Two Big Honkin'© bowies... :)

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Oct 8, 2001
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Two makers, two distinctly different styles, two large smiles from me. :D

Don Hanson sent me this fossil bowie to deliver to him in NYC on Mar 4-6th for the show there. The larger the knife, the harder it is to capture the 'essence' of it's heft and detail in a photograph. This thing is as sharp as a tomato slicer, and with that big belly weight you can be sure it's comin' down the pike like a semi-trailer--NO stopping it! :eek:

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Mace Vitale is a young maker who is working towards his JS status. Mace lives up here in CT and took the time to drive to my home and studio to work on this one. I always enjoy the conversations and display the complexities and subtleties of my work.

The same can be said about his knife. It's a great rendition of a classic shape with the pins and the coffin handle. Mace's work is getting *real* good and he is one of the nicest guys on the planet. :D

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I hope they both come in here and sing their song....

Coop
 
Coop,

If you were to publish a book of all the pictures you have taken over the years, I'd buy it, even if it was $100 book. Why not?

Dave
 
Well, this post made my morning. :D These are two terrific bowies and I'd be delighted to own either one. I particularly like the blade shape on that Hanson with the generous belly and the way the whole blade widens out toward the point. Way cool. :cool:

Roger

PS - fantastic pics as always. And the book idea is brilliant.
 
I like the Hanson a lot! :eek: :eek: :eek:

The Mace Vital looks very, very clean, but IMHO the guard is a bit too thick. The edges (on the guard) look very sharp too, and I generally like them to be rounded off a bit, because otherwise they actually bite into the finger when you hold a knife. I mean this as constructive feedback, and I hope it's taken as such.
 
Thanks Coop for a "lovely" photo :) These long knives are hard to capture in an image. Coop is the man.
This is a BIG bowie, blade is a little over 13'', OAL is 18 1/2'' - 19''.
Blade steel is 350 layers of 1080,W2,and 15N20. Fossil walrus artifact handle and damascus fittings. I kind of let the blade go the way it wanted when I was forging, it's different but I like it. No sheath for it yet but it's in a Bills custom case. Thanks for your comments.

Don Hanson lll sunfishforge.com
 
Both of these are great looking knives in their own right, and each will have its own set of supporters. For me Don's work is a real eye catcher and the bowies he is putting out just get better and better - I really like the damascus on this particular blade. Fantastic.

STephen

PS: Great photos Coop ... but thats a bit like telling Beyonce shes quite hot!
 
Love it when Coop Posts especially when its one of Dons he's showcasing
that is one commanding piece I cant wait to handle her..stunning damascus
and as always whether its walnut from the back yard stag or fossil Ivories Dons Handle material is some of the finest..I really like the thin guard that doesnt interrupt that arcing humpback line to handle slab..AWESOME WORK both sides of the camera
Congrats too to Marc for a clean quick looking cutter with crisp work like that a js stamp is most certainly in your future..I too would favor a thinner guard though do like how this one mirrors the ricasso treatment..nice way to warm up a snowy thursday!
 
Thanks again, to all of you guys.

Those of you lucky enough to be in NYC might get a chance to wield the Hanson Bowie. That ivory has some really nice texture on the other side towards the rear, which gives it a grip worthy of the blade. :)

Mace is VERY keen on doing better and better. He pointed out this and that in area's that he felt could have been even cleaner. He is paying attention and working as best as he can right now. He's on a good curve that is sweeping up fast, and I'm sure all comments are registered accordingly.

Dave, I really appreciate your kind remarks directed towards a book. Fortunately I have 80 :eek: images of mine included in the forthcoming Dr. Darom's book on Fixed Blades. But.... you wouldn't know which ones. And that's a GOOD thing, because all the images are so professional! I am fortunate.

Maybe.... a calender would be a good start. Hmmmmm... :confused: :)

Coop
 
Okay fine. A calendar will be an excellent start. You can sign me up right away. It'll sure beat the heck out of the kittens and puppies theme that my wife is so fond of.

THEN give us the book. :)

Roger
 
Thanks Coop for the fantastic photo.......Thanks also for the VERY kind words.

As far as comments about my work..........I am more than willing to hear what you guys have to say good or bad.....it's one of the ways I can improve my work. Really.....I don't think you can hurt my feelings so tell me what you see.
The specs on the knife: Forged 5160 blade...frame handle of O-1 and birdseye maple...Nickle silver fittings. No sheath yet, it's on the to do list.

Thanks for all the nice comments.
Mace
 
Don, I distinctly do NOT recall you mentioning this one to me, you bastid. :) Funny thing is, I recently had some $$$ too, but blew it on an Engraved Fisk Sendero, what was I thinking? ;) Actually, I'm still in love with the 13"er I got from you last year, though they would have made a great pair. :)
 
Coop,once again you've turned two works of art into even two better looking works of art.Thanks :cool:
 
I saw the Hanson bowie late last night, and I just looked at it again, I must say, Coop's pics are just amazing, just when I start thinking my pics are getting decent, I look at his and realize I have a long way to go. Oh well, gives me something to shoot for anyway. :)

Man that Hanson is nice. :)
 
Megalobyte said:
Don, I distinctly do NOT recall you mentioning this one to me, you bastid. :) Funny thing is, I recently had some $$$ too, but blew it on an Engraved Fisk Sendero, what was I thinking? ;) Actually, I'm still in love with the 13"er I got from you last year, though they would have made a great pair. :)
Click to expand...
Hey Ari, I need to hide one from you every now and then or else I wouldn't have any to take to shows :D Coop did do a fantastic job didn't he?

Don
 
Ari, you have far less to go than you imagine. :) But, thanks for the comments. (It's also all about the 'delete' key....)

Shooting those big ones IS a challenge. Gimme a plain-bladed hollow-grind folder any day of the week! Easiest, by far.

Coop
 
sunfishman said:
This is a BIG bowie, blade is a little over 13'', OAL is 18 1/2'' - 19''.
Click to expand...

Hehehe.....
Now this is getting into the size range where I really take notice. :) Bowies of this size are entirely too rare these days, IMO. ('course, you probably knew I'd say something like that, after you handled my 24" beater Bowie at the Saint Louis Knife show. ;) )
So, what does it weigh? Balance point? Centers of rotation? Inquiring minds wanna know.
 
the possum said:
Hehehe.....
Now this is getting into the size range where I really take notice. :) Bowies of this size are entirely too rare these days, IMO. ('course, you probably knew I'd say something like that, after you handled my 24" beater Bowie at the Saint Louis Knife show. ;) )
So, what does it weigh? Balance point? Centers of rotation? Inquiring minds wanna know.
Click to expand...
Possum, Now that was a knife you showed me at the St.Louis show.
This one has a little more blade weight than my other long blades but not to heavy, if I remember the balance is about 1 1/2''-2'' from the guard. Coop's had it for a couple weeks now, hope he remembers to bring it to the show :p This bowie would be very good at delimbing tree or foe, it's a chopper for sure.

Thanks, Don
 
Hey Handsome...er, I mean Hanson (trying to butter him up so I can get this one) :)

Seriously, is the blade diff-tempered, if so, is the line visible in person?
 
Mega, The blade is diff-heat treated but the line is lost in the pattern, it runs along the area where the ladder fades into random pattern. Coop has had this knife longer than I so we may need to ask him if he sees the temp line :p

Don
 
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