-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
r.d. iiams
- Thread starter dlapach
- Start date
dlap, R.D. Iiams was a machinist and knifemaker from Casper, Wy. He was a friend of Ed Fowler, and I know he visited Ed often. He either worked with Ed to develop the triple quench, or learned it from Ed. He loaned John Maples, from Texas and I one of his knives to see how it held it's edge. We field dressed and skinned 7 antelope and field dressed one cow elk before having to touch the blade up with a whetsone before skinning the elk out. We both were very impressed with his knives. John bought one, and Dick gave my father and I both one. Dick died in the late 90's and has been missed. He was quite a charachter and a friend.
Buck
Buck
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2001
- Messages
- 2,869
As Buck stated Dick Iiams was a master machinist, and one of my best friends. He was tireless and devoted to blade testing seeking the best knife he could make. He and his bride Dorothy showed up on the Willow Bow early one Saturday morning, I was on my way to bale some hay. Dick said "Dorothy can bale hay, common lest make knives!"
I did not know it at the time but Dorothy had not bailed much hay, I told her some of the essential tricks on that tractor and baler and she went to work, stayed in the field for 7 hours.
Dick and I worked on knives straight through until Sunday evening when he had to go back to Casper to work. This was the first of many marathon knife making weekends we shared. I miss Dick greatly, we shared good times. He was absolutely honest, not afraid of work and could be counted on to be there when you needed him. He too no shortcuts when developing his knives.
I would love to see a photo of that knife, if you cannot post it here please email it to me, eafwb@wyoming.com
I did not know it at the time but Dorothy had not bailed much hay, I told her some of the essential tricks on that tractor and baler and she went to work, stayed in the field for 7 hours.
Dick and I worked on knives straight through until Sunday evening when he had to go back to Casper to work. This was the first of many marathon knife making weekends we shared. I miss Dick greatly, we shared good times. He was absolutely honest, not afraid of work and could be counted on to be there when you needed him. He too no shortcuts when developing his knives.
I would love to see a photo of that knife, if you cannot post it here please email it to me, eafwb@wyoming.com