Charlie Davis, ex-Buck guy?

[Plumberdv]

I went to a gun and knife show yesterday and met a dealer for Anza knives who told me that the founder/maker of Anza knves used to make knives for Buck. I've watched a video made my Mr. Davis where he mentions the fact that he was a knife maker for a big company but doesn't say who.

Was he originally a Buck employee as I've been told?

 

[CJ Buck]

yes Charlie Davis was our production manager back in the 70's. We parted ways and he then began making knives out of files and leaving the file marks and a maker/material source indication. Never set the world on fire but I think he has done ok. Used to have a little shop in Lakeside Ca. that shared a parking lot with a 7-11 I would often stop and get gas and then go say hi.

Charlie was always very inventive when it came to fixtures that helped folks work more efficiently and would love to show me when I would visit his shop.

His son Chris was helping him for a while. Have not spoken to either for a decade or so.

 

[Plumberdv]

Thanks CJ.

The subject came up while I was pondering whether or not to buy one at a show yesterday. I told the dealer, I hated to get going with another brand of knife since I was so deep into Buck's. That's when he told me about Mr. Davis. I just wanted to find out if it was just smoke.

 

[chickentrax]

I went to a gun and knife show yesterday and met a dealer for Anza knives who told me that the founder/maker of Anza knves used to make knives for Buck.

What do the Anza knives look like??? Fixed, folders, OTF's???

I've never heard of them, but lately my world has consisted of the road to & from work and nothing else... :grumpy:

 

[Plumberdv]

Here's the one I bought. I guess it's OK to put up a picture of something besides a Buck. It's about 8" long and made from a file.

 

[rifon2]

I have several Anza's.

They're fixed blades typically with diamondwood handles. Sometimes stag is used - either instead of, or in conjunction with diamondwood.
They're very strong and do arrive from the factory with a super sharp edge which lasts a l-o-n-g time.

I think they're excellent blades for the money.

 

[David Martin]

I too ran into Mr. Davis at a gun/knife show while displaying my collection of Buck Knives.
He came by and inspected my display carefully for a long time.Then as if he remembered something else,said,"well I'll be" and turned on his heels and left.DM

 

[chickentrax]

Here's the one I bought. I guess it's OK to put up a picture of something besides a Buck. It's about 8" long and made from a file.

That is pretty cool...Leaving the ridges on the file/blade... :thumbup:

BTW, you can also buy file blanks...that's the flat ground steel with the tang sticking out one (or both) ends but no ridges...I have a Nicholson file blank downstairs somewheres, left over from a paper mill I once worked in...They would be excellent for custom knives, although I have no idea what steel they are made from (it may say on them)...Mine is 1/4" thick or so; no way I could grind it down into anything...

 

[Plumberdv]

That is pretty cool...Leaving the ridges on the file/blade... :thumbup:

BTW, you can also buy file blanks...that's the flat ground steel with the tang sticking out one (or both) ends but no ridges...I have a Nicholson file blank downstairs somewheres, left over from a paper mill I once worked in...They would be excellent for custom knives, although I have no idea what steel they are made from (it may say on them)...Mine is 1/4" thick or so; no way I could grind it down into anything...

He has a video on YouTube that explains how he does it and tells how he de-tempers the files so the knives aren't brittle.