By Blade Editors - BLADEs Best Custom Knives

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Chapter 1
Best Custom Knives 1973-1988

Chapter 2
Best Custom Knives 1989-2000

Chapter 3
Best Custom Knives 2001-2012

This collection of articles mark the 40th anniversary of BLADE, and to celebrate we present the first chapter of a three-part series on the top 40 custom knives in the magazines history.

Part one covers the years 1973-88. We contacted a number of seasoned custom knife authorities who experienced and observed all or important parts of the time in question. The ones who answered our query are French knife writer Francis Anglade; Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame members Paul Bos and B.R. Hughes; Roger Combs, co-editor of several editions of The Gun Digest Book of Knives; Dave Harvey, co-owner of Nordic Knives retail knife store and co-producer of the biennial Solvang Custom Knife Show in Solvang, California; award-winning knife collector Paul Lansingh; and knife collector Phil Lobred, who also coordinates the biennial Art Knife Invitational in San Diego, California.

We sent them a list of top knives and asked them to select and rank five or 10 models from it. We also asked them to add any to the list that we may have omitted. By top custom knife is meant one that excelled in terms of setting a standard that other makers attempted to emulate, and also excelled in quality of craftsmanship, originality and creativity.

Hughes had the Loveless dropped hunter and Bill Morans damascus knife (see following) in a tie for first. Bobs tapered-tang, delicately ground dropped hunter revolutionized almost overnight what custom hunting knives looked like in America, Hughes observed. Very shortly, every stock removal maker in America worth his belt sander was turning out his/her version of the Loveless hunter. Moran revolutionized bladesmithing; Loveless revolutionized stock removal knifemaking.

Any of the damascus knives Moran introduced at the 1973 Knifemakers Guild Show probably qualifies, though Lansingh indicated the damascus quillon dagger was the most significant one. Moran left an industry in his wake with his damascus and commitment to the forged blade, Lobred noted. Likewise, Anglade saluted Moran for the rebirth of damascus in the USA. Added Harvey, Bill brought damascus blades into vogue, fostering another important segment of the custom knife market, which again carried right over to the manufacturers.

Ted put the integral on the map with this superbly designed hunter, opening the door for others to design integral knivesa very strong and handsome way to make a knife, Lobred stated. Hughes: Teds integral-hilt hunter was another innovation that was quickly picked up by other knifemakers. Today, it is a common feature on custom knives, but Ted introduced this feature and popularized it.

Prior to Rons unveiling of his integral-frame hunter at the 1971 Guild Show in Houston, I had only seen a very few handmade folders, and very few custom knifemakers seemed interested in making them, Hughes recalled. But almost overnight, custom makers over the land were offering foldersand very good folders at that. The profusion of folders at any of todays knife shows is a tribute to Ron Lakeperiod and exclamation mark!

Another most copied design, including virtually every knife manufacturer, Harvey noted. It set a new standard for one-hand operation and smooth action. Chimed in Lobred, Walker took the folder to a new dimension and was copied by the entire industry, both handmade and factory. Its also the only knife on our list with a trademarked name.

I believe the King Tut Dagger by Buster Warenski is the greatest art knife made to date, observed Lobred, who commissioned the piece. Its so complex that it has not even been attempted by anyone else. It proved what could be achieved if [the knifemaker was] good enough. Harvey: It established a new world standard for the art of knifemaking.

Henrys near flawless bowies set a new standard for exemplary workmanship, Hughes opined. He spurred on others to match his craftsmanship. Many tried, to the overall betterment of knifemaking, though few succeeded. According to Lobred, Henry showed the world fine metal work, fit and finish, and fine sheath work.

Harvey: It set the knife world on fire with incredible interest in survival knives. Lobred: Lile put movie knives on the map. Added Bos, That was the start of the modern fantasy and movie knives, though John Nelson Cooper and Jody Samson made some fine movie knives before thatbut thats another story.

Some others followed his lead in making goblin folders, but Schmidt owns the genre! Lobred: Jim proved makers could put a little piece of their soul in every knife they made. He was a rare individual. Bos: I think to this day that the Goblin Folder is the most beautiful knife I have ever seen.