New WE/Isham Bladeworks collabs.

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Blackfish775

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Jan 26, 2014
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Browsing on Instagram and a couple of knives caught my eye. The large one in the middle is the Zeta which has been around for a bit, the purple one (which also comes in a gold colorway) is the ÆternA, and the gold one is the Pleroma. I love the wharncliffe bades on both, and I'm excited to get the ÆternA into my hand.

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They are definitely cool designs as expected from Elijah at this point. The Pleroma is a tad too small for my taste. And I am not a fan of the little angle/corner on the Aeterna near the tip, it would be the one to consider
 
I like the Pleroma; it has a nice Swayback-esque form when closed, and a lovely blade shape. I’m a little displeased that they chose that particular model to incorporate thumbstuds over a discrete flipper tab, but less upset because that saves me from agonizing over yet another $250+ knife.
 
Comeuppance said:
I like the Pleroma; it has a nice Swayback-esque form when closed, and a lovely blade shape. I’m a little displeased that they chose that particular model to incorporate thumbstuds over a discrete flipper tab, but less upset because that saves me from agonizing over yet another $250+ knife.
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Elijah mentioned that he used thumbstuds because he had no way to hide a flipper tab in the open position, so he came up with the "floating thumbstuds".
 
I think they look very unique and a bit neat but not I gotta have one. I think they executed the designs nicely from the photos I've seen. I like the use of all that carbon fiber which is what draws most of my attention.
 
Comeuppance said:
I like the Pleroma; it has a nice Swayback-esque form when closed, and a lovely blade shape. I’m a little displeased that they chose that particular model to incorporate thumbstuds over a discrete flipper tab, but less upset because that saves me from agonizing over yet another $250+ knife.
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The Pleroma is my fav of those as well. I love those swayback designs.

That said I find lots of WEs knives along with many chinese high end producers like Rike to be overdesigned. Even if they are cool they are overdone in a way where it is probably not the knife I would choose to take out with me.
 
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You're missing quite a few designs he has coming out of WE right now. Including, but not limited to, one knife he teased on his instagram the other day, his slipjoint model, and I do believe he had one more in the works.
 
`br4dz- said:
You're missing quite a few designs he has coming out of WE right now. Including, but not limited to, one knife he teased on his instagram the other day, his slipjoint model, and I do believe he had one more in the works.
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You are correct. I didn't go through his Instagram and post all of his upcoming knife designs. I posted the ones that I am most excited for. Also the Söze, the Minitherium, and the Theta are Kizer designs, not WE. And the slipjoint you mentioned, the Blackstar, is an independent design. (http://knifenews.com/elijah-ishams-new-solo-project-is-a-twist-on-traditionals/)
 
Admittedly a little too "artsy" for me.

I tried to come up with a better word but nuttin happened...

Not to knock those that like them, they are just not for me.
 
Isham We knives make me feel like the designer is just trying a little too hard to be unique. The Zeta is the most cohesive design overall (I teach illustration and design at a private art college) and comes close to being an EDC knife. It appears to be the most user friendly model. Unfortunately, after buying and returning a We Zeta, I'm pretty reluctant to try another even crazier Isham design. The Zeta was a handful of hotspots for me.

The We Eschaton handle with the Arrakis blade above would almost make an okay user with an artsy design (with a complete redesign of blade cutouts). Unfortunately, the Arrakis has too many cutouts and design lines that don't make a lot of sense from an art and design point of view leaving ergonomics completely out of the equation.

Quick Photoshop job of the Arrakis blade in an Eschaton handle:
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Perhaps as more of a true wharncliffe plus a little less curve on the spine of the blade (in the swedge area).
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augustus88 said:
Perhaps as more of a true wharncliffe plus a little less curve on the spine of the blade (in the swedge area).
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But that blade doesn't match the handle.

Also, I think that "don't make a lot of sense from an art" point of view shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what art is. I think that you or I can have opinions on whether the blade is GOOD art, but the artist/designer used his own values and aesthetics to create a blade/piece of art that works with his design/internal logic. You don't like the blade? Sure, great. But the idea that ART has to make sense is.... flawed.
 
His designs look cool but all that empty space just doesn't work for me and yeah the Swayback style design on the one almost has me wanting one but the thumbstud is a big no for me among my other issues with all of his designs.
 
Blackfish775 said:
But that blade doesn't match the handle.

Also, I think that "don't make a lot of sense from an art" point of view shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what art is. I think that you or I can have opinions on whether the blade is GOOD art, but the artist/designer used his own values and aesthetics to create a blade/piece of art that works with his design/internal logic. You don't like the blade? Sure, great. But the idea that ART has to make sense is.... flawed.
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I have a fundamental misunderstanding of what art is?!?!

I’m professionally trained and have 28 years of professional art and design experience (not just teaching, but working for major studios). My wife is a professional designer with 27 years of experience as well. I’m pretty sure I understand what art is.

There are design principles that apply to art and design, not just whatever the “artist” wants to express however they want to express it. Professional artists don’t just express themselves with their values and aesthetic. There are time tested design principles that should be applied to an artist’s personal aesthetic so they can communicate effectively with their intended audience.

Art doesn’t have to make sense if the artists wants to perpetuate the starving artist stereotype. Successful professional artists (animators, illustrators, graphic designers, industrial designers, etc.) create artwork that makes sense and communicates with their intended audience.

Mr Isham’s Zeta is an outstanding and very harmonious design. The Eschaton and Arrakis have interesting design elements, but both have awkward spots that could be improved with design element changes. The swayback previously posted is also a very cohesive design with the exception of the thumb stud.
 
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