The Artistry of Aurum Knifemaker Jim Siska
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PRSRT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOUISIANA, $3.50 MISSOURI 63353 PERMIT 11 Knife World Publications, PO Box 3395, Knoxville, TN 37927 Vol. 37 No. 5 June 2011 www.knifeworld.com The Artistry of Aurum by John Hunt and involved using the steel of a Timothy Dean knife blade as a canvas to One of the more interest- display a beautiful work of ing and yet unheralded art. Ultimately, these periods in the history of knives would be included in knife making occurred from private collections around 1975 through 1989. During the world as well as in pres- that time, the Aurum idential and national histor- Etchings company produced ical museums. some of the most spectacu- The founder of Aurum, lar etches ever to be applied Samuel (Sam) R. Shortes, to the blades of knives man- was well prepared for his ufactured by such compa- venture into metal etching. nies as Henckels, Schrade, After graduating with a BS Gerber, Smith and Wesson, degree in chemistry in 1959, R e m i n g t o n , he joined Texas Coleman/Western, Alcas, Instruments in Richardson, Puma, and most notably, Texas working as a techni- Buck. Aurum would be one cal researcher. Over the of the first to create a total- next 16 years Sam received ly new category in the world many patents requiring of knives, referred to as “art knowledge of chemistry, Closeup of Schrade and Buck knives etched by Aurum Etchings in the 1980s. knife collectibles,” which Continued on page 20 All photos by Timothy Dean unless otherwise noted. Knifemaker Jim Siska by Stephen Garger interest. The knife’s price The process knife afi- fell within my range, so I cionados follow in discover- bookmarked the site’s page ing new makers undoubted- and ran a search on one of ly varies from individual to the blade forums. individual. For me, admit- Turned out, Jim Siska tedly somebody who likes knives are viewed quite nearly anything sharp and favorably by a number of with a point (including a posters whose judgment I good argument), the process have come to trust. In fact, begins with browsing my a forumite owned 117 of favorite internet purveyors. Jim’s knives! Descriptions I look at the pictures, of the maker included “One descriptions and prices. of the best stock removal Coming across a knife I like guys on the East Coast” or then sends me over to an “Best grinder in the knife online knife forum to seek making industry” and rec- out some opinions. A few ommendations of that sort months ago I came across a generally push me over the consigned 4-1/2” recurve edge, so to speak. I pur- fixed blade with a brown chased the knife and when SharpByCoop photo. micarta handle by Jim it arrived, even given the Siska that grabbed my Continued on page 14 Page 20 Knife World June 2011 The very first knife ever etched by Sam Shortes, a Gerber folder. The artwork of a fox was drawn on Sam’s kitchen table, and the blade was etched at Aurum’s first facility in Richardson, Texas before Aurum’s first commercial commission, the Smith & Wesson Collector Series bowie Aurum Etchings formally existed. Sam relates, “It knife designed by Blackie Collins and produced to commemorate the American was on the very basis of this single knife that I went bicentennial. Both the etching and the cast mounts were done by Aurum. into business.” One-of-a-kind. Continued from page 1 semiconductor technology to images into the steel. This, expand his process into a Sam, the etches on these electronics and metallurgy. the plating and chemical of course, was very slow and commercial venture incor- Smith and Wesson knives By 1974 he had started a etching of intricate artwork expensive. Sam’s methodol- porated as Aurum Etchings “had a very distinctive look side business casting gold onto knife blades. Others ogy was not only faster and (aurum being the Latin since we combined very fine and silver objects. It was at were accomplishing similar less expensive, but also word for gold). detail with deep etching. We this time that Sam began art using tiny chisels and resulted in superior detail. Aurum’s first commercial paid a lot of attention to the applying his knowledge of hammers to hand engrave In 1975 Sam left TI to commission in knives was quality of the art.” launched when Blackie The successful start-up with Collins visited Aurum’s Smith and Wesson was fol- shop in Richardson to dis- lowed by Aurum etching cuss Smith and Wesson’s seven knives for J.A. Collectors Series of bowie Henckels of Solingen, knives Collins had been Germany, one of the largest retained to design. A collab- and oldest cutlery compa- orative effort resulted with nies in the world. These Aurum etching three of the knives were included in four knives in the series. Henckels’ American Tribute The first of the four had a Set etched with very sterling silver guard and detailed scenes of American pommel with the blade etch wildlife from artwork depicting an American designed by Shortes him- Eagle and flowing banner self. The year was 1976 and celebrating the American the stated purpose of the Bicentennial. According to project was to celebrate Sam Shortes, Founder and President of Aurum Etchings, presenting one of the Republic set knives to President Ronald Reagan. Photographer unknown. June 2011 Knife World Page 21 Continued from page 20 importance of having out- with an incredibly detailed Today, that Alamo knife is chased one set, John Wayne America’s 200th birthday. standing artwork for the scene depicting the battle of in the Reagan Presidential and his son, Michael, each Only 200 sets were pro- etches, he retained some the Alamo. It is an impres- Library and another is on bought a set, and even a duced – one for each year. very talented and skilled sive looking 14 inch bowie display at the Alamo Saudi prince acquired one Near the end of 1976, artists. One of these artists, with stainless steel blade, Museum in San Antonio, for his uncle who was a Aurum’s early successes Ron Adair, an illustrator brass fittings, and a cocobo- Texas. The other three king. John Wayne’s set was and Sam’s aspirations to renowned for his art on U.S. lo handle. Sam cherishes a bowie knives in the set were recently donated to the expand the business neces- postage stamps, created the picture of him presenting also beautifully etched and National Cowboy and sitated a move to a larger artwork for one the most one of these knives at the handled with ebony and Western Heritage Museum. and updated etching facility highly detailed and intri- White House to President stag. President Reagan pur- Continued on page 22 in Garland, Texas. To secure cate knives etched in the Reagan. Interestingly, a competitive advantage in Garland plant. Reagan had been an Aurum this specialized technology, This knife, one of four in customer when he was Sam continually improved a set Aurum marketed as Governor of California, the etching process. Also, the “Republic of Texas” acquiring a knife etched for realizing the tremendous knives, was deeply etched the NRA Bicentennial. All four bowies in the Republic of Texas set, with their ebony handles and blades etched on both sides. It’s estimated that just 25 to 50 complete sets exist today. Ronald Reagan and John Wayne were both proud owners of them. Page 22 Knife World June 2011 Continued from page 21 Aurum came in late 1976 Only about a dozen com- when they teamed up with plete sets were sold as cus- Buck Knives. The ensuing tomers preferred to buy the collaboration would prove to knives individually, show- be very beneficial for both ing a preference for one companies. During the next design over another. fourteen years, Aurum Finding one of these sets is would etch more Buck rare and it would command knives than any other a premium price. The proof brand. It opened up a whole set included one knife han- new and successful product dled with elk crown stag line for Buck. and another in ebony with Buck was impressed with an ivory insert. Aurum’s artistry and spe- Aurum continued to pro- cial process for etching and duce and direct market plating. In a 1982 American other beautifully etched Blade magazine article, knives including a seven writer Jim Williamson knife “Frontier Collection” explained that the process of Schrade knives and a began with pencil sketches series of small fixed and of the scene to be etched folding knives by Alcas, one with a final, magnified of which had a Harley- sketch in ink. Once the ink Davidson theme. However, art was finished, often at a The first Buck knife etched by Aurum Etchings, the “Spirit of ‘76” (the bicenten- the breakthrough event for cost of “about $2000-$3000,” nial inspired a number of commemorative knives.) 7600 of these were produced complete with the sheath, medallion, and a very nice case. Photo by John Hunt. Another Schrade bowie etched by Aurum. The artwork for this scene was done by Ron Adair, an acclaimed artist whose extensive resume includes work for the U.S. Postal Service. June 2011 Knife World Page 23 the production process go down into the steel 12 could begin. The blades “are mils for the clouds.” Shortes cleaned and given a protec- added that “an enormous tive coating. This coating is amount of the work is done then removed in those areas by hand, often under a that will be plated or microscope.” One look at an etched.