Who are the future makers of Loveless and Moran stature?

To me, when we are talking Loveless, Moran stature, it boils down to more the man rather than just his knives. Legendary figures have a tremendous aura about them, and they can somehow bring an extra bit of soul to their work, and can leave a room buzzing. We have talked about knives with soul in the past haven’t we Anthony? They can also leave a person with an unforgettable memory from something as simple as a “brush with greatness”, to them bragging about a deep conversation with the “man”. Sometimes folks are hesitant to even approach them, or even are star stuck when they do. Their knives, talent, and long standing accomplishments certainly must follow who they are, but their character IMHO speaks volumes when lifting them into a distinguished status. There has been a ton of talent on the floor over the decades, but only a few hit that illustrious “will go down in history” plateau. Can the man bring more out of his knives than what is laying on the table? No doubt.

You guys have mentioned most of the big names. To add a few others that time will tell whether they reach the status we are talking about, but for me, were/are polarizing knife figures that stood out at a show and had/are having tremendous careers.

Jimmy Lile seemed larger than life back in the day

Ed Fowler; Although never a huge fan of his knives, wow, what a great man to talk with. Would love to spend a day with him.

Sal Glesser; although not a maker..this Cutlery HOF’r is quite a figure that I have had the pleasure to spend time with.

Chris Reeve; I love to watch newbies faces when they see and talk with him for the first time.

Also there was always something about Phil Hartsfield that made me want to never miss his table at a show.
 
Buster Warenski and Jerry Fisk are already there if you ask me. Both for their work and for their contribution to the craft.
 
Thomas W.: Good point.

I feel to approach this level of prestige, it's not only about a great design and build merits, it's mostly about giving back. Those who have educated, and influenced, will rise above those who simply influenced. Hence, Fisk, Fogg, Walker, Warensky.

Steven, the Liner Lock© changed the face of custom knives indelibly, and Mr. Walker GAVE this design to the community while he could. There's his gift, right?

All reports that I have heard is that Buster shared whenever possible.

SR Johnson has this quality, as a name I hadn't see yet.

Lots of room for discussion. :thumbup:

Coop
 
Ditto on S.R. Johnson. Great Maker, Great person. Ready to help at any time, and goes out of his way to help other makers! Thanks! Steve, for all you do! Mike Lovett
 
Anthony Lombardo said:
Explain. Other than adding the ball detent and using Ti for the liner lock what has he done that has changed the face of the world of knives?
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Coop, I didn't question Walker as being on the list of legendary makers.

Anthony, the liner lock changed folders the same way that Al Buck did with the 110. I think that we can all agree that the 110 is legend.

Michael coined the name, and streamlined production methods (screw together construction, adjustable pivot), can't take that away from him. What about anodizing and engraving titanium? Patricia Walker, I believe a first. Zipper blade and Bladelock. Also very inspirational.

I thought about Chris Reeve when I was making up my list, but kept it to the purely custom makers.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
As a knife newbie without any customs I may not be qualified to answer the question but I certainly have a opinion.<grin> To me from everything I’ve read and seen Moran isn’t just a knife maker, teacher, etc, etc. He has reached, in the knife world anyway, hero or worship status similar to a Babe Ruth in the baseball world. This isn’t meant to be negative it’s the highest form of flattery my writing skills allow, without casting anything negative to those who feel he should be on should on such a pedestal (myself being one). It’s going to take more than writing a few books or having a great web site or being the most skilled knife maker to reach the level of respect Moran has.

Having said that Moran was at the right place at the right time to achieve what he did, but then so was Washington and Lincoln. I don’t see anybody.
 
Cool thread!
Many great names mentioned but I´d say that to become a legend like Moran and Loveless one has to do way more than great knives or try to spread his knowledge, he/she has to radically change the face of the knife world and promote its advance and evolution as these two gentlemen did. So far, the only person I see coming close to it is Jerry Fisk.
 
How about Bob Terzuola? Interesting history/ Inovative fixed blade maker - state of the art alloys, kydex sheaths, etc/ Prolific folder maker/ Factory collaborations/ Active in the Knifemaker's Guild. Is Mr. Terzuola there? If not, what would it take?
 
Guys, people who are basically of the same generation as Loveless and Moran (i.e., no more than 20 yr younger) have already most of their career behind them. It's not to say that they can't improve, but if they were to be the new Moran or the new Loveless, that would already be completely obvious.

Onion, Fisk, Emerson are of a different generation and they have a completely different potential - but even then I think Fisk is best placed.
 
gbaker said:
As a knife newbie without any customs I may not be qualified to answer the question but I certainly have a opinion.<grin>
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Actually, it is the newbies/know-have/nothings that cement that "legendary" status.

When someone who does not have the means or interest to get a custom knife, but has heard of a maker like Onion or Fisk, and buys anything based upon that name recognition or perception, well that speaks volumes. That indicates that the maker is WELL on the way to legendary status, when it is perpetuated over decades is when it is cemented.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Joss said:
Guys, people who are basically of the same generation as Loveless and Moran (i.e., no more than 20 yr younger) have already most of their career behind them......were to be the new Moran or the new Loveless, that would already be completely obvious.

- but even then I think Fisk is best placed.
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Joss, I think that Scagel was long gone before he reached legendary status. "Living Legends" and those of legendary stature become seme-household names, the Living Legends get to enjoy the benefits that come with this status. That is pretty rare, regardless of the gift of the person. Elvis-still as, if not more, famous, dead over living, same with Marilyn Monroe.

We never know, as was said above, who is going to be famous/legendary/highly sought after. You just have to go with your gut, and give it your best shot.

D.E. Henry and Buster have excellent shots at being legends, maybe not household names, but makers who are MUCH more highly regarded deceased, than they were alive.

All that said, I do believe that we have a winner in the incomparable Mr. Fisk, for many reasons, personality being a very large factor.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven,

I guess we'll have to differ on that. I think that Scagel is an exception and that most others legends achieve notoriety before their passing. Elvis and Marilyn were much bigger stars then than now - in fact, body wise I suspect that Marilyn would not be noticed much on Miami Beach these days.

There are obvious counter-examples in the arts (Van Gogh to mention only one), but I suspect they're exceptions. In the crafts I would think that all the currently legendary makers (Faberge, Cartier, Masamune, etc) achieved this status while alive. I'm not very knowledgeable on craft history, admittedly.
 
I would have to disagree about Bill Moran vs. Jerry Fisk.
Only History will tell but I feel that Moran,Loveless,Walker and Lake will retain their longevity and values regardless of the internet.
Dave
 
In every aspect of life the pioneers are the front runners and because of that become much easier household names and legends. As an industry developes over the years you go from revolution (like the "re-invention" of damascus, mosiac, certain types of openingsystems and so on) to evolution (refining already known systems and methods). The people who refine will have a much harder time to become legends because they didn't invent but worked upon idead from someone else.

This is one of the reasons IMO that we are talking about makers who started 20 - 40 years ago as the legends and the makers from the last decades as the "possibles". Only time will tell whether or not these makers will become heroes. I think a few like Fisk, Fuegen and Warenski will make it, but not on their reputation as innovators but thanks to the constant quality of their work and the influence of internet and marketing.

Marcel
 
As another newbie then, I think I'll chime in :)

I personally love Fikes' work and I find it both striking and memorable but I think something that (might?) limit him is his relative inaccessibility: he doesn't seem to have a website, he's an on-again, off-again maker, and it's difficult to find examples of his work (online, at least); you can find a page about him on DON FOGG'S website. As I said, I love his stuff, but you know what they say about the sound of a tree falling in the forest.

It was actually looking at customs that drew me into the knife world (then I had to learn about steel and construction and god it never ends). I think, for me what creates a household-name-memorable maker is the distinctiveness of his or her work. You look at at Warenski, Fikes, Fogg and it is instantly recognizable, even by someone who may not know that much about knives. I think Jerry Fisk will continue to be respected in the knife community for his contributions but I have to say that I don't find his work as singularly identifiable (but maybe that's just 'cause I'm new). I'm not sure that even matters in his case though.
 
ThreeWorlds said:
As another newbie then, I think I'll chime in :)

I personally love Fikes' work and I find it both striking and memorable but I think something that (might?) limit him is his relative inaccessibility: he doesn't seem to have a website, he's an on-again, off-again maker, and it's difficult to find examples of his work (online, at least); you can find a page about him on DON FOGG'S website. As I said, I love his stuff, but you know what they say about the sound of a tree falling in the forest.

It was actually looking at customs that drew me into the knife world (then I had to learn about steel and construction and god it never ends). I think, for me what creates a household-name-memorable maker is the distinctiveness of his or her work. You look at at Warenski, Fikes, Fogg and it is instantly recognizable, even by someone who may not know that much about knives. I think Jerry Fisk will continue to be respected in the knife community for his contributions but I have to say that I don't find his work as singularly identifiable (but maybe that's just 'cause I'm new). I'm not sure that even matters in his case though.
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Man, you are so wrong....


1.http://www.fisk-knives.com/

2. There is nothing on/off about Jerry, he is just booked up about 6 years, a good sign for a legend/one in the making.

3. You are so new that you don't know about Bob Neal?

4. Jerry's work is singularly identifiable, it is just that most of the rest of the Arkansaw crowd have limited imaginations, and make work that is almost a straight copy of his style. That is something you need to see for yourself.

Good luck in your journey.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
1.http://www.fisk-knives.com/
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I was talking about Jimmy Fikes not having a website.

3. You are so new that you don't know about Bob Neal?
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Yes. :) I was working up to post here (Custom Knife Forum) for advice about getting my first custom, but I can never make up my mind as to what I actually want.

4. Jerry's work is singularly identifiable, it is just that most of the rest of the Arkansaw crowd have limited imaginations, and make work that is almost a straight copy of his style. That is something you need to see for yourself.
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Well, I think I would enjoy doing this very much, if I ever get the opportunity. Would you say that his work is singularly identifiable even to someone who doesn't know anything about knives? That was my original point.
 
Pioneers will always be pioneers...........they have no peer.

There was only one Christopher Columbus..........or Lewis and Clark, they were the first.

Other men will walk in their footsteps, but they are the ones who led the way and will always be the frontrunners.


Thomas-Phil H???? .........you gotta be kidding!!!????
 
I can't think any differently than Lovett and Mayo. SRJ definetly will get consideration in years to come.

ThreeWorlds, I've got a nice Fikes page.

Win
 
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Part of becoming Iconic in this indutry requires a "body" of work.

Some makers will never make enough knives to qualify (Fikes), some makers were not innovative enough (Lake), some makers lack depth in their line-up (Fowler) and some were more hype than substance (Hartsfield).

After STeven's arguments regarding Walker I am starting to warm up to him being on the list. I admire his knives greatly.

Based simply on name brand recognition, Gil Hibben would certainly make the list. Even though his knives are the antithesis of what "I LIKE", he has all the parameters--sought after maker, huge name recognition, pioneer in the Art Knife world, one of the most successful collaborators and a good businessman. His designs are everywhere. He is probably mostly responsible for the huge movie knife genre (along with Jimmy Lile).

Keep the ideas coming guys, this is another great thread.
 
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