Billy Mace Imel's

rbslaughter1

rbslaughter1

Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
362
About 5 years ago I aquired an all stainless slip joint by Billy Mace Imel, who was then retired from knifemaking.. I was hooked. The fit was just so good, and the profile of the knife was as clean as it gets. Mr. Imel has returned to knifemaking and I saw him mentioned in a couple of the Blade Show review posts.. The deeply hollow ground integral daggers he makes are a marvel..

Coop, if you see this thread I have a request. Last year you took a shot of a newly made dagger for Billy and his wife. They provided the background I think, a purple satin cloth..When I saw the dagger, I was surprised because it looked like a Lloyd Hale piece. It was one of the coolest daggers I have seen in a long time.. Could you add the picture so others that missed it can see it? Thanks in advance....

Here's my collection, starting with the stainless slippy I mentioned...
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Ivory Lockback...
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The pair together closed position...
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Pearl Insert Integral Dagger..
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Ebony Wood Handled Dagger..
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Full Tang Stag Handle Dagger..
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Hope you enjoyed seeing these, and by all means feel free to post any examples of his work.. Best Regards, Rich
 
Your tribute to the Imel's is warm and appreciated. The incredible simplicity/beauty of the first folder speaks of how less CAN be more.

Beverly Imel asked me if I had a fabric like a purple silk cloth, and if not, would I be willing to use one she supplied? Billy had made a fancy dagger for the first time in 15 years and she wanted to show it well.

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I was flabbergasted at how well this came out. (There is a prop holding the tip up, but I didn't mention this. ;)) A clear case of happily stepping out of my box.

Back to you, Rich! :D

Jim
 
Boy Jim, that was fast... Ask and ye shall receive.. :thumbup: What a beautiful shot of that dagger.. It really is something isn't it? Thanks again, Rich
 
I always look forward to a trip by Billy's table at shows.
His knives are Oh so clean and precise.

Great photos guys.
 
Thank you Kevin for your nod to my photo's... Grinds like these are tough to light properly. (I am never satisfied..) Do you find his pricing as resonable as I do for finishes and grinds that are so well executed? Rich
 
The Imel's are among the nicest folks you'll ever meet. I like to talk with them when I get to the shows as Billy and I have shared some of the same experiences, and I always learn something listening to him. I have held that dagger, and wish I could have bought it.

I do have two of his knives, a fighter pattern I like the lines of, and a skinner I picked up to use.

ImelIntegralFighter.jpg


ImelHunter.jpg
 
SharpByCoop said:
Your tribute to the Imel's is warm and appreciated. The incredible simplicity/beauty of the first folder speaks of how less CAN be more.

Beverly Imel asked me if I had a fabric like a purple silk cloth, and if not, would I be willing to use one she supplied? Billy had made a fancy dagger for the first time in 15 years and she wanted to show it well.

orig.jpg


I was flabbergasted at how well this came out. (There is a prop holding the tip up, but I didn't mention this. ;)) A clear case of happily stepping out of my box.

Back to you, Rich! :D

Jim
Click to expand...

What a beauty. It reminds me of the golden days of this type of dagger with makers like Warenski, Rigney, Cronk, Birt and so on. Great stuff.

Marcel
 
I have one of Mr. Imel's slipjoints in my pocket right now; blacklip pearl in the same pattern as that ivory lockback. Excellent little knife.
 
Beautiful work.....Thanks for showing....
Coop.....Great shot !
 
I love the lean, minimalist lines that define the majority of his pieces. But I have to say I really dig that fancy one Coop posted up, too.

Roger
 
I learned about Imel's work thru David Darom's books and have been drawn to their spartan but curvy look. I hope lots more pics get posted here, as it's hard to get enough of a good thing.
 
how does someone make such deeply hollow ground blades? and so perfectly, as if made by a machine. I'll guess the answer is years and decades of practice.

But I seek the technique. 2x72 with 4" wheels?
 
My first exposure to Mr. Imel's work was at this years BLADE Show, via Nathan Carothers aka Nathan the Machinist and his beautiful wife Jo.
Having nearly been born & raised in Tool & Die Shops for the first 40 years of my life, Nathan thought I would appreciate the clean lines, and precise fit/finish of Mr. Imel's blades.
No disappointment there !
And what a fine gentleman to speak with. Dressed in a suit, Mr. Imel was every bit as dapper as his knives.

Beautiful Imel collection Mr. Slaughter. Beautiful !

And as always Mr. Cooper, pictures at their finest :thumbup: ;)

For what it's worth .....IMHO, the silk cloth Ms Imel supplied, complemented the Ring Dagger perfectly :thumbup:


:cool:
 
Thanks for sharing the photos guys! (Eisman, Patrick, Coop..).. I hope maybe we can see a few more too before this thread runs it's course.. Reading all the posts, Mr. Imel and his wife certainly are held in high regard. Right after saying how much we like Billy's work, most of you who know him have shared what a gentleman he is.. I really do hope to meet him some day.. It seems like all I'll have to do to find him is look for the sharpest dressed man in the room.. It's great to find out a maker you admire, and collect, is also so well liked and thought of... Best Regards, Rich
 
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