San Francisco in damascus... why not?

R

Rodrigo Sfreddo

Joined
Dec 18, 2006
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136
Hello Folks! On the other post, we had a discussion about SF knives in damascus. I would like to see your opinions about this one:
Integral SF knife in a variation of W pattern and mammoth, sheath in stainless steel and damascus.

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There's a beautiful integral damascus SF knife in Phil Lobred's website, what about posting it here Phil? Regarding SF knives, we always want to hear what you have to speak!:thumbup:

Thank's for looking!
 
Rodrigo, That is an outstanding version of a classic style knife and an integral too!

Thank you for letting us have a look.

Take care

Charles
 
Rodrigo, I have always loved the SF style knives like that and that one really does it for me. Beautiful knife and execution. You are the man.
 
I'm not Phil, but we are both short...:D

Maker - T. M. Dowell
Damascus, integral construction.
T.M. Dowell damascus 6 3/8 blade, damascus inlays, gold fittings, damascus sheath.
Circa 1990

PROVENANCE

Knives: Points of Interest IV - Weyer-page 217
Knives 93-Warner - page 207
Blade- December 90 - page 46
Blade- November 92 - page 26

I'd like to add that Ted was not a bladesmith, and he made this damascus.

On behalf of Phil Lobred,

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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apart from it not being historically accurate, I'd say there is no good reason to avoid damascus on any knife design. Especially when you are so good not only at making the damascus, but at designing and building knives too.

I am very intrigued by where this could be going.

Apparently, there are plenty of short knife collectors out there, and at least three of them don't mind damascus SF styled knives so I say go for it!
 
very knice execution Rod.

but I have to say this is one knife design that is perhaps best left in the past.
 
Rodrigo,
I'm not a huge fan of SF knives... but yours is really awesome !

@ STeven : this "oldies goldies" Dowell is something special. Ted Dowell did actually make the most amazing integral knives I've ever heard of.
 
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Rodrigo,

This is a great modern inerpretation of a classic style of knife. The art is in the craftsmen's hands and in this case you have again produced a beautiful piece.

Thank you for picking up this thread, especially in such a classy way.

Jon
 
If you really like reproducing historically accurate knives this one probably don't work for you. BUT if you are interested in moving the art of knifemaking forward and interpreting classic designs this knife is an amazing example.

Marcel
 
I love your work, Rodrigo. But nothing I see in this thread, so far, does for me what a reasonably faithful reproduction of a SF knife does. Personal opinion only.

Ted Dowell's is amazingly closer to what I might consider true to a SF knife. But I still don't care for it as much as I do the same knife in a non-damascus, non-integral form. With or without gold, with or without embellishment.

Again, just my own opinion. When I see a "re-interpreted" California-style knife that I like at all, I will be the first to holler.

What I think might stir my blood, if it was able to rise to the occasion, would be a truer form or the handle, with embellishment, and just the right damascus in a SF style blade. I think that would stand a greater chance of winning me over. But again, only my opinion.

Using the SF knife below as an example, I can see where just the right damascus blade might work. But not a sheath of damascus and not a handle of damascus. Really piques my interest just to think about it, actually. So I'm at least to the point of envisioning.

orig.jpg
 
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Marcel54 said:
If you really like reproducing historically accurate knives this one probably don't work for you. BUT if you are interested in moving the art of knifemaking forward and interpreting classic designs this knife is an amazing example.

Marcel
Click to expand...

Well said Marcel, and it's fortunate that there's room for both preferences within the community. Personally, I appreciate both.

That said, aside from the blatant inaccuracy of using damascus, how far do other noted makers of SF daggers venture from historic accuracy? Steven Rapp, for example seems to be a stickler for accuracy.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Well said Marcel, and it's fortunate that there's room for both preferences within the community. Personally, I appreciate both.

That said, aside from the blatant inaccuracy of using damascus, how far do other noted makers of SF daggers venture from historic accuracy? Steven Rapp, for example seems to be a stickler for accuracy.
Click to expand...

Appreciating a maker's work, especially one as singularly skillful as is Rodrigo's, is one thing. I certainly appreciate the attempt to "re-create", to be innovative, but simply don't like the outcome nearly as well as something close to the original, in this particular case.

I would love to see another style of integral knife arise from his abilities with damascus. I love about every knife I have ever seen from him. Maybe another re-interpretation of the Bowie? So many of them seem to look alike today.
 
Kevin Jones said:
Well said Marcel, and it's fortunate that there's room for both preferences within the community. Personally, I appreciate both.
Click to expand...

I'm with both of you guys on this one. San Franciso knives are one of the most beautiful, elegant and complex subsets of contemporary custom cutlery. I love the faithful renditions of the old designs by the originators of the style - Michael Price, Will & Finck, et. al. But I also like the modern interpretations that reflect the contemporary makers' own artistic flair and design ideals. I wouldn't mind having a few of each in my collection, that's for sure.

I think this piece by Rodrigo is stunning.

Roger

PS - Lobred is no doubt THE MAN when it comes to SF knives. If you like the style, you need to check out the photos of his outstanding collection at: http://www.sanfranciscoknives.com/index.html
 
Kevin Jones said:
That said, aside from the blatant inaccuracy of using damascus, how far do other noted makers of SF daggers venture from historic accuracy? Steven Rapp, for example seems to be a stickler for accuracy.
Click to expand...

As a side note, I can pretty much guarantee that if the Knifemakers of San Francisco had access to damascus, they would have used it.

The knives of Michael Price and Will and Finck were(to quote Phil)".....magnificent new styles of dress bowies and daggers, using local products like gold, silver and finely inlayed abalone shell, or carved walrus ivory."

The California or San Francisco dress knife was as much a status symbol as could be had during the gold rush, both practical and beautiful.

In answer to the above question, Steven Rapp has access to quite a number of San Francisco knives, and takes meticulous notes.....many makers do not have this access, and thusly, cannot be faulted for some degree of deviation from classic examples.

It's like Loveless style knifemakers that have never had much time around Loveless knives....no direct frame of reference for weight, balance or proportions.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I think Rodrigo has done a fantastic job when it comes to re-interpreting the handle of the "typical" Bowie, as well as the blade design - which ends up being one magnificent feast of integral metal. Look at Jon Klein's latest get from Rodrigo. Absolutely amazing. But don't screw with the handle of a SF knife because just about any "re-interpretation" makes it less of a creation.

I prefer seeing a wrap around the handle on a SF knife. Doing the wrap well is an art all unto itself. To me, much of the beauty of a SF knife has to do with it being non-integral. The art of the parts, so to speak. And most are in the handle.

Rodrigo's integral knife scores with me, but not as a SF style knife. For me, they require parts, as silly as that might sound.
 
Kohai999 said:
As a side note, I can pretty much guarantee that if the Knifemakers of San Francisco had access to damascus, they would have used it.

The knives of Michael Price and Will and Finck were(to quote Phil)".....magnificent new styles of dress bowies and daggers, using local products like gold, silver and finely inlayed abalone shell, or carved walrus ivory."

The California or San Francisco dress knife was as much a status symbol as could be had during the gold rush, both practical and beautiful.

In answer to the above question, Steven Rapp has access to quite a number of San Francisco knives, and takes meticulous notes.....many makers do not have this access, and thusly, cannot be faulted for some degree of deviation from classic examples.

It's like Loveless style knifemakers that have never had much time around Loveless knives....no direct frame of reference for weight, balance or proportions.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

As I typed my first post and inserted the image, I could visually imagine a damascus blade. No doubt about it.
 
betzner said:
Appreciating a maker's work, especially one as singularly skillful as is Rodrigo's, is one thing. I certainly appreciate the attempt to "re-create", to be innovative, but simply don't like the outcome nearly as well as something close to the original, in this particular case.

I would love to see another style of integral knife arise from his abilities with damascus. I love about every knife I have ever seen from him. Maybe another re-interpretation of the Bowie? So many of them seem to look alike today.
Click to expand...

I respectfully dis-agree Bob at least pertaining to ABS forged bowies.
Rather than taking this thread totally off-course I will address your bolded comment above in another thread, as I would much like to get other's opinion on the subject as I believe it an interesting and productive topic to cover.
 
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