- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 12,336
As some of you may know, I have a desire to collect knives made by a now-retired knifemaker
named Hill Pearce. His style was labeled in the early eighties as '20th Century Alabama' knives
(Knives 1983 -inside ft. cover). Since I acquired one a few years ago, I have been on the lookout
since. Fortunately I purchased #2 off the Cutting Edge catalog last year (mislabeled maker, so I got
it undervalued
, and #1 was from a listing I followed from eBay. (Sometimes it works!)
Last year I placed a small classified in the 'Wanted' section of Knife World for Hill Pearce knives.
I had gotten no responses out of that and forgot about it. Well, fortunately for me there is an
ex-dealer and collector up here in the Northeast: Reggie Page, who saved my listing. Apparently he
had three of Hill's knives, and this was the last of them. One he claims to have sold at the
Canadian Guild Show for $3500!
Anyway, Reggie contacted me a couple weeks ago and sent me paper pics. Lousy shots, but I saw what I wanted. We agreed on a price and Reg sent it right out to me.
Take a look at this beauty:
The damascus, Reggie described as 'Maiden Hair' and it is simply beautiful. Look closely at the
guard and ferrule--it is ALL one piece of forged stock from the ivory to the tip. Almost a full
integral. The buttcap has an accent button of ivory, and the wonderful fluted ivory handle has a
couple of very small cracks--which according to Reggie have not grown in the ten years he has owned
it. We both agree that it adds character and authenticity at the least to the piece. (Anyone think I
should touch it with some crazy glue?). Also look how cleverly he had angled the ferrule and guard
out of the blade, on a very small angle, so the taper of the handle remains parallel to the upper
backspine's line. Also included is his characteristic chisel swedge on the top and his careful and
creative filework.
When I went to the ABS hammer-in this fall, I brought along many knives from my collection. Without
fail the knife that stopped the Best of the Best in their tracks was my Hill Pearce knives. I had
Steve Shwarzer, Jerry Fisk, and Harvey Dean all ogling my ebony fighter at once, and they all shook
their heads in disappointment that he has long since disappeared. Each one of them thought it was as
beautiful a blade as they had seen. I certainly felt justified in my selection!
Here's a shot of the three Hill fixed-blade knives I own. (I also have two small folders).
Med Bowies? Khards? Khybers? Fighters? I dunno. I just like the look.
If *any* of you know more about Hill and especially his whereabouts, I would appreciate it. I have
followed up many dead-end leads, but I have heard from others that he is certainly alive and simply
not doing knives.
If a current MS made this knife, it would be heralded. I am a lucky guy, indeed. Whatdya think?
Coop
named Hill Pearce. His style was labeled in the early eighties as '20th Century Alabama' knives
(Knives 1983 -inside ft. cover). Since I acquired one a few years ago, I have been on the lookout
since. Fortunately I purchased #2 off the Cutting Edge catalog last year (mislabeled maker, so I got
it undervalued
, and #1 was from a listing I followed from eBay. (Sometimes it works!)Last year I placed a small classified in the 'Wanted' section of Knife World for Hill Pearce knives.
I had gotten no responses out of that and forgot about it. Well, fortunately for me there is an
ex-dealer and collector up here in the Northeast: Reggie Page, who saved my listing. Apparently he
had three of Hill's knives, and this was the last of them. One he claims to have sold at the
Canadian Guild Show for $3500!
Anyway, Reggie contacted me a couple weeks ago and sent me paper pics. Lousy shots, but I saw what I wanted. We agreed on a price and Reg sent it right out to me.
Take a look at this beauty:
The damascus, Reggie described as 'Maiden Hair' and it is simply beautiful. Look closely at the
guard and ferrule--it is ALL one piece of forged stock from the ivory to the tip. Almost a full
integral. The buttcap has an accent button of ivory, and the wonderful fluted ivory handle has a
couple of very small cracks--which according to Reggie have not grown in the ten years he has owned
it. We both agree that it adds character and authenticity at the least to the piece. (Anyone think I
should touch it with some crazy glue?). Also look how cleverly he had angled the ferrule and guard
out of the blade, on a very small angle, so the taper of the handle remains parallel to the upper
backspine's line. Also included is his characteristic chisel swedge on the top and his careful and
creative filework.
When I went to the ABS hammer-in this fall, I brought along many knives from my collection. Without
fail the knife that stopped the Best of the Best in their tracks was my Hill Pearce knives. I had
Steve Shwarzer, Jerry Fisk, and Harvey Dean all ogling my ebony fighter at once, and they all shook
their heads in disappointment that he has long since disappeared. Each one of them thought it was as
beautiful a blade as they had seen. I certainly felt justified in my selection!
Here's a shot of the three Hill fixed-blade knives I own. (I also have two small folders).
Med Bowies? Khards? Khybers? Fighters? I dunno. I just like the look.
If *any* of you know more about Hill and especially his whereabouts, I would appreciate it. I have
followed up many dead-end leads, but I have heard from others that he is certainly alive and simply
not doing knives.
If a current MS made this knife, it would be heralded. I am a lucky guy, indeed. Whatdya think?
Coop
