Vince Evans: A True Master
(#2 in a series of mini profiles)
I have a Vince Evans knife that is priceless! Let me tell you why.
Knifemaking for Vince Evans started in 1980. Vince was working for a sun tan lotion company in Hawaii. His dad, a blacksmith, bought his mother, an artist, a doll house for Christmas. Vince, to see if he could, made his mother a set of miniature kitchen knives for her house. Some of her friends saw them and encouraged him to continue making the miniatures because there was a big market for such items. He worked for the lotion company for six months, but continued to make miniatures. He opened up his own shop and made all kinds of goods for the doll houses. He built a mini General Store and stocked it with everything you would find in a general store, only miniature. He would take the store to craft shows and sell to the hobbyist. He even made a castle wall for a display and covered it with mini swords so they could furnish their Victorian armor rooms. Vince, after two and a half years, let his miniature business go but still made pieces on order till around 1993. He has been a full time maker since 1981. Bladesmithing and the lotion company are the only jobs he has ever had.
It was New Years Eve 1982, Vince wearing flip-flops and a pair of shorts forged his first full sized blade. He still has that #1. He tells of a hot Saturday afternoon in 1985 when he felt the Lord telling him it was time to make damascus, so he made damascus that day. Some of you right now may be thinking, SO WHAT? Here is what separates Vince from most, he is SELF TAUGHT! Not many makers can say such a thing. The only instruction he received was from Wayne Valachovic in 1994 on building his style of folders. That is still the style Vince uses today.
A tree is known by the fruit it bears, not by the name you call it. A tree may start life great and produce fruit, but if it quits bearing, what good is it? A mastersmith should also be known for his work, not by a stamp he wears. When you walk up to a mastersmiths table at a show, EVERY piece should state mastersmith work! Vince, after over 1300 swords and knives behind him, is a master. Why? His work QUALIFIES him as such. There are few who have the God given talent and skill he has. (He is the most talented maker I know.) There are even fewer that would spend the time it takes to create some of the pieces he makes. Vince is an apprentice in the A.B.S., but his mastersmith peers consider him a master. Let me explain. I saw Harvey Dean huddled around Vince, for thirty minutes, learning how to carve the handle on a Scottish dirk at a hammer-in in Old Washington, AR.(after the class was over) At another hammer-in, I watched Don Fogg take two pages of notes when Vince was teaching on how to scrape a blade and how to make the scrapers. When I asked Jerry Fisk about Vince he said, Listen here bubba, that boy is good. When Vince showed Jerry the pesh-kabz which I now own, Jerry told him, You make me sick! After analyzing a kilij for literally ten minutes, Michael Bell commented, Magnificent, I simply cant believe what Im seeing, its unbelievable! It shows one of the reasons the makers listed above are considered great, their desire to keep learning. Vince is also one source of information when Steve Shackelford, editor of Blade magazine, needs questions answered about swords. I could go on but I wont. Except to say the only thing negative (if it is negative) I have ever heard about Vince is that he is too low on his prices.
Here is a list of awards Vince has received: *Damascus USA/Moran Award (1994), *Blade Handmade Award - Best Handforged Knife (1997 Blade Show West), *Best of Show (1999 Las Vegas Classic Knife Show), *Best Handforged Knife, *Best Sword, *Best of Show (2000 Knife Expo), *Best Collaboration Knife (2000 Blade Show) with Richard Rogers, *Craftsman Award (2000 Bay Area Knife Collectors Association Show) I want to add here a sentence or two on judging and ignorance. One time Vince entered a sword at the annual BAKCA show. It had antiqued fittings like an original would have. After the judging was over he was informed his sword had been disqualified. Why? Because it was an antique! Thats insane! He took it as a compliment that they didnt know the difference. This shows his character.
As you will see, Vinces work screams master, his peers consider him a master, and his awards are merit of a master. I want you the reader to know this. I dont think the publications give him the credit he deserves. I have e-mailed them several times about doing an article on him, but to no avail. Knives Illustrated did a one pager on Vince in 1998, which was when and how I first contacted him. Its kind of funny; they will quote him but, well, never mind.
In 1997, I had two friends brutally murdered. At about the same time I received my first Fisk knife. To make a long story shorter, I escaped into knives. I didnt know it at the time, but I had made the knives my god. In a few months time I had acquired an extensive knife collection for the time involved. When I called Vince, he and Grace, his wife of fourteen years, had just moved to Arizona from Hawaii. Wouldnt you know it, he just happened to have a yataghan on hand. I bought it! In 1998, he and Grace came to Old Washington, AR for the fall hammer-in. There he had the pesh-kabz. They spent the night with us before they left and I talked him into selling me that piece, but he wanted to take it to Vegas first. It won Best of Show! A few days later I received a letter from him stating he was sorry, but after much prayer, he and Grace had decided they would NOT sell me the pesh-kabz or any other piece till I got my priorities in line. I had made knives my god and that they could not be a part of that. I fumed for about two weeks, the whole time my wife was telling me they only did it for my own good and that Vince really did care about me. I came to my senses and called him to thank them for what they had done. Vince explained that he could always build me one similar if and when the time came. I got back on a regular schedule of calling at least once a week and we became the best of friends. Here is whats so unbelievable, at the end of 2000, I asked him to make me a pesh-kabz. He told Grace what I had asked and said, Funny thing Darby, I still have that pesh-kabz. We have taken it to six shows and cant sell it. In fact its like its invisible, we will sell out, but people wont even pick it up! We know why now. I asked why? He said, To teach us both a lesson, for us to keep our word, and for you to get your priorities in order. God is GREAT! Now look at the pesh-kabz, it is a miracle that it didnt sell in two years. I can assure you it wasnt because of the price and NO its not for sale. Vince and Grace exemplify integrity, character, and goodness. I love them both. They cared more about my Spiritual life than their wallet, TRUE friends.
Vince and Grace live in Show Low, Arizona. They can be reached at 928-537-9123. I give you my word; you will ALWAYS get more than you pay! They will have table 17-O at the Blade Show. You can also go to
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=vevans to view more pieces of his ART. His e-mail address is vevans@cybertrails.com
I asked Vince to write a paragraph on what he would want you to know. Its as follows:
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Twenty years ago I couldnt foresee what direction I would go in or how I would make a living as a knifemaker, but God has been guiding and directing me over the years and taken me beyond what I ever could have dreamed.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
I was born into an Old World, artistic family. My mother was an artist and my father is a blacksmith and metal sculptor. Ive been a full-time bladesmith since 1981, mostly self-taught. Although Ive done everything from bowies to folders, the most challenging direction for me is re-creating the past. By building pieces the way they did centuries ago, I have gained an admiration for the craftsmen of old; who they were and how they did things. To maintain historical accuracy you have to study the originals. If you really want to know how an antique sword or knife was made or feels, you have to handle and study them first hand. Books are good for information but wont reflect the true feel of an original. My desire is that when a person picks up one of my pieces, the past speaks to them.
Vince
(#2 in a series of mini profiles)
I have a Vince Evans knife that is priceless! Let me tell you why.
Knifemaking for Vince Evans started in 1980. Vince was working for a sun tan lotion company in Hawaii. His dad, a blacksmith, bought his mother, an artist, a doll house for Christmas. Vince, to see if he could, made his mother a set of miniature kitchen knives for her house. Some of her friends saw them and encouraged him to continue making the miniatures because there was a big market for such items. He worked for the lotion company for six months, but continued to make miniatures. He opened up his own shop and made all kinds of goods for the doll houses. He built a mini General Store and stocked it with everything you would find in a general store, only miniature. He would take the store to craft shows and sell to the hobbyist. He even made a castle wall for a display and covered it with mini swords so they could furnish their Victorian armor rooms. Vince, after two and a half years, let his miniature business go but still made pieces on order till around 1993. He has been a full time maker since 1981. Bladesmithing and the lotion company are the only jobs he has ever had.
It was New Years Eve 1982, Vince wearing flip-flops and a pair of shorts forged his first full sized blade. He still has that #1. He tells of a hot Saturday afternoon in 1985 when he felt the Lord telling him it was time to make damascus, so he made damascus that day. Some of you right now may be thinking, SO WHAT? Here is what separates Vince from most, he is SELF TAUGHT! Not many makers can say such a thing. The only instruction he received was from Wayne Valachovic in 1994 on building his style of folders. That is still the style Vince uses today.
A tree is known by the fruit it bears, not by the name you call it. A tree may start life great and produce fruit, but if it quits bearing, what good is it? A mastersmith should also be known for his work, not by a stamp he wears. When you walk up to a mastersmiths table at a show, EVERY piece should state mastersmith work! Vince, after over 1300 swords and knives behind him, is a master. Why? His work QUALIFIES him as such. There are few who have the God given talent and skill he has. (He is the most talented maker I know.) There are even fewer that would spend the time it takes to create some of the pieces he makes. Vince is an apprentice in the A.B.S., but his mastersmith peers consider him a master. Let me explain. I saw Harvey Dean huddled around Vince, for thirty minutes, learning how to carve the handle on a Scottish dirk at a hammer-in in Old Washington, AR.(after the class was over) At another hammer-in, I watched Don Fogg take two pages of notes when Vince was teaching on how to scrape a blade and how to make the scrapers. When I asked Jerry Fisk about Vince he said, Listen here bubba, that boy is good. When Vince showed Jerry the pesh-kabz which I now own, Jerry told him, You make me sick! After analyzing a kilij for literally ten minutes, Michael Bell commented, Magnificent, I simply cant believe what Im seeing, its unbelievable! It shows one of the reasons the makers listed above are considered great, their desire to keep learning. Vince is also one source of information when Steve Shackelford, editor of Blade magazine, needs questions answered about swords. I could go on but I wont. Except to say the only thing negative (if it is negative) I have ever heard about Vince is that he is too low on his prices.
Here is a list of awards Vince has received: *Damascus USA/Moran Award (1994), *Blade Handmade Award - Best Handforged Knife (1997 Blade Show West), *Best of Show (1999 Las Vegas Classic Knife Show), *Best Handforged Knife, *Best Sword, *Best of Show (2000 Knife Expo), *Best Collaboration Knife (2000 Blade Show) with Richard Rogers, *Craftsman Award (2000 Bay Area Knife Collectors Association Show) I want to add here a sentence or two on judging and ignorance. One time Vince entered a sword at the annual BAKCA show. It had antiqued fittings like an original would have. After the judging was over he was informed his sword had been disqualified. Why? Because it was an antique! Thats insane! He took it as a compliment that they didnt know the difference. This shows his character.
As you will see, Vinces work screams master, his peers consider him a master, and his awards are merit of a master. I want you the reader to know this. I dont think the publications give him the credit he deserves. I have e-mailed them several times about doing an article on him, but to no avail. Knives Illustrated did a one pager on Vince in 1998, which was when and how I first contacted him. Its kind of funny; they will quote him but, well, never mind.
In 1997, I had two friends brutally murdered. At about the same time I received my first Fisk knife. To make a long story shorter, I escaped into knives. I didnt know it at the time, but I had made the knives my god. In a few months time I had acquired an extensive knife collection for the time involved. When I called Vince, he and Grace, his wife of fourteen years, had just moved to Arizona from Hawaii. Wouldnt you know it, he just happened to have a yataghan on hand. I bought it! In 1998, he and Grace came to Old Washington, AR for the fall hammer-in. There he had the pesh-kabz. They spent the night with us before they left and I talked him into selling me that piece, but he wanted to take it to Vegas first. It won Best of Show! A few days later I received a letter from him stating he was sorry, but after much prayer, he and Grace had decided they would NOT sell me the pesh-kabz or any other piece till I got my priorities in line. I had made knives my god and that they could not be a part of that. I fumed for about two weeks, the whole time my wife was telling me they only did it for my own good and that Vince really did care about me. I came to my senses and called him to thank them for what they had done. Vince explained that he could always build me one similar if and when the time came. I got back on a regular schedule of calling at least once a week and we became the best of friends. Here is whats so unbelievable, at the end of 2000, I asked him to make me a pesh-kabz. He told Grace what I had asked and said, Funny thing Darby, I still have that pesh-kabz. We have taken it to six shows and cant sell it. In fact its like its invisible, we will sell out, but people wont even pick it up! We know why now. I asked why? He said, To teach us both a lesson, for us to keep our word, and for you to get your priorities in order. God is GREAT! Now look at the pesh-kabz, it is a miracle that it didnt sell in two years. I can assure you it wasnt because of the price and NO its not for sale. Vince and Grace exemplify integrity, character, and goodness. I love them both. They cared more about my Spiritual life than their wallet, TRUE friends.
Vince and Grace live in Show Low, Arizona. They can be reached at 928-537-9123. I give you my word; you will ALWAYS get more than you pay! They will have table 17-O at the Blade Show. You can also go to
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=vevans to view more pieces of his ART. His e-mail address is vevans@cybertrails.com
I asked Vince to write a paragraph on what he would want you to know. Its as follows:
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Twenty years ago I couldnt foresee what direction I would go in or how I would make a living as a knifemaker, but God has been guiding and directing me over the years and taken me beyond what I ever could have dreamed.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
I was born into an Old World, artistic family. My mother was an artist and my father is a blacksmith and metal sculptor. Ive been a full-time bladesmith since 1981, mostly self-taught. Although Ive done everything from bowies to folders, the most challenging direction for me is re-creating the past. By building pieces the way they did centuries ago, I have gained an admiration for the craftsmen of old; who they were and how they did things. To maintain historical accuracy you have to study the originals. If you really want to know how an antique sword or knife was made or feels, you have to handle and study them first hand. Books are good for information but wont reflect the true feel of an original. My desire is that when a person picks up one of my pieces, the past speaks to them.
Vince
