What's in your collection?

[Lin Rhea]

I just got a nice little knife from one of my mentors, Joe Keeslar. I enjoy having an example of the work of different makers. This knife represents Joe's style and although I don't particularly make his style much, it just is who he is and I like that. He is a traditional guy all the way too which makes his work more desirable to me. But the main reason is that he is so generous with his time and skills. His mantra is "Pass it on".

I'll try to show a few more as I get time.

If you are a collector of hand made knives, please feel free to show some right here on this thread. I would encourage you to show one knife and explain what it means to you.

     

[Lamey]

Used to have Fisk, Crowells, Bagwells among others, but sold them off over the years.  Occasionally I will trade a knife, just got this one from Erik Markman of Sweden-

 

[gudspelr]

Lamey, that's a beautiful knife you have there. Is that paper Micarta for the handle?  And that's a nice knife by Mr. Keeslar, too. I don't have any "collectible" knives, but look forward to what others add to this thread.

Jeremy

[Lamey]

Jeremy thanks.... its forged 01 with a linen micarta handle.

[tippit]

Joe Keeslar has been a huge influence on my knife making journey.  Knowing he was a longbow shooter, I contacted him in 2009 to see if he could explain his Brute de Forge flared finger guard.  He said he couldn't...but if I came to the Great Smokey Mountain Hammer In, he'd show me!  That was my first experience at an ABS hammer in.  Joe took me out to the coal forges and spent an 1 1/2 hours One on One showing me every trick in his style.  Plus at that hammer in I became great friends with Jason Knight & Burt Foster (who I got into traditional archery this year at Denton Hill).  Needless to say, I try to make the GSM Hammer In a yearly event.

Here is the knife Joe hammered out that day  

   

   

   

   

PS:
Besides Joe, my personal collection contains blades from Doug Campbell (my first & true mentor), Jason Knight, Burt Foster, Lin Rhea, Karl Anderson, and Everette Johnson...who was born without arms & makes knives with his feet!

[Lin Rhea]

So, Jeff, you got that knife from Joe! That's great! I like the picture too.

I recently had a snapshot of he and I too.
   

Matt, I really like Eric's work. I really like seeing these pictures.

[tippit]

You guys are dressed to the 9's...cool picture! The amazing thing with Joe is he still forges with a 10# hammer  :eek:

[tippit]

I've shown this knife before but I'm just amazed at the ability of Everette Johnson.  To make a knife is one thing but to make a knife without any hands is insane.  The man doesn't allow the term disabled to be in the equation.

   

Here he is holding my traded knife...

   

[Lamey]

just stunned that Everette Johnson does that with no hands...  shockingly good stuff.

I will NEVER complain about a few aches/pains again while working!

[akaboomer]

Some great stuff.  Those Keeler's are great and that Markman is beautiful also but like I have said before that knife by Everett is amazing.  Other than my own work I only have two handmade knives. I have shown them here before, one is a George Wostenholm Senator pattern slipjoint from 1890-1914. The other is a single blade slipjoint from Gary Crowder.

There are some others work I would love to own, many right here on TG.
I could easily be a collector if I had plenty of money.

Chris

[Ray Hammond]

I like this kind of thread! Great stuff guys

[Lin Rhea]

Here's another special knife for me. This one was made back in the 1980's by photographer Chuck Ward. Chuck and my Dad worked together on a lineman crew about 50-55 years ago. Chuck has become one of my good friends and since he does not make many knives now days, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it on the secondary market.
   

[benny]

Ray is right...BEAUTIFUL KNIVES!!!
More pics please.

Benny

[jpsowers]

I got this knife from Ray Kirk at an American Bladesmithing Symposium. I had seen his knives at the previous two events but didn't have the money. This time, I saved up during the year so I could get one. The great memory was that when I bought it - he sat down with me for over an hour and walked me through how to make one for myself - step by step.
Then when I got home, he sent me a dvd that showed him making it.

[Lin Rhea]

Jim, you reminded me that I have a couple of Ray Kirk knives too. I'll try to get a picture.

Here is a knife I am particularly proud to own. It is by a guy named Karl Andersen, with an "E".       Karl's not only a good friend but he makes a rock solid "take down" feature and I wanted to have one of his knives. This thing is truly crafted to use and last.

   

[Danny Rowan]

I have several custom knives. Here are a couple from Doug Campbell( I have several more from him) that just spoke to me and I had to have, they are special as the handle material came from the same piece of tusk I believe.

First is a bowie and second a matching hunter.

 

 

Here is a Karl Anderson that I really love, nice and compact( I also have several more from him)

 

Another Doug Campbell I really love.

 

Cannot forget this one from you Lin, been wanting one of yours for a very long time and finally we made it happen.

 

I am as much of a knife aholic as I am a bow aholic, LOL. Got many more from other makers, just do not have pictures right now.

[Lin Rhea]

[kbaknife]

Danny, you make us all proud.

[kbaknife]

I don't get "spooked" very often when making a knife, but this one kept me a little "jumpy", because I knew where it was going!!   :eek:
I was as honored to make this knife as any I have ever done.
It was special to me, too, Lin.  

 

  [/QB]

[tomsm44]

This is awesome.  I wish I had something to offer up but as a relative newcomer to the custom knife world, and as a young guy with a young growing family and little money to blow on luxuries right now, I haven't had the chance to build a collection......yet.       I'll just drool over these for now.

Matt Toms