What's in your collection?

[srtben]

Lin, Karl and Doug are at the top of my list of makers I would love to get a knife from.

I only have two customs currently. Both of them I was honored to be able to trade some of my knives for.
A fantastic folder from John Barker

 

And a jungle cleaver from James Helm (the lower one)
 

[Lin Rhea]

Speaking of Ray Kirk, if you guys don't know Ray, you ought to get to know him. He is one generous and knowledgeable knife maker. I've had this little knife he made for a number of years and used it a lot. It's one of his smaller "Medicine Blades". It got ran over by a Toyota just before I took the picture. I had somehow dropped it in a driveway, moved over to let the car go by, and only after stepping on it myself did I realize it was laying there. While this does not show it in its pristine condition, I'm very proud of it for being tough.
   

[Doug Campbell]

I've got a very modest start on a collection mostly from TG Knifesmiths. Here are a couple that aren't though. I've had these since back in the late 80's from my mentor Bill Miller from near Camdenton MO. I had just gotten into knife making and knew very little when I met Bill at a United Bowhunters of MO Gathering in Jeff City. He was sitting behind a table full of gorgeous knives and of course I spent way too much time at his table bothering him. I did find out he only lived 30 miles from me... Well then I started pestering him at home    Typical of most guys I've run across in this field he was more than generous with his time and knowledge. Course I was relentless and he probably couldn't have run me off if he'd tried...    I hope to see Bill again in AR next month along with a few other guys here.
   

[2treks]

The knives are fantastic.

[cacciatore]

Nice line up of knives,Danny.
I am trying to collect some from our talented member here on TG.
Karl has just finished my new addiction.

[Lin Rhea]

Here's a medium sized single blade lock back by Tim Britton. Tim is a great guy which makes it special too.   This is one of my "Sunday go to meetin" pocket knives. I got my wife a small purse knife too.

 

[2treks]

I like that Lin.

[JC]

Wow, some really beautiful knives all around.

I've had what my wife says is way too many knives. Over time I've gotten rid of most in efforts to simplify my life. There are a few however, that I will only part with when they bury me. Like most of you, most of those are chosen for their connection to you as much as their quality. Two makers stand out in my collection, Doug Campbell and Jeff "Tippit" Springer, not only because of the beauty of the work and functionality of the design but because I am honored to call both friend.

Absolutely the best piece of steel I own. Blade and handle shape are perfect as well as gorgeous….but danged if this thing don't cut like nothing I've ever owned. I processed two deer this fall from whole to chunks with this knife and only 2-3 swipes on a ceramic stick between them. Hogs, turkey, bear...this knife has been in a lot of game and just stays crazy sharp with almost no effort.

 


This one was one Doug brought down to one of the Atlanta Knife shows. I oooed and aaaed over it while Doug was at my house and Miss Kim secretly bought it, then hid it until Christmas. What a woman….and what a knife. You can tell by the patina it's not just for show.

 

I don't have any pics of Tippit's knives on this computer but will post some of his work up too.

[Bladepeek]

I didn't realize how many knives I picked up over the years.  

The top one is a Randall 25-5.

2. A Corbet Sigman. One of his first CPM 440V (now S60V I think)

3. My Lin Rhea hunter

4.  A Gary Anderson (5160 I think)

5.  A Don Cowles design he was practically giving away at a Novi, MI show. He had them made overeseas. The blade is beautiful and the guard/handle scales look like they were done in a 4th grade art class. This one got shuffled to the bottom of the 3rd pic.

6. an Arno Bernard from South Africa. I bought this one when I was buying some giraffe bone from him.

7. A Ryan Weeks knife I won in a Trad Gang raffle

8. Lora Sue Bethke

9. This may be a Tim Zowada forged at an Apalacian Knifemakers Guild hammer in. I think he did 2 that weekend. The other was a stick tang. This one is marked only AKG '95.


     

     

     

     

[akaboomer]

Some really nice knives showing up in here.
Lin, I would love to see that Tim Britton sometime.  

Chris

[Izzy]

Originally posted by Lin Rhea:
Here's a medium sized single blade lock back by Tim Britton. Tim is a great guy which makes it special too.   This is one of my "Sunday go to meetin" pocket knives. I got my wife a small purse knife too.

   

The man is a prince. I met him in Jersey and he took his time speaking to my then 10 year old son and let him handle his art knives as is they were throw down beaters. A true gentleman and artist.

[Doug Campbell]

Here are a few more from TG Smiths. Left to right, Lin, Karl, Kevin, Jeff(2) and Robin. I've got a few more from the knife swap I'll get pics of fore long and get posted.
     

Another pic of Jeff's knives along with an incredible beaded sheath by Shell. Some of my most prized possesions along with my Roughcountry folder.
   

[hitman]

My hat is off to Everette Johnson. That is as amazing as it gets!!!      

[Danny Rowan]

Just picked this one up, made by Bill Duff. My knife buying is getting as bad as my bow buying, LOL. gotta take a pic of my entire collection and get it on here. This one is a beauty.

 

[Lin Rhea]

Bill is one of the great knife makers in this country. That is a beauty!

[Danny Rowan]

Ok, now my photo skills are not up to par of the rest of you but here is my meager collection.

Karl Anderson

   

Doug Campbell

   

Various other makers like Lamey, John Sevey, tippit, Ray Hammond and Kevin Evans, along with one from a well known smith in Australia whose name escapes me right now and an old knife that was my fathers, not custom but means a bunch to me.

   

And I cannot forget this one, gotta show Lins again

   

[Ray Hammond]

beautiful guys...just beautiful.  

Lin, that Ray Kirk - that's the one you keep in the chest pocket of your overalls....is my favorite.

First, because you own and prize it, but second because you use it, which to me is what a knife should be.

Just awesome.  Thanks for sharing everyone

[MnFn]

When my daughter was traveling in Italy, she found a knife shop and bought this (the middle one) for me. A little different shape than most folders I have seen. A big handle.

It is special to me because of the effort she went to buy something special, something that she knew I would like. She is a great kid!

Gary


 

[Nala]

LOTS of really nice knives....

I really like that first knife that Lin posted.  That would be a great knife to put on your belt when you're out chasing critters with your longbow or recurve.

Nalajr