So-called knife experts...

Hi STeven,

You can know a lot about factory knives and a lot about custom knives.

If you were a doctor you would be known as a General Practitioner.

If you worked primarily on backs you would be called a specialist.

Spyderco and Benchmade, have limited inventory, limited steels, limited handle materials. So it is very easy to become an expert in an area that is very limited.

Same can be said for collecting one maker. Eventually you will know everything there is to know about that maker. Styles, materials, numbers, etc.

I don't consider myself an expert in all areas of custom knives. However, I do claim no knowledge of factory knives. :D

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
Les Robertson said:
Hi Trace,

Good to hear from you. I thought you retired....again. :D

Still looking for those knives we talked about in 2006!

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
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Hi Les!
Yet another guy I owe ALOT too! I havent forgotten you man, things are just going real slow lately. Lots going on in my world. I hope to get more on track soon though!;)

The rumors of my death and or retirment have been GREATLY exaggerated..LOL


Take care
Trace Rinaldi
www.THRblades.com
www.CustomKnivesandGuns.com
 
Kohai999 said:
Sorry, I didn't mean to be vague.

Knife expert from the perspective of the collector/user....because that is what most of us are here....collector/users...this title works for those from the A.G. Russell's and the Les Robertson's down to the FNG who just figured out how to one-hand his Buck 110.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I didn't think you were vague about what you asked. But I don't think it was from a user standpoint. You were clear that the qualities were all knifemaker based.

I consider knifemakers experts at making knives, not recommending them. I expect them to have the knowledge to not only shape the knife but to HT it properly.

If I want to know if Knife A is a good knife made of good steel, I am not going to ask the knifemaker. A user is the best person to ask. someone who uses many knives and can recommend one way or another is an expert on using certain types of knives.

If I buy a Katana I will ask the martial artists who trains with them which ones are best, not the katana maker.

I think everyone knows Levine is an expert in collectibles not so much users. So again the term "Expert" is broad since there is no such thing as an expert in all of these fields.

If I want to collect Brends I will ask Les Robertson which designs he likes best as he is a Brend fanatic. If I want to know which Randalls are suited for my use(if I did not already know), I would ask someone else.

So like Modino indicated, there are Experts of many kinds.
 
Les Robertson said:
Architect:

According to you there are no experts in the field of custom knives.

I think you and others are missing the point. We have experts in the different areas of custom knives.
I never used the term "experts", one way or the other - I only made reference about someone being deeply knowledgeable. The point that was made earlier is that "Expertise" is a relative term - and as such, is not quantifiable.

Too bad you chose to take my very broad comment so personally. I guess you don't like me posting in "your" forum.
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Architecht,

For the record I don't take anything you say seriously. For the record this is not my forum (or it would be named so). Too bad you didn't understand my comment.

So you are telling us here that Bill Moran was not an expert in the forged blade?

Steve Shackelford and Bruce Voyles are not experts at publishing a knife magazine.

BR Hughes is not an expert writer with regards to forged blades.

Tony Bose is not an expert at making custom slip joints utilizing Case Knife patterns?

Jerry Fisk, the only NLT in custom knives is not an expert??? He must know something or he wouldn't have received the NLT status.

George Herron after 40 years of making custom knives was not an expert in making custom knives?

There are hundreds of experts withing custom knives.

You should talk with some of them some time...a wealth of knowledge is out there waiting for you to discover it.

I talk with them every chance I get.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
Expert is like master you are not one until your pears say you are. IMO And then you are.
 
jonathan brand said:
Les, what is NLT?
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Jon, The "National Living Treasure' award, presented every two years, is designed to honor Americans working in traditional handcrafts using wood, glass, ceramics, metal and textiles who transform them into art.

Ironic that this would come up today, as there happens to be a reception and dedication ceremony tonight to kick-off an exhibit at the University of North Carolina Wilmington that honors "National Living Treasure" award recipients that runs through March 15. Jerry has knives on display at this exhibit.

Link to more information: http://appserv02.uncw.edu/news/atuncw/annview.aspx?id=4073
 
The problem, in my opinion ,is that the knifemaking business is so diversified that any single maker or collector could not call their self an expert without using a qualifying adjective. You would have to define yourself as an expert folding knifemaker or antique Bowie knife collector or whatever it might be. Also, the state of the art constantly changes.Would William Scagel be considered an expert comparing his work to todays best makers or is he considered an expert for his time?


Johnny
 
Les Robertson said:
D Lisch,

So every ABS Master Smith is an expert.

As are easily 100 stock removal makers.

Same for engravers, photographers, scrimshanders, etc.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
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Les, you missed my point. With master smith, your peers give you a test you pass and you are a master smith. With expert unless you have a degree in the field you are an expert in, the only way you can be an expert in that field is if your peers deem you to be an expert based on what they have seen of your knowledge of that field. It is my opinion that one should not call himself an expert or master, these are distinctions give to you by your peers.
 
the term " knife expert" is too vague and allows way to much lateral play of interpretation.
for example,
ask me who the top ten hottest makers are to collect and again my ignorance is vast. Ask me who won the last big blade awards and I couldnt even name the events
ask me about knives, their method of construction and daily use in the middle ages in England and I could hold a intelligent conversation but am not a expert in anything except the construction of a mary rose style bollock dagger.
if you ask me how to make a knife I consider myself fairly expert on the subject of the design, forging, heat treating, and finish proccess of a fixed blade knife. but ask me anything about folders made via stock removal and I know bupkiss. get my drift?
 
Again, great thread Steven. :thumbup:

In reading back over this thread it seems that most agree there are a very limited number of individuals who we as a group would consider an "expert" across the entire knife industry.

There are many more that are "expert" in varying degree in specific areas of the custom and factory knife sectors.

The good thing IMO, is that anyone that is reasonably knowledgeable and/or interested and wants or needs "expert" information or opinion on specific knives and/or makers knows where to find it as a result of forums such as this and other means at our disposal.
 
Hi Kevin,

If you are considering someone an expert who has equal knowledge in making, selling, writing, photography, factory and custom knives. There is no "expert" alive in the world today. If you think there is someone who has equal expertise in all those areas I would be curious to know his/her name.

I agree there are experts in particular fields associated with knives.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
 
Les Robertson said:
Hi Kevin,

If you are considering someone an expert who has equal knowledge in making, selling, writing, photography, factory and custom knives. There is no "expert" alive in the world today. If you think there is someone who has equal expertise in all those areas I would be curious to know his/her name.

I agree there are experts in particular fields associated with knives.

Les Robertson
Custom Knife Entrepreneur
www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com
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Hi Les.
As no one individual knows everything about a given collectible even in a category as limited as collectible knives, I would not suggest that there are experts that have equal knowledge in ALL facets of the knife industry.

However, I would say that we are fortunate enough to have a limited number of folks that many (or perhaps most) would consider as “general experts” in the field of collectible knives.

I will be bold enough to suggest that perhaps Bernard Levine, AG Russell and Bruce Voyles and a few others fall into this category. I would even say that one would not risk being labeled a total fool by including you in this elite group.

Well heck, as I have been known to go out on a limb here on occasion, I will just say that I do include you amongst the above. ;) :thumbup:
 
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