Unfolding: The World of Art Knives

[Lorien]

My good friend, Dr. David Darom, asked me if I was interested in taking a look at his new book, The World of Art Knives and sharing my impressions of his book with my this and other internet forums.

Being a rank neophyte to custom and handmade knives, I was surprised to be asked to do this job. I have only scratched the surface by way of Dr. Darom's previous books and through these various internet forums. Why David would ask someone as wet behind the ears, who's never even been to a proper knife show, and whose only 'knife network' is the internet forum, remains a happy mystery to me.

Please take a note that this is not a 'review' of the book. I am not a professional reviewer and I am most certainly biased. My motivation is to help my friend promote his work, and to have fun. That's the straight goods, don't forget!

At this point, I have not yet opened the book. The pictures you see following are all that I have seen up to this point.

I hope that you will accompany me on my journey of discovery, as this thread will grow and grow. I have full access to the entire content of this book, and will add more pictures and the like over time.

My very first impression is that the cover is just beautiful. It features a knife by my all time favourite Art knife Artist, Wolfgang Loerchner! Also, the quality of the binding is excellent and with proper care and maintenance, this book will provide years if not generations of enjoyment. Just like a knife!

Please stay tuned!

 

[Jon Brand]

Its the caterpillar!!! Your lucky Lorien.

 

[RogerP]

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Roger

 

[ddd]

Hello Lorien, I am glad to see that the book survived the 8000 miles
and five days of drastically varying temperatures... Enjoy!

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[Lorien]

I've had a chance to thumb through this book from back to front, and front to back.

I cannot stress too much, how clear, correct and outstanding the photographs in this book are. Even compared to Dr. Darom's past books, this one raises the bar.

Here is one image that really jumped out at me;

You can see how much thought has gone into the layout, and to the digital refinement of the images. Truly breath taking.

If you are worried that I will give away too much of this book and ruin it for you, let me just say this; there are hundreds of pictures of knives and people in this book, and secondly, there is simply NO COMPARISON between what you can see on your computer screen, and the printed page. Other than the obvious fact that they are the same image. The printed page is far superior in almost every way.

Another thing that I think I'll talk more about as I discover the ins and outs of this complex book, is the people. This is not just a book about knives. This is a book about, in Steven Garsson's words, 'Knife People'. The lines between the maker and his/her patrons in blurred, such as in real life, and that is the point.

There is a great deal of depth in Dr. Darom's latest creation, and I think I'm going to have to dive from the upper platform in order to experience the entirety of it!

 

[Jon Brand]

Definately a Sfreddo, and that other one looks like Bruce Bump? Just taking a stab.. no pun intended.

Curious if there is any unseen Hancock in the book?

 

[Marcel54]

Definately a Sfreddo, and that other one looks like Bruce Bump? Just taking a stab.. no pun intended.

Yep, Sfreddo and Bump...both from Michael Talanian's collection.

Marcel

 

[Lorien]

Well, I am a happy and lucky guy, reclining after a hard day's work, avoiding the news of beheadings and other inhumanities- by absorbing myself into the comforting bosom of The World of Art Knives!

Juergen Steineau is just an amazing Artist, and his knives are beyond Dada and a lot of that new school avant garde movement, and that's saying a lot in the Art world in terms of forwardness of thinking. Pretty significant for a knife maker to be occupying that realm of Artistic value.

That stuff is somewhere inside most people's Artistic comprehension, even if they don't know it. And usually they don't.

Here's that "knife people" excerpt. There's a long, personal and interesting story which follows, but 'living knives' really struck a chord in me.
Living, knives.

I felt David's garden metaphor to speak volumes about his approach to the work that he does. Seeing pictures of his family when they're together makes me think that in a previous life perhaps he was a farmer.

There are some really great pictures of knife makers in here. Not your contrived studio shots, but really nice candid photos that help you to see inside their motivations.
Amayak Stepanyan

Wolfgang Loerchner features prominently in this book. His body of work is astounding to me. I feel that aliens came to earth, added something amazing to Wolfgang's brain and left our planet with an amazing knfe Artist behind to show us all the path. Obviously, whatever was added to his brain has a genetic code to be passed down, because his daughter is making knives of similar amazing creativity.

I'm planning on putting in a request for some more of Dr. Darom's pictures tomorrow and I'll follow up with some of them shortly after.

Have a good night!

 

[Bruce Bump]

Interesting thread Lorien. Thanks for posting the Tombstone dagger. I cant wait to get my copy.

 

[Kohai999]

Here's that "knife people" excerpt. There's a long, personal and interesting story which follows, but 'living knives' really struck a chord in me.
Living, knives.

Have a good night!

Thank you for the mention, Lorien.

It WAS a very personal process. I thought I could knock out 2,000+ words in a month or so, as anyone who frequents BladeForums can attest.

It took 4 months. My wife did the proofreading for syntax and flow, and Phil Lobred reviewed it for "knife content". David asked me for 4 pages of knife photographs, and that was absolutely agonizing. I have so many friends that make knives....who "makes the cut", and who doesn't?

At the end, J.D. Smith, Don Fogg, Phil Baldwin, Harvey McBurnette, John "Jack" Busfield and Larry Fuegen in that order of appearance, personify "knife people"...the work featured has never been revealed to the public eye before, and probably will not be again....I owed it to these makers, and others who came before them to showcase this work...simply because there is not enough of it that has been published, and cannot thank Dr. David Darom enough for the opportunity to contribute to this great work.

Being a quite private person with a public persona was the balancing act....I really hope you enjoyed the read and accompanying photographs, and hope that everyone else does as well.

That said, am prepared to be judged as harshly by my fellow "knife people" out there, as I judge them. It is only fair.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Marcel54]

I can't wait to get my hands on this book.

Marcel

 

[wolfeknives]

I just received my copy. It is not a "coffee table book" for casual perusal. Each single page deserves serious study. The featured knives and written work represent the best of the best. It is without a doupt the most comprehensive, serious work on the subject ever published. It will take me a long time to make my way through the entire volume.
Wolfgang

 

[stabber]

Nice thread Lorien! Chillin in that recliner and Drooling

 

[ddd]

I just received my copy. It is not a "cofee table book" for casual perusal. Each single page deserves serious study. The featured knives and written work represent the best of the best. It is without a doupt the most comprehensive, serious work on the subject ever published. It will take me a long time to make my way through the entire volume.
Wolfgang

Thank you Wolfgang, for the flattering definition... Coming from
a knife artist who is considered a A ONE MAN CATEGORY in the
world of modern knife art, makes it something special.

I have to admit that "virtually" handling so many of your knives
for this book, some of them true major knife-art projects, was an
exciting experience for me...


All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[Lorien]

A knife is an ultimate evidence of humanity.
Humans make them.
Humans use them.
A knife symbolizes the duality of our reality- on the one hand sustaining life, on the other, taking it.

And such is the dissemination of handmade knives. A circular relationship between those who produce and those who consume. A knife is born, and then locked away. Never to be seen again.

David Darom is changing that with his books. He is giving life to knives which might otherwise never see the light of day.

As you've seen, there are some great pictures of people in this book, and here are some of those pictures;

Here are two knives that reached out of the book and grabbed me by my throat. Just amazing.

I don't have any really burning desire to own lots of high end knives. These books pretty much fill my need to know that knives like these exist and to draw from the inspiration that they fill me with.

 

[betzner]

There's so much that's bound to be in this publication, I can't imagine you can cover even a minute part of it before it hits the hands of collectors, Lorien - but we sure do appreciate your trying!

 

[Kevin Jones]

Steven's piece "Knife People" is a good read. Though we all love the beautiful knives, the relationships and "the people" go far in completing the overall experience and pleasure custom knives bring us. David's books do a wonderful job of painting the complete picture.


Hope you enjoy my contribution to the book.
All the Fisk knives and Paul Long sheaths depicted on my pages will be on display at this year's Blade Show at table 16-O in the forged blade section. Please come by, take a look and visit a spell.

 

[Kohai999]

Steven's piece "Knife People" is a good read. Though we all love the beautiful knives, the relationships and "the people" go far in completing the overall experience and pleasure custom knives bring us. David's books do a wonderful job of painting the complete picture.


Hope you enjoy my contribution to the book.
All the Fisk knives and Paul Long sheaths depicted on my pages will be on display at this year's Blade Show at table 16-O in the forged blade section. Please come by, take a look and visit a spell.

Thanks for the mention, Kevin. I thought that your section on Jerry Fisk and his knives was very clearly and concisely written, and showed great knowledge of your subject material.

The thing that I like about David's books is a) there is nothing else like them...if you took the Points of Interest books and merged them with the Knives Annuals, they STILL would not be the equal of Dr. Darom's books, and b)they are a beautifully photographed, affordable way for someone who MAY be interested in knives to get a very good representation of what is available in the world of custom knives.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[2knife]

Congratulations David and all! A labor of love, surely.

Look forward to seeing it..
David

 

[Lorien]

I've been going through the book, with my camera, and I've been picking out some details which are interesting to me.

The decision to only include portions of David's pictures was based on my interest in generating some mystery for you. There are a great many photos in this book, all of exceptional quality that I will give you a small taste of.

Other than David color correcting my pictures, please keep in mind that these pictures are ones that I took OF THE BOOK. They are not originals.

Test your knowledge, and see if you know whose knives are pictured! Make it fun!

I'll be trickling out these pictures, 10 at a time and have a total of 98 for you to enjoy, (or not- if that's the case, please let me know!).