Maker’s DESIGNS

[Kevin Jones]

The various post to my Sendero thread got me thinking about which makers have specific designs they have developed over the years and offer in various combinations of materials and embellishments.

Jerry started developing his Sendero model over 15 years ago and today anyone with more than just casual knowledge of custom knives is familiar with it.

A few other maker’s designs that immediately come to mind are Harvey Dean’s El Diablo Fighter and Huckleberry small bowie, Bill Moran’s ST-23 and ST-24, Burt Foster’s Blue Collar Hunter, Tim Hancock’s Cowboy Bowie, Lin Rhea’s Boone’s Lick Bowie and Competition Bowie and of course the many models that Bob Loveless has made famous.

There are many others if anyone cares to identify more.

Any makers like to share stories as to how their designs came to be, or how their designs names were chosen?
There’s quite an interesting story behind the Sendero’s development and name. Ever wonder why “Sendero” or what is means?

 

[delander]

There is the "D'Holder My Knife" and the "D'Holder Natchez".
Information about these models with photos can be seen on my website, www.dknifeplace.com, as well as a set of photos of D making a knife from start to finish.
Del

 

[fisk]

On the Sendero. Years ago I had a client that hunted a lot as I did at the time. Ever time he ordered a knife from me we would talk hunting but he never ordered a hunting knife. I finally asked him what he used for hunting. He just laughed and said no one made a knife that was as comfortable as the Russell Canadanian belt knife. I promptly ordered one. I took the idea of the back end of that knife, tweaked the handle design a bit to suit what I liked, and put it on a drop point. I could tell I liked the handle but I did not like a true drop point blade with it. I played with it in the field testing and tweaking my first designs from there until I got what I felt was really a useful and comfortable field knife. The Sendero is not a heavy duty field knife, my Gamemaster model will do better heavy work, but the Sendero was designed to be an overall use model. I have used this design for years in the field on small game and large and really like it.

The name Sendero is a spanish word that means "path or clearing" Down in south Texas you hunt on Senderos in order to hunt the Javalina hogs, deer etc. The brush was so thick you could not do anything unless you stayed on the Sendero. Harvey Dean and I were bow hunting Javalina on one of the Sendero's and I told Harvey that would make a good name for a knife since it was the path we were on. I had just about finished tweaking the pattern at about the same time so I just hung that name on it.

 

[rbmcmjr]

There are many others if anyone cares to identify more.

Although derivative from the Sendero, I think the El Camino from Terry Primos is one of those "definitive" styles.

 

[jdm61]

Well Hello there, Mr. Fisk.....Haven't seen you here in a while. I thought you might have run off and joined the circus Couple of other ones for you, Kevin. Moran Airman and Persian fighter, Randall Model 1, Loveless chute and Big Bear, Ron Gaston's bolster double edge fighter, Harley's Battle Bowie, Ed Fowler's Pronghorn, Ron Lake interframe, Michael Walker zipper blade folder, Bagwell Hell's Belle, Walter Brend Model 2..........the list goes on:thumbup: A goodly number of the knives that have been mentioned here have become true classics in that many other makers make knives in these styles. I know that I have been trying to "rip off" a few of these masters..............suffice to say that they won't be having to look over their shoulders anytime soon......lol

 

[lwrhea]

Although I'm not the caliber of maker those other fellers are, since you asked........

The Boone's Lick Bowie is named after a book I was reading about the time I was developing it.

Larry McMurtry is a great western writer, in my opinion and I thought it would be a tribute to him and his books. Boone's Lick was a town in the book, which I suppose came to be called that from a mineral lick by which it sprang up. Towns sometimes get there names by an event or object nearby. Then again, we have a town nearby named Toad Suck, Arkansas. I dont know why and dont want to know. Lin

 

[Kevin Jones]

Jerry and Lin, thanks for sharing your "stories behind the designs".

Del, both your D'Holder collection and site documenting it are outstanding. D, and/or any maker for that matter would be fortunate to have such support.

rbmcmjr, you make a good point, as there are many derivatives of the Sendero out there as there are of most great knife designs. Some makers dedicate their careers to keeping these great designs from Moran, Loveless and Fowler to name a few, alive. This must be the supreme compliment to a maker and good for the custom knife industry in general.

Joe, you mentioned some great examples, I hadn't thought of.

I don't know much about folders, but there must be many examples of great folder designs in addition to the few Joe mentioned.

 

[primos]

Although derivative from the Sendero, I think the El Camino from Terry Primos is one of those "definitive" styles.

It was actually my Montero that was a direct derivative of the Fisk Sendero.

It was in fact a tribute to my good friend and former teacher. The El Camino was the one most closely associated with my name. It was my most ordered pattern for the better part of my time as a full-time maker. And to be honest the idea of El Camino was Jerry's. He suggested that I take my hunter pattern, grind in a chisel-ground clip, and add a double guard.

 

[jdm61]

It was actually my Montero that was a direct derivative of the Fisk Sendero.

It was in fact a tribute to my good friend and former teacher. The El Camino was the one most closely associated with my name. It was my most ordered pattern for the better part of my time as a full-time maker. And to be honest the idea of El Camino was Jerry's. He suggested that I take my hunter pattern, grind in a chisel-ground clip, and add a double guard.

Well, hello there Mr. Primos......long time no see Are you back to pounding metal at least part/spare time?

 

[rbmcmjr]

I like them both!

Rick

 

[SharpByCoop]

There are so many makers who have a sense of style and design that you can see from across the room. Some of them have 'named' a knife so the model is easily recognizable.

Folder makers are dominant in naming their work, or.... I am more inclined to know them.

Tim Herman - Sliver
Bob Terzuola - ATCF
Jim Hammond - Conqueror dagger
Phil Boguszewski - Cobra
Pat Crawford - Kasper
Darrel Ralph - Mad Maxx
R.J. Martin - Rampage

Other makers come immediately to mind in recognizable design without strict naming: Bob Lum, Neil Blackwood, Ron Lake, Jack Levin, Charles Bennica, Warren Osborne, Joe Kious, Michael Walker, Buster Warenski, Owen Wood, and too many I have missed.

I am a proponent of a maker perfecting his style and then replicating that style with minor changes. I like consistency.

There are scads of other artists who will not duplicate a knife design and wish to have each piece a one-off design. There is merit in this approach as well.

Good thread.

Coop

 

[jdm61]

I left out one of the most copied custom knifemakers of all time....William Scagel. He is kind of like the Chuck Berry of custom knifemaking. Many makers may "play his riffs" faster and cleaner, but they are still playing Scagel riffs.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I left out one of the most copied custom knifemakers of all time....William Scagel. He is kind of like the Chuck Berry of custom knifemaking. Many makers may "play his riffs" faster and cleaner, but they are still playing Scagel riffs.

Thanks Joe.
How did we forget about William Scagel?

 

[Kohai999]

Loveless-Anything(Big Bear, Chute knife, Caperfinn, drop point, Dixon fighter...)
Jim Schmidt-Goblin folder
Bill McHenry-Art automatic
Ted Dowell-Integral, funny folder
Buster Warenski-Tut Dagger
Jerry Rados-Folding boot knife in turkish twist damascus
Joe Kious-Subhilt fighter-iconic-known as the Exposure Subhilt
Corbet Sigman-Utility hunter
Hugh Bartrug-Michael's Sword
Gay Rocha-Just about anything he does


Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Paul Poehlmann - The Paul Knife
Walter Brend - Model 2
Ed Fowler - Pronghorn
Tai Goo - Bush Knife

 

[Ed Fowler]

My design came about thanks to pure luck. A high school physics teacher who introduced me to the science of the resolution of component forces and the experimental method, the importance of keeping notes and the courage to do what was important to me.

If I could have afforded it I would have used micarta for handles, but could not afford it. A neighbor ran many bands of sheep, his buck pasture was huge, his family had wintered bucks there for 90 years. The skulls of horned bucks that had died years ago were many. He gave me all I could find in trade for a knife. Using sheep horn has taught me many lessons about the physiology of the human hand, lessons that would not have been learned had I been using symetrical handle materials. To my eye sheep horn offers a special beauty and a wonderful challenge to learn the many lessons using it for handles offers.

My grandfather introduced me to the magic of the ball bearing shooting marbles. My other grandfather, a surgeon invented the Bard Parker surgical scapel with the changable blades, he showed me their prototypes and how the design evolved. Several Medical Doctors shared there experiences treating knife accidents in emergeancy rooms many of which could have been prevented through design.

I was lucky to be able to share some special time with Bill Moran, he offered many questions about the forged blade that could lead to better blades. My first forged blade broke, Bill said "I'm sorry!" - I was glad for I had something to fix.

My life style is one of opportunity for the testing and development of what I call High Endurance Blades. Rex Walter called me offereing a uniform source of steel and a laboratory to explain what events led to our dream of Excalibur, and those that detracted from our goals. We have learned a lot, it is all in our latest DVD that was also the result of luck, when Jeremy Rivera wanted to help us share our knowledge with others.

The learning continues and remains a dynamic force every time I make a knife. While the knives I make now may appear similar to those of 20 years ago, those who look carefully can see many changes. We have also been lucky for many individuals have chosen to invest in our work and through their support we continue to learn.

Kevin: I thank you for the opportunity to share thoughts.

 

[jdm61]

Interesting story about the sheep horn, Ed. Although the advent of the internet, knife magazines and organizations like the ABS and Guild have made our lives easier, I suspect that many of us have discovered a bit about knifemaking by "acccident" as I like to call my version of expirementation. Fortunately we are not always in the postion that Thomas Edison was in when trying to come up with a light bulb. When can read about or be told how to make one.........now that doesn't always mean that it will light up the first time, but at least we have a starting point.

 

[Kevin Jones]

It was actually my Montero that was a direct derivative of the Fisk Sendero.

It was in fact a tribute to my good friend and former teacher. The El Camino was the one most closely associated with my name. It was my most ordered pattern for the better part of my time as a full-time maker. And to be honest the idea of El Camino was Jerry's. He suggested that I take my hunter pattern, grind in a chisel-ground clip, and add a double guard.

Both great designs Terry.

Ed, thanks for sharing the interesting story.
Your knives are among the most recognizable of all customs both visually and by the comfort and feel in hand.

 

[scottickes]

This is an interesting thread. The stories of how each of you came about with names, designs, improvements is inspiring. I'm at the beginning of my knifemaking journey. This statement about being at the start of my journey is kind of interesting. I've been tinkering with knifemaking since 1989. I've only gotten really serious in the last two years. I'm now forging almost all of my blades, and learning tons with each one. I do not yet have an "Ickie" design, but the inspiration I get from the rest of you is something that keeps me going. I'm having fun, learning, getting better, and my wife is even getting excited (she has decided that I need a KMG!).

She and I attended the OKCA show in Eugene a few weeks back. Before leaving, my wife insisted that I reserve a table for 2008. I have one year to produce 20+ knives that I can be proud to have on my table.

Will I eventually develop a recognizable style that is appreciated by the masses? I don't know, and it doesn't really matter. My immediate goal is to strive to be named, "Best New Maker" at the show. Will I accomplish that honor. I don't know, but it doesn't really matter. It's the effort that matters, and the joy of seeing the reactions (hopefully positive) to my efforts.

Now that I've run off at the mouth, I'd like to thank a few people that have inspired me. They may or may not know that they have inspired me, but I have met them all at one time or another.

Ed Fowler,
Your generousity in sharing your knowledge with me when I visited your shop a few years back has stayed with me. I read and reread your books on a frequent basis. Thank you!

Raymond Richards,
You have to be the friendliest man I've ever met. Just watching and listening to you during my visits to your shop have allowed me to make quantum leaps. Actually, because of what I learned during our visits I took some of my early forging efforts and have been able to modify them (I hadn't finished them out yet) and turn them into blades worthy of finishing. Thank you!

Ed Caffrey,
Your willingness to answer my questions during visits to your table, at the Bronk Hammer In and during a phone conversation have allowed me to dream of what I can achieve. I've watched your video over and over. Thank you!

Ray and Terry Archer,
They are not even members of this forum, but they have been very supportive and willing to share their knowledge of both knifemaking and leatherwork. I'm not sure there is a friendlier pair of people in the world.

To the rest of you on this forum site that share your knowledge which you have gleaned from years of experience in this endeavor we call knifemaking. Thank you for helping me learn!

Scott (Ickie) Ickes

 

[Kevin Jones]

Scott, that's one of the wonderful things with the custom knife industry, most makers (especially the great ones) are always doing everything they can to teach, educate and bring along the new makers and collectors. Even at times, at there own expense.

The makers mentioned in this thread are for sure among the best examples of this. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks, for sharing.