Interview with Ray Laconico

Ray is a great guy - very skilled and down to earth. I get to discuss knife philosphy with him regularly when I drop by his house occasionally, on backpacking trips and this last weekend driving to the Pasadena knife show.

He is definitely a perfectionist, and feels strongly about not selling anything with visible flaws.

And he is a good artist, too, he has some oil paintings hanging in his house that are well done, and I especially like a pencil line drawing that he did of his niece (at least I think it is his niece), from across the room it looks like a real black & white photo. I think that although he claims to have left the art world behind, his knives are proof that he simply chose another medium for his art.
 
Funny thing is that ever since I can remember I always thought I'd be an artist (drawing and painting). Growing up, everybody always told me how good I was and I'm going to be a great artist someday. The truth is that I was very good at it but I didn't like it. I only liked to do it when I felt like doing it and that wasn't very often. I don't like the "artist" crowd. I've come accross people who were strange and "out there". There's a lot of arrogance too, and I can't stand that.. I just never fit in with them and I realized this when I went to art school.
On the other hand, the knife business is totally me. I love making knives. I want to be better at it. I don't get tired of making knives even though I do it everyday (as long as I can make what I want to make). This evening I didn't come in from the shop until 10:00pm. and I can't wait to go back to work tomorrow so I can finish this slipjoint that I started. People who are into knives are just like me. I enjoy talking knives and the outdoors with you guys. All the knife people that I've met especially in the WSS forum have been great. I think this is where I belong. Thanks guys:).
 
Great interview and nice read. I didn't have to read the word tactical once....well okay, I did have to read it once, but in context of the magazine title and not the knife :D
 
kgd said:
Great interview and nice read. I didn't have to read the word tactical once....well okay, I did have to read it once, but in context of the magazine title and not the knife :D
Click to expand...

I really try not to overuse that word but I do tag most of my posts with it on the blog. It seems a lot of people search the word "tactical".
 
Just recently bought one of Ray's EDC's from silverband on the exchange (Sylvia's using it in the kitchen as I type this) and found this thread while doing a little "Laconico" homework. GREAT READ and it deserves to be bumped for those who missed it the first time around. I'm REALLY Happy with this knife Ray!!! Thanks for being a cyborg!
 
I need to help out a fellow Pinoy too. His knives are gorgeous. What do you say Ray, want to make something for this Flip? Cool interview format!
 
Thanks for the great interview.

I got to meet Ray earlier in March; until then I had used pictures of his knives to inspire me in my adventures in knife-making. IMHO he is one of a handful of makers that does simple correctly. Simple is difficult; you can do a lot of fancy things to a knife but they seem to distract and clutter the package, and they sure don't cut better. Ray seems to be apply this principle to any style of knife he makes and succeeds!

Thanks for the inspiration Ray and nice meeting you.

David Sharp
 
Thank you Matt and Ray for giving us a sneak peak into the private world of Mr Laconico.

I have been into Ray's knives for awhile now, after using one, there is no way you wouldn't be. Period.
The first thing I do after logging in to Bladeforums is to go to the knifemakers "fixed blade" exchange, with the hopes of coming across a Laconico.

Keep up the great work Ray, willingness to constantly improve your skills is the reason why your knives sell within seconds.
 
Wow, thanks guys. Stump Buster, thanks for reviving this really old thread.

David66, it was nice to meet you too. You're very, very talented. Keep at it and you'll go real far. I know you've only been knifemaking for a short time but IMO, your work is already better than some of the much more experienced makers. You'll go as far as you want to go. Keep at it and try different things. There are so many ways to construct knives. Feel free to contact me if I can be of any help.
 
thanks for the interview. that was a good read.


k_estela said:
I need to help out a fellow Pinoy too. His knives are gorgeous. What do you say Ray, want to make something for this Flip? Cool interview format!
Click to expand...

i smell a pinoy group buy!
 
Thanks for bring this thread up! I have admired Rays' work for some time. I think he has mastered form follows function. His knives are simply beautiful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top