessarily sell-able or re-sellable in the grand scheme of things advance knife collecting?

I have the ability, more than most, to appraise knives candidly and positively. I do NOT have the ability to remark in any negative way. You understand this.

I do, and so, must be significantly more forceful in advancing "my vision" and "my thoughts"....you get paid to do this in the abstract, and I, possibly, do not.....If I must be "responsible" in my feeback, it should be doubly required of you, and not tossed off lightly.

Fondly, and Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[SharpByCoop]

^^ And there you have it..!

Thanks for your thoughts. Understood, if not completely agreed.

Coop

 

[RogerP]

I really don't see "would you buy it?" as a meaningful barometer of an individual's honest assessment of a knife.

There are may knives that I sincerely admire - from the standpoint of design, materials and execution - and yet would not buy simply because they don't accord with my particular personal preferences.

For example - there are a great many elaborate Buster Warenski art daggers in respect of which I stand in near speechless admiration. And yet I would not buy them (even if funds permitted) simply because art daggers aren't really "me".

There are other examples I could give, but this should suffice. Such knives haven't failed some bottom-line test - they simply don't represent the type of knife I buy. My personal preferences do not define all that is worthy in the field of custom knives.

Roger

President, DKCA (Dilettante Knife Collector's Association)

 

[mostho]

Piece of art again Don!

 

[Kohai999]

I really don't see "would you buy it?" as a meaningful barometer of an individual's honest assessment of a knife.

There are may knives that I sincerely admire - from the standpoint of design, materials and execution - and yet would not buy simply because they don't accord with my particular personal preferences.

Perhaps a better way to phrase it could be "Could you see yourself purchasing it at some point?" or "Would you encourage someone who has the means and interest in this type of knife to purchase it?"

Sometimes a knife comes along that is so different but compelling the collector must have it....kind of like Bob Betzner with the Mardi sculpture thingy.

This is not meant to be absolute or doctrinaire....but if you are not willing to commit something more than "that's a great knife" or some variation of that, how is that helpful?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[BowieBooster]

The more I look at Coop's photo, the more I love this dagger. But, there were NEVER rings on a medieval dagger hilt, and this one looks like it should have a trigger inside it. For the sake of symmetry, if the ring was non-negotiable, I'd at least have put one on the other side to balance things out. If not for that damned ring, that dagger would be a masterpiece, IMO. The creative use of the materials, the (otherwise) historical accurancy of the design (handle material is definately fodder for creativity!!!) and the extreme beauty of it is just amazing considering the simplicity of the design.

If it didn't have the damned ringy-thingy, I WOULD buy it, funds permitting.

 

[Lorien]

I find no fault with this knife, nothing looks forced to me and it looks 'natural' and flowing.
It is a compelling knife, very interesting and if I had the means, I would have no quams in owning it. In fact, I'd rather own this knife over many of the knives that many folks seem to gravitate toward. I really appreciate the Art intrinsic with its design and the aesthetic applied to its surface.

Talking about how a one of a kind, hand made creation could be different than what it actually is is more of a mental masturbation than a comment on the object, most times. It is what it is!

 

[Kohai999]

Talking about how a one of a kind, hand made creation could be different than what it actually is is more of a mental masturbation than a comment on the object, most times. It is what it is!

Could be Garssonized, though....and that would change it significantly. Often for me, I RE-make that which offends....you can view it as "unintended collaboration", or in the case of some artisans who view it negatively as "artistic rape".

Best Regards,

STeven Garssson

 

[Lorien]

I can't imagine modifying an Art Knife to suit my own aesthetic. Modifying a 'tool knife' so that it fits better and functions better is very different.
To me, buying a piece of Art means I've bought into the Artist's vision and personally I'd see it as a transgression of their vision to modify it for my own pleasure.
Different strokes for different folks though, eh!

 

[Anders Hogstrom]

I enjoy creating knives in styles that never were....it's not the objective but it certainly doesn't prohibit my train of thought either. I simply make what gets into my mind. SOmetimes the shape of the blade comes to me at the bus stop, the way a shadow falls on the structure thus giving me a sliver shape that in my mind forms a blade or an idea that I go with. Other times I doodle, while at the phone perhaps...drawing something very small and very fast but establishing a general shape that I then make larger free hand. I don't get hung up on traditional shapes, "must dos" or anything else that doesn't fit the picture in my head.

If it appeals to S. Garsson or not is not exactly a concern but all input is interesting to read

 

[Danbo]

Ignore Garsson.

I like the knife a lot as it is, but would LOVE it without the ring.

 

[Kohai999]

If it appeals to S. Garsson or not is not exactly a concern but all input is interesting to read

You made the piece because you wanted to, and like the design. Someone else must have felt the same way(Pretty sure it is Mike T. who is NUTS, btw, I've known him since 1994) so the sellability factor was not a problem for you either.

Perhaps you are unconcerned with mass appeal, and if that does not affect your sellability, more power to you....many artists do not find themselves in such a fortunate position.

As tattoo artist during the '90's and then a textile/clothing designer for most of this decade, most of the designs I created were for those with "less refined" artistic sensabilities.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Anders Hogstrom]

Hard to ignore - he's all over the place

Well, I do what I do and some like it while some don't, a part of life. If there weren't any collectors/users of what we makers create there wouldn't be any makers either so both parties are equally as important and isn't it just so very convenient that we all don't have the same taste....would be a very boring world to exist in.

A