Masters from 1973-88
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KNIFE HISTORY | BY STEVE SHACKLEFORD The OUR EXPERT PANEL NAMES THE TOP CUSTOM MAKERS Masters FROM 1973-88 LADE® enters the home stretch in Bobservance of its 40th anniversary by doing a three-part series rec- 1: BOB LOVELESS ognizing the top 40 custom knifemakers infl uenced more makers than any other. (Point over those fi rst 40 years (1973-2013). eTh Seven knife photo; photo fi rst installment in this fi nal series iden- of Loveless by Weyer tifi es the top custom knifemakers from International) 1973 to 1988. We compiled a list of some of the top makers over that stretch and submitted it to a panel of seasoned knife observers and asked them to select their top fi ve to 10—or however many they felt comfort- able picking—and to rank them No. 1 up to as many as 10, with 1 being the best, 2 second best, etc. Th ough “top custom knifemakers” can be subjective, we would like to think a top maker is one who excelled in terms of setting a standard that other makers attempted to emulate, and/or excelled in quality of craft smanship, originality and Knifemakers’ BILL MORAN creativity—or both. Guild was an 2 Lobred: “With most of the indus- We no doubt inadvertently omitted A.G. Russell idea try following Bob Loveless and new super a number of makers that should be in- but it took Bob steels being developed like 154CM and cluded. As a result, we asked our panel Loveless to make it D2, forging blades was giving way quickly members which one or ones we had left work. When his work to stock removal. With dogged determi- out and to rank them in their list, too. was done there, he be- nation, Moran stuck with the forged blade Th e panelists are: BLADE Magazine gan to open up the Japanese and became the fi rst to display damascus Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© members B.R. market, which was the salvation blades at the Guild Show, the most im- Hughes and Paul Bos; Phil Lobred, long- of the industry in the 1980s. Love- portant show of this period, causing quite time coordinator of the Art Knife Invi- less became the most famous American a sensation. Bill’s pleasant personality was tational; Dave Harvey, veteran purveyor, knifemaker. I believe every maker on the also part of his appeal.” Harvey: “As much co-owner of Nordic Knives and co-pro- planet made a Loveless dropped hunter a folk artist as a knifemaker, Bill was very moter of the Solvang Custom Knife at least once.” Harvey: “He is easily the infl uential in creating and growing the Show; and Francis Anglade, celebrated most infl uential and emulated maker of American Bladesmith Society.” Hughes: custom knife writer of Toulouse, France. the past 50 years. His design infl uence “His impact is immeasurable.” changed the look, feel and performance BOB LOVELESS of modern custom knives.” RON LAKE 1 All fi ve panelists named Bob Love- 3 Hughes: “Ron’s folder introduced less fi rst or in a tie for fi rst. Lobred: “Th e at the 1971 Guild Show in Houston 42 BLADE JANUARY 2014 42-Top40 Masters.indd 42 9/9/13 3:37 PM 2: BILL MORAN was the champion of the forged knife and modern damascus. (Point Seven knife photo; photo of Moran by Buddy Thomason) HONORABLE MENTIONS & OTHERS thers garnering votes, in order of Othe number of votes received: Frank Centofante, Bob Lum, John Nelson Cooper, Herman Schneider, Jim Harden- brook, Jody Samson, Lloyd Hale, Harvey McBurnette, Sid Birt and Don Fogg. In alphabetical order, others on the ballot included: Gary Blanchard, Jack Busfi eld, Fred Carter, Rod Chappel, Blackie Collins, Pat Crawford, W.C. Davis, Jim Ence, Paul Fox, Don Hast- ings, Gil Hibben, Billy Mace Imel, Mel Pardue, Willie Rigney, Dwight Towell and Barry Wood. Please let us know who we omitted. At least two leading makers who made knives during the period were Steve Johnson and Michael Walker. The feeling was that they made their best knives later. As a result, they and some others who also made knives in the 1973-88 period but made their best 3: RON LAKE patented a ones later will appear next time in the new lock and made a knife second installment of the series on the that was visibly pleasing and top makers from 1989-2000. operated as smooth as glass. (Point Seven knife photo) JANUARY 2014 blademag.com 43 42-Top40 Masters.indd 43 9/9/13 3:38 PM KNIFEKNIFE HISTORYHISTORY | 4: BUSTER WARENSKI will forever be linked with his magnifi cent repro of the King Tut Dagger. (SharpByCoop.com knife photo) turned the world of handmade knives up- side down. Few makers of the period had up to that time bothered with folders, but, 5: TED DOWELL’s integrals caught almost overnight, Ron changed that.” Lo- on with many makers and are widely seen today at any major knife show. bred: “Lake changed the whole folder in- (Weyer International knife photo) dustry during this period. He patented a new lock and made a knife that was visibly pleasing and operated as smooth as glass. And if that was not enough, his knives were incrediblyy strong and well made. His attention to de- tail was the best, his fi t and fi nish impecca-ecca- ble. If you collected folders, you had to hhaveave a Ron Lake.” Harvey: “Ron’s knives mayay be TED DOWELL the world standard for quality. Unbeliev-liev- 5 Lobred: “When Ted Dowell made able fi t and finish combined with straight-ight- his fi rst integral California knife, it forward, functional design.” opened up a whole new facet to the art knife genre.” Hughes: “His integral-hilt Lobred: “D.E. Henry put BUSTER WARENSKI construction caught on with many mak- bowie knives on the map.” 4 Lobred: “Buster could make any- ers and is widely seen today at any ma- thing and did. He was so talented he jor knife show.” Anglade: “I think it was JIM SCHMIDT made knives other makers could only in this period that he promoted his full 7 Lobred: “Jim was the epitome of dream of making. During this period he or half integrals, his Funny Folder, and sole authorship. Collectors loved both the made his two most famous gold ‘Legacy’ his great lightweight hunting or utility man and his knives. He was a gentle gi- knives, the King Tut Dagger and the Gem knives.” Bos: “His knives were fl awless ant. His early work with damascus of the Orient. Th e King Tut Dagger was and beautiful.” helped create techniques so diffi cult that no one has duplicated it that are still used again to this day.” Harvey: “Buster had it D.E. HENRY today. His all: the fi nest fi t and fi nish you could buy, 6 Hughes: “Th e crispness of his work along with an artistic fl are that resulted in spurred knifemakers into going that ex- a great legacy of beautiful art knives.” tra mile and striving for near perfection.” 44 BLADE JANUARY 2014 42-Top40 Masters.indd 44 9/9/13 3:38 PM ladder-pattern damascus was and is as good as it gets. His designs were new and novel, especially his carved gargoyle pieces. He became almost an overnight sensation and his work claims record prices to- day. He was one of the most pop- ular makers of the day and he still retains that popularity.” Harvey: “A wonderfully talented craft sman who also possessed a rare artistic gift . Jim set a new standard for damascus steel, and built as fi ne a folding knife as you could ever desire, backed up by the many col- lectors today who dream about someday owning one of his rare blades.” W.W. “BUD” CRONK 8: W.W. “BUD” CRONK 8 made knives no one else Harvey: “Years, maybe even could, as his “Camelot” decades ahead of his time, Bud Cronk (right) attests. (Point executed some of the most challenging Seven knife photo) designs ever produced. His fantastic fan- 6: D.E. HENRY put bowie knives tasy knives have never been topped, and on the map. don’t look for them to be anytime soon.” Raw Material Damasteel produces stainless damascus steel with superior function that sets us apart worldwide. However, our instinct for design is perhaps our most unique raw material. Damasteel’s blacksmiths have a passion and craftsmanship that you can see in the end result. And this has made a mark across the entire world. 7: JIM SCHMIDT’s early work with damas- stallgatan 9, se-815 76 söderfors, sweden | office +46 293 306 00 cus helped create techniques that are still [email protected] | www.damasteel.se used today. (Dave Ellis knife photo) JANUARY 2014 blademag.com 45 42-Top40 Masters.indd 45 9/9/13 3:38 PM THE SURVIVAL STAFF KNIFE HISTORY | By Pat and Wes Crawford Handmade for 25 years Hiking Staff Walking Stick 9: JIMMY LILE exposed custom knifemaking to more people than ever Baton before with his Rambo knives. (photos courtesy of Jack Lucarelli) Blow Gun Lance All in one package Made from Hard Aircraft Aluminium $294.95 - Ready for delivery 10: H.H. FRANK’s engraved folders were CRAWFORD KNIVES, LLC. way ahead of their time. (Point Seven 205 N. Center Drive knife photo) West Memphis, AR 72301 (870) 732-2452 www.crawfordknives.com email: [email protected] 11: JESS HORN’s knives were in demand so much that he was the fi rst maker to have a knife lottery at the Guild Show.