Rick Hill, Knifemaker

G

gold40

Joined
Apr 2, 2007
Messages
12
I have a custom knife made by RICK HILL from the 1980's. I can't seem to find any current info on this bladesmith.

Does anyone know if he is still active? If not, when did he stop making knives.

Thanks....
JERRY
 
Hi Jerry,

I met Rick at the 1985 Blade Show, excellent knife maker. Unfortunately he was involved in an industrial accident that left him almost blind in one eye. He stopped making knives in the early 90's and passed away I believe 2000.

WWG
 
THANKS for the information.

I wondered why I hadn't read anything about him or his work in recent years.

I have a lovely little 3" semi-skinner Rick Hill made for me in the mid-1980's. It is actually petite, and very well made.

JERRY
 
Bringing this back up--picked up a 5" Dagger of Rick's w/Ivory handles. It is marked "3 80". Think this might be a date. Anyone have any info? It is very nicely made and has some nice filework around the hilt area
 
Rick Hill is very much alive and making knives better than ever!! He didn't loose all vision! :). Rick is my Grandpa and currently lives in Maryville, Illinois. He did take about a 10 year break from making knives. Over the last 10 years he averages about 5 knife shows a year.
 
Hey Roswald - Rick Hill said your number 380 would be the serial number of the knife. Rick started making knives in 1983. He will be finished working on his 500th knife in the next few months.
 
AshleyAdler04 said:
Rick Hill is very much alive and making knives better than ever!! He didn't loose all vision! :). Rick is my Grandpa and currently lives in Maryville, Illinois. He did take about a 10 year break from making knives. Over the last 10 years he averages about 5 knife shows a year.
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Dr. Charles Combs (Chuck) knew Rick very well & collected several of Rick's knives. Chuck passed away in September, 1999. I am Gloria, was Chuck's wife, and would like to learn more about these knives since I now have them. I had met Rick and Joan a few times when married to Chuck, but since then, didn't know how to get in touch with them. Can you help me with that? Thanks.
 
Just spent the weekend, set up next to Rick at a knife show in Belleville, IL. So, I know he's still very much alive and making knives.
 
Hey Gloria - I would love to talk to you and I know Rick would too. I actually tried to find your phone number about a month ago. Please give me a call when you get the chance, 931-302-7068. Thanks so much!
 
I shook Rick's hand yesterday at the Mt Vernon Knifeshow in Mt Vernon, IL. He looks like the years are starting to slow him down, told me he had just turned 70. I had purchased a "Loveless" style hunter from him a couple of years ago at the same show. Very nice workmanship and a very pleasant man to spend some time with talking knives. This year I was looking for a smaller "bird and trout" styled knife and he did not happen to have one that appealed to me.
When I bought the knife from him back in 2009 I did not know he was a "known" maker and assumed he was one of the many part-time makers that you only see in the local shows.
 
A year after the last post, but am seeking some information. Have two Rick Hill daggers, number 005 and 006 with matching number sheaths -- looks like perfect condition. I know practically nothing about knives, other than those I use as a tool and have broken a few Buck knives over the years. Obviously I'm not a knife collector so don't get too upset with me. These two knives however, do not appear to be run of the mill "tools" and they live in the gun safe. Would appreciate any information that describes/identifies these knives. Thanks
 
Oh, and have one other Rick Hill knife, number 167. It's not a standard knife. Sold as a diving knife with a rubber sheath. My dad had it made and gave to me in the 80s, but never used it diving because it was too nice to hack, pry and dig around in the ocean. Never wanted to scratch up the knife or break it like other knives I broke prying on WW II ship wrecks in the pacific. Does anyone know if Mr. Hill specialized in any particular type of knife? Or a wide variety? Thanks.
 
All of the above comments about Illinois knife maker RICK HILL are from several years ago. Is he still making knives? I have one of his small hunters, numbered 298.
 
I also recently picked up a Rick Hill subhilt fighter with a saw-tooth back. It’s numbered 003 on the blade. I dont see how it could possibly be his third knife, maybe it means something else...

Can anyone share more Info about him or post pics/links to more of his work? it would be greatly appreciated!
 
How about you post picks of your knife....probably means the 3rd one of that style.

And remember, Google is your friend...
 
Dawkind said:
How about you post picks of your knife....probably means the 3rd one of that style.

And remember, Google is your friend...
Click to expand...
This page is the only thing that comes up when you google him, that’s why I posted this. The only other things are two knives on worthpoint...

I’ll try to figure out how to post pictures of it on here, what’s a good image hosting site for this forum?
 
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