Knife Collectors Monthly Newsletter • Ben Altamirano • July 2009 Ben’s Bio About Alta Mira Knives Ben Altamirano has been Alta Mira Custom Knives making custom knives are unique, and are made since 1999. He attended individually using only the the American Bladesmith highest quality mat e r i a l s Society school in Washington, a v a i l able. All designs AR in 2000 and 2001. His are my own and are built instructor was Mel Pardue. to exacting specifications While in attendance at to e n s u r e m a x i m u m the ABS school Ben was dependability. instructed in knife design, All knife blades are form, and function. Metal fashioned from CPM S30V fabrication, heat treating, or stainless Damascus blade grinding techniques, Steels. These materials and machining were also were chosen for their covered extensively. durability and their ability to The ABS school experience hold a superior edge. The gave Ben the opportunity blades are heat treated, to work with one of the best cryo treated, and double knife makers in the world. tempered to ensure optimal Being able to draw from performance. Alta Mira Mel’s wealth of knowledge Custom Knives are gave Ben the ability to start c o n structed using a making quality knives variety of high tech and immediately. exotic materials. Ben became interested All knives have a lifetime in knife making after being guaranteed against flaws a collector for many years. in the craftsmanship. Made in the U.S.A. He specializes in liner However, certain natural locking knives, but also materials such as ivory, makes hunting, bali song, pearl, and wood do not fall ISSUE and automatic knives. under warranty due to their Ben lives in Las Cruces, unpredictability. Disassembly Ben’s Bio ...........................................1 New Mexico with his lovely or abuse of the knife will About Alta Mira Knives ......................1 wife Sylvia and two dogs void the warranty and a fee Why I Collect Koko and Domino. will be charged to repair any by Kevin Jones ..................................2 It all started with Dad damages. Remember, a by Buddy Thomason ..........................3 knife is a cutting instrument. Ben Altamirano, Knife maker Page 2 • Ben Altamirano • July 2009 first collector knife later that Why I Collect afternoon.. I had been reading up on by Kevin Jones several makers, and ABS master smith Jerry Fisk’s work particularly interested I was introduced to knife me. Since now I officially was collecting by circumstance, a collector with my one knife, but quickly became obsessed one Saturday afternoon I decided Alta Mira • Infidel with it as a result of the friendly to give Jerry a call. Much to and hospitable nature of the my surprise, considering he makers and knife people is one of the top knifemakers in general. My collecting in the world, he answered background was in classic the phone and talked knives cars, where it seemed to be with me for quite some time. more about “just the cars” We arranged to meet at the rather than the people or the BLADE Show a few weeks camaraderie.. later. As a result, Jerry and I was in Atlanta on business I have become very good and had finished up early in friends and his knives make Alta Mira • Strider the Cobb County area. Rather up much of my collection.. than wait in the airport for my At that same BLADE Show flight, I decided to drop in on I again visited with the the BLADE Show. I was of Hendricksons, only this time course amazed upon walking Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall- through the doors.. Of-Famers Bill Morgan joined I became even more in the conversation (he had amazed when ABS master the table next to them). At smith Daniel Winkler and another BLADE Show, ABS Karen Shook spent about 45 master smith David Anders minutes with me discussing offered to take me to one of custom knives in general, then Alta Mira • Stinger the ivory vendor’s booths and the period style for which they give me a few pointers. That have become famous. It was ended up being a complete much the same thing when I lesson on ancient ivory that went to ABS master smith Jay has benefited me to this day.. and Nancy Hendrickson’s The reason I collect knives table. Then, upon seeing is the same as the reason Larry Bailey’s beautiful ABS I first started. It’s the great hunting knife display, I was bunch of knife people, my hooked. Months later I went to experiences as I have out- the Harrisonburg, Virginia knife lined above, and my love for show, where I made Larry’s knives—from the everyday Alta Mira • Smooth Jazz acquaintance and talked users to fine specimens I call knives with him. I bought my “functional art.” . Page 3 • Ben Altamirano • July 2009 It all started with Dad Many years later, as he lay dying in a hospital bed, ca LEN D ER by Buddy Thomason confessed and disoriented, I visited and noticed he was hiding something under the July 24-26 ROGERS, AR The A.G. I’ve been accumulating knives sheets. I said, “Whaddya got since I was a kid growing there, Dad?” He pulled back Russell Knife Event, Embassy Suites. up in North Carolina. My the sheet to show me and father introduced me to the muttered, “A pocket knife.” I [email protected] pleasures of a good, sharp asked him what the heck he knife. When he went out to was doing with a pocketknife eat, he frequently took along in the hospital? He thought for August 21-23 DENVER, CO The 17th a ripe red tomato he’d grown, a moment and said, “Cleanin’ wrapped in a paper towel— my fingernails.” Annual Professional Knifemakers and, of course, a sharp knife. At 58, I now have all kinds Association Knife Show, Crowne Plaza Then he’d kindly ask the of knives and I love them waitress to bring him a small all—from antique bowie era Hotel. proknifemakers.com plate so he could slice the blades to historic pieces made by Blade Magazine Cutlery tomato. He was never refused and I was always embarrassed. Hall-Of-Famers William September 17-20 LOUISVILLE, KY I’d had Scout knives growing Scagel in the early 1900s to up and cheapo folders you cheap Mexican switchblades The Knifemakers’ Guild Show, Seelbach could get from cereal box tops brought home from spring or order out of comic books, break, to fake theater knives Hilton. knifemakersguild.com but my father gave me my used as stage props. I’ve got first real knife. It was a Case Chinese swords, World XX fixed blade with a stacked War II bayonets, Randal October 24 SAN DIEGO, CA The Art leather handle and a bird’s- Made knives, basic black beak aluminum pommel, with tactical knives, A.G. Russell Knife Invitational Civic Center. sheath. He took a picture of catalog knives, Spyderco artknifeinvitational.com me carving my initials into the knives—Spderco is just down bark of some poor tree near the road from me here in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I was Colorado—and beautiful world- 10 years old. Several years class forged blades by folks later my father did something with names like Jerry Fisk, amazing. He forgave me Steve Dunn, Steve Schwarzer, after I took a disc sander to Ron Newton, Larry Fuegan, the blade of his U.S. Navy Jim Batson and others. John knife and ruined it. We went Perry and Tai Goo also made through some rough times in some of my favorite blades. the years that followed, but in It all started because of my my heart I knew he loved me father. The man loved a good, because he had truly forgiven sharp knife and so do I! Alta Mira • Ictus me for what I’d done. Ben Altamirano 1120 Rainbow Drive Las Cruces, NM 88005.