1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory: Contents
Our collective quest through the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory continues with a look at the Contents page. Not really a lot here, but it’s nice to see that our future holds so many interesting and exciting working knifemakers.
Click to big-ify.
How many of these people are still working, you wonder? How many are still alive, you wonder? We’ll try to find out!
A quick perusal of this list brings forth a few notable points. Of the 192 knifemakers profiled in this book, two have the first name Clifton, four go by Dick, and one is a Doctor (and goes by Doc!). There are nine Jr.’s and two III’s, but oddly no Sr.’s. And yes, at #113, we do indeed have a Tommy Lee.
Check back tomorrow when we begin looking at individual knifemakers starting with Bill Amoureux (and ending, ultimately, with T.J & Ann Yancy).
Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages.
The full list of upcoming knifemakers in alphabetical order:
- Bill Amoureux
- William E. Ankrom
- James R. (Dick) Atkinson
- James Lee Barbee
- Scott Barry
- John (Mike) Bassney
- Pierce Franklin Beck, Jr.
- Ray Beers
- Les Berryman
- Sid Birt
- Andrew E. Blackton
- Richard A. Bridwell
- E.D. Brignardello
- G.M. (Tim) Britton
- Dennis B. Brooker
- Rick Browne
- Dick Campbell
- Ronald E. Canter
- Donald M. Cantini
- Bob Cargill
- Fred J. Carter
- Frank and mark Centofante
- John Edward Chase
- William D. Cheatham
- Dorman Eugene (Lucky) Clark
- J.D. Clay
- Gerald Click
- Vernon Wayne Coleman
- Alex J. Collins
- Walter (Blackie) Collins
- Paul E. Compton
- Harold E. Corby
- Joseph Gilbert Cordova
- Leonard Corlee
- Jim Corrado
- Donald H. Couchman
- Eldon E. Courtney
- Raymond A. Cover
- James H. Craig
- Pat Crawford
- William W. Cronk
- James W. Cunningham
- Dan Dagget
- Steve Davenport
- W.C. Davis
- William Gordon DeFreest
- Douglas M. Dent
- Dick Dorough
- T.M. Dowell
- Bill Duff
- Fain E. Edwards
- Don Ellison
- Brad Embry
- Jim Ense
- Mike England
- Thomas M. Enos III
- Howard J. Faucheaux
- Jimmy Lynn Fikes
- Joe Flournoy
- Paul Fox
- Heinrich H. (Henry) Frank
- Michael Franklin
- Ron Frazier
- Dennis Friedly
- Fuller*Hall Knives
- W.T. Fuller Jr.
- Joe D. Funderburg
- Frank H. Gamble
- Clay R. Gault
- Roy E. Genge
- Rick Genovese
- E.E. (Dick) Gillenwater II
- Wayne Goddard
- Rendon and Mark Griffin
- Dr. Philip L. (Doc) Hagen
- Robert Joseph Hajovsky
- Joe Rayburn Hales
- Jim Hammond
- Royal H. Hanson
- James L. Hardenbrook
- Donald R. (Don) Hastings
- Rade Hawkins
- W.D. Heath
- Wayne G. Hensley
- George H. Herron
- Don Hethcoat
- J.B. Hodge
- Steve Hoel
- Donald B. Hoffman
- D’Alton Holder
- Matthias E. Holze
- Jess Horn
- Durvyn M. Howard
- David M. Howie
- Arthur (Bud) Hubbard
- Chubby Hueske
- Billy Mace Imel
- Gordon W. Johnson
- Ruffin P. Johnson
- Steven R. Johnson
- Robert D. Jones
- Don Karlin
- William L. Keeton
- Gary Kelley
- Lance E. Kelly
- Kemal Knives
- Jot Singh Khalsa
- Joe L. Kious
- Jon Kirk
- Michael T. (Mick) Koval
- Don Laughlin
- Mike J. Leach
- Tommy Lee
- Norman Levine
- James B. Lile
- Robert W. Loveless
- Robert W. Lum
- Ernest L. (Ernie) Lyle III
- Mickey Maddox
- Clinton J. (Buddy) Manley Jr.
- Michael Manrow
- Tom Maringer
- Harvey Otis McBurnette Jr.
- Charles R. McConnell
- Loyd A. (Mac) McConnell Jr.
- John W. McCormick
- Chris Miller Jr.
- Terry L. Miller
- Jim Minnick
- William F. Moran Jr.
- Woody Naifeh
- R. Doyal Nolen
- Robert G. Ogg
- Bob Oleson
- John E. Owens
- Robert (Bob) Papp
- Melvin M. Pardue
- W.C. (Will) Pass
- William David (Bill) Pease
- Lloyd M. Pendleton
- Eldon G. Peterson
- Harold (Bud) Phillips
- Leon M. Pittman
- Clifton Polk
- Jim Pugh
- Martin Pullen
- Aaron Pursley
- Barr Quarton
- Michael Ray
- Ron Richard
- Dean Roath
- Harold Rollins
- Harold F. Rollins
- Roger J. Russell
- Clifton G. Schenck
- James A. Schmidt
- H.J. Schneider
- Matthew A. Schoenfeld
- Maurice and Alan Schrock
- James F. Serven
- David L. Shaw
- Corbet R. Sigman
- Norman Allen Simons
- Dave Sites
- Adam Smith
- Jim Smith
- John T. Smith
- James R. Sornberger
- C. Gray Taylor
- Jerry Mitchell (Mickey) Tedder
- Stephen L. Terrill
- Robert Terzuola
- Leon Thompson
- Dan Thornton
- Carolyn D. Tinker
- Dwight L. Towell
- Ralph Allen Turnbull
- H.J. Viele
- Frank Vought Jr.
- George A. Walker
- Albert Franklin Walters
- Buster Warenski
- Warther’s
- Frederick E. Weber
- Charles L. Weiss
- William H. Welch
- Michael Wesolowski
- R.W. Wilson
- Bill Winn
- William W. Wood
- Richard D. Worthen Jr.
- T.J. and Ann Yancey
October 24th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
This is as good a place as any for me to pose the following trivia question (which you can answer via the internet, so no fair peeking):
Five players on the 2007 Red Sox (at any point this year, not just the 25-man roster) share last names (one with a very minor change) with the 2007 Rockies. Name them. A hint: 4 of the five are hispanic (latino? whatever) names.
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October 25th, 2007 at 11:09 am
By the way, don’t you really want to discuss this lengthy list of knifemakers from the early 1980s? We’re going to be doing this for a loooooong time, so you might as well get into the spirit of the thing. 192 knifemakers!
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October 25th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Any possibility of getting a copy of the page with David M. Howie on posted for me to see. I have one of his knives made on 5/11/75. At least I think it is him. It’s signed D. Howie with the date and serial number of the knife. Thanks for any help you can provide.
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October 25th, 2007 at 11:40 am
I’m going to be posting the pages in order, so Howie won’t come up for a while. However, since you’ve asked for it, check your email.
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October 25th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Looks like Herman got the ball rolling for us. Bet you didn’t think these posts would actually be useful, huh? Well, you were wrong.
While poor Herman waits for the long-awaited Howie report to be released, I suppose I could comment that this reminds me very much of John Hodgman’s song/recitation of the names of 700 Hobos.
Most appropriate knifemaker names so far:
James Lee Barbee
Gerald Click (better as a gunmaker)
W.D. Heath
Jess Horn
Clifton Polk
Clifton G. Schenck
Carolyn D. Tinker
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October 25th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Wait, did you really set up an auto-page for EVERY page in the book? That’s just to ensure continuous content no matter what? I really hope you don’t get stabbed because your ghostly blog, auto-posting images of historical guild knifery would be too creepy.
Or is this some weird halloween/april fool’s joke and what you were intending all along?
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October 26th, 2007 at 11:41 am
No, I don’t have all the knife pages pre-set… the robots aren’t that advanced. It actually is going to take me a long time because I want to do a “where are they now” report on each one.
Are you telling me you don’t find this intriguing?
I set the blog to auto-post thing when I have too many things to put up at one time, or if I have a series of things that’s easy to set up in advance (Tom Lehrer videos, or MTV’S Downtown videos). The Knifemakers are going to be a very special, and long running part of this webpage and I think we’d all better start getting used to them.
Did you enjoy Bill Amoureux?
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November 13th, 2007 at 3:15 am
This is great stuff. Strangely, some of us on a knife forum were recently talking about what happens that causes some makers to succeed and some to fail. Your information will help answer that question.
Keep up the good work. It’s well worthwhile for Knifemaker history. And you collectors out there need to be alert for info about that mystery maker that has his name on that old knife you’ve been wondering about. I’ll have to get a link to this site on my pages. Thanks Clay
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January 8th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I have a beautiful knife made by Wm.Defreest marked GORDON on the blade and 376 on the tang,maybe you have some info on him and his knives,,Thank you very much….Bob
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February 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi Bob, Wm. Defreest is a South Carolina maker who is no longer living. His knives are very similar to those of George Herron, a very noted SC maker, since they were good friends and lived in the same area of SC. Unfortunately Defreest knives do not come close to commanding the same dollars that the Herron knives do, though they are very nice in their own right. That said I would be interested in talking to you about your knife if you would like sell. I live in SC and collect knives of SC makers. I am not a dealer so just collect a few for personal enjoyment Thanks. Bill
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February 14th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
TO ROBERT TORONI:
I met and purchased a couple of knives from Mr. Defreest years ago in California at a knife show. I asked him about his maker’s mark, since it didn’t seem to be a made-up brand & obviously wasn’t his name. He told me that Gordon was his grandfather’s name and he developed the mark as a tribute to that dear relative. I always admired the lack of ego in that gesture.
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February 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Thank you for your website! I am selling my late husband’s extensive knife collection and your website is the only place I found mention of knife maker D.B. Hoffmann!!! I am currently selling one of Hoffmann’s folders on eBay.
I’ll be, I’m sure, checking back frequently to identify knife makers.
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February 23rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
FYI: I just sold a Pease knife of eBay and emailed with Mr. Pease (he has a website) to get info - definitely, he is still alive.
Unfortunately, Bob Oleson (who was a close friend of ours) died some years ago. I have a few of his knives - doubt if I’ll be selling those.
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April 7th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I just purchased a three knive set. Appears to be made of aluminum alloy with rose wood handles. The only name is stamped on the blade BIRT. Would this be Sid Birt and where can I go to find out about this knive set?
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April 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
D.B. Hoffmann is Donald B Hoffmann… my dad. He is still around and can be found making an occasional knife, not as many as he made in the early 80s when I was a kid but he still is out there. If you need any info on one of his knives just let me know…. if you still have any.
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June 19th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I would like to purchase a Richard Worthen knife. Does any one have one for sale?
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June 29th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I have a knife in the “Nessmuk” pattern with the name Birt on the blade.This is a rather large knife compared to other knives in this pattern that I have seen.Could this be one of Sid Birts creations?Appreciate any and all info.
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July 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I just happen to on the pc todayand typed in Sid Birt knives. Sid was my uncle and very close friend. Ive seen my uncle make many knives over the years and on top of that was a great hunter and also a outstanding maker of muzzelloders. My father and I, (including Uncle Sid) raised patterdale terriors. We hunted almost the whole state of Indiana. Anyone who has a knife that is stamped “BIRT” does hold one of his knifes. Im sorry to say that my Uncle Sid passed away about 5 years ago after a battel with kidney problems. It warms my heart to see people still talking knife with Uncle Sid in mind.
Thank you, Robert Picchetti, Indiana
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July 10th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Hi there
I was just asked to make a sheath for an Adam Smith knife, it has a hollow ground blade with a profile like a Loveless knife. The handle tapers to the back with a birds beak.
The blade is signed just below the back in front of the ricasso in block letters
ADAM
SMITH
Does anyone know more about this maker?
Thanks
Robin Simpson
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August 29th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I was sorry to read the comment by Robert Picchetti today. I was stationed with Sid Birt while in the Air Force at Grissom AFB, IN and we became good friends. He being the NCOIC of the Small Arms Range and I being the NCOIC of Security Police Scheduling, we worked together to get all of the SP’s their required small arms training. We stayed quite a few nights together at Camp Atterbury and I even assisted him in getting his Log Cabin together in the Brown Mountain of Indiana. He showed me where ihs Knife making shop was going to go after he retired from the AF. Told me he was going to make a knife for me for helping him. I separated from the AF in ‘99 and sure enough, a couple years later, I got a phone call from Sid saying he was starting my knife. I received it 6-8 months afterwards. I still have it to this day and cherish it as a symbol of friendship from a great American. God Speed Sid!
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October 16th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
My deceased husband, Mack McCutcheon, was also a close friend of Bob Oleson. I have several of his beautiful knives that were in my husband’s collection. He gave many back to Betty Oleson when Bob passed away and her finances were difficult.
He was one of the most talented knife makers in Northern California. Rather sad that his name/work is not more widely appreciated. He was an ARTIST.
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October 23rd, 2008 at 6:21 am
I am looking or trying to find a knife maker in the New England area by the name of RUA or Rua or R.U.A. can you help me please . Last I knew he was working on a knife with a wallrus tusk handel.
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October 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I have inhereted several knives from my father in which the makers mark looks like for lack of a batter term a broken egg. The name on one of the pieces is JOE K, but the rest of the name is unlegable. From what I know, the pieces were bought between the late 80’s through earily 90’s from various gun and knife shows in the lake county area in Indiana. Any help discovering who this maker is would be greatly appreciated.
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November 25th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Hello!
Anyone know the name Milford J. Oliver of Phoenix, Ariz.
Have 3 drop point hunters, two ironwood and the larger is stag handled.
Bought them at a 70’s gun show in Dallas or Houston.Maker was an older gentleman then as I am now. Any info greatly appreciated.
Regards, Chuck Hunt/chuckhunt@hotmail.com
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November 28th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Chuck, I knew Milford during the 1970-1980s. He and his wife Francis lived in northwest Phoenix and moved to Prescott, Az during the middle 80’s. He was a member of the Knife Makers Guild (knifemakersguild.com). Both are now deceased. I am unaware of a listing of the knives he produced.
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January 5th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Number 18, Ronald E. Canter is my dad. He quit the guild about two years ago after having a quadruple by-pass and valve replacement surgery. He hasn’t made a knife in a few years because he has taken up making flintlocks. I am in the process of making my second knife (i got the handle for it at the last show I went with him to in Orlando, probably 4 years ago). Always loved going to the guild shows growing up though.
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