"THE WORLD OF ART KNIVES" Vol. III & IV are printed!!

Lorien said:
David, you are a tremendous asset to our community. A force of nature, even.
Click to expand...

Thank you Lorien, but your compliment is a bit too much.... :)
Have you seen the new book?

Has anyone seen the book in Atlanta? Who got the copy at the CKCA Banquet?

I really miss BLADE...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
If someone still needs a "teaser" from my latest book,
here are two pages from an 8-page section on Brian Tighe
and his amazing folders...

Screen-Shot-2015-06-17-at-3.22.35-PM.jpg


All the best
David Darom (ddd)

______________________________
The limited edition of the book is still available from:

"Nordic Knives"
Solvang, CA 93463 U.S.A.

Phone: (805)688-3612
Email: info@nordicknives.com
NORDICKNIVES.com
______________________________
 
having difficulty in doing a reply to this thread so will try to post this and if it works then may try to edit or add to the thread

the short response went through so will now try to add what I originally was going to post

Not sure what is happening but I am not having any success posting my original message to David
 
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Well, this is what Murray White tried unsuccessfully to post above :)

"Hi David --
Roger brought back your book along with the WF Moran book by F. Pachi and both
are sitting on my coffee table beside the computer on top of Wolfe's book and
just a few knives.
In fact I just came down to the computer to spend a bit more time to read your book
and look at the photos once again. I am just beginning to go through the text and photos
and it is difficult to spend time reading as I am always excited to look at more of the
photos for as usual, as with all your other books that I own, it is such a pleasure to
view the photos of both knives I own as well as all those that would be fun to own.

One of my favorites is the Andre Andersson "Nordic Dream" on P. 88,
elegant a hunter as one could ever create. Almost anything that he and his father
Michael Andersson create are wonderfully done.

The work of Sergey Sedov and particularly P. 121 "The Queen of Faries Garden"
is simply outstanding. The Russians are creating wonderful works of art.

Of course as usual, Ron Best has folders that are simply off the chart but of course
of all the knives in the book I can't help but have a special liking for Kevin Casey's
"Feather Fighter" on Page 138 as it was my gift to my wife on her 81st birthday this year...
So much thanks to Kevin and Konstantin for its creation and you for putting it into the book.
The inlay work is the finest I have ever seen and of course, Kevin is the master of the
feather pattern of damascus steel. Interestingly it was at the Passion for Knifemaking
where I had bookmarked things the other night so I will spend a bit more time reading
before heading to the sheets for the night as it is almost 3 AM here.

Thanks again so much for your efforts in creating these truly great works of art in and
of themselves and I am proud to own all of your knife books, David, residing in our
library of knife books and related materials".



Murray White
June 29th 2015
 
just a few more additions to what DDD was able to post and I will try to add this

Thanks again so much for your efforts in creating these truly great works of art in and of themselves and I am proud to own all of your knife books to put in our library of knife books and related materials.

We recently had a get together of artist, friends, family, knife makers and collectors and all enjoyed viewing all the art work but the artists were very taken with all the amazing talent that the knifemakers have and thoroughly enjoyed viewing their creations.

Knives, makers and collectors are a terrific community and it is such a pleasure to enjoy the art we own and the art we view from books by yourself and others created over the past 35 years and we hope to continue to enjoy for a few more years to come
 
Thank you Murray for the kind words!!

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
[
Jon Brand said:
Great book! Do I get a few extra points for finding a mistake? :)
Click to expand...

Well Jon,
I myself found several small typos, although insignificant, but frustrating.

But Jon, I do hope that you liked the book nevertheless.... :)

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
______________________________
The limited edition of the book
is still available from:
"Nordic Knives" USA,
Phone: (805)688-3612
NORDICKNIVES.com
 
Actually Jon,

I do the book all by myself working simultaneously opposite
hundreds of people from around the world - Makers, Collectors,
Photographers, Dealers etc....

They send me material bits by bits and I have to create the pictures
from separate individual photos, arrange the descriptions that sometimes
also arrive bits by bits...
I edit all the texts and then put all 272 complex pages together to
make the final huge file that goes to the printing house...
Thousands of hours of creative joy!!

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
The back cover says it all....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

_________________________
The limited edition of the book
is still available from:
"Nordic Knives" USA,
Phone: (805)688-3612
NORDICKNIVES.com
__________________________

back-cover.jpg
 
I have been so busy that I am just now starting to find some time to spend with my copy. Looks like another winner. But so far I have only scratched the surface. Nevertheless, I am pleased to see already that some very familiar pieces are portrayed. :D
 
The Virginian said:
I have been so busy that I am just now starting to find some time to spend with my copy. Looks like another winner. But so far I have only scratched the surface. Nevertheless, I am pleased to see already that some very familiar pieces are portrayed. :D
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response, my friend! I am glad you liked what I did....

This volume is actually different from any of the other 10 books I did before it
in many ways, which are quite obvious from the first glance through it....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

__________________________
The limited edition of the book
is still available from:
"Nordic Knives" USA,
Phone: (805)688-3612
NORDICKNIVES.com
___________________
 
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A very different section in the book deals with my Russian "Connections".
Telling the story and documenting my visit to the Moscow ARSENAL Knife show
(held in April 2014) and displaying the truly amazing knife art of several
of the Russian Masters...

At the Show in Moscow I also introduced my book "The World of Art Knives" Vol. II

Taking my son Nir with me allowed for professional photographic documentation
of the whole trip and some memorable pictures of me too... :)

Arsenal_Stand-_BOOK_NEW-pp.jpg


ddd_Red-Square_4.jpg


All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

__________________________
The limited edition of Vol. III
is still available from:
"Nordic Knives" USA,
Phone: (805)688-3612
NORDICKNIVES.com
___________________
 
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I used this compilation of engraved sheaths from the book
I created on Julie Warenski's Knife Art (Available from both Julie Warenski
and Dave Harvey (see below), in my recent book for the opening page of
a section named "An ENGRAVING Spectacle".... A display of eye popping
engraved knives and the stories of their engravers....


Julie1.jpg


All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
______________________________
The limited edition of the book
is still available from:
"Nordic Knives" USA,
Phone: (805)688-3612
NORDICKNIVES.com
 
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For more than 12 years now, I have dedicated every spare moment
to create my books on Modern Custom Knives.

I have enjoyed spending over 22,000 hours just creating the
knife displays in these deluxe quality large format volumes
using pictures taken by some of the best photographers around the
world and while working from my home in Jerusalem opposite many
hundreds of custom-knife related people on 5 continents!

I also spent at least as many hours putting together the detailed stories
about the knife makers themselves and the detailed descriptions of
every knife on display!


Now I stand before my 12th volume, planned for mid 2016.

One thing I do know about it:
It will be my most amazing book EVER...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

11-%25261.jpg
 
Here are two pages from an original in-depth study in my recent book about
Marks and Logos on custom knives, including many of the stories behind them....

I have been "picking" these logos for years out of the pictures of knives
displayed in my books....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

The limited edition of the book
is still available from:
"Nordic Knives" USA,
Phone: (805)688-3612
NORDICKNIVES.com

SRJ-Logos
 
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I have finally spent enough time and reading of this book to offer an accountable review.

David has been a pioneer in the Custom Knife book world for years. His work has long surpassed the longstanding and valuable 'Points of Interest' volumes produced by Jim Weyer in the nineties.

Most importantly is offered glimpses INTO the making and INTO the personalities involved. I could produce a volume with wonderful and breathtaking images, and I will someday. What David does is goes beyond the dramatic images (initially provided by others and required by him) to write and cover WHY these artistic pieces are so captivating. Its goes beyond the materials of the knives and reaches inside to the words and passions of the people.

I took some notes as I read the book on my past vacation. In no particular order:

1. The book covers over 35 makers and artisans, however there are sections on collections, on processes and even on Photography. ;)

2. There are an abundance of candid shots of makers in their shops working. (Oddly there are an abundance using milling machines!)

3. We get to se the incredibly work of Russian makers who we would otherwise miss.

4. Some of my personal favorite friends and makers are represented: Ron Best, Gus Cecchini, Kevin Casey, Jeffrey Cornwell, and Keith Ouye were a privilege to read in depth.

5. Especially refreshing was the first person commentaries from each maker. THEY tell you in their own words what, how, and why they are involved. VERY captivating and honest.

6. There are a handful of my personal knives in the book (GTC and Serge Pachenko) :)

7. A guest commentary by Ed Braun chronicles the transition from first work to latest. A realistic progression occurs. (I relate!)

8. An entire section on 'Women in Knives'. Very refreshing from our male-centric craft.

9. A discussion of maker's marks.

10. And so much more....

I have one critique pointed at David and it's with honesty: You have numerous images of yourself. You look too serious.

For someone who is delighted to do this and HAS given so much pleasure to your readers, you need to relate to them with a simple, universal broad smile. :) (That's your challenge for your 12th volume upcoming.)

Besides my small quirk, I applaud the work you have done and the pleasure you have instilled into our community. A rewarding book to own.

Appreciatively,

Jim Cooper
 
Have known Dr. David Darom since meeting F2F at the first Art Knife Invitational I attended in 2005....doesn't seem like 10 years, but it is.

We have an honest and deep friendship.....anchored around knives, but so much more....and this is a cherished friendship.....based upon many good things, but if nothing else, the need to sharpen intellect, and come out the better for it.

I'm not an art knife collector. Many of my pieces are beautiful and could be termed "art knives", but the use and function is always first and foremost with me. Always say, "if it isn't hard, sharp and pointy, what is it, because it isn't a knife ?" Obviously, something like an oyster knife is excluded from that statement.

This is a great art knife book. It isn't geared towards any one specific element of knife collecting, for that matter....am not entirely sure that it is geared towards knife collectors at all....maybe more towards art collectors and the most resolutely international version of the "World of Art Knives" volumes yet. This volume is consciously and purposefully international with makers ranging from Brazil(Gustavo Cecchini, Claudio & Ariel Sobral, Rodrigo Sfreddo) to Thailand(Suchat Jangtanong)....there is a MASSIVE selection from Russian craftspersons....knifemakers to carvers and scrimshanders.

There is a CLEAR influence of Jim Cooper in this book....and that makes me happy to a massive degree, because Jim has a great eye for photographs, and is fairly non-discriminating with his view of what a knife "should" be....he is also a dear friend, and one who gladly "agrees to disagree"....isn't this community better having people who have different tastes but still respect each other..... without having some false "I'm ok, you're ok BS?" This is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that it leaves it up to the viewer to decide if what is being represented is "worthy"......the curse is that this can lead to confusion and deviation from a "clear" path.....decisions, decisions......

What I loved:

Ron Appleton Folders.....excellent cross section of folders, but much more importantly in prose and photos....the way that they are made and the philosophy behind them.

Steve(S.R.) Johnson stock removal art knives...AND...Logos.....such a cool retrospective for one of the few legitimate heirs to the throne of R.W. Loveless....he was there at the beginning and does it "his way" and "His way".....a superb human being and top creator of exquisite knives.

C. Gray Taylor.....slip joint folders, mostly.....a friend, a muse, a genius, a father, husband and craftsman of such a level, we will never see again when he passes. My relationship with Gray grew through his wife Evelyn....his high school sweetheart, who reached out to me a long time ago when I started posting on BFC....she liked what I wrote and encouraged me. When I say that Evelyn is a lovely woman....it is faint praise...the Taylor couple is a team.....and as refreshing and as inspiring a pair of humans as I have ever met......and frankly, if you met Gray on his own, you might think he was not sharp......and how wrong you would be. The photos in this section are revealing in how Gray looks, how he works and what he produces.......I have so much love for both of them as to be incapable of writing it coherently....he simply does what he does better than anyone else on the planet, and this is evidenced by his Buster Award(s).....C. Gray Taylor has no contemporary, no past "better", and unlikely to be bested in the future....a truly singular talent.

Brian Tighe-I have two custom Brian Tighe knives, and two CRKT versions, including the limited edition Buy Tighe......he deserves to be in this book and deserves a lot more acclaim and notice than he gets.....the guy is really producing some of the best contemporary tactical work available, and is undervalued.....so get what you can....while you can get it, and be happy that the price is so reasonable and Brian is so relaxed and easy to chat with now, because someday soon, there will be a long line of sycophants queuing up for the win.

Glenn Waters.....Met Glenn a number of years ago at Blade Show, concurrently with Gavin Hawk(we were talking to Glenn at the same time)...an Australian transplanted to Japan, with full appreciation for the aesthetic....AND the culture....he draws artistic inspiration from the culture, but also cuts in Batto and has won awards in competition, against the Japanese.....on their own turf....to say that Glenn is a stud is damning with faint praise....he is the real deal, and if you find a knife of his that you fancy, it is a bargain.

The overall feel of the book, while almost schizophrenic covers so much ground and differing approaches to knife making, collecting and embellishing that it somewhat deserves to be judged completely on it's own level, rather than in comparison to the preceding two books which are of similar subject manner, but significantly more cohesive, and almost boring in comparison because of it. In this volume, I think that David had an idea, rather than a plan and ran with it, rather than being constricted by structure.

What I liked:

Roger Bergh-never been a huge fan of the Swedish aesthetic vis a vis modern knives, but this entry opened up my eyes a bit to what he is doing and I like it....much more understanding about the ideas and methods behind the work now.

Emmanuel Esposito-there are some pieces that he does, even in this volume that I outright despise....for a variety of different reasons......but his craft is solid.....he makes a knife that looks like it will cut, hold together and delight the owner for eternity....and at the end of it....that is what a well made art knife should do......what else can you ask of it?

To be continued.
 
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Thank you again David for including me in this brilliant edition of Custom Art Knives. I feel humbled and honored to be included within these beautiful pages and with this great group of makers, many who are friends and all of whom I admire and respect as well. You continue to do a great honor to the knife world and it is truly a great thing to be included in this living legacy.
Your friend, Ron Appleton
 
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