Custom Knife History

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Robert Dark said:
Where did Jim Lucie come into the picture? I have heard many stories that Dr. Lucie was Scagel's personal physician.
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Jim came into Scagel's life late. Scagel was already a local legend, and an old man when Dr. Lucie moved to Muskegon. Eventually a woman wrangled Scagel into Dr. Lucie's office for something and Jim told me Scagel had the appearance of a frightened wolf. It didn't go well. But Jim was curious and started to visit Scagel at his home and shop to the extent that Scagel could tolerate him. Jim wanted to learn about forging steel and making knives. They had many visits and while it was clear that Jim wanted to be friends with Scagel, old Bill didn't really have friendships with people. He did have a few superficial relationships with others, but he was a very guarded man. It was quite a while after that first office visit, when Scagel was near death, that Dr. Lucie again became medically involved in getting Scagel out of his shop where he'd been 'found down' in very cold weather - his little tin of drinking water totally frozen. He was in bad shape. It's all in Lucie's book.

Yes, Scagel did die. But that's not the whole story, which I think is best viewed through Jim Lucie's thoughts and feelings about 'old Bill' as related in the book. Lucie clearly saw much of his own dear father in Scagel as there were strong similarities. And so there were some strong feelings stirred up when crisis time came and Jim initiated a full-court press in the hospital to save the old man... where, after lots of needles, tubes and some long days, Scagel died. I know that if I were in his shoes at that time, being also a physician, I would've done the same. And in the end I would've felt as Jim did - guilty over needlessly torturing the one man alive on the planet whose attention and approval he craved, only to lose him to a death which was imminent anyway.

Dr. Lucie, already a noted big-time collector of Kentucky rifles, began to tirelessly collect information about Scagel, his knives and other creations, personal effects (letters, receipts and such), stuff from his shop etc. Some other highly interested and motivated collectors were successful in also acquiring the same but Jim wasn't just collecting - he was obsessed with putting the pieces of a puzzle together in his head. He did an awesome job of it and those of us who own Scagel knives or are interested in the man can thank Dr. Jim Lucie, as I have done many times, for doing so much and sharing everything so freely.

Now, here is one of my very favorite Scagel knives and I've had the pleasure of handling and photographing it several times. It's large and that blade grind would challenge all but the best of today's makers. Both edges are wicked sharp. This is a very rare knife - I know of no other - but it is known that Scagel did some of these, that they were probably smaller than this one - but where are they?

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By way of comparison, here is Scagel's final completed knife - around age 90 when his Parkinson's disease was pretty bad.

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Thanks Buddy,

You cleared up a few things on Lucie and Scagel. It is always refreshing to read your posts. You have a great way with the written word.

Perhaps I need to get Lucie's book.

Thanks again,

Robert
 
I was asked if I could supply a little information on Jerry Fisk and of course I'm happy to.
I had written a piece on Jerry for the introduction section of David Darom's book "The World of Art Knives", so thought I would just post it here with David's permission.

David Darom’s “The World of Knife Art”
Jerry Fisk MS - The Man and his ART
By Kevin Jones USA


Very soon after becoming interested in custom knives, which was actually brought about by circumstance in my paying an unplanned visit to the Blade Show in Atlanta, I started researching this functional art. This research resulted in an appreciation for Jerry Fisk’s knives. One Saturday afternoon, after much deliberation, I decided to give Jerry a call. Considering Jerry being one of the finest and most well known knife makers in the world, I was not expecting to have an in depth conversation or to even speak with him for that matter. Upon Jerry answering the phone, I was immediately captivated by his friendly down home charm and eagerness to welcome and educate an obvious newcomer to the custom knife community. After discussing knives for quite a while we agreed to meet at what was to be my second Blade Show. I was fortunate enough to acquire my first Fisk knife, the “English Spearpoint Bowie”, from Jerry at that show, quite a feat given his six year waiting list. We have enjoyed a successful maker/collector relationship since that day, and even more importantly, a friendship.

Jerry Fisk has been forging knives in rural Arkansas for 29 years and offers a wide variety of knife styles. These styles range from his Sendero (one of the most recognized hunting knife designs in existence), to many styles of Bowie knives, fighters, folders, swords and art knives. He takes great pride in producing artistic knives which are ergonomically correct and can be used and enjoyed for generations. Jerry took up engraving and inlay in 2002 which along with his innovative Damascus designs help him in creating one beautiful work of art after another.

Jerry’s customer list is also diverse as he makes knives for collectors all over the world, including sportsmen whose knives accompany them on hunting and fishing trips, as well as royalty, heads of state, and leaders of Fortune 500 companies.

Jerry has taught me and others quite a bit about knives over the years. Working very closely with him on a large and small fighter, the “Gambler’s Set” displayed on one of the next pages, was one of my most rewarding experiences since becoming involved in custom knives. Jerry’s eagerness to share his knowledge and his commitment to creating knives that perform to the highest standards comes from his experiences at a very early age.

His grandfather made hunting and kitchen knives as well as agricultural cutting tools for maintaining his peach orchard. As sophisticated tools and equipment were not readily available, Jerry developed keen skills in working with his hands that continue to benefit him and his collectors. He actually used his grandfather’s old hand crank forge for his first three years as a full time knife maker, which he still has today.
Jerry quickly learned the value of a good handmade knife from tasks he preformed such as hand cutting corn stalks which were ground up and mixed into cow feed. He also used and experimented with his knives while hunting for wild boar, deer and bear.
Jerry’s family inspiration along with a visit to James Black’s forge in Washington Arkansas at age ten started him down the path in becoming one of the true pioneers of the custom knife industry. Jerry has made a great impact on the success and growth of custom knives over the years. In addition to him making outstanding knives, he has served as an ambassador of sorts in promoting and moving the industry forward. He became the 17th ABS Mastersmith in 1989, and was elected to the board of directors in 1994 as Vice-Chairman and ABS School/Museum Liaison Officer. Jerry has an impressive list of awards and accomplishments. Among his most notable, receiving the Governor’s Folk Life and Traditional Arts Award in 1997 from the Governor of Arkansas, and being designated a National Living Treasure in 1999.

Jerry Fisk says it best: “I am an old dinosaur in a lot of ways in my shop and outlook. I don’t care for much equipment. I prefer to do it by hand whenever possible. I can buy more equipment and make them faster, thereby making them cheaper. I don’t want to do that. I want to enjoy making the pieces and putting part of my life into them. I make pieces not just for the original owner but for those who he passes it down, his ancestors and mine to take pride in. This will show others in a hundred years that I have lived and what I did.”

It’s difficult to envision a custom knife world without the contributions and inspirations of Jerry Fisk, but not at all difficult to envision the ongoing appreciation his knives are certain to receive for many years to come.

Custom knife collecting seems to encompass not just the knives but camaraderie among the entire community. Perhaps even a lifestyle where collectors, makers, dealers and enthusiasts interact in creating a better experience for all. For this reason, I have found custom knives to be more gratifying than my collecting of other items over the years.
I like to say I collect “functional art” in that every knife is beautiful and one of a kind while also performing to function at a high degree. This mating of beauty and performance, along with the people I have met along the way, is what initially caught my attention and has continued to keep me interested.













 
Was there ever a time without custom knives in human history?
The first post kind of indicated that until recently all knives were normal and standard,
Google however shows me customs from ancient Egypt, Rome, India, Japan....
The only difference I see today is that customs are just more common because these art pieces are more available and more affordable even to some of the 99% and not just nobility or generals.

(some of my ancestors made custom weapons in Berlin a long time ago for some kings, wish I would know more about that)
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Was there ever a time without custom knives in human history?
The first post kind of indicated that until recently all knives were normal and standard,
Google however shows me customs from ancient Egypt, Rome, India, Japan....
The only difference I see today is that customs are just more common because these art pieces are more available and more affordable even to some of the 99% and not just nobility or generals.

(some of my ancestors made custom weapons in Berlin a long time ago for some kings, wish I would know more about that)
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Actually, the first knife (as crude as it made have been) fashioned from stone by a caveman would be a custom knife of sorts. So I guess the answer to your question is, No.
That's interesting about your ancestors.
 
With a lot of bull crap in between, it is this kind of thread and posts that brought me here to this forum in the first place. great history and posts, thank you for making this forum interesting!
 
I think it's cool we may be seeing some history being made?

The Guild and ABS Unite to Sponsor the Ultimate Handmade Knife Show

Returning to Kansas City were the second Guild Show was held in 1972 and were Bill Moran & B.R. Hughes would talk about starting the ABS.

The inaugural International Custom Cutlery Exposition (ICCE) will be held September 18 - 20, 2015 in Kansas City.

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Some very good stuff you may like to look at and read....... thanks Jack - :thumbup:

The-Dairy-Maids-of-Porter-Brook-(Part-1)

The-Dairy-Maids-of-Porter-Brook-(Part-2)

Both links are threads here on Bladeforums, so they are safe.

I know this is not custom, but in those days it could of been close?
 
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Sorry Al, my memory is pretty poor today, but, the Guild was formed at the Tulsa Antique Arms Show in June of 1970 and held it's first show in Houston in 1971 with a big block of tables at the big Houston Gun Show. If my memory is right then the second was in 1972 in motel in a town across the river from KC and we did not make it to the Muhlbach in KC until the summer of 1973, I am not as clear on this as I am on Houston.

Thank you so much for bring this to mind. I remember the early morning outside the door of the motel the three makers squat smoking dope waiting for the hall to open. The Tinker, Dan, and I cannot remember the other maker but I do remember his knives.

my best to all,

A. G.

Pocketknifesheaths said:
I think it's cool we may be seeing some history being made?

The Guild and ABS Unite to Sponsor the Ultimate Handmade Knife Show

Returning to Kansas City were the first Guild Show was held in 1972 and were Bill Moran & B.R. Hughes would talk about starting the ABS.

The inaugural International Custom Cutlery Exposition (ICCE) will be held September 18 - 20, 2015 in Kansas City.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some very good stuff you may like to look at and read....... thanks Jack - :thumbup:

The-Dairy-Maids-of-Porter-Brook-(Part-1)

The-Dairy-Maids-of-Porter-Brook-(Part-2)

Both links are threads here on Bladeforums, so they are safe.

I know this is not custom, but in those days it could of been close?
Click to expand...
 
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