- Joined
- Apr 6, 2003
- Messages
- 2,498
While many of the Threads on this Forum create exciting and provoking
questions about the world of custom knifemaking and collecting, I feel
that what I can offer here is a museum like display of some of the more
amazing knives made in recent years.
This is relatively easy for me as I have already completed quite an extensive
research on the subject and displayed much of it in the 5 books I have done
(so far) on modern custom knives and custom knifemakers of the world.
Eric Eggly of Point Seven Inc. took the RAW shots of these knives,
shooting them individually on a smooth grey background. I process these
RAW files, bringing life and beauty into each piece. I then combine several
images together and create the background to finish the illustrations for
my books as you see them in these displays.
One of the least published legends of contemporary custom knifemaking is
with no doubt the late James A. Schmidt. In my books I had the
privilege to exhibit about 20 of his beautiful sole authorship knives, many
of them shown in my 4th book, "The Great Collections".
James (Jim) Schmidt was born in Schenectady, New York in 1940, made
occasional knives as he grew up, and started knifemaking in earnest in 1974
while living in Charlton, New York.
The master of sole authorship, Jim made highly sought after knives until his
untimely demise on July 20, 2000.
Let me begin with a dagger forged as close to perfection as it is
humanly possible:
"Viking Dagger", 1992
An artistic giant, Jim Schmidt was a gentle and thoughtful individual.
Obtaining one of his masterpiece knives took patience and many years.
Since his time was spoken for so far in advance, getting him to try
something brand new was a challenge, but Jim agreed to make this dagger,
and it took nearly 6 months to do so. The Ladder pattern Damascus blade,
forged of 203 and W2 steels, is close to perfection and the file work is
remarkable. A magnificent small dagger is hidden in the fossil walrus
ivory handle. When this knife was completed and displayed at a show,
many orders for a similar piece were placed. Unfortunately, no other will
ever exist. Overall length 15 3/4" (400 mm).
All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
From the collection of Dr. Larry Marton, USA, as seen in
my book "Custom Fixed-Blade Knives"
questions about the world of custom knifemaking and collecting, I feel
that what I can offer here is a museum like display of some of the more
amazing knives made in recent years.
This is relatively easy for me as I have already completed quite an extensive
research on the subject and displayed much of it in the 5 books I have done
(so far) on modern custom knives and custom knifemakers of the world.
Eric Eggly of Point Seven Inc. took the RAW shots of these knives,
shooting them individually on a smooth grey background. I process these
RAW files, bringing life and beauty into each piece. I then combine several
images together and create the background to finish the illustrations for
my books as you see them in these displays.
One of the least published legends of contemporary custom knifemaking is
with no doubt the late James A. Schmidt. In my books I had the
privilege to exhibit about 20 of his beautiful sole authorship knives, many
of them shown in my 4th book, "The Great Collections".
James (Jim) Schmidt was born in Schenectady, New York in 1940, made
occasional knives as he grew up, and started knifemaking in earnest in 1974
while living in Charlton, New York.
The master of sole authorship, Jim made highly sought after knives until his
untimely demise on July 20, 2000.
Let me begin with a dagger forged as close to perfection as it is
humanly possible:
"Viking Dagger", 1992
An artistic giant, Jim Schmidt was a gentle and thoughtful individual.
Obtaining one of his masterpiece knives took patience and many years.
Since his time was spoken for so far in advance, getting him to try
something brand new was a challenge, but Jim agreed to make this dagger,
and it took nearly 6 months to do so. The Ladder pattern Damascus blade,
forged of 203 and W2 steels, is close to perfection and the file work is
remarkable. A magnificent small dagger is hidden in the fossil walrus
ivory handle. When this knife was completed and displayed at a show,
many orders for a similar piece were placed. Unfortunately, no other will
ever exist. Overall length 15 3/4" (400 mm).
All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
From the collection of Dr. Larry Marton, USA, as seen in
my book "Custom Fixed-Blade Knives"
