The Knifemakers' Guild is an American organization, based in

Richfield, Utah Richfield is a city in and the county seat of Sevier County, Utah, United States, and is the largest city in southern-central Utah. Description As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,551. It lies in the Mormon Corridor, just off I ...

, made up of

knifemaker Knife making is the process of manufacturing a knife by any one or a combination of processes: stock removal, forging to shape, welded lamination or investment cast. Typical metals used come from the carbon steel, tool, or stainless steel fami ...

s to promote custom knives, encourage ethical business practices, assist with technical aspects of knife making, and to sponsor knife shows. The Guild is composed of 300 knifemaker members and several thousand collectors, writers, and other investors as honorary members.

History

The idea for the Knifemakers' Guild came about at a Las Vegas, Nevada, gun show held at the Sahara Casino in February 1970. The actual founding occurred in November 1970 by

A.G. Russell A. G. Russell (August 27, 1933 – October 12, 2018) was an American knife maker. He was born in Eudora, Arkansas where his great-grandfather taught him how to make knives when he was nine. Russell went on to make knives as a hobby and profes ...

in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Charter members included

Blackie Collins Walter Wells "Blackie" Collins (1939 – July 20, 2011) was an American knife maker who designed and popularized the assisted opening mechanism and various automatic knife designs within the art of knifemaking. He is cited by other knifemakers a ...

, Bob Loveless,

John Nelson Cooper John Nelson Cooper (1906–1987) was a custom knifemaker who was a founding member of the Knifemakers' Guild. He was a mentor to Jody Samson and made knives for over 60 years. History Cooper began making utility knives and butcher knives in ...

, and Dan Dennehy. Russell was made the first president with Loveless as the secretary. The current president is

Gil Hibben Gil Hibben (born September 4, 1935) is an American custom knifemaker from Wyoming who is based in La Grange, Kentucky. Hibben designed the first line of Browning hunting knives in 1968, the American Kenpo Knife for Ed Parker, and the Rambo K ...

, past presidents have included

Jimmy Lile James Buel Lile (August 22, 1933 – May 5, 1991), known as Jimmy Lile and "The Arkansas Knifesmith", was an American knifemaker from Russellville in Pope County, Arkansas, who made the Rambo Knife for the films '' First Blood'' and '' Rambo: ...

Frank Centofante Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Cur ...

D'Alton Holder D'Alton is both a surname and a given name of Norman origin found in Ireland and Britain and places where people from those backgrounds emigrated to. The Hiberno-Norman sept ruled over Rathconrath, previously known as D'Alton country, Irish Act 34 H ...

, George Herron,

Buster Warenski Buster Warenski (June 5, 1942 – July 31, 2005) was an American custom knifemaker from Kimberly, Nevada who made "Art Knives" utilizing gold and other precious metals. Warenski is best known for making a reproduction of King Tut's dagger with a f ...

, and William F. Moran. The Knifemakers' Guild has over 300 members worldwide. The Knifemakers' Guild hosts an annual show where members meet once a year to conduct business, elect officers, and display their work. The show is attended by thousands of collectors.

References

External links

Knifemakers' Guild
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knifemakers' Guild Knife makers Professional associations based in the United States Organizations based in Utah Organizations established in 1970