Tai Goo Bush!

Keith Montgomery

Keith Montgomery

Joined
May 9, 2000
Messages
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This is not my knife, but I wish it were. This is a knife by a maker that gets very little mention on BladeForums, Tai Goo. In my opinion he does some absolutely stunning stuff. Anyone aroung here have any thoughts about Tai's knives?

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This Bush has what Tai calls a crazy quench, with multiple quench lines.
 
I guess I'll jump on board with a question. What size is that knife anyways? I think it looks very interesting, and it looks like something that I could have some fun working with.
 
It looks extremely tough and the design is very utilitarian. I bet you could beat the crap out of it and not pahse it. The hollow handle looks like it could take some sort of pole extension, ie, for limbing smaller branches from my trees.:D

Any idea of steel and price?


Cerberus
:cool:
 
I bought one from Tai, the bush #5 here:
http://members12.clubphoto.com/tai553224/743592/guest.phtml

Here's a pic:
16921368-911a-02580217-.jpg


I think it's one of the best purchase I've made: great value, and a truelly unique artifact.

Tai's been around for a long time, and you can see some of his work in the Knives: Point of Interest books. He's one of the founder of the neo-tribal movement. He seems to be a true master with a hammer, and also at carving, paterning, etc. Explore his site and you'll find some good tutorials.

Those bush knives are a great value. The finish is "rough" in that a large portion of the blade is left with a hammer finish (but anyone who's forged would tell you that it's not easy to get such a nice finish with just hammers), and the tang is drawnflat and then rolled to make an integral socket handle. He then wrap it with ratan and seal the ratan with pinon pitch - it smells really good!

The sheaths are very simple and beautiful.

He's done much more sophisticated pieces, some of which were recently available on nordicknives.com.

JD
 
Keith-

I've always been very impressed with Tai's work. I think for one to TRULY APPRECIATE a "simple" piece like this, they would need to stand at an anvil and forge for awhile.

Many may not notice, but this knife's handle is a socket type. That means Tai stretches out the handle section when the bar is still flat, and then wraps it around into the socket. That's a LOT harder than it sounds :eek:

To me at this point, one of the most artistic points in the actual construction of a knife is the hand-forging. Tai Goo is truly an artist.

A while back on CKD I saw an integral, Mediteranean style piece of his that was just fantastic.

Thanks for posting this Keith,
Nick
 
Originally posted by NickWheeler
A while back on CKD I saw an integral, Mediteranean style piece of his that was just fantastic.
Click to expand...

That must be the one below. The blade is wootz, btw:
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Joss, thanks for the great input. Tai most surely is a true artist and a great knifemaker.

Nick, I want to bring the work of as many top makers as possible to the attention of the people that come to this forum. This is something that I will continue to do. As you stated, this knife may look simple, but it is not. It takes many years of experience to be able to make a simple knife like that.

Tai uses very basic methods in the making of his knives. He forges his blades in a charcoal forge, uses hammers to work the steel and then hand tools to finish his knives.

The knife in my original post on this thread is 10 1/2 inches long, so it is quite small for a Tai Bush. I am not exactly sure how that breaks down between handle and blade.
 
I love Tai's work and in my early interest in forging I found Tai's neo-tribal group very interesting....he used to have a web page where he was standing on a hilltop with a little yellow flower, the wind blowing his hair while he got next to it
Yeah that Tai's way out there.....but great lines and themes to his work......
I tried to find the old links to the Tribal Forge and Tai's site, but the pages appear to be gone....it was some trippy stuff....there were lot's of earthen forges and tutorials on making your own charcoal, etc.....dang, now I got the bug to beat some steel again.......I'll sit down until that feeling goes away :D
 
Tai is wackier than a eight-dollar bill. In *spite* of this ;) he is simply brilliant. He defines 'artist' in his work and manners. I like him.

That Med knife is so beautiful! Joss, you're fortunate to own your piece. His knives aren't cheap, but they are valuable.

Coop
 
I'm a big fan of Tai's knives in general and these bush knives are just way cool. This one is my favorite (pic from Tai's web site):

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I don't recall the specific dimensions, but this is the BIG bush knife. The hikot scabbard is just a great touch - the rattan-wrapped bridge holds the knife in place with a small amount of spring tension. The handle is also rattan-wrapped and sealed with natural aromatic pinon pine rosin - nothing wrong with a nice-smelling knife if you ask me. :)

Cheers,

Roger
 
And this sweet little integral has haunted my dreams for some time now.

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Wootz steel blade and carved lignum vitae handle.

Cheers,

Roger
 
Some nice pictures (and great information guys)..., thanks! I've only read a little about Mr. Goo, but have always heard him referred to in the utmost complimentary fashion by all!

Keith, thanks for the nudge.. :)
 
Every time I see a knife by Tai or Don Fogg, it makes me want to forge a blade. SOmething about their primative methods and designs just make the blade seem like something more than just a knife. If any knife blades have soul to me it would be the knives of the Neo-tribal guys.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
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