Ugly knife: Part Deux

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2knife

2knife

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I read a quote the other day, which i have forgotten where- it said "you can't know beauty if you don't know ugly"

So it got me thinking of this forum.

Knives here sometimes show wild experiments in steel. Some of the most esteemed makers, and skilled artists also show whimisical attitudes toward art, and the serious subject of Knifemaking. Often to my untrained eye, i see flambouyance of skill as lacking true purpose- and often pushing the envelope of good taste.

However, i do feel there is purpose in experimentation and innovation. Where knifemakers abound is in creativity. One cannot ignore the endless variety.

I am interested in seeing designs that "didn't fly" if anyone would volunteer some examples. Call them "concept knives", if just working on an idea..

Everyone here must agree, no one has a monopoly on "ugly".
I see it here everyday, but i still enjoy the views.
David
 
David, I don't know what "knowledge" you are so desperately seeking, but think about it, my friend. What knife maker or any other fine craftsman would even condone, let alone volunteer showing his crap stuff and mistakes with pride or otherwise.

It's kind of like crapping in your pants and then hang them out the car window so everyone can see you crapped your pants. Who would do that?

Paul
 
I cannot agree with O.P. saying "you can't know beauty if you don't know ugly" .
Knowing ugly is very simple and easy if you know what beauty is - it is just a lack of beauty.
On the other hand, beauty is not that simple. It can never be formulated as a lack of ugliness.

I'd just go after beauty.
 
why don't you start by showing us your interpretation of an ugly knife?Seems like you try to get others to dirty the waters for you,when it is you that seeks dirty water.
 
thompsonblades said:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=708309
Try looking through this thread.

A man (or woman) who has never failed at anything, has never DONE anything worth mentioning.
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Thank you Thompson,
You well understand the idea behind this thread. And I hope others will follow your lead. One thing stands out to me readng through your thread, that despite the "humble pie" knives there is deep pride - often through a sentimental attachment.
We should encourage every effort.

Here on this fancy forum we have glamorous knives every day. Nice to see some that are not the most refined too, and celebrate first efforts. "Art knives" are not everything. Not even close..
David
 
This is my first and only knife I have made and finished it tonight. So it is my best and my worst.
37.jpg

43.jpg

45.jpg
 
'Best and worst'! That's awesome.
Humility is truly inspiring.:)
 
2knife said:
Thank you Thompson,
You well understand the idea behind this thread. And I hope others will follow your lead. One thing stands out to me readng through your thread, that despite the "humble pie" knives there is deep pride - often through a sentimental attachment.
We should encourage every effort.

Here on this fancy forum we have glamorous knives every day. Nice to see some that are not the most refined too, and celebrate first efforts. "Art knives" are not everything. Not even close..
David
Click to expand...

David, why not try to be a little less controversial in your threads and a little more fair and perhaps they won't be moved so often.

Just about every day if not at least several times a week a new maker will introduce a new knife here on this forum. They are always welcomed, encouraged and treated with respect so to imply that we don't celebrate first efforts and are knife snobs is very unfair. And I spend quite a bit of time on here and I have never heard anyone say or imply "Art Knives" are everything.
 
There is a good editorial column on this topic in Blade Magazine this month. (Apr issue p. 6)

Knives by "Regular Guys". - Walt Puyallup
 
2knife said:
Thank you Thompson,
You well understand the idea behind this thread. And I hope others will follow your lead. One thing stands out to me readng through your thread, that despite the "humble pie" knives there is deep pride - often through a sentimental attachment.
We should encourage every effort.

Here on this fancy forum we have glamorous knives every day. Nice to see some that are not the most refined too, and celebrate first efforts. "Art knives" are not everything. Not even close..
David
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what your intent is. Are you looking for dressed-down, plain, knife designs , or are you looking for images of crude knife-shaped objects created by those uneducated/untrained/unskilled in knifemaking? The 2 are not the same. I'm not even sure the latter would qualify as art, inasmuch as a 2-year old's fingerpaint would qualify for a prestigious gallery.

Art requires an understanding of the technical processes and use of a medium to apply lines, form and color to acheive a desired outcome--the artwork. A knife can be quite plain, and without embellishment, but "art" can be acheived because of SKILLFUL application of materials, lines, and placement of elements. "Beauty" and "ugly" are irrelevant.

Or are you just hoping that a fine craftsman will come forward and admit, "I F'd up, and here it is for the world to see. . ."
 
I'll join in and add that I'm not sure what you are looking for either:confused:

I will also add these observations. Overall, this is a very polite board--some of the sub-forums are very polite;)

I see knives I love, I see knives I don't care for. If you want an honest opinion of a maker's work, buy the knife and then sell it. The buyer will tell you what HE really thinks. He often won't tell the maker. That's because most people are too polite or are for some reason too shy to give an honest critique or feedback. In a way this is bad because it misguides makers sometimes.

Sorry if this doesn't apply to what you are talking about 2knife.
 
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Every knifemaker I know has at least 1 bucket (in my case a barrel) of "mistakes". They are there to remind us to be humble and to not repeat those mistakes. Every so often when I am working on a new design I'll go through my barrel of mistakes and see if I've tried it before. :(

I can take a picture of my slump bucket without any water in it if you want to just see ugly :eek: there's about 10 pounds of rusty steel dust, several cigarette butts, some bolts and a few guards in there. In case you don't know, it would take a lot to make most makers reach into their slump bucket for anything. :barf:

I've seen stuff posted on here (2/3 of it is my work) that makes me cringe when I see it and at first I expected a barrage of insults but this group encourages and sometimes if asked will tell the maker how to improve at least from the buyer's point of view.

I haven't found this to be an "art" knife only group, they welcome everyone and if asked give honest feedback. I see nothing wrong for a group to celebrate the best of the craft, in fact I'm glad I have a place to visit to see and read about the best. I find a lot of inspiration here and do a lot of my "market" research through the threads these fine people take their time out to post.
 
I understand your point. It's even valid. But.... It just ain't going to happen.

This venue would be hard-pressed to accept the design fancies of a maker without some level of degradation to the said maker. It could ONLY be presented from the maker themselves.

(Will, I interpret this as designs that didn't fly, not poorly made ones.)

Sheesh, I have about 5000 examples pass through my hands, and an eye for ten-thousands more I've seen. I know ugly, as much as I know beauty.

That said, this is MY perception. To present my perception, while potentially damning a maker who others find appealing, that's the reason THIS THREAD is bad styling.

Thanks.

Coop
 
Kevin Jones said:
....Just about every day if not at least several times a week a new maker will introduce a new knife here on this forum. They are always welcomed, encouraged and treated with respect so to imply that we don't celebrate first efforts and are knife snobs is very unfair. And I spend quite a bit of time on here and I have never heard anyone say or imply "Art Knives" are everything.
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Will Leavitt said:
...I haven't found this to be an "art" knife only group, they welcome everyone and if asked give honest feedback. I see nothing wrong for a group to celebrate the best of the craft, in fact I'm glad I have a place to visit to see and read about the best. I find a lot of inspiration here and do a lot of my "market" research through the threads these fine people take their time out to post.
Click to expand...


SharpByCoop said:
....I know ugly, as much as I know beauty.
That said, this is MY perception. To present my perception, while potentially damning a maker who others find appealing, that's the reason THIS THREAD is bad styling.
Click to expand...

Well said.

Roger
 
"Art knives" are not everything. Not even close..
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I won an award for Best Art Knife at a show once. I told one judge "I don't make Art Knives". He said, "that it was an Art Knife and the best one presented"

Art is in the eye of the beholder and I still don't make Art Knives :D


I have made some ugly ass knives but for some odd reason forgot to take a picture :confused:
 
Don Hanson III said:
I won an award for Best Art Knife at a show once. I told one judge "I don't make Art Knives". He said, "that it was an Art Knife and the best one presented"

Art is in the eye of the beholder and I still don't make Art Knives :D


I have made some ugly ass knives but for some odd reason forgot to take a picture :confused:
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Don, I know which knife you are referring too and it is FINE ART, and of course one hell of a fighter TOO. ;) :D

As you know, a knife can be a beautiful work of art and still be an outstanding functional knife, capable of performing to a very high degree. Don't know why some seem to think a knife has to be either or?
 
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