The Art of Custom Knifemaking by Darom/Greenbaum review...

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
12,554
Hey Guys,

I just saw the book, and I highly recommend it without reservation, and say, "Get it now!!!!", but it is not without faults, which I will present, for a balanced approach.

Good points:

1. GREAT pictures. Our own Sharp by Coop, Jim Cooper and, PointSeven, Eric Eggly do a great job.

2. I wish that this book had existed when I started collecting knives. I knew that custom knives just did not happen, but had no idea what machinery was used, even what a raw bar of steel looked like. This book takes you into the machinations of knife creation and shows the what, and how, in a way that increases the understanding of the collector, and shows how it happens in a way as to geometrically increase the understanding, reducing months of research into weeks, or even days.

3. At $50.00 current price, it is a good buy, nay even a great buy, far surpassing the offerings in the Weyer books, and less expensive than the first two Darom books.

Bad Points:

1. No way around this one, many of the makers and knives are not in the same league. You have S.R. Johnson, and Dr. Fred Carter in the same book as Mardi Meshejian(who I personally like very much) and Coop, again, who is not a knife maker, assembling one of Darryl Ralph's kit knives, and pimping it. There is less consistency in general with respect to the caliber of makers than in the first two books.

2. Many of the makers featured are not shown making the best knives that they make, so there is a disservice that the makers did to themselves, in this respect.

I believe that this book is best suited to the new collector for reference and learning. At this, the book excels. I will buy the book(tomorrow, in fact) but of the three, for me, it will be the least read or referred to.

I hope that I was fair in my review, this time.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson







http://www.saviolopublisher.com/store/view_product.php?product=1006
 
Sounds very fair.

Edited to say: I just checked on the Saviolo site, and I did place my order, back in April. Again, the book is made available for purchase before the preorders are sent. I find that (again!) disappointing.
 
I bought all 3 darom books at Blade and have really enjoyed them thus far.

Some spectacular work and incredible photography.

Highly recommended.
 
- Loads of pretty knives.
- One of the ugliest knives I've ever seen.
 
STeven's review is spot on. Even the part about me....

I was reluctant to see my 'Pimped Knife Kit' section in alphabetical order sandwiched somewhat between Ron Appleton and Antonio Fogarizzu. :eek: :confused: But, that's what you get; fairness in placement that only an alphabetical system provides.

Including a kit knife was hoped to be relevant to the entire custom world as are the carvers, engravers, sheathmakers and other non-maker services that were included. We considered how some may take offence, but still the addition has value. Describing the benefits of starting with a kit and moving upward, or just appreciating your customs that much more is material for a thread in itself. Don't over react.

Overall this particular book is MUCH more informative than the previous offerings. There is enough eye candy to satisfy a sweet tooth, but more importantly; the in-process photos that take custom knives away from being a commodity to displaying how they are actually crafted through LOTS of processes and hand work. It's inescapably shown and the reader will be educated and pleased to see the 'secrets'. :thumbup:

There are makers whom I have NEVER heard of with works that are stunning. That's an extra value. We have our borders opened up.

Thanks to the editors and the contributors!!!

Coop
 
You know which one I'm talking about?
Click to expand...

Maybe I don't, maybe it's the same knife, but there is at least one to be considered by me the ugliest knife ever. Of course, it's a metter of taste, as Mr. Garsson often points out. Some like, some don't.
 
As I said, it's a matter of taste, so there's no point in stating this looks good and that looks bad.
 
I picked up a copy at Blade and started reading it this week. I have always been a little curious as to what Coop uses on his kit knives anyway;).

I guess the point is that each section that I have read so far had something that interested me even if the knife was not floating my boat.

I agree that it is well worth the price and wish it had been around when I first got into collecting.

As far as all of David's books, I am thrilled that they are out there and want to thank everyone who has put efforts into them. I can not wait until the next one. (The last of the series.) There are going to be some incredible works in it that have been in collections for a while, so I am expecting to see some work that we do not get to see that often.
 
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