Contemporary Makers: The Cutting Edge of the CLA Display by Barry and Dorothy Maxfield: Part II

Hill Pearce

Dagger, Ivory Hilt

(Unmarked, by attribution)

May be very early work

This dagger was commission from Hill Pearce by Art Riser.

Original Sash Bowie

Unmarked

Mid-Ninetieth Century

When I acquired this blade in the mid 1980’s, it whispered “Throw Me!”

I have never owned another knife that felt so balanced and so comfortable in the hand; these were often made in pairs and associated with riverboat gamblers.

I have resisted the “Throw Me!” voice tp date. I did commission PJ Tomes tp make his interpretation of this knife in a match pair, displayed here.

PJ Tomes, MS ABS

American Knifemakers Guild

Retired

Pair of “Sash” Bowies after the original displayed here

Primitive Knife

Glen Mock

2016

Small “House School” Knife

Steve Auvenshine

Antler Tip Hilt, Pewter Bolster

3 Bar Damascus Dagger

B. English

1985

Dagger

Ken Gahagan

Spiral carved antler hilt with Polychrome after an original in “Swords and Blades of the American Revolution” (Neumann)

Hand Forged Belt Knife

Shane & Brad Emig

Patch Knife

Rich McDonald

Antler Half Tang Hilt with Bullet Starter

Traditional Wrought Knife

Shane Emig

Many 18th Century American knives were forged of wrought Iron; a common and plentiful material in Colonial America and far less expensive than steel. It, however, does require unique skills and technology in forging, hardening and tempering. This example is completely-handmade using original 18th Century wrought iron and employing traditional tools and technology in the construction.