Howard Hughes Custom Knife Set

Don Hanson III

Don Hanson III

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Oct 3, 2002
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I was looking through the Red Baron Antique auction magazine for this summer. And ran across this set of custom damascus knives commissioned by Howard Hughes in the late 1960's; made by James Crockford.
Custom damascus knives made in the late 1960's???

Does anyone have any information about this maker James Crockford ?

Check out their webpage containing a photo of the knife collection (auction item # CC1158) :

http://www.redbaronsantiques.com/cc1158.htm

Just wondering....
 
Don,
I thought I was outta' my knife loving mind to click on this thread when I read the title,then I saw it was you posting.
Impressive set.Never heard the name before.
What year did Bill Moran start making Damascus?:confused:
If you would be so kind.:D

Doug:)
 
Doug, Bill Moran showed his first damascus knives at the 1973 Guild show, I believe. There were a few others making pattern welded steel around that time but I don't know of any top knife makers producing damascus knives in the 1960's The knives in the photo look well made though, just never heard of this guy.

Edit: Changed Guild show date, I'm pretty sure this is correct.
 
The only maker that I know of with the last name of Crockford was Jack Crockford, and he wasn't making knives in the late 60s. I don't recall ever seeing any pattern welded knives by him either. He worked mostly in stainless.

According to an article in the Remembering Bill Moran issue of the ABS journal, in 1976 there were only 3 bladesmiths making pattern welded steel - Moran, Bagwell and Hastings. Not sure when Wild Bill Caldwell started making pattern welded steel, but it must have been right around that time as well.
 
This is the description in the auction catalog. It's a little more detailed than the webpage.

"CC1158. The Howard Hughes Knife Set.
In the late 1960's, Billionaire Howard Hughes gave an order for the 'finest knife set ever seen in the West' to be created as a gift for his close friend Jack Garret Real.
James Crockford, one of the most significant 20th century knife makers, was commissioned to construct the knives from the finest hardened Damascus steel and ivory. The Purdy gun company in England, long recognized for their intricate engraving in fine weapons, was commissioned to do the detailed engraving. After three years, the set was completed with 7 of the finest folding knives ever made and 10 straight knives. The set is a one of a kind work of art made for a man whose pocketbook had no boundaries.
Is this the finest group of knives in the world? What is it worth? Only at the Red Baron Auction June 24 & 25 will you be able to find out. "
Quoted from the magazine / catalog.
 
There is a Jack Crockford in Chamblee,GA.
Makes hunters,fishing,camp knives and traditional folders.
He made his first knife around 1972.
770-457-4680
 
When I look at that set I keep counting 18 knives, not 17.

If this James Crockford was one of the most significant makers of the 20th century, I think I would have heard of him.
 
Keith there were a few guys outside of the ABS and custom knives making pattern welded steel in the early 70's, mostly artist blacksmiths, Darrel Meier was one of them. Darrel and a couple other guys were working with pattern welded steel as a project at the University of IL at Carbondale in the very early 1970's.

I would bet the knives in the auction were made in the late 1970's or 80's and they just have their info wrong. But who knows ?
 
Keith Montgomery said:
When I look at that set I keep counting 18 knives, not 17.

If this James Crockford was one of the most significant makers of the 20th century, I think I would have heard of him.
Click to expand...
Keith I count 18 also and my thoughts exactly on the maker.
 
This past february, Darryl Meier gave a presentation of the origins of 'damascus' steel in the USA. Here is what I wrote in the Napa Show thread:

I learned that an Alex Bailey came from Germany in 1972 and introduced pattern-welding steel procedures to a group of history re-enactment blacksmiths, including Darryl Meier. The following year, Bill Moran as a knifemaker, was a presenter in this same venue, having explored what had been brought to the US from this original group.
Click to expand...
So it is quite possible that steel was purchased from Europe or England and utilized to make this set. That's the only thinng I can figure out.

Interesting. And then there may be some *hoopla* surrounding this set... :rolleyes:

Coop
 
Howard Hughes died in 1976 and spent the last 10 years of his life as a recluse. You wouldn't think that nut hiding in his room in Las Vegas would have been capable of commisioning those knives.
 
I did a Google on Mr. Real. He was clearly a very close associate of Mr. Hughes and he passed away at the age of 90 in December 2005. I strongly suspect that Mr. Crockford is/was a British maker, which maybe why he is unknown to us.

My gut tells me that this lot of knives has the ring of truth to its story, imho.
 
If I'm not mistaken, wasn't James Crockford one of the guys who sold Frost Cutlery knives at 2am on HSN, until an unfortunate, high carbon 440 steel Katana accident? :)

Seriously though, the thing I keep thinking about is that it sure seems that we are very lucky that today, there are many current, truly gifted custom knife makers that (arguably) make better quality, nicer looking knives, that you don't have to be, oh, I don't know, Howard Hughes to afford. :)
 
Keith Montgomery said:
According to an article in the Remembering Bill Moran issue of the ABS journal, in 1976 there were only 3 bladesmiths making pattern welded steel - Moran, Bagwell and Hastings. Not sure when Wild Bill Caldwell started making pattern welded steel, but it must have been right around that time as well.
Click to expand...

That is cowpucky, Darryl Meier and Moran were both doing it at the same time. Darryl has always, and I mean ALWAYS, been low key, and Bill, God bless him, was not unknown to take credit where it came from.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Hi Don,

Darryl did the project with Southern Illinois University in beautiful Carbondale IL.

U of I is in Champaign IL.

Darrel was also one of the mentors for John W. Smith of Centralia IL.

WWG
 
I've said this before, and Gotten blasted for it, and I'm going to say it again. We tend to believe every thing we read. Especially back in the day. Bill Moran DID NOT Invent, discover, bring to the USA, or re- discover Damascus Steel. It has been with us for centuries. the Moran Legend, and to a large extent, the ABS was founded on this myth. Wake up America, were not alone. Bill Moran wasn't privy to what was going on both in this country, and abroad. He assumed, as did the writers of the day, that he was the first. Kinda reminds me of a well known tactical knife maker who claims that he was the first to bead blast patterns onto knife blades, and thinks any maker doing the same should get his permission. Trouble is, it was being done at least 20 years before he made his first knife. :jerkit: Let the mud slinging comence! Mike
 
Damascus aside, the designs are way to modern to be from the sixties. Sounds like a load of bull to me but am happy to be proved wrong:foot:
 
Pattern welded steel has been made in Europe without a break for a long, long, long time. Paul Müller and others were making knives and swords even during WWII. The immediate post WWII years saw a slow down in knife production (!) but pattern weled steel has continued to be made right up until now.

I'd say Mike Lovett hit the nail on the head with his post. :D :thumbup:
 
I don't know that Bill Moran ever attributed himself to the origins of damascus steel here in the US. Nothing I have ever read informed me that. I am more inclined to believe his disciples and followers and maybe writers have built up this 'myth'.

Coop
 
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