Photos SharpByCoop's Gallery of Handmade Knives

Serge Panchenko said:
Those Walkers are unbelievable Jim, I'm jealous that you got to handle them. The lever in the circle locking system is so intriguing!
Click to expand...
Yeah, Serge. Michael's locks are always different and legendary.

The lever slips into that long square channel in both positions.

That round disk-lock above needs to be pulled back about 2mm and then it disengages the lock to open or close. You can see the extra movement in my inset.

Michael liked these images so much he emailed me for prints. My client likes color. So do I. :D

Coop
 
I would like to thank you Mr. Cooper.
I do not know any other "knife nuts" in person, nor apparently do any of my friends or family. So for years I have been questioned if not out right pesterd and heckled as to my little hobby (if drooling over Knives far beyond my budget can be considerd a hobby :)). This from people who collect bottle caps, stamps, coins, Bibles, spoons, salt and pepper shakers, figurines of pigs, frogs, flamingos, clowns.....and yet im the strange one. Go figure.

So when I could get a person interested in what knife I am carrying or talking about I would direct them to some randomly searched blade to possibly further their interest. Or on a more recent basis here to BF and like as not probably one or your threads. But now I direct the curious to your website (the first of its kind I have seen) this wonderful sort of one-stop-shop of the artistry that can be found in the knife making craft.

So yes I would like to thank you for the passion you show in your profession and bringing the artistry of all these wonderful knife makers to a greater audience.
 
^^^ Hi odd :),

Yes. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. It's a resource back to the community.

There are any number of competent photographers to select, yet I try to give back more than you paid.

Crazily, I use the search feature on my own website as often as anyone. it's so fast, I don't have to dig through my own myriad of files on my computer and backup hard drives, etc. Once I find the filename, locating it is immediate for me.

Mostly it's a great resource to show just how engaging our collectible field is. Non-knife people pause and go "Wow. I never imagined."

Wait till they get the price tags! :eek:

Thanks again.

Jim
 
Beautiful work, Coop, as always. To echo Odd in his post above, your passion and professionalism set you apart from the rest. You have delivered the wonderful world of custom knives to every corner of the globe. If ever there was a non-knifemaker deserving of Hall of Fame status, it's you my friend.
 
Thank you, Buddy. What a compliment!

I have plenty of interests. Among them is a small watch collection. I do not own the big names and I'm easily pleased. I DO, however, like mechanical watches.

Here's one I just acquired new:

orig.jpg


If you think knife photography is specific, try watches. Wow. You can tell I worked this one hard, and I did. Lighting, and editing a layout.

I like that these Parnis watches are not clones or fakes. They are just nice quality watches made in Asia. This one cost less than $100. Bottom feeder: ME.

Now, back to the studio for cutlery... ;)

Coop
 
Coop I am a big watch guy also.I have and still own many wathces from a lot of big name companys and am here to say that is a damb fine watch.

SharpByCoop said:
Thank you, Buddy. What a compliment!

I have plenty of interests. Among them is a small watch collection. I do not own the big names and I'm easily pleased. I DO, however, like mechanical watches.

Here's one I just acquired new:

orig.jpg


If you think knife photography is specific, try watches. Wow. You can tell I worked this one hard, and I did. Lighting, and editing a layout.

I like that these Parnis watches are not clones or fakes. They are just nice quality watches made in Asia. This one cost less than $100. Bottom feeder: ME.

Now, back to the studio for cutlery... ;)

Coop
Click to expand...
 
I can't remember how I got here, but I've been reading through this thread for several days now, and I've just reached the end. I was about to go away, silent and saddened, like so many, no doubt, dumb-struck by what I've seen.

Then I thought: No. Credit where it's due.

I've lost count of how many photographs of how many knives I've seen, but the one word that can be applied to them all is exquisite. There isn't a bum note in the entire symphony! Even those knives of a design or style which is not to my personal taste, are all wonderfully executed, with a degree of art and craftsmanship that beggars belief. And truly, most of these knives would look tremendous in my hands!

And therein lies my sadness. Blown away, in 43 pages, any vain hope I may have ever had of some day making a good knife myself. And naturally, I'll never own anything like any of these. Why, even the box some of them come in is beyond my reach! But what pleasure it is to know that such things of beauty are to be found in this world, even if I shall never own one of them. Thank goodness, men and women of such skill exist, that knives like this continue to be made. And thank goodness, Jim Cooper exists, that we can enjoy these wonderful creations by proxy.

Mr. Cooper, let me say that I own a camera. I carefully do not describe myself as a photographer, not even of the amateur variety, because, frankly, when I pick that machine up, I don't really know what I'm doing. But I know enough to recognize how difficult it would be to do justice to subjects as lovely as these knives. Congratulations! Your photographs are spectacular, and I thank you for sharing them with us.

If I may be so bold, allow me to make a suggestion about your proposed book of photographs, and the dilemma you face on how to exclude without insult: If you propose to publish 100 photographs, choose the ones you most want to show. If you are anything like me, you will end up with a short-list of at least 250! Whittle the number down randomly, with dice or coins. Then you can truly say that any particular specimen or maker was excluded by the random process and not by any decision of yours. (As author, you are allowed to bump the table with your hip, while rolling the dice. But you don't want to do that too often!)

So. Enough talk from me. Executive Summary: Thank you very much, Mr. Cooper, for your spectacular photographs of exquisite knives. If you ever do publish your book, I hope I find out about it in time to order, before they are all sold out.
 
Boy, oh boy Coop... That was Netfoot's first post, and from outside the U.S. to boot... I hope it makes your day when you see it.. If it doesn't, you are getting jaded... :-} Best Regards, Rich
 
Hi netfoot. Thanks so much for joining, simply as a response. I hope you will post again, in any other thread, but in here is always welcome.

I started with a meager collection on my own, and in the process of showing them off, I stumbled upon how to do this better and better. I gave a historical synopsis with images in my original thread in the Gallery.

I am pleased you and so many others have gotten value out of these images. That I can bring them to the screen is a small portion of the thanks. That they were created and found their way into my studio(s) from makers even more talented than me, is to whom the most credit belongs.

But, you may praise the messenger. I understand. :)

I have been busy posting images from my last Show, and I'll update the thread ASAP.

In the meantime, I offer a sincere "You're welcome".

Jim
 
It's been TOO long since I've filled this thread. Well, the cookie jar is overflowing now. :D

Classic beauties by Charles Vestal and Nick Wheeler:
orig.jpg


orig.jpg


You know I'm a fan boy of Ron Best. He is a savvy and stylish maker.
orig.jpg


orig.jpg


Anders Hogstrom makes them simple...
orig.jpg


Clean...
orig.jpg


...and with notorious partners. Here's Don Hanson and his collaboration, headed to a prominent West Coast collector.
orig.jpg


Back down to lesser gods, here's a three piece utility from Harry Holbrook.
orig.jpg


And them we raise the bar right up again!
orig.jpg


More....
 
Dave Lark and his son came to my studio, while they were in the NYC area showing their incredible engraving holder tooling at a jewelery trade show.

This knife won 'Best in Show' at the Novi Wolverine Knife Collector's Show! That's his feather damascus.
orig.jpg


orig.jpg


That little tool Ron Best includes, allows you to switch from auto to lockback...
orig.jpg


I had to do it myself to see. You unscrew one fastener and the spring slides out.
orig.jpg


Tony Bose with DH3 D2 W2 steel
orig.jpg


DH3 (Don Hanson III, MS) and a whole lotta tortoise shell and CLACK FACTOR©.
orig.jpg


Sean O'Hare from Canada with one of his entries for the CKCA and Blade show.
orig.jpg
 
Last edited:
Curt Erickson and Julie Warenski: Always elegant, always sinister!
orig.jpg


Small and gratifying from Argentina.
orig.jpg


J.D. Smith flew out to the Oregon Show and took home more than one award with this MS knife.
orig.jpg


orig.jpg


Shawn Knowles from upper NJ gets better and better and better....
orig.jpg


orig.jpg


As does Charles Vestal.
orig.jpg


Enjoy these makers. Let them know it!

Thanks for viewing. :)

Jim
 
Don really is is that good.

Rodrigo Sfreddo is my favorite right now. He just keeps stepping it up. Ok, a keyhole integral in crazy merovingian damascus? But now he engraves, and gold inlays... and heck, why not just carve and pierce the dang bolster too. That's impressive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top