- Joined
- Sep 28, 2018
- Messages
- 3
Neil Mckee Bowie
- Thread starter Dickdarstedly
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2018
- Messages
- 24
Neil McKee
Born in 1947 and growing up in a hunting and fishing family from South Dakota, every kid I knew had a pocket knife and all the adventure movies and books we read had knives as an essential tool. The magazines of the times also covered the knives of those hunters and fishermen in the articles -- so a knife was an essential tool for a man or a boy.
It was only natural that my early knife interests should include early American styles from Natty Bumpo and later blade styles from Nessmuk, DeWeese and Russell. Two years in Japan and a small but sketchy Scandinavian family history gave me an interest in other ethnic pieces as well.
In 1997, I met with a Montana knife maker and was soon on my way to a professional knife making career. As my wife Jo Ann and I were in the rondesvous circuit, I began with early American patterns, later moving onto styles such as Nessmuk, De Weese and Russell.
My interest in engraving met with success after I took a formal class from Rick Eaton in January of 2004. In 2007, I traveled to Italy and met Firmo and Francesca Fracassi, Gian Franco Pedersoli, Gian Carlo and Stephano Pedretti, as well as going to Creative Arts and visiting the Piotti firearms company. The hook was set! As a result I have looked for more and more ways to create a palate for engraving in my knives. The study of the floral patterns in engraving and leather work has been complimentary and has improved my work in both areas. I am the sole author of my work and will continue to improve in all aspects of knife making. My first love will always be for the early American pieces from my childhood but my passion for engraving requires that I seek new ways to express my art.
Affiliations:
- Montana Knifemakers Association (MKA) - Vice President, 2002 - present
- Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA) - 2006 - present