For all those who don't yet have my second custom knife book,
"Art and Design in Modern Custom Fixed-Blade Knives", here is
what I wrote about Buster. Most of it was written with him, in his
room at the Marriott in San Diego, after the 2003 AKI Show...
Buster Warenski
Utah, USA
Buster Warenski was born in l942, in Kimberly, Nevada. Fortunate to live in
prime hunting and fishing country, and being one who enjoys working with
his hands, in 1966 he began making hunting knives as a hobby. It was quite
apparent early on that this young man had talent. Word spread quickly in
the fledgling Utah knife community, and this led to an opportunity in the
spring of 1972 for Buster to work briefly in the custom shop of the late
Harvey Draper (Draper Knives), one of the worlds first custom makers.
In this atmosphere, Buster was able to quickly and precisely fine-tune his skills.
After working with Draper for six months, Buster returned to his hometown
of Richfield, Utah, and began making knives full-time.
Rather than hunters and skinners, most of his production was high-end art
knives, many embellished with his own engraving and gold inlay.
Early in his knifemaking career he also taught engraving. In fact, his lovely
wife, Julie, attended his engraving classes (prior to their marrying) and now
works side-by-side with him, embellishing both Busters knives and those of
other knifemakers.
In 1973 Buster joined the Knifemakers Guild, and by 1984 he had served
nine years on the board of directors, two terms as president, and also in the
positions of vice president and director. Naturally, he is a regular at all the
Guild Shows, and he attends a few other major venues each year, including
the biennial Art Knife Invitational Show in San Diego, California. The art
knives this gentleman creates are very unique, theyre all one-of-a-kind, and
theyre simply beautiful.
Today, after 18 years of marriage, Buster states We are still enjoying
the romance of a beautiful marriage and were a very successful knifemaking
team. We cant ask for anything more.
Not a smith, Buster buys Damascus and standard steel bar stock, as do
many makers, and performs all other operations involved in creating art
knives in his well-equipped shop.
He is the sole author of all his knives, although Julie does embellish most
of them with engraving and gold inlay
art.
His memory will live on forever through his amazing art...
All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
Julie's work stands out ever more so. 
