"Sole Authorship"

S

sffar

Joined
Jun 19, 2006
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What, precisely, does it mean when a knife is said to have "sole authorship"?
Thanks,
Sam
 
Any engraving, carving, scrimshaw, etc. is also done by the knifemaker if it's sole authorship.
 
Heat treating is done by the maker, rather than sent out. Damascus is by the maker rather than other etc.
 
In other words, all labor in turning the raw materials (steel, wood, etc.) into finished knife is done by one person.
 
Thanks!
Is there a limit to how far this goes, though? If there's micarta, does he make it? Pins? Must it begin with unshaped steel?
I think I get the idea, though. It's not the result of a formal collaboration and made start to finish.
 
sffar said:
Thanks!
Is there a limit to how far this goes, though? If there's micarta, does he make it? Pins? Must it begin with unshaped steel?
I think I get the idea, though. It's not the result of a formal collaboration and made start to finish.
Click to expand...

That's a great point. In my opinion, all fittings, pins, componets have to be worked, shaped by the maker.

Don't even get me started on the micarta thing again :eek: :grumpy: ;)
 
To some degree, if the knife is a copy of another design, eventhough it might be considered "sole authorship" seems like the word "borrowed" might also be appropriate.
David
 
I suppose you have to draw the line someplace. The raw materials, shaped by the maker ideas seem essential to the "sole authorship" idea. As for copying, I can't see how a direct copy could be anything other than borrowed authorship, but certainly copying within categories would be allowable. For instance, a "fighter," "hunter," "camp knife," "gentleman's folder" and even "Bowie." Blade styles, too, like "warncliff," "hawkbill" and such.
Sam
 
To me, sole authorship means all metal is maker-forged, all engraving is by maker, all inlays are by maker, but the maker doesn't need to cut down the tree or kill the mammoth - the handle material can be purchased or found, but must be maker-shaped and finished.
 
I know one maker that makes at least some of his knives only from materials that he has made, or gathered himself. He produces the steel. He only uses wood from trees that he has cut down and dried. Antlers are from animals that he has hunted. If he uses screws, he makes those as well. He also produces these knives by coal forging and uses a tredle powered grinding wheel.

To me, sole authorship is when the maker does all the work that went into the naking of the knife, himself. No laser or water cut blades. No helpers, except those that do chores not involved in making of the knife. Things like screws can be purchased. CNC and AUTO CAD can be used as long as the programs are produced by the maker.
 
betzner said:
To me, sole authorship means all metal is maker-forged, all engraving is by maker, all inlays are by maker, but the maker doesn't need to cut down the tree or kill the mammoth - the handle material can be purchased or found, but must be maker-shaped and finished.
Click to expand...
NOW you tell me!!
I've been hunting for a mammoth for 9 years!!
 
I tend to try to avoid the term as it has become rather ambiguous and varies in meaning from person to person. In the strictest sense, a sole authorship blade could have all of the materials fabricated by the maker (smelting steel for blade and fittings, collecting their own handle materials naturally, etc.). In a more liberal standard, materials can be taken out of the equation (some might even take heat treatment out) to define the term as one guy controlling the aesthetics and presentation (grinding, shaping, forging, finishing). A good maker will let you see/know all the details of construction and give credit for work done by others (such as heat-treatment or embellishment) in any description of a finished blade. If you have a certain standard for what you want in a blade, just ask.

Have a good one,

Nathan
 
Sounds like Nathan's more liberal standard is a baseline standard for the claim of "sole authorship".
The term would also be a bit meaningless if was applied to knives made by a company, perhaps, rather than by an individual maker. On the other hand, I've heard great sculptors didn't always do all their own chiseling, though they're name goes on the work.
As you say, Nathan, if you want to know the standard, then you ought to ask the maker.
Sam
 
I also agree with Nathan that a more liberal standard is the more usefull way to go.
I am convinced that the use of "outside" heat treating from very experianced people results in a better knife in most cases.
Which might also be true regarding forged damascus.

My point is that how can one man gather the experiance to be an expert in all ares?
I am sure that, for example, people who have learned heat treating during their whole lifetime would agree.

Regards
/Magnus
 
Raist said:
I also agree with Nathan that a more liberal standard is the more usefull way to go.
I am convinced that the use of "outside" heat treating from very experianced people results in a better knife in most cases.
Which might also be true regarding forged damascus.

My point is that how can one man gather the experiance to be an expert in all ares?
I am sure that, for example, people who have learned heat treating during their whole lifetime would agree.

Regards
/Magnus
Click to expand...


Keep in mind that I never took a position aside from saying that I disliked the term. IMO anyone who has the ability to make their own damascus should be able to do their own heat-treat. There are makers whe excell in many areas including heat-treatment and embellishment. Heat-treatment is not magic, it is science -- anyone with the capacity to learn some math and metallurgy can become proficient with the right equipment and effort.

Yes, it would be difficult for one maker to be a "master of everything" which is why you will see established makers sticking to a few types of blade steels and other materials that they have used and are comfortable with. The thing that I find most challenging about knifemaking (having about 3 years experience) is that the medium is broad enough that it is damn near impossible for one maker to cover everything. This allows the maker to pick and choose what they want to learn next.

Have a good one,

Nathan
 
NDallyn said:
Keep in mind that I never took a position aside from saying that I disliked the term. IMO anyone who has the ability to make their own damascus should be able to do their own heat-treat. There are makers whe excell in many areas including heat-treatment and embellishment. Heat-treatment is not magic, it is science -- anyone with the capacity to learn some math and metallurgy can become proficient with the right equipment and effort.

Yes, it would be difficult for one maker to be a "master of everything" which is why you will see established makers sticking to a few types of blade steels and other materials that they have used and are comfortable with. The thing that I find most challenging about knifemaking (having about 3 years experience) is that the medium is broad enough that it is damn near impossible for one maker to cover everything. This allows the maker to pick and choose what they want to learn next.

Have a good one,

Nathan
Click to expand...

This is a very good and constructive thread. :thumbup:

I strongly agree Nathan, anyone making damascus or forging steel should be able to properly heat treat.

I'm always impressed when folder makers make their own screws, but is that an efficient use of their time? Do I want to pay for that?
 
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