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Warenski French "Main Gauche" Parrying Dagger

Quite a piece. I love Main Gauche's and that is one of the finest I have seen

The nicest Warenski piece I have seen

Congrats you must be thrilled
 
I'm glad this piece is finally being seen, after all these years more or less hidden. There are many good reasons that Loveless called Buster Warenski the greatest knife maker that ever lived. Glad I had this chance to resurrect one of those reasons, the Main Gauche, from a very private collection.

Yes, Coop, I am very glad I seized the opportunity to have it for my collection. I never expected to own such a "treasure" - ever.

In my opinion, what's REALLY cool is how the diversity of style and historical period shaped Buster Warenski's work. Like his English Bowie, his Mediterranean Dirk, his Ottoman Scimitar, the French Main Gauche, California knives. And that doesn't even include his art dagger creations.

His work was superb.
 
betzner said:
I'm glad this piece is finally being seen, after all these years more or less hidden.
Click to expand...

I'm glad as well Bob.
Such a substantial creation existing in obscurity for 17 years.
Makes one wonder who many other monumental works by great makers exist
to perhaps never be unveiled.
 
Kevin Jones said:
I'm glad as well Bob.
Such a substantial creation existing in obscurity for 17 years.
Makes one wonder who many other monumental works by great makers exist
to perhaps never be unveiled.
Click to expand...

One can only wonder.

As to this piece being a monumental work, I learn more about it here and there. The double rings between ricasso and blade had me wondering about the design - until I found an early 17th century main gauche image with the identical ricasso/rings design.

This is not the only example of Buster trying to be historically accurate - there are sooo many more. Think of California-style knives and inevitably, you think first of Buster Warenski. It's at that point that I wonder, is there a seriously great example, locked up somewhere, out of the public eye?
 
betzner said:
This is not the only example of Buster trying to be historically accurate - there are sooo many more. Think of California-style knives and inevitably, you think first of Buster Warenski. It's at that point that I wonder, is there a seriously great example, locked up somewhere, out of the public eye?
Click to expand...

You should ask Julie. Perhaps Buster kept records and sketches of his creations?

Peter
 
Kevin Jones said:
I'm glad as well Bob.
Such a substantial creation existing in obscurity for 17 years.
Makes one wonder who many other monumental works by great makers exist
to perhaps never be unveiled.
Click to expand...

Kevin, just check Weyer's Knives Points of Interest books and ask yourself (as I do) where all those knives are at the moment. Where most of the Cronk knives are (were) is known, but all those other beauties?? For instance I would love to know where all those great looking Bartrugs are.

Bob, I will not repeat all my praise but I tell you this. The more I look at the photos the more details I discover like the shape of the rings, or the little flowers on the guard and so on.:cool::thumbup:

Marcel
 
Marcel54 said:
Kevin, just check Weyer's Knives Points of Interest books and ask yourself (as I do) where all those knives are at the moment. Where most of the Cronk knives are (were) is known, but all those other beauties?? For instance I would love to know where all those great looking Bartrugs are.
Marcel
Click to expand...

Good point Marcel, however I was more addressing those pieces which never even make it to a book, such as Bob's "Main Gauche". It did at least make a showing at the 1993 AKI. I'm sure there's many incredibly substantial and beautiful pieces that go straight from maker bench to collectors safe without any fanfare or even broad knowledge that they exist.

By the way, I love looking at those Bartrugs in the P of I books over and over again.
 
Thanks everyone for the comments. For anyone going to Solvang, I will have it there. I'll keep it under wraps until all maker sales have been finished, which is usually when the collectors' selling begins. However, it will not be for sale.

It will, in all likelihood, make an appearance at Blade, as well.

Best,

Bob
 
Absolutely stunning! Truely a "wear the white gloves when handling" piece. It must be quite a thrill every time you have a chance to look at all the details in person. Really hope you bring it to Blade. Would love an opportunity to see it in person if at all possible.

Please excuse me. I have to go pick my wife up off of the floor as she fainted when I showed this to her.

Congratulations, Bob!
 
That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

It's not just the aesthetics and look of it, it's the detail and the time that must have went into it. In my head I'm trying to calculate it - and I just can't. This must have been a multi-year piece. Absolutely a masterpiece without question.
 
With a piece of this caliber, one can only speculate as to value. When you combine the maker with the exclusive design you simply get museum quality & uniqueness. Any collection with such a knife is to be applauded. Well done!

Gary
 
:eek: !!!

:cool:

Incredible maker.
Incredible piece.
A rather large CONGRATS, Bob !

Doug
 
The current plan is to have the Warenski Main Gauche on display along with the CKCA Cancer Research Benefit Knife at the CKCA booth during the Blade Show.

So anyone who wishes to see this marvel at Blade will be able to do so. Just come on by the CKCA booth and say hello!

Bob Betzner
 
Buster was an amazing guy. He was one of the founders of the guild and just got better and better as the years went on. His wife Julie is no slouch either. She turned into an amazing engraver. There are quite a few knives out in the world that they collaborated on.
 
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