Hi Derek,
Careful your sarcasm is showing! <G>
Actually Derek, Buster Warinski can be found in every issue of Blade Magazine, discussing the Knifemakers Guild.
As for Ron and Michael, they have both been featured in Knives Illustrated in the last 18 months.
As for my buddy Ernie his exposure is directly due to the check he writes to Krause Publications. Note the full page ad in each issue. Also, American Handgunner gets a full page ad every issue. I believe that KI has the same ad.
Like it or not every industry with a publication works this way. You support me, I support you. This is more than a fair exchange for both sides and in the long run helps both.
Derek, my issue with Emerson is not the quality of his knives. I take issue with his business practice(s). Judging by the Emerson Fourm, others are starting to do so as well.
Derek, your points are valid. However, your comments Im sure stem from the ongoing dialogue I am having with Mr. Herman.
Unlike most of the members of this forum, my profession is the buying and selling, and on occasion the designing of custom knives. This is a fact. As is, that because of this fact, I have to know what the market has done, is doing and will do. If I do not or cannot grasp these situations, I will have to find gainful employment elsewhere.
Buying and selling is only what appears to be going on, on the surface. The buying and selling the maker does is much like an iceberg. That is to say, you do not see the majority of it. I like most of the full time custom knife dealers. Spend countless hours talking about custom knives, with Magazine Editors, Customers, other dealers, Makers and suppliers. Additionally, I will look at, handle, buy and sell more custom knives in a year than most of the members of this site will do in their lifetime. Not because I am superior to any of you, but because it is what I do!
Consequently, I am privy to information, design ideas, new knives, gossip and other information that will impact custom knives today. Not 3-8 months down the road, such is the information you receive from the various knife publications.
Additionally, with the globalization of custom knives provided in large part by the internet. Trends, wants and desires are being influenced by forces outside the US more than at any other time. One look at the membership list of Probationary and Voting members of the US Knifemakers Guild will bear this out. The past few years have seen a prolifiration of makers from outside the US "coming to America".
Along with their knives these makers bring new materials, construction techniques and design concepts to share and exchange with US makers.
Part of my job is keep track of all this, so when someone calls me or writes in a forum such as this, I am thinking of buying my first custom knife what do you thins of "so and so". My job is to provide this potential client with as much up to date information on makers, materials, designs, investment potential and aftermarket consequences of his /her purchase.
This consistent exposure to all aspects of custom knives, world wide, gives me a unique insight that most cannot attain. Due directly to the fact that unlike most of you, I live, eat and sleep custom knives. This insight contributes, in large part as to why most of you who read the knife magazines see my name pop up several times a year in different publications. This does not happen by accident, nor is it luck. It comes from 15 years of hard work in custom knives.
I make no claims of being an expert on all areas of custom knives (as Mr. Herman seems to think I am). However, if there was such a game as custom knife Jeopardy, I would probably do ok.
Derek, I to think it is a shame that there are members of this forum who do not know who some of these world class knife makers that you have listed are. However, it is not incumbent upon the customer to seek these makers out. These makers must stay current, continue to show versatility, offer a knife in the price range of the average collector/user and perhaps most importantly no longer rest on their numerous laurels.
We all know that fame is fleeting and the mantra of this new Millenium will continue to be "what have you done for me lately".