Shivs and Shanks

The Shivs actually remind me of the Gaucho knives from Brazil.

As for the Shanks, there are old japanese tanto that look like this style. I believe is it called Ken Tanto.

They are gorgeous pieces !
 
Very nice knives! Don's work is always a pleasure to see and to hold.
 
I myself wondered about the philosophical origins of those Fogg knives. I first saw, them, was impressed but felt that the names weren't the most PC I'd come across.

I don't know what Don Fogg's idea was, I suspect that the names are a little tongue in cheek, purposefully un-PC. The pieces DO bear SOME resemblance to the crude prison-yard pieces but have been taken to the ultimate level of artistic expression and execution.

They are indeed absolutely beautiful knives - amazingly clean, simple in the lines and with very organic flow. And very inspiring for other makers (myself included). Jason.
 
Shiv is an old slang word for knife. Over time it came to be associated with knives carried by the criminal element such as gang members.

Shank is a slang term for a crudely made knife like those found in prisons.
 
I thought a shiv was a crudely made knife with an edge designed to stab and a shank was the same, but w/o a cutting edge.
 
I've heard it the other way:

Shiv: Dirk like knife used for stabbing.

Shank: Thinner knife used for slashing, apparently prison issue shoes had steel shanks in them that were used in the production of the knife.
 
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