Cool stuff Excalibur! Thanks very much for your 'article'. Daniel sounds like even more of a mountain man than I imagined.
Since Paladin1 asked about historical reproduction knives in general, I should mention that there are many fine makers who produce historical and/or 'period' knives.
There is a distinction to be made between 'period' knives and 'historical' reproductions. Period knives, popular with the historical re-enactors, are made with the same (or similar) materials and techniques that a maker of yore may have used. Daniel Winklers work is similar to knives made in a particular historical period (primarily frontier America), but is not necessarily an attempt to re-create an exact museum replica. His knives are strongly complemented by the wonderful and creative sheaths made by Karen Shook. It is hard to think about many of Daniel's knives without considering the sheath as an integral part of the knife. As a collector, I value the distinction and uniqueness of each piece. Daniel does not produce 'models'. He may make several similar knives, but each will be unique and have its own character.
Another really good period knife maker is Rich McDonald. His style is similar to Daniel's but he has his own flair. And he makes his own sheaths. Many makers produce so called 'primitive' forged knives, which also may look quite similar to the work of a bladesmith of the past.
Historical knives are attempts to exactly replicate (although sometimes in miniature) noted historical pieces by famous knifemakers of the past like Price and Shively. Even the exquisitely talented knife God, Tim Herman, never short of new and interesting designs of his own, makes historical reproductions. His
Price dagger is faithful to the orginal dimensions of the historical knife, but Tim has created it as a folder, an amazing trick. Look closely. Then tell me how it folds
These knives are made with meticulous attention to detail primarily by stock removal techniques. Great makers of this kind of knife are Roger Green and Alex K Daniels. ABS mastersmith PJ Tomes makes a lot of William Scagel influenced knives, but uses 52100 steel, which is probably superior to any steel Scagel had to work with. Other makers specialize in traditional slip joint knives which are re-creation of old production knives of the past. Sometimes they take the original concept and make it with modern techniques and materials, and improve on the original. But sometimes the goal is to faithfully reproduce something made by a master knifemaker of the past.
So Historical knives and Period knives are similar, but different things.
Paracelsus
[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 09-06-2000).]
