Anything about Ray Kirk

nut

nut

Joined
Nov 26, 2001
Messages
45
Hello, you guys! I have heard of Ray Kirk for a long time. I like his knife style. He has too more cutting competition winners. But I knew few about him. I have browsed his website and want to know more of him. Who can tell me more? Post some photos of his knife here. Thanks
 
Ray Kirk is an ABS Master Smith, a great knife maker and a close friend. His work is excellent and is a bargain at the prices he asks in my humble opinion.

Here are a few of his knives I've received over the past ten years or so:

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I see Ray at the Arkansas, Oklahoma & Branson shows. Here's a picture from the Branson hammer-in.

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Here's one of him accepting The Vernon Hicks Memorial Award from Ron Newton & David Etchison while at the 2008 Arkansas Knifemaker's Show.

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He is doing well and still in Tahlequah, OK.

You can reach him at:

ray@rakerknives.com

Gary
 
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Many thanks to you all, Blues and Gary. I have send email to him. Hope more pics
 
Ray is a friend I met via my brother Blues.
Just spoke with Ray about a week ago for at least an hour. He is doing well and weathering the economics like everyone else.

This is his Master Smith dagger from 2005 when the A.B.S. judged his knives. I think I asked him about it in 2001 or 2002 so it is in my collection.

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He does have some pretty cool keychain tools available on his site and is taking orders for other work.
I agree with Blues as far as his work and the prices he charges. Ray knows what he is doing and I think his prices are more than fair from his fancied up work to his working knives. I consider his Scagel folder repros one of the best deals going out there for the last few years.
 
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Interesting timing...

I just met Ray at the AKCA show last weekend. My first impression was (and still is) that he is a soft-spoken fellow who will tell it like it is if you ask and who sells extremely high quality, high performance blades at a very minimal price point. He is a gentleman who is very passionate about knife-making.

Last weekend's AKCA show was not a huge show by any standards. Still, after looking around and seeing a lot of high-end production and custom offerings, the only knives I bought that day were from Ray--five of them to be exact!!!:D:thumbup::cool: Three will be going to my kids for Xmas as their first cutom knives, the other two are for my wife and me. IMHO, you can't go wrong with Ray or anything he makes.

And sorry, but I don't have any pics yet.
 
i purchased this integral hunter with mastodon handle slabs from ray. it's one of his MS test knives. ray is a very nice person!

best regards,
hans

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Ray Kirk is as good as gold ! My Dad went to school with him and I have known him for a couple of years. Plus, this is in my pocket as we speak (as I type actually)

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Ray just emailed me yesterday.
I met him last year at Blade. This year at the Branson Hammer-in he showed a bunch of us how to forge integrals.
Mine are based on his design.
I've never met a nicer, more helpful individual in the knife industry.
 
I was lucky enough to watch Mr. Kirk at a couple of Hammer In's, also learned some Kydex tips from him.

He is a great Teacher, willing to share and patient when it doesn't go right the first time.

Good Luck, I hope you are enjoying something made by Ray very soon.
 
I have never seen any of Mr Kirk's knives , so thanks for posting the info fella's. Took a look at his website and I do like what I see , and love that first one Blues posted , one of those Scagel Style Folders are going on the " I want " list.
 
You won't be disappointed, John. Gus and I both love ours.
 
I am glad to call Ray a friend. He is a super nice person and a hell of a knifemaker. You won't be disappointed with a knife from him. He is also a heck of a storyteller. If you meet him in person ask him about the deer in the back of the explorer.
 
Ray is a really good guy. If I was going to buy one knife from him, it would probably be one of his little integrals. They are very cool.
 
Here are the knives I spoke of earlier in the this thread.

The Alpine Integral is with Ray and will return with new desert ironwood handles. There was nothing wrong with the buckeye burl; I just prefer the color of DI.

The five others were what I picked up on Saturday. Discontinued models all made of San Mai. :thumbup:

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I am out of town and can't post pics but I have another of Ray's MS knives. It's the hunter with the horn scales.He made me a scagel folder to match,

I also have several of his medicine knives that are used in the kitchen. One of the makers that are the best bang for the buck out there.
 
It is a great honor to me that so many good people call me their friend. I read some where that to have friends, you have to be a friend. I have always treated others as I would like to be treated and it it seems to work for me.
Thank you all for posting the pics, I haven't seen some of them in a long time. :)
Blues bought the first knife I ever sold at the Blade show in 99', the small damascus tanto with bone handles. Thanks, Blues. From such a small purchase a great many friendships have developed.
 
raker said:
Blues bought the first knife I ever sold at the Blade show in 99', the small damascus tanto with bone handles. Thanks, Blues. From such a small purchase a great many friendships have developed.
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The pleasure is and has always been mine, Ray. :cool::thumbup:

(And I'm proud to have introduced you here on bladeforums ten years ago. It seems to have been a match that was meant to be and which is still rewarding for us all. :cool:)
 
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