remaking ie copying a knife

[stephenl]

I have spoken with Kevin Cashen and probably will send the knife to him after I get it back from Kenny Rowe. I don't know what a maker would charge to do this knife. Integrals have a reputation for being time consuming and quite expensive. Every knife I've ever owned or seen went into a catagory ie fighter, skinner etc. And many times I've said and read that no one knife design does it all. I now know thats simply not true. It's the design that's defective. Some of the Scagel -Fisk - Moran - knives with the Persian influence in the blades are on the right track. But Porter either by design or luck, forged this knife and it is "perfect" in either catagory and should be pretty much indestructible to boot being an integral design. There is not one bit of ornamentation nor anything extraneous on the knife. The simplicity and flowing lines and feel make it "beautifull". The blade flows into the hilt handle
area in such a manner I cannot say "the blade starts here" or the "handle starts here" they just kinda "morph" or "flow" together. It does have a hilt "area" but that kinda slides into the blade in one direction and the handle in the other. Porter may not have made another one in his life like this. I've seen his Bowie Knives and there is a Damascus Fighter on the web I've seen that are simply knives much like anyone elses. I have no idea why once he made this knife he didn't just re-produce it over and over. Maybe it was "too hard" or "too time consuming" or not popular enough. Maybe he did reproduce it, but I can't find one, and it was hammered over 24 years ago. I write too much about this knife every time I start and I apologize. Still looking for great knifemakers that would like to re-make the best designed knife I've ever seen at a reasonable cost. Thanks a lot for replying.

not to offend but being Porter nephew and knowing that he took months to make A knife reproducing it would be very very hard. I don't think trying to reproduce it he would mind because he did a couple himself 1 being a left handed small fighting sword now it was in damascus and there are many out there so not sure how true to any sword it was. Then there is the Bowie he made which I do have a pic of. I think if the if the person that tried did not put the love in it that he did with the feel where guard seem with hand and the file work i have seen on some of his knives he might take offence. what is sad is that a great artisan is gone and he is always missed but thanks to all the collectors he will be missed each of his knives are one of a kind.

 

[stephenl]

While I keep reading how much makers hate to reproduce or copy someone elses work, I see it fairly frequently...also I have drawn up knives which have had influence from existing knives and then had them made to my specs. I think a drawing of your interpretation of a knife may go over better than saying "will you make me a knife like the one so and so made."

when it comes to a Damascus blades making a exact copy is vutaly impossible. you can copy the shape of the blade the dasign of the handle and such but the blade will always be different in some way because the metal takes on a life of its own to a point. even the reproductions that porter did do are not identical to the originals do to them being damascus.

 

[J. Doyle]

Holy Resurrected Thread, Batman!!!

+1.................again.......

 

[rlrifle]

This is really interesting stuff I know this is a long shot but please post some pictures of Mr Porters knives I have a Skinner from him

 

[erik markman]

+1.................again.......

Keep it going.