PRSRT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOUISIANA, $3.50 MISSOURI 63353 PERMIT 11 Knife World Publications, PO Box 3395, Knoxville, TN 37927 Vol. 40 No. 11 November 2014 www.knifeworld.com ComingComing HomeHome toto KansasKansas CityCity Guild and ABS Unite to handmade knives. and fueled by the happen- several custom knifemak- home, we were ready to do Sponsor Ultimate The inaugural ings at those early Guild ers at the Sahara Gun it again.” They met again International Custom shows. Now, both organi- Show in Las Vegas. As in June of that year at the Handmade Knife Show Cutlery Exposition (ICCE) zations return to Kansas described in the Guild’s Tulsa Gun Show, where by Knife World Staff will be held September 18- City to celebrate their his- first membership directory they agreed to form The In an unprecedented 20, 2015 at the Kansas tory and accomplish- (1974), “More than a dozen Knifemakers’ Guild. The move, the world’s largest City Marriott Downtown. ments – together – in a men came, showed knives 11 founding members knifemaking organiza- The location was by no combined “super show” of to the public, and sat down were: John Applebaugh, tions – The Knifemakers’ means a random choice, handmade knives. and talked together. We all Blackie Collins, John Guild and the American for both organizations The Knifemakers’ Guild got along well, swapped Nelson Cooper, Dan Bladesmith Society have roots in that city. The roots of The trade talk and some knives Dennehy, Ted Dowell, (ABS) – are combining From 1972 to 1985, all but Knifemakers Guild go and just plain had fun Chubby Hueske, Jon Kirk, forces to co-sponsor what one of the Guild’s annual back to February 1970, together. By the time the John Owens, Jim Pugh, promises to be a signifi- shows were held there; the when cutlery legend A.G. weekend was over, and we and G.W. Stone; R.W. cant event in the world of ABS was conceived there Russell gathered together were ready to head for Continued on page 24 “The Ugliest Looking Knife You Ever Saw” By David A. Clark one blade, a blade that is This statement, “the hammer forged and a little ugliest looking knife you over 1/8” thick with half ever saw” was part of the stops. There is no nail nick product description of a to assist in opening the knife offered in Sears, blade. The spring is so Roebuck & Co.’s 1905 cata- strong, just gripping the log. It is hard to believe, in blade between thumb and today’s times, that a major forefinger as hard as you company would identify a can, it is nearly impossible knife’s rough fit and fin- to withdraw it from the ished appearance as a sell- frame. It closes with such ing point. But that was the a strong snap that it is way it was in those years, almost dangerous. The 1905-1918, when Sears, knife is 4-5/16” in overall Roebuck & Co. offered this length with a 3-3/8” blade. knife for sale. Tucked in The 1907 ad goes on to the pages of the catalog describe the knife: “The alongside such brands as blade of this knife is hand Wilbert, Wostenholm, and hammered from a bar of T.T.C. is this knife with the best crucible steel, cor- the name “Chris Wolf” rectly tempered and care- stamped deeply into its Continued on page 5 Page 24 Knife World November 2014 Continued from page 1 sponsor an annual busi- gun show. accomplishing.” “With the Dallas, the Knifemakers’ Loveless was elected ness meeting and knife The 1974 Guild second Kansas City Show Guild Show returned to Executive Secretary and show.” That last purpose, Directory, edited by [1973], it seemed the Guild Kansas City in 1977 where A.G. Russell, the only non- established at the time of Loveless, describes the had arrived on the national it remained each year knifemaker, was named the Guild’s founding, cre- first shows this way: scene permanently. through 1985. Since that Honorary President. ated the annual Guild “Houston had been the Prominent collectors came time, the Guild Show has As stated on the current Show. In 1971 that gather- seed show, where we from throughout the coun- been held annually in vari- Knifemakers’ Guild web- ing was held at the gun learned how many of us try to acquire new knives ous other cities including site, “the purposes of the show in Houston, Texas, there were. Kansas City [in in wonderful variety, and Dallas, Orlando, New Guild were, and continue and the Guild’s member- 1972] showed us what fine Bill Moran’s fine and beau- Orleans, and most recently, to be: to promote custom ship almost tripled. In work really was, as new tiful authentic reproduc- Louisville. knives and knifemakers, to 1972, the selected location knives and new designs tions of damascus blades Today the Knifemakers’ assist the knifemaker was Kansas City, Missouri, seemed to come out of the were the hit of the show.” Guild boasts an interna- technically, to encourage in conjunction with the woodwork, and we all That 1973 show would tional membership of over ethical and professional Missouri Valley Arms began to feel a strong sense prove monumental not 300 knifemakers. The first business conduct, and to Collectors Association’s of pride in what we were only for the Guild, but also level of membership for for the not-yet-founded knifemakers is ABS. Probationary Membership, The Guild returned to which requires the signed Kansas City in 1974, and recommendation of four in 1975 the show was con- voting members of the ducted there as a stand- Guild followed by the alone knife show, without approval of four examples affiliation with a gun show of the maker’s work by the for the very first time. Board of Directors at the After a single year in Continued on page 25 History in the making, Kansas City, 1973. On the sale table in front of Bill and Margaret Moran are the first damascus steel knives of the modern era. This photo was taken by B.R. Hughes, who helped found the ABS with Moran a few years hence. dŚĞŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ůĂĚĞƐŵŝƚŚ ^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ ŽīĞƌƐ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŶũƵŶĐƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĐŚŽŽůƐ͗ William F. “Bill” Moran, Jr. and Robert W. “Bob” Loveless, pictured together at the monumental 1973 Knifemakers’ Guild Show in Kansas City. Bill Moran School of BladesmithingBla Washington, Arkansas ůĂƐƐĞƐ ǀĂƌLJ Ăƚƚ Sheffield Vickcki McCorkle, TTexarexarkanaana ColleCollege,ge, 903-238 -5301 ĞĂĐŚ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶŶĚ ŵĂLJ Knifemakers Supply Haywoodayw Communityy CCollege /ŶĐůƵĚĞ PO Box 741107KW, Orange City, Florida 32763 Clyde,yde, NoNorth Carolina ͞/ŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ƚŽƚ Phone 386-775-6453 DeniseDeni Thomason, 828-565-42424242 ůĂĚĞƐŵŝƚŚŝŶŐ͕͟͟ A Major Source of Supplies ͞,ĂŶĚůĞƐ ĂŶĚ Newe England School off Metalwork to the Knife STEELSMaking Profession 'ƵĂƌĚƐ ͕͟ 440C, D-2, A-2, ATS-34, 304, and 416 Aubuuburn, Maine ͞&ŽůĚĞƌƐ ͕͟ Brass (Bar, Sheet, Rod, Tubing) Dereck Glaser, 207-777- 33 7755 ͞YƵŝůůŽŶ 18 Percent Nickel Silver (Bar, Sheet, Rod, Tubing) Handle Bolts (22 different sizes and types in stainless, Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil ĂŐŐĞƌƐ͟ brass and 18 percent nickel silver) ĂŶĚ Stag (Extensive selection of scales, sticks and crown) oy,orT Ohio Exotic Hardwoods (12 different species) ͞ĂŵĂƐĐƵƐ͞ Popular and Current Cutlery Related Books Square Wheel Grinders, Baldor Buffers, Heat Treating Ovens, Stevev6v-6 e Roth, 937 808-3 852 0 Cone LOC, Drum Sanders, Abrasive Belts, Soldering Supplies, Pakkawood (Extensive selection), Extensive Micarta selection, Sendand $5.00 Contact for Wheels. Catalog November 2014 Knife World Page 25 Continued from page 24 preservation and advance- next annual show. To ment of the forged blade. achieve Voting Member At that time, there were status, a Probationary less than a dozen practic- Member must wait two ing bladesmiths in years and then submit four America, and this number additional knives for was decreasing, not approval by the Board of increasing, although the Directors; if approval is number of stock removal granted the voting mem- knifemakers was climbing bership will then vote on dramatically.” whether or not to grant The following year, Voting Membership status Moran returned to the to the Probationary Guild Show in Kansas City, Member. All makers of where he unveiled eight handmade knives are eligi- knives with blades of ham- ble for membership includ- mer welded damascus ing both stock removal steel. No one there had makers and those who ever seen damascus steel employ hand forging tech- before, on a modern knife, niques (“bladesmiths”). and it created a sensation. Non-knifemakers are “They were the talk of the eligible to join the Guild’s show!” relates Hughes. other membership cate- “Few people really under- gories; Associate stood their nature, but Bill Memberships are available handed out mimeographed to those employed in relat- sheets explaining not only James B. Lile, “The Arkansas Knifesmith” served as President of the Knifemakers’ ed trades, and Honorary what damascus steel was, Guild and also as a member of the American Bladesmith Society’s Board of Memberships are available but basically how to make Directors. He’s pictured here at a later Guild Show. Photo by B.R. Hughes. to those who support the it! There was no charge for Guild in other ways – typi- this sheet; Bill gave them in north Louisiana where met again in the coffee has grown to include over cally, collectors. away.” they did some forging and shop at the Shreveport, 1200 international mem- Membership is also avail- Moran’s damascus steel discussed the need for an Louisiana airport, and bers in seventeen coun- able to youth knifemaker- caused an immediate surge organization to preserve established the American tries, and has established members.