Black knife makers

[Quiet Priest]

Does anyone know of any Black/African American knfemakers either contemporaries or from the past. There don't seem to be any. If there are or were I'd like to know more about them, their place historically in this craft, and their products. Any leads would be appreciated.

 

[Grandpa Troll]

Who cares what race you are when it comes to making knives?
JUST MAKE THE KNIVES WELL, not junk like so many I have seen being produced lately!

Racism makes me :barf:

If this thread isn't out of racism, then what is the point?

Grandpa Troll

 

[Quiet Priest]

The Point for me is cultural curiosity.

I have a great relationship with a custom knife maker who is white no big deal for either of us.
He, a long time experienced maker interested in U.S. history, couldn't think of any. I'm wondering if in knifemaking perhaps as in golf till recently, blacks or other minorities have stayed out/been kept out, of something that they might have a lot to contribute to, and further enrich the craft via desings, philosophy, materials or purposes that come with growing through a particular culture.

We identify tanto as a Japanese design, grown out of their culture, there are Norse designs identified with that culture, it's not racism or wrong to inquire about Blacks in the craft in that sense. I think it might be more racist to presume that all good knifemaking in the US is either white or Eurocentrist. Perhaps an inquiry like this may invite some able minority to sort of "Tiger Woods" and enter the field, bring unique insights and even raise the bar in the craft.

And please take no racism sort of offense, I am way too multiracial and multicultural to be able to indulge in the luxury of racism.

 

[MAURICE]

i dont think this thread is out of racism at all.

its in fact a good question.
when you go to a knife show,what do you see?
white makers,for the most part.

i havent met any,but IIRC,there is a maker that calls his company KKK knives (talk about your irony). Now,i could be mistaken,as this was a while back,and was only talked about briefly...i think ill do a search.
and the KKK wasnt used as a symbol,except for his company name, something something knives,i assume.

 

[Quiet Priest]

Maurice, thanks for the lead.

May be that there really wasn't any black involvement in knifemaking history here in the U.S. If that's a fact then it's a fact. But, if there was, or is, well then the picture of knifemaking historically in the U.S. is somewhat incomplete.

It wouldn't hurt the craft or the collectors to know more about it all. Perhaps there are some developing makers out there that lack publicity.

I haven't mentioned it to him, but one the collectors who I see in DC is a dreadlocked, mature, black gentleman, who probably doesn't realize it, but he is a rarity, an African American who collects "cutlery" as he calls it.

Oops. 5 Oclock, I get to leave work, see ya'll later.

 

[Kisu]

J.D.Smith, and man are his knives nice. And he makes some nice autos too.

 

[DancesWithKnives]

At Blade Show West there have usually been two black knife or sword makers displaying some real quality work. Unfortunately, I don't recall their names. If I see them there this year, I'll send their names, addresses etc. to you for your research.

 

[Jedi Knife]

Well Quiet Priest, since you are taking a racially based interest in black knife makers, out of "cultural curiosity", then I hope you don't mind if I take a racially based interest in white knife makers, out of "cultural curiosity". BTW, I do believe Chris Reeve is an African-American knife maker.

JK

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

Quiet Priest, there is nothing wrong about acknowledging someone's race. It is a fact that most knife collectors, dealers, and makers are white. Acknowledging that fact says nothing negative about those people. Knife nuts ought to want to see their hobby embraced by people of all backgrounds. As for black makers, the one I know the most about is J.D. Smith, the guy who makes KKK knives is out of Florida and I have seen a few others in Blade magazine from time to time. Chris Reeve is originally from South Africa but he is a white South African of British ethnic origin.

 

[ROBB]

The 1st one who comes to mind is J.D.Smith,M.S.I was luckly to get one of his folders abou 10 yrs.ago.I did'nt have all the money he was asking for the knife and he could tell I was a relative newcomer.And he knew how much I really wanted that folder.J.D.just smiled at me and said "Lets see how much You got".I was about $100 short of the $750 price.He gave me the knife and told me about the file work,damascus,and other interesting things on how it was made.I will always be greatfull to him.
Another is Paul Jarvis.I'm told he is very friendly with J.D.Paul is known for some wild art pieces.He likes to use jeweles on his handles a lot.He is also one of the few custom makers making butterflys.These can run from the low hundreds to thousands in cash.
George Dailey is another.He makes high art folders and automatics.His folders are often pictured in the 3 main knife magazines.
BTW these guys are all from Mass.
There was another maker who uesd the stamp KKK I guess as a joke.I ca'nt remember his name but I know he started way back.If you look at some of the old Knives Anuals,you will probably see his work.I think he was the 1st black man in the Knife Makers Guild.Someone must know his name.

 

[Dexter Ewing]

Originally posted by ROBB
There was another maker who uesd the stamp KKK I guess as a joke.I ca'nt remember his name but I know he started way back.If you look at some of the old Knives Anuals,you will probably see his work.I think he was the 1st black man in the Knife Makers Guild.Someone must know his name.

That man is Alex Collins, and he goes by KKK: Kustom Krafted Knives. I recall reading one time in an article that he doesn't have time or patience for anyone who doesn't get past the fact a black knifemaker with tang stamps that say "KKK" on them.

 

[misque]

Dexter beat me to it.

Alex Collins makes great knives with some incredibly complex grinds.
To look at and handle one of his pieces would make your jaw drop. Mr. Collins' work is not cheap, but it is awe inspiring.
I'm sorry to say I didn't see him at this year's Guild Show.
To be honest, my eyes were pretty much glued to the tables. If he was there and bumped into me, I might not have noticed.

I hope he's still out there making knives.
Alex Collins is a class act. Check out his stuff.

 

[Don Cowles]

Paul Jarvis makes spectacular art knives. There are only a handful of makers of any race who can hold a candle to his work.

 

[Ryan M]

That man is Alex Collins, and he goes by KKK: Kustom Krafted Knives. I recall reading one time in an article that he doesn't have time or patience for anyone who doesn't get past the fact a black knifemaker with tang stamps that say "KKK" on them.

I guess stamping KKK on the knives would kinda be along the lines of writing people's names on bullets...

 

[Quiet Priest]

Wow! Thanks to all for the leads and information.

It's good to see that this isn't a "closed" craft, and I will look up the names you all gave. Appearences can be decieving and it appeared to me that there were no non white knifemakers either passing down tradition or establishing any. I don't expect for their knives to blatantly say "I am from a black American knifesmith" at all. I do like knowing that all sorts of people are welcome/can participate in this thing.

Jedi, I know who Chris Reeves is, and I knew he was not a Black African American. I now know about some Black American knife makers. What I don't know I will ask about, what I do know I will tell. A little of your post reminds me of the saying "Better to let people think you a fool, than to open your mouth and prove them right." No one (no race) owns knifemaking. That white American knifemakers rule the industry is a given. But the important part for us all I think inclusiveness. I now know that black knifemakers are included. I figured if I really wanted to know that this would be the place to ask. This is a great forum. Thank you all.

 

[R.W.Clark]

Alex is a great guy. He is still kicking out lots of knives. But he is not out of Florida, he is out of North Hollywood CA. The whole KKK thing is his weird sense of humor, nothing more nothing less. He has been a guild member for over 17 years.

Totally a guy to get to know. Class act all the way.

 

[mgeoffriau]

Originally posted by Quiet Priest
It's good to see that this isn't a "closed" craft, and I will look up the names you all gave. I do like knowing that all sorts of people are welcome/can participate in this thing.

What were you expecting? Some industry-wide bigotry that hinders minority knifemakers? Grow up. :barf:

No one (no race) owns knifemaking.

Where did you find this sentiment in Jedi Knife's post?

That white American knifemakers rule the industry is a given.

No, you are wrong. White Americans do not "rule" the industry. There is an unequal distribution of races and ethnic groups in the knife industry; this does not mean that white people create some arbitrary rules for the industry. Last I checked we still have something resembling a free market (despite all our inane licensure laws).

But the important part for us all I think inclusiveness. I now know that black knifemakers are included.

"Included"? What would we do? Boycott black knifemakers? Come on. Nobody is prohibiting black people from becoming knifemakers.

I would guess that because knifemaking involves a high initial capital investment, it would be more prevalent among more wealthy people. With the American demographic, this simply means that there are more white knifemakers than there are black (because on average, white people are wealthier than black people).

I'm not sure what the point of your post was. What if there were no black knife makers? Would you have chastised us?

 

[Richard]

Huh, I responded to this thread earlier. Just a normal reply, nothing offensive. Seems maybe somebody didnt like it or something. Sure would like to know how my post got deleted...or why.

 

[Quiet Priest]

Interesting the passions aroused by an inquiry into a culture's participation in a craft. I wanted to know if there were any minority knife makers in America,and it seems that some of you resent the question. Your discomfort with it is your own problem. I got real honest and dispassionette answers to a real question.

"What were you expecting? Some industry-wide bigotry that hinders minority knifemakers? Grow up. "

Not expecting it, no, but wouldn't have been surprised if there was one either. There is industry wide racism in many areas of our society. This one would not have been particularly exempt. Talk about grow up. Because you ignore it doesn't mean it's not there. It's like closing your eyes and saying "I'm invisible!"

"What if there were no black knife makers? Would you have chastised us?"

No. See your prejudice comes out. I am one of the "us", but you choose to treat me otherwise because I asked a question about "others". I spend a lot of money (relative to my income) on knives, have friends who do, buy the magazines, hey, even parrticipate in this forum. But, anyway thank you all for the knowledge.

 

[mgeoffriau]

Originally posted by Quiet Priest
I wanted to know if there were any minority knife makers in America,and it seems that some of you resent the question.

I resent the implications of the inquiry. You still haven't answered why it matters what race a knifemaker is. Why should we care? I could care less who my knives are made by, provided they are strong, sharp, and good designs.

There is industry wide racism in many areas of our society.

Wrong. An industry can't be racist; individuals are racist. Why is an unequal representation of race somehow equal to racism? The percentage of white Anglo-Saxons in basketball, football, and baseball is very low; do you suppose these industries are racist? Or it just a result of natural differences between cultural groups?

Because you ignore it doesn't mean it's not there. It's like closing your eyes and saying "I'm invisible!"

On the other hand, if we constantly are looking for racism in others, it will never go away (see the famous race-baitors for evidence).

Please answer plainly: why are you concerned about the demographics of the knife industry?