Thoughts on scrimshaw?

T

Travis Fry

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Jun 11, 2010
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I guess you could call me a budding scrimshander. I've been making knives for a while (just about to finish 96 and 97) and have sold everything I've made except a few that were made as gifts. Part of the reason I keep making knives is because of the financial return, and I know from experience with other endeavors that I won't stick with scrimshaw unless it makes me money too. I am pretty confident that I can (or will be able to) produce work of adequate quality, so that leaves the practical questions:

In your opinion, what kinds of scrimshaw motifs add the most value to a knife? Which are the most popular and sell the best? Do you ever have scrimshaw drawings put on a knife that isn't a custom order with hopes to sell it? Does the artist who does the work affect the value it adds, or is scrimshaw a thing where quality is the only consideration? Is there a need (or room) in the market for another scrimshander?

I welcome any thoughts on these and any other questions that may come up.

Thanks in advance,

Travis Fry
 
Scrimshaw makes a nice knife a serious art piece. The value usually soars.

Subject matter ranges from animal motif to nudes. Female figures, nude, semi-nude, or just provocative are top sellers. Jungle animals ( elephant, jaguar,etc.) are big sellers, as are birds ( Eagles, hawks, etc.).
Aquatic life goes well on fillet type blades.

Scenes that are too busy or depict too much , like a hunting scene, are nice, but don't sell as well as a simple one element scrim.

Sometimes implied is stronger than detailed ( I hope that makes sense). Think of a female shape. Most any artist with a good hand can draw the basic sketch outline of a curvy woman, but once you start to add the details, the drawing quickly goes downhill unless you are Alberto Vargas. Using Vargas a further example of how to imply, he rarely gave away all the good stuff, but instead just let you know it was there. His mastry was capturing the face and eyes. I read a comment back in the 60's where a critic said, "When Vargas draws a naked woman, you look at the face first......and last."
http://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...b=139bppvvi&sigi=12juk5v3v&.crumb=4kpkw0R67MD
 
Just my opinion, but I think tasteful scrimshaw adds to a knife in more ways than value. I had this knife for a while, made by Mark Brightwell in Leander, TX. He has since passed on, but when my son attained his Boy Scout Eagle rank, I sent it off to Linda Stone to have the Eagle Award applied to the ivory. I think it turned out really nice and surely added to the knife.eagle_scout 02.jpg
 
Stacy,

I can hear the conversation now:

Me: Hey dear, what do you think of this scrimshaw I just did?
Wife: It's a naked lady. Is this supposed to be me?
Me: Stacy said these sell well...
Wife: Stacy huh? Is that her name?

It might also be fun to show off a nicely scrimmed knife with similar subject matter at church, just to see what people do.

I've actually got a Vargas book on my shelf! I anticipate that I will draw inspiration from all of the resources available to me ;)

I also spent nearly an hour on the phone with Linda yesterday, which will likely save me years of mistakes.

Thunder, I've never heard of Mark Brightwell, but I'm actually from Leander, TX. The world isn't really all that big...
 
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Well, IMHO, it often detracts from a knife more than it adds.

There are a handful of scrimshaw artists that can add their touch to a knife and make it work/flow WITH the knife.

MOST scrimshaw I have seen, just looks like a picture added to a knife... and is visually distracting. But I feel the same way about a lot of engraving. There are engravers that know how to add some flare to a knife, but keep it all one solid piece of art.... rather than two different art mediums just stuck together.

Personally, I think this is one of those questions that would get you a much more relevant answer if you posted it in the custom forum where the collectors hang out. :)

Makers can always give other makers all kinds of attaboys and groovy ideas....but since we aren't the ones buying knives it doesn't really matter too much ;)
 
Travis,
I think you should consider two markets. The V twin motorcycle market. Bikers love nudes and edgy slogans. Don't forget the Gals here too. There are a lot of gals riding bikes and they might like a blade that depicts their unique riding culture. Chicks like certain tattoo designs and you can get plenty of ideas from tat sites and from the shops. They have their own blogs, websites, clubs etc. Blades can be made to match the custom bike too. Boy I can see all sorts of things happin here.

The other big market are the reenactors, both Civil War and Revolutionary War. There are a huge number of participants in each. Each organization has its own website. There are events nationwide some attracting tens of thousands of combatants and civilians at specific events. No kidding, Gettysburg had 30,000 combatants one year. Over 3 miles of infranty at one of our battles. Decorated, period specific, and accurate scrimshaw would be a welcome embellishment to a blades handle. There are plenty of historical pictures of scrimshaw in powder horns and knife handles. I would think that a fellow who develops a following in either or both of these markets could do real well. I ride and reenact and make knives. I would also consider Damascus for your blades. Now maybe you can advise me as to what material you are using or plan to use for your scrimshaw. Ivory is pricy when you can get it. I love the look of aged ivory. In my opinion it is by far the coolest handle for a knife. And with some nicely done scrim embellishment....wow!

Jimmi
Ps: I would love to have some scrimshaw on my Civil War handle. Real pre ban Ivory tusk.
Please see http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1324/img0953k.jpg

Jimmi
 
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Mark died some years back. I think I may still have one of his catalogs. He was ahead of his time. One knife I ordered from him, I thought I would never get it. I happened to be working in San Antonio and he drove down and hand delivered it for me. We drank several and talked about the knife and his work. A good man.
 
Sorry, just an FYI, not sure if his wife is even still there, but his address was:

Brightwell Bladeworks
21104 Creekside Dr.
Leander, TX 78641
 
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