'Purity of the curve' • The works of Jeffrey Cornwell

[betzner]

Some makers have exceptional skills, and many do not. Championing those with lacking skills and inferior results is not something to be proud of. Encouraging, guiding and educating to a higher level IS something to strive for and attempt with all contacts. I'm not really sure which side of the scale you are on in this particular case, and it really doesn't matter much, does it?

Those of you that would be proud to own these knives should let me know at some point in our interactions. It would be quite telling. I suspect that Coop, Murray White and Bob Betzner would be the only friends I have that would, but am always open to surprise.
STeven Garsson

I only just picked up on this thread, so figured whether late to the party or not, I'd comment.

STeven, you're right on, when encouragement is heaped on the undeserving for too long a time - it's a negative thing.

As to the lovely things imaged above, outstanding job by Coop as always, but I don't count these lovelies as knives. Many pointy things are not knives, some are art (as here), but knives, not in my eye. I believe the artist even mentions it to Coop, right? If you remember my Cobra by JeanMarc LaRouche, that's a very decent mix of art and knife - where I think it's still a knife, esp with Friedrich Schneider's stainless damascus.

I see much beauty in this thread, but count it more as artistic endeavor than bladesmithing.

Best,

Bob

EDIT: I don't want to misdirect the thread, but think this point is relevant. Some may remember I was drawn for the Jurgen Steinau "Big Knife with Hook" at the 2009 AKI. I love his work, but there was no good way to actually hold the "knife". Another example where I place an object into the "art" category, rather than call it "knife". But it's all just one person's perception over another's. Didn't some obscure English playwright/poet once write "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"...?

 

[SharpByCoop]

STeven dislikes my attempts to showcase one artist's work with, at the very least, an edge and/or a point. Wrong forum. On this same forum page today, he's showing off a damascus spoon. HUH?

Bob, did you even absorb that Jeffrey doesn't call them 'knives'. Why must you belabor this? You're showing off a case today. Now you're comparing one of your collection sculptures as 'better'?

Because every once in a while we have things in our cadre of knife-related passions that might not fit in the mold. But this expansion doesn't diminish, it grows and expands our awareness and appreciations.

What really chaps me, as you should imagine, is how wrong I am for 'championing' mediocrity. I will tell you that I am VERY proud to own this guitar blade/sculpture/dagger. So much so that if it's 'telling' to you that I do so, then it's 'telling me' to look elsewhere for proper friendship. Truth be told, and maybe (probably) it's me, but I felt the equivalent of being spat upon. Now twice.

Talk about your likes or dislikes about Jeffrey's blades. That's relevant. Talking about 'improper postings' and 'championing mediocrity' to someone who has done as much good for this community as I've tried, well THAT'S simply poor etiquette.

Kumbaya.

Coop

 

[betzner]

Bob, did you even absorb that Jeffrey doesn't call them 'knives'. Why must you belabor this? You're showing off a case today. Now you're comparing one of your collection sculptures as 'better'.

Coop

Coop, my entire response was to make a point about opinions that drive us all. I think a thread like this is, indeed, a great place to display the works you have here. I think it's also the appropriate place to discuss the confluence of knife and tool, which is what I obviously (to me, at least) was trying to do.

Did I even absorb that the artist doesn't call them knives? Please re-read my thread and you'll notice my comments "...but knives, not in my eye. I believe the artist even mentions it to Coop, right?"

I'm not belaboring anything here, and indeed, mentioned that I see beautiful work ("I see much beauty in this thread) - which simply fits into my theme of "knife or art". Mentioning that encouragement can come too often for some was a completely generic comment and did not, in any way, speak to you or the artist you are showcasing here. Don't get your bussel (sp) in an uproar. And the comment about the case, come on now.

I think if you re-read my thread, you may hopefully come away with a bit different interpretation.

Bob

 

[Kohai999]

STeven dislikes my attempts to showcase one artist's work with, at the very least, an edge and/or a point. Wrong forum. On this same forum page today, he's showing off a damascus spoon. HUH?

What really chaps me, as you should imagine, is how wrong I am for 'championing' mediocrity. I will tell you that I am VERY proud to own this guitar blade/sculpture/dagger. So much so that if it's 'telling' to you that I do so, then it's 'telling me' to look elsewhere for proper friendship. Truth be told, and maybe (probably) it's me, but I felt the equivalent of being spat upon. Now twice.

Talk about your likes or dislikes about Jeffrey's blades. That's relevant. Talking about 'improper postings' and 'championing mediocrity' to someone who has done as much good for this community as I've tried, well THAT'S simply poor etiquette.

Kumbaya.

Coop

Devin Thomas is a maker of pattern welded steel specifically tailored to the custom knife industry, and occasionally makes KNIVES.....recently he has made a few spoons. There would be far more appreciation, imo, from the custom knife community for this than say, Gallery, as there is no frame of reference....I did however, reconsider, and request that it be moved to the "Kitchen Knives s/f" where it will no doubt languish...whatever.

I RESENT your championing of forms that deviate drastically from the knife world, and do not think "it grows and expands our awareness and appreciations"....I think it is self indulgent and every bit as bad judgement as when I go after a maker with negative comments, but that is MY opinion. I think "knives as a metaphor" is a giant pile of dogshit, and people who champion them are bound to wind up very much on the wrong side of me.

I'm not spitting on you....I have much love for you. For your taste in knives? Not much....We are in a different room when the question of that commonality is put up. As a friend, I have every right, as do you, to question and engage, even on occasion to disparage.....friends do that, yunno, some do it exclusively? If a "not friend" tried it, they would be unsuccessful.

I'll take the hits, and criticisms, and own them. You shouldn't act so butthurt when you get some too. We both take risks, and garner rewards when we are "right", the public lashings don't hurt that bad, do they? Only if you have an ego bigger than your philanthropy.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[2knife]

Steven,
This may be irrelevant, but i myself have not been convinced damascus is a necessary feature to any knife.. You might feel different?. Those who champion the "art" should not be overly finicky that it doesnt qualify to their eyes, by some esoteric quality of usefulness to function, as in the spoon analogy Coop referenced. These knives required an artist's eye to imagine and execute. I'd say he acheived his goals, very effectively. They may not fit your ideas.. Fine. Shouldnt give you or anyone a license to disparage another's work.
On the arguement of whether a "knife" is a meaningless debate. if it has a point it can put an eye out. (the ultimate test)

 

[Kohai999]

Steven,
This may be irrelevant, but i myself have not been convinced damascus is a necessary feature to any knife......if it has a point it can put an eye out. (the ultimate test)

Pencils can put an eye out....not a knife.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[ddd]

Lucky for us all that such a discussion is kept on a
knife talk Forum and not on the floor of some knife show,
with hundreds of real knives within arms reach....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[Kohai999]

Lucky for us all that such a discussion is kept on a knife talk Forum and not on the floor of some knife show,
with hundreds of real knives within arms reach....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

You have never seen me in a such a discussion on the floor of some knife show, David, but I do it at just about every show....often with the maker....this year at Blade, David(2knife) Jim Treacy and myself had a heated, yet civil discussion of this type in the CKCA booth....we were all handling knives at the time.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Lorien]

I equally value the criticisms, as they force me to look ever closer at my work.

To Jim; regardless of what these pieces are called, they have bevels which either are or could be sharpened and I think it's very good that these pieces are being discussed in this forum. Your championing of Mr. Cornwell's work is not inappropriate in my view. I like to think that by posting the works of their chosen makers, admirers can help a maker find his or her path and that is valuable. Not kumbaya or fanboyism necessarily.

To Mr. Cornwell; as for critique, I find that in some of the pattern welded versions, there could be a lot more 'play' on the material. They look to me kind of like a blank canvas with a plan sketched onto it, that hasn't yet been completed. The forms are there, but there is something missing.
If damascus is to be used, well, much of the interest that lies in damascus is that one can never see the entirety of the pattern which lies beneath, but when slices are taken away one gets a peek. Not that there isn't that, but I feel it could be accentuated without becoming overwhelming.

I appreciate that the edge bevel on some of the pieces is singular in the way that attention is drawn to it since there are no other planes, but to my eye, it's not enough. Perhaps a reason for doing it this way is to accentuate the 'blade' aspect? If so, I don't personally feel that's required, for the reasons noted in your post.

By far, the guitar is the most compelling to me, and that lies in taking advantage of all three dimensions. There is interest generated by creating various planes and surfaces. Not to mention color and texture.

If I were to suggest to you a knife maker to study for inspiration, it would be Jurgen Steineau.

Your mark is a little too prominent for my tastes, and distracts from the visual flow that you are trying to establish.

Now take all that with a grain of salt. It is one view only, and notably is based upon a 2 dimensional single view representation of your work, on a computer screen. As with any knife, full appreciation and understanding can only be had in beholding the actual piece itself.

 

[tom mayo]

That last one is great......I love it!!!!!!

 

[brownshoe]

Most of the knives on this "custom and handmade knives" forum are never really used. All of the "fighting knives" are tools of a long gone era. These "custom and handmade knives" are treated like art that is sometimes displayed, but also locked up in cases to be seen only when released. Are they really knives if never used...are they art if never displayed?

For Cornwell, his work is art that happens to be a blade, rather than a blade that happens to be art. Dislike or like as you wish, there is honor, talent and vision in his work. It is both custom and handmade and thus belongs in this forum. As he says "I just do what I do. Call it whatever you want."

Handmade spoons are made out of a variety of materials and is an artform that is old and common, but spoons are not knives even if made by a knifemaker

 

[Jensen Knives]

I'm pretty sure I picked a few of these for inclusion in "500 Knives", which I curated. (?) I especially like the "Manta Ray"

 

[betzner]

"THREAD NECROMANCY IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED."

Just thought you might want to be aware of the attitude with respect to bringing really old threads back to life, even though anything by Coop is excellent subject matter.