The eighth knifemaker from the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory is a fellow named Ray Beers. According to his bio, Ray graduated from college in 1955 and began selling knives professionally in 1979. He’s been selling knives for my entire life.

Ray, by having his son in his official photo, is only the second knifemaker to include someone other than himself in the promo shot (the first was James R. Dick Atkinson and his wife Phyllis), but he’s the first to have an action shot. Look at him, toiling away at his workbench while his son, Michael Beers, stands by, ready to assist in any immediate, knife-related emergencies. I like this photo style, I hope more knifemakers use it.  Also, bonus points to Beers for having a motto: “Self-satisfaction attained from customer satisfaction–that’s a major goal of mine.”

Ray Beers today

Ray Beers was only a probationary member of the Knifemakers Guild in 1981 and he appears to have let his membership lapse since then, but that doesn’t mean he stopped making knives. Franklin Mint, which refers to Beers as a “famed knifemaker,” sells his American Bald Eagle Knife… you’ve got to check this thing out:

You can’t get much more American than that. If Abraham Lincoln had had to fight the Civil War by himself using only a knife, this is the knife he would have used.

While I’m not sure exactly when the American Bald Eagle Knife was designed, Beers is in fact still around and still designing (though there’s some discussion as to whether he stopped in the mid-90s) and is still doing the knife show circuit. As recently as December 2007 he appeared at the Chesapeake Knife Show. Here’s what he looks like today:

He actually looks a little bit like Kevin Spacey. Not a bad person to look like, really.

According to his bio, Ray Beers graduated college in 1955, meaning he is most likely in his mid-70s today, but he looks like he’s in pretty good shape. And pretty successful: he splits his time between Florida and Maryland, surprisingly spending the winter months up north and the summer months down south… he’s doing it backwards!  Maybe his inverse migratory pattern is what makes his knives unique?

Previous knifemaker: Pierce Franklin Beck, Jr.
Next knifemaker: Les Berryman

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages, all pictures.

The seventh knifemaker from the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory is a mild mannered man named Pierce Franklin Beck, Jr. I know he’s mild mannered because according to his bio he worked as “a maintenance mechanic at a nuclear energy facility” and if I’ve learned anything from comic books, it’s that Pierce Beck Jr. is, at night, a superhero. His whole self-presentation seems designed to occlude his secret identity. Dull haircut? Check. Big glasses? Check. Uninspiring striped shirt? Check. Strong jawline? … Check! It’s a blade, it’s a knife, it’s a machete… it’s Pierce Man, coming to remove the blight of crime from this fair city with one piercing knife attack after another. That bulletproof vest can’t protect you from Pierce Man’s trusty array of molecularly sharp knives, forged in the very atom smasher that gave him his super powers.

And you know what else? He wasn’t alone at that nuclear facility, George E. Herron (page 85) was “one of his fellow workers.” It sounds like we’ve found ourselves a sidekick.

Ok, that’s probably not really what Pierce Beck is like. He was a voting member of the guild, so they must have respected his work. And according to his bio he was bringing his two sons into the business with him; that doesn’t really seem super-hero-y. I guess he’s probably just a regular knifemaker… or is that what he wants me to think?

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Pierce Franklin Beck, Jr. today

Sadly, despite much research online, I can’t find anything out about the present status of Pierce Franklin Beck, Jr. There’s two P F Beck’s living in South Carolina, but I have no way of knowing if he’s either of those. He no longer appears to be a member of the Guild and I can’t anything about his present status. There used to be a BeckKnives.com, but that appears to have been run by a Dave Beck and probably isn’t related to the Pierce Man or either of his sons (Paul or Robbie). It’s too bad. Perhaps he’s changed to a new secret identity… maybe he knew I was on to him?

Previous knifemaker: John (Mike) Bassney
Next knifemaker: Ray Beers

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages, all pictures.

After a lengthy knifemaker hiatus, the series returns with our sixth member of the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory: John (Mike) Bassney. John (Mike)’s picture looks something of a cross between John C. Reilly and Tom Selleck — in other words, like a totally awesome knifemaker. This is really our first knifemaker whose picture looks like someone I would want making my knife. He doesn’t look like a cowboy, or a family man, or a terror, he looks like the sort of guy who would take your knife order and just get right down to business. He’s even wearing what I presume to be a knifemaking apron. This guy would have gotten my business… if I would have ever ordered a custom made knife in 1981 in the greater Wisconsin region.

Something else great about John (Mike) — according to his bio, he went to SUNY Buffalo, graduated, and then moved to Wisconsin. Why is that great you ask? Well, I’m not sure, but I think this is our first confirmed college graduate knifemaker, which is something.

His motto is “I simply wish to make the best knife I can with the material available and at the same time work in line with the customer’s wishes.” That’s modern business-speak. He’s like a corporate executive. I love this guy.

John (Mike) Bassney today

Sadly John (Mike) Bassney is no longer a member of the Knifemakers Guild according to their member list. He was only a probationary member in 1981, so maybe he didn’t make the cut, or maybe he simply let his membership lapse. He might have lost interest in knifemaking altogether, it’s hard to know.

The Google record on Mr. Bassney is quite slim. John (Mike) Bassney turns up nothing that I didn’t write myself, John Bassney is likewise unhelpful.

Mike Bassney, though, does provide us with three hits. He apparently went to Painted Post High School in Painted Post, New York from 1958 to 1962. That would line up well with him graduating from SUNY Buffalo in 1968, so this is probably him. This guy thought he taught shop in Michigan during the 1970s (possible, since he ended up in Wisconsin by 1981). He still appears to live in Lodi, Wisconsin, and he has a job at a local Subway in Columbus, Wisconsin. He’s the host.

Knowing about his knife proclivities, I can surely say that this is one Subway I would never rob.

Previous knifemaker: Scott Barry
Next knifemaker: Pierce Franklin Beck, Jr.

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages, all pictures.

The fifth knifemaker from the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory is Scott Barry of Laramie, Wyoming. As you can tell from Scott’s picture, he’s somewhat terrifying. His ragged beard and distant stare give him something of a Ted Kaczynski/Saddam Hussein/Charles Manson look (minus the swastika). More so than previous knifemakers, Scott Barry’s picture is more in line with the sort of person who I would imagine would go into knifemaking without much prodding. According to his blurb (see below) he trained himself to be a knifemaker… that seems about right.

But maybe I’m looking at this whole beard thing the wrong way. Besides the unfortunate list of beard-wearers mentioned above, some very positive people have had beards too. And lo, a quick glance at Scott Barry’s blurb indicates that, yes, he’s a carpenter. I appear to have gone totally the wrong direction with his beard, it’s more of a Jesus-beard than a Manson-beard. The distant stare was actually a holy stare, searching out the non-believers to calmly convert. His blades are so sharp they can bring the reverent to their knees, they are holy, holy things. Possibly.

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Scott Barry today

Sadly, Scott Barry is a very common name and it’s difficult to find any information about his current activities or whereabouts. He’s no longer in the Guild, but he’s also not listed as having died as a member. There is a Scott Barry living in Laramie, Wyoming, which I imagine must be him, but that’s all I’ve got.

There is, oddly, a Barry Scott who produces knives and swords, but he appears to be unrelated to the 1981 Guild member.

Previous knifemaker: James Lee Barbee
Next knifemaker: John (Mike) Bassney

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages, all pictures.

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Today we look to our fourth knifemaker from the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory: James Lee Barbee of Fort Stockton, Texas. As you can see by his picture, he’s the manliest knifemaker we’ve featured so far. He’s got a cowboy hat and what appears to be a pickup truck behind him… he’s not going to take no for an answer (when trying to sell you a custom made, pearl handled, serrated blade knife). We’re going to gloss over that glasses case in his shirt pocket, it doesn’t really contribute to the image.

Of course, the fact that he looks tough isn’t merely a coincidence… James Lee Barbee is a hunter. According to his blurb (see below) he skins over “75 head of big game” per year as a means of testing his knives during his day job as a “guide.” I’m not sure if he actually sold the knives that he used to skin the big game, and if so whether that would increase or decrease the value of the knives, but either way, I (and all the deer in my general vicinity) are scared.

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He sells a knife called the “Slim Pickens Special” for which I can only assume he did not receive authorization from the actual Slim Pickens. I wonder if it has a Dr. Strangelove theme.

James Lee Barbee today

Sadly, I can’t clearly identify any information about James Lee Barbee’s status today. He no longer appears to be a member of the guild. A google search for his name turns up a few results including a James Lee Barbee whose credit card was stolen this summer in Salisbury, North Carolina, a James Lee Barbee whose sister passed away this spring in Texas, and a 23 year-old James Lee Barbee who was arrested for trespassing in North Carolina.

Sadly, there’s nothing that points to any of these people being the right James Lee Barbee. If I had to guess, I would choose the second based on approximate age, but that James Lee Barbee’s spouse is named Billie-Sue and ours is named Pat. Not that he couldn’t have remarried.

James Lee Barbee, if you’re out there, I hope you’re still selling knives and killing big game.

Previous knifemaker: James R. Dick Atkinson
Next knifemaker: Scott Barry

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages, all pictures.

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Our third knifemaker from the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory is James R. (Dick) Atkinson of Decatur, Illinois. Most of the knifemakers in the book chose to be pictured standing alone, but Dick Atkinson is featured standing beside his wife Phyllis. It makes the knifemaker seem more familial, I like it. I also like that each spouse’s haircut appears to be the inverse of the other’s. Neither style stands up to Bill Amoureux’s Bob Ross look, but they’re pretty good.

His blurb (see below) mentions how important his family is to him and how both his wife and his son James aid in his work. James, for example, “can do everything except heat treating — and he’ll be doing that soon.” I wonder if he ever did learn heat treating, I wonder…

Atkinson was a full time tool and die maker in 1981 and only a probationary member of the guild, which might explain why he didn’t appear to have an official motto. The lack of a motto is a shame; I’m a big fan of knifemakers’ mottoes.

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Dick Atkinson Today

Not only is Dick Atkinson still around and still selling knives, but he even has his own webpage at DickAtkinson.com! He’s made the transition from lowly “probationary member” to online entrepreneur. It’s exciting.

Here’s a picture of him from 2000:

In addition to selling knives, he’s moved on to making and selling gun handles as well. He’s like a one man arsenal at this point. I’m intimidated.

Some time in the past 25 years he made the move from Illinois to Florida; perhaps he was looking for a warmer, more gun/knife friendly climate? He’s much more mobile than the seemingly sedentary William Ankrom.

Dick Atkinson does have one deep dark secret. Something that he may not be proud of. After his time as a probationary member of the guild in 1981 something terrible happened… he allowed his membership to lapse. I don’t know what happened, but Dick Atkinson is no longer a member of the guild. How sad.

Previous knifemaker: William E. Ankrom
Next knifemaker: James Lee Barbee

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages, all pictures.

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Today we continue our quest through the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory with a look at our second knifemaker, William E. Ankrom of Cody, Wyoming. William Ankrom looks kind of like what Jon Lovitz dressed as a cowboy. But he’s not a cowboy, he’s a unionized knifemaker, and don’t you forget it.

As you can see below, his biography indicates that, like Bill Amoureux, William Ankrom has a knifemaker philosophy: “Second best won’t cut it.” Notice the knifemaking pun, I already like this guy better than Bill Amoureux and his less adventurous philosophy.

And, like most knifemakers at the time, Ankrom had a brochure available for $1. I’m considering attempting to mail out for all these guys’ brochures to see if they’ll (a) get the mail, and (b) honor the 1981 brochure pricing structure.

Click to big-ify.

Sadly, my efforts to locate more information about William E. Ankrom’s current activities were ineffective. While his name is popular genealogically (check out this intriguing storiey about exploding whiskey barrels from the turn of the century), there’s simply not a lot of information about this most recent William Ankrom. The only tidbit that I can come up with is that he is, apparently, still living in Cody, Wyoming.

Previous knifemaker: Bill Amoureux.
Next knifemaker: James R. (Dick) Atkinson.

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages, all pictures.

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Today we start the journey through the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory with Bill Amoureux. As you can tell from Bill’s picture, he appears to have been a fairly happy-go-lucky fellow with an endearing Bob Ross look about him. Don’t let that fool you, the man can make a knife!

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You can read Bill’s blurb describing his knifemaking life in Alaska in the images above, or you can scroll to the end of the post (past the jump) to read a transcription. It is worth noting that Amoureux does in fact have a knifemaking philosophy. I don’t have one of those. I wonder how many of our future knifemakers will? I’ll have to keep an eye on that.

Bill Amoureux Today

UPDATED: At the request of Mr. Amoureux, all information discussing his present life has been removed from the site and any previously posted information may have been inaccurate.

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages.

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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.

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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.

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My previous installment of this exceedingly close reading of the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory dealt with the book’s origins, the front cover and the inside front covers. Today we consider the next four pages which include copyright information, the forward and a letter from the Guild president. Exciting!

(Remember, as I stated last time, you’ve got to stick with me until I get to Alex Collins. It’s all worth it for Alex Collins.)

Copyright & Forward (medium, full) | Message (medium, full)

Dull material, I know. The left image shows the copyright page (medium, full) as well as a forward by Wallace Beinfeld.

As you can tell from this forward, Wallace Beinfeld totally loves knives, but a little bit of research shows that he’s also very into guns and has appeared at numerous gun shows. What can I say, the guy loves weapons! He’s also a donating republican, giving both to the RNC and George W Bush in 2004. Considering the guns and the knives, that’s hardly surprising.

I like his direction at the very end of the forward to begin turning the pages slowly… right NOW. Like, maybe you didn’t understand how a book works? You’d somehow managed to find your way to the Foreword without having turned any pages (perhaps you’d stumbled across an already opened book?) and weren’t sure what your next step should be.

Up next is the Message from the Guild President, James B. Lile, who had an impressive pedigree. Before he died of a heart attack in 1991, he designed the knives used in the first two Rambo films, had a knife on permanent display in the Smithsonian, and sold knives to Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, King Gustav IV, and John Wayne. With that sort of a background, you’d expect an awesome message!

There are three points about his message that jump out at me as amusing. First, “some business sessions [of the Guild] have been something less than pleasant.” I can only imagine the sorts of people that are drawn to knifemaking and the idea of putting them together into one room to come to decisions as a group seems terrifying. He further nails down this point by emphasizing that “most [knifemakers] are very professional in their conduct”… but not all? He’s trying to tiptoe around the point that there’s a lot of scary, scary knifemakers out there. As we’ll all soon see.

Second, I like that he’s concerned that people whine about a lack of creative new knives. I’m right there with him! How hard is it to be creative when creating a deadly metal blade? I can think of all sorts of weird places to add a sharpened edge; come on people, we’re Americans — get inventing/killing!

Third, his lifelong “encouragement” has been that “man is born with a terminal disease” and the only thing worthwhile is the respect that you have when you die. Pleasant. The life itself, apparently, is worthless. I hope he still felt that way in 1991.

Full text of the Foreword and Message after the jump.

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages.
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This weekend I attended the 41st Shenandoah Antiques Expo in Fishersville, Virginia and picked up the 1981 Knifemakers Guild Directory for a mere five dollars. While the Knifemakers Guild may have had lofty goals for their Directory at the time, the 1981 edition appears to be the only edition ever published. The book lists all the active members of the Knifemakers Guild (in 1981) and includes pictures, biographies, and example knives from a large majority of the members.

I’ve found this book exceedingly interesting and I’m going to bring it all to you, in extreme lengthy and boring detail. Will you find it as amusing as I do? Maybe! But probably not.

We’ll start this first post off with the basics. I know this isn’t the most exciting portion of the book, but it’s important to lay the groundwork for what’s to follow.

Front Cover (medium, full) | Inside Front Cover (medium, full) | Publisher Page (medium, full)

The front cover, the inside front cover and the publisher page are repetitive and uninteresting. The only point of note here is that the book was edited by a woman named Beth Ingber-Irvin. A little research shows that Beth Ingber-Irvin was not a prolific writer, her only other major credit was The Autobiography of Mary Magdalene which, surprisingly, did not tear up the charts. Can we expect big things from Beth Ingber-Irvin in this directory? We can only hope.

I know this is not an exciting start, but you’ve got to stick with me long enough to get Alex Collins. Trust me, Alex Collins is worth it.

Other 1981 Knifemaker’s Guild Directory Pages: first page, all pages.