Bob Sky Knives

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Creamer

Creamer

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Can anyone in this forum tell me anything about Bob Sky knives? I know he is deceased and was from Scotland, Texas, but that is all I can find out. He seems to make a quality knife but was wondering if anyone collected his knives. I am new to this forum and find it quite interesting and informative.
 
I now own this one. Bob was apparently a VERY respected maker from Texas, and was a mentor and teacher to David Broadwell, among others.

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When I purchased this one from a member here, I asked David Broadwell for his thoughts. I saved them just for this occasion...:D

Bob-Sky was Robert J. "Bob" Hajovsky from Scotland, Texas. Scotland
is about 14 miles from Wichita Falls, Texas where I live. Bob began
making knives back in the late 60s or early 70s. I met Bob 22 years
ago when I started making knives. We both worked for the same
company, Ciba-Geigy Pipe Systems (later Ameron). Bob gave me many
pointers on knifemaking, and we shared tables at local shows and
traveled and roomed together at several Guild shows. Bob died about 3
years ago from heart failure.

Your dagger appears to be from the mid 80s or into the 90s. The older
ones had his name and a date scratched on the ricasso with a
vibrating engraver, but yours has his mark etched with a stencil.
That would put it after about 1985 or so. The full tang blade is
154cm (heat treated by Paul Bos), the fittings nickel silver, the
handle looks like ivory micarta (it's hard to tell for certain from
the picture but it could either be the old paper micarta or the newer
phenolic ivory micarta), and the entire knife is mirror finished. The
guard, bolsters, and rear bolsters are soldered and pinned in place.
The liners between the bolsters and handle material are also nickel
silver with notches cut with his band saw. He usually put the same
liner material next to the tang, and some knives will have a colored
material between the different metals and micarta. I can even tell
you that the adhesive Bob used to assemble the knife was Ameron
industrial epoxy that he formulated himself. (He was the head chemist
for the fiberglass pipe company.) There should be a leather sheath to
go with this dagger.

Bob was a good guy and helped several of us years ago. He was
certainly was deserving of the Guild's Red Watson award, but Bob's
shy personality kept him out of the lime light.

Dave Broadwell
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His filework is consistently shown on most of his knives, so they are easy to spot.

Others will know more.
 
Thanks so much for posting this Coop! I've always admired Bob's work. It is instantly recognizable. Mike
 
Bob 'Sky' Hajovsky is one of my favorite fixed blade makers (never seen a Sky folder...). I find his work to be virtually flawless, with a general feel of quality that can is immediately recognizable. Here are a couple more...

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-Michael
 
Thanks for the information and photos. There is just something about his knives that make me appreciate the art of knifemaking.
 
Never met the man, but the dagger that Coop shows above was my first custom ever - somewhere in the mid 80's. Bob's knives always made a strong visual impression, with fileworked liners and BIG nickel silver guards being something of a signature.

Roger
 
Yeah, he's got an 'old-school' look to his work, that is easy to appreciate. Nowadays, nickel silver is taboo, but it worked then.

Michael: You rock! Roger: Thank you.

Coop
 
Does anyone know anyone who might have one of his knives for sale?.....Reasonable...........
 
There were several Bob Sky knives offered for sale last year from Northwest knives and collectibles.. doubtful any are left now. Still, you might contact them and ask, maybe they can provide some details.
David
 
One of my Old buddies has several for sale. Bob Jones of Texas. 281-356-6841 Tell him Mike Lovett says Howdy!!!
 
Thanks for the information, Mike. I called him and it just so happens he is coming through town this afternoon headed for the Gator Show in Florida. I will get an opportunity to see his knives and make a decision. Thanks again. I always like looking at fine workmanship.
 
Well, look at that. Amazing what a post on the forum can lead to. You *may* be looking closely at Bob Jones' work also. I highly recommend.... :D

Coop
 
I just ran across this thread by accident while researching a Bob Sky knife I have owned since the early eighties. It was one of the first he made when he started getting fame.

It is a small tanto with polished 5" blade, tapered natural micarta handle, nickel silver bolster, and fandastic workmanship. When I first saw it, had to have it. This was around 1980, and even then it was right at $200.

I'm selling off some of my custom knives so will be taking some pix and maybe putting it on the forum.

He was really a nice person too, always enjoyed talking about his knives.
 
Count! I would be interested in seeing what you have in Bob Sky's small tanto. Please send pic and info to:myronc@sbcglobal.net.
 
SharpByCoop said:
Yeah, he's got an 'old-school' look to his work, that is easy to appreciate. Nowadays, nickel silver is taboo, but it worked then.

Michael: You rock! Roger: Thank you.

Coop
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I remember seeing Bob's knives in mags when I first got the knife bug. Very cool stuff. So Coop.............NS is out now? Guess I didn't get the memo. First "brass has no class" and now this. At this rate, EVERYTHING will be taboo in a few years. What are we supposed to use for guards and fittings now?:eek:
 
Joe, we all enjoy knives with NS and brass. I own a bunch. But I stand behind my statement.

Currently, if you want to be compared with the best, then replace NS with SS and never, EVER, consider brass as a guard unless it's a low-price user.

I'm still waiting to see one of your knives. Please show us!!!! :D

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Joe, we all enjoy knives with NS and brass. I own a bunch. But I stand behind my statement.

Currently, if you want to be compared with the best, then replace NS with SS and never, EVER, consider brass as a guard unless it's a low-price user.

I'm still waiting to see one of your knives. Please show us!!!! :D

Coop
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I was afraid of that. I just bought batchof stainless recently and am making my first guard from the stuff. What a PITA compared to NS and 1018:D But, I guess it is like the old Kinks song that said "Give the people what they want!!":cool: I promise to have an couple of reasonably acceptable pieces for you to se at Blade, if not before Coop. At some point, I will have to get you to do some "glamour shots" for me to make them look purty like the homely women do when they want a pic for a dating site......lol.:D
 
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