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Post by randomnobody on Mar 23, 2011 1:37:38 GMT
I'm no metal expert, but were these readily available during the period in which this fellow worked?
I personally see no problem at all in using 440C for a custom knife, particularly one intended as a user. As long as the geometry, heat treat, etc. are in proper order, and I have no doubt this man had his process PERFECTED, I see no problems.
Remember kids, 440C is still pretty decent stuff, at least the knives I have in it are good daily user blades, it is only when it is stamped out into sword length that it starts getting tricky.
Sam also has a great point, if the article says the average price of his work when it was new was only around $500 to a grand for the usual affair, this is still a fantastic price for a one-of-a-kind, custom piece from a man who knows what the hell he's doing. The fact that these never-to-be-made-again knives are selling for what a few houses might cost is nothing more than a testament to his legacy, which obviously stands on its own.
Granted, that's just this one guy. I'm sure the others are on the same level, though I won't judge, myself.
If some people can't get that...well, that's where the cheap, mass-produced stuff comes in.
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Post by sam salvati on Mar 23, 2011 2:12:08 GMT
I saw recently at the NY knife show the work by a VERY nice guy named Bertie Rietveld, who had daggers he had made on the table, 5000$. the only time I had ever seen a piece I wouldn't hesitate in a second to drop the dough for, perfect, seamless fit, incredible materials, steel pattern so fine you could barely see it with your naked eye.
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Mar 23, 2011 14:49:40 GMT
440C Isn't a bad blade steel, in fact, multiple 100$+ knives are made with it on the market.
Like others said, a well-forged 440C steel blade will do its job very well. IMHO, we sometimes tend to overrate the efficiency of steels with lots of numbers and letters in their name ...
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Post by Bogus on Mar 24, 2011 1:55:37 GMT
I'm probably the least communist person on the forum but items like this make me wonder if there really is too much money floating around. I mean, I get that these guys are late masters but seriously, $850k for a knife!?! And I agree with f.m, the $45k one looks like a wallhanger.
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Post by chuckinohio on Mar 24, 2011 13:43:34 GMT
Thats exactly what makes the price seem so ridiculous, not the material it was made from. There again, beauty being in the eye of the beholder, someone somewhere probably thinks it is the bomb and is contemplating a purchase. Some more for yous to ponder- www.exquisiteknives.com/knives4.php
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Post by GUEST on Mar 24, 2011 20:03:53 GMT
Going to piss some people off, but I consider Bill Moran to be a big blow hard. When he first came he said only his large Bowie knives were the only one that could cut 1inch hanging manila rope. Of course that made Lynn Thompson mad so he gave us the Trail Master Carbon V Bowie started cutting 1inch and more manila rope. Even did 1 inch manila cuts with smaller knives. Bill Moran did made great knives, but other less expensive one are just as good. I rememder the blade war of the late 70's and early 80's Bill was always putting down other knife makers.
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Post by Anders on May 21, 2011 16:11:40 GMT
I like that near-one million dollar jewel encrusted solid gold dagger, just because it's such an outrageously decadent luxury item. It's like something you might find randomly sticking out of a pile of gold in the treasure vault of some ancient king who had it made just for bragging rights.
Incidentally, I had no idea you could actually harden gold.
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Post by demonskull on May 21, 2011 17:54:47 GMT
A little history, back in the mid 70's when I started collecting custom knives, there was no internet. You found out about custom knives through generally gun periodicals. My first exposure to the fact there were even custom makers, came from a fantasy novel in Jan 74. The heros were armed with Randall knives. The male carried a Smithsonian Bowie and his cousin (female) a Model 1. I put the book down and went into my dad's office and asked him if he had ever heard of Randall knives, he whipped out a copy of Shotgun News with their ad in it.
I immediately ordered a copy of the cataolg and as soon as it came in I ordered a #1 & #2 matched. I then ordered every catalog from custom smiths I could find and before the year was out had received at least 4 stock knives and a custom I designed and had made by Fred Weber. Custom knife makers were also getting some great publicity as around this time, custom knives were touted as the best return investment.
I was never into team sports, as it's my belief, that teams are only as good as their best players, so why watch all the lesser players. Basically I never had Sports heros and never got the mystique, that changed at the 1st New York Custom Knife Show. I walk in not expecting too much, it's a 1st show remember. I went up and down the rows of tables with the likes of Bill Moran, Phil Fox, Harold Corby, turn around and who's standing behind you ? Buster Warenski ! It was in that moment I finally understood how a sports team enthusist felt when seeing a Derek Jeter, Magic Johnson or Babe Ruth.
Was there a lot of competition for your dollars ? yep! Were there a lot of gimmicks and under the table dealings ? Yep !. These are the reasons, the smiths themselves got together and forms the Knifemaker's Guild. It was formed to ensure the integrity and longevity of this newly rediscovered market.
We have several well known swordsmiths, today, that don't freely offer the methods that it took them years to develope. Does this take away from the value of their product, absolutely not !. Bottom line is, many of the gentlemen who were in the Renaisance of Modern Knives, are just like you and I. They had their faults, but just like our friends and relatives that have passed on, they should be remembered for their contributions.
There was some comment made on the designs not being usable, they wern't meant to be used. They are simply art pieces and like any pieces of art we either like and appreciate them or we don't. Each and every piece is a subjective decision made by the beholder.
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on May 23, 2011 4:40:04 GMT
Thanks for that post, Demonskull. I think it puts things in perspective. Personnaly, I know I wasn't even there in the 70ies. I didn't even care about knives when I started collecting swords, a few years ago. I didn't know about those custom knives makers. Today, they are family names sticked on knife models, but I didn't have a clue where those names come from, and what they represent. Now I'll go to bed, a bit smarter than when I started my day
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