state of the art 2007

[jdm61]

I had what can only be called an eye opening experience today. I have been looking at a lot of work from the current crop of great makers in print, on the web and at show for the past two years and have been mightily impressed and humbled. I am more so now. I took a little trip down memory lane and bought a number of back issues of the Knives annuals. I just finished up looking through the issues from 1997, 2000 and 2001. While some ABS makers, particularly the Maryland guys, had pretty much fully developed the art form by '97, it is amazing how much most of the other now famous and revered smiths have progressed since then. Many of the guys had the fit and finish already nailed by then, but the design and proportions of a lot of the knives have improved so much in the last 10 years. This is true even for top of the heap guys like Tim Hancock and Harvey Dean. They were doing very nice work, but they just hadn't fully found their unique style yet. Fully half of the fixed blade knives of both persuasions, even as late as the 2001 edition, wouldn't make the cut with the editors today if the knives in the 2007 edition are any indication. Folder makers have made some progress, but nothing, in my opinion, like the fixed blade guys and particularly the metal pounders. I knew that the bar had been raised, but until now, I had no idea how much. Looking back, a lot of the knives that I drooled over in the books in the early 90's just don't make the grade today. Arguably, one of the less flawed knives that I have made could have been published in Knives '97...not so today by a longshot.
Another thing that I noticed was that there were a number of guys with mutliple knives in the books that were doing beautiful work, but have apparently faded away. A couple I had never even heard of were making knives that were better looking than the old work of guys who are now very hot and well respected master smiths. Funny business, this knife game.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I had what can only be called an eye opening experience today. I have been looking at a lot of work from the current crop of great makers in print, on the web and at show for the past two years and have been mightily impressed and humbled. I am more so now. I took a little trip down memory lane and bought a number of back issues of the Knives annuals. I just finished up looking through the issues from 1997, 2000 and 2001. While some ABS makers, particularly the Maryland guys, had pretty much fully developed the art form by '97, it is amazing how much most of the other now famous and revered smiths have progressed since then. Many of the guys had the fit and finish already nailed by then, but the design and proportions of a lot of the knives have improved so much in the last 10 years. This is true even for top of the heap guys like Tim Hancock and Harvey Dean. They were doing very nice work, but they just hadn't fully found their unique style yet. Fully half of the fixed blade knives of both persuasions, even as late as the 2001 edition, wouldn't make the cut with the editors today if the knives in the 2007 edition are any indication. Folder makers have made some progress, but nothing, in my opinion, like the fixed blade guys and particularly the metal pounders. I knew that the bar had been raised, but until now, I had no idea how much. Looking back, a lot of the knives that I drooled over in the books in the early 90's just don't make the grade today. Arguably, one of the less flawed knives that I have made could have been published in Knives '97...not so today by a longshot.
Another thing that I noticed was that there were a number of guys with mutliple knives in the books that were doing beautiful work, but have apparently faded away. A couple I had never even heard of were making knives that were better looking than the old work of guys who are now very hot and well respected master smiths. Funny business, this knife game.

Great points Joe.
I pull out my older volumes of "Knives" every few months to do just what you have. By the way, "Knives 2008" should start hitting your homes (for those of you that pre-ordered) and favorite retailers next week.

Some good old Fisk sales literature (catalogs, brochures and such) was posted on one of the Forums a couple weeks ago, and it was quite apparent that Jerry's designs of 10 years ago are as fresh and beautiful as his of today. But I agree, some of the ABS makers as the two you mentioned have exploded in the last 10 years and a few who have peaked and then declined.
Interesting topic Joe. :thumbup:

 

[ptgdvc]

Joe,

I was discussing this very subject with a fellow collector just the other day. You are right on target, imho. We have now reached the point where virtually perfect execution is now expected and routine. Merely good, just won't cut it anymore.

Now that this level of expectation for fit and finish has become the norm, collectors can focus on the design and beauty issues. Which is what will ultimately separate the very good artist/maker from the GREAT.

P

 

[jdm61]

A place where I see a huge difference is with the young guys at the AS and JS level (I don't count the ringers like Don Hanson who had been making knives for a couple of decades before he ever tested for JS...lol). Go back to the old Knives books and see how many new guys you can find that were making knives like Nick Wheeler, Matt Roberts and Adam De Rosiers. Part of this probably has to do with the fact that, as the Master Smiths have perfected their art, they have passed on their "secrets". Jerry Fisk told me a while back that what a new smith learns in two weeks at the ABS school took him over 5 years to learn by trial and error. I have not been to the school, but what I have learned on here and at hammer ins has probably saved me at least a couple of years of learning curve. I am in a position where I can actually consider taking the JS test, which is HARDER than it was in the early 90's when I first caught th knife bug, in 2008 after the minimum 3 year period and I started from scratch and had to take almost a year off in '06. That speaks volumes for the level of assistance tht is out there today for the new maker.

 

[jdm61]

Joe,

I was discussing this very subject with a fellow collector just the other day. You are right on target, imho. We have now reached the point where virtually perfect execution is now expected and routine. Merely good, just won't cut it anymore.

Now that this level of expectation for fit and finish has become the norm, collectors can focus on the design and beauty issues. Which is what will ultimately separate the very good artist/maker from the GREAT.

P

I haven't tried this out other than with a couple of bargain basement priced sales on line, but, from what I have seen at local gun show, etc, I suspect the training, mentorship and instruction that a new guy can get both through the auspices of the ABS and other orgznizations and here on the forums might give a poor schlub like me a quality based competitive advantage with folks looking to buy a custom user. At least i hope so

 

[jdm61]

Great points Joe.
I pull out my older volumes of "Knives" every few months to do just what you have. By the way, "Knives 2008" should start hitting your homes (for those of you that pre-ordered) and favorite retailers next week.

Some good old Fisk sales literature (catalogs, brochures and such) was posted on one of the Forums a couple weeks ago, and it was quite apparent that Jerry's designs of 10 years ago are as fresh and beautiful as his of today. But I agree, some of the ABS makers as the two you mentioned have exploded in the last 10 years and a few who have peaked and then declined.
Interesting topic Joe. :thumbup:

I ordered my 2008 edition from Amzon. That is what got me rdering the back issues You are correct about some guys peaking and declining. Other guys seem to have quit altogether or faded from the public eye even if they are still working.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Joe, I have all the 'Knives Annuals' from 1980. Very interesting going back through them:thumbup: A lot has changed in 27 years

I need to order the 08 annual soon.

 

[jdm61]

Joe, I have all the 'Knives Annuals' from 1980. Very interesting going back through them:thumbup: A lot has changed in 27 years

I need to order the 08 annual soon.

Absolutely. I'm still blown away when see some stuff like Rob Hudsons "flame edge" multi-bar damascus knives, but much of the stuff that impressed me back then doesn't excite me all that much when I compare it to the work that you and others are doing today, particularly stylistically. Some of the older knives in the books can look, for lack of a better term, "clunky" when compared to the current crop.

 

[GTAsteel]

Imagine where we will be 10 years from now...

 

[Jon Brand]

Since there was hardly any digital imaging as the years go back, I bet there was alot of great stuff that was never included in the books. I handled a few McHenry folders in person about 10 years ago, and remember them being WAY nicer then the examples ive seen in old black and white issues of Knives annual.