About Bob Engnath

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DevinT

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Jan 29, 2010
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Bob will be inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame this year at the Blade show in Atlanta.

Bob passed away in ‘98 and we’ve lost a lot of the old makers that knew him well.

I’m looking for information about his career and family so we can honor him.

Hoss
 
I'm sure you know about House of Muzzleloading. Their catalog had more good tutorials and info on knifemaking than most knifemaking books. Especially back in the 70s and 80s when knifemakers guarded their "secrets" like Coca Cola does their formula.

He didn't just grind their patterns, he would also grind custom and special orders. There are very few makers that ground out the number of blades he did. I'd heard he would sometimes grind blades for well known makers so they could catch up on orders.

Edit to add: I didn't know Bob, but my granddad and Bob were phone and mail friends (my grandad has been gone over 20 years). My granddad had a couple patterns that he sent to Bob because he wanted them ground out of some tool steel that Bob had. Bob ended up liking them well enough that they were added to the catalog. They talked fairly often over the years. That's about all I know.
 
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Devin I sent you an e-mail through your website contact form. :)
 
All I can say about Bob E. Is I started making knives out of files in 97 & then went to a Southern California knife makers meeting & Bob was there & he freely shared his knowledge with any who asked.

Watching that man grind a blade from HTed stainless was a marvel to watch! I never got close to his speed & accuracy & never saw anyone else get close ether!

He certainly deserves a place in the Knife Maker Hall of Fame…
 
I may be mis remembering this but didn't Howard Clark learn to make katana frm Bob? You might try there...
 
At the Time he passed, I was starting to make knives and got to talk to him a few Times on thé phone and by e-mail and got à lot of tips from him. Thé polishing wheel I still use for sharpening on the shop was bought from him though it has lost a bit of its original diamèter and I was about to place another order when he passed and the order ended up never being placed. Not much to add to the thread but I thought it would be good to share.
 
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