If you want to be able to collect knives in the future and not be afraid that the government will take away your right to own more than a butter knife, please check out the Mission Statement of The American Cutlery Association. There is a very serious threat for owning most any knife. We must stand up and let our voice be heard. This is no idle threat, it is happening now!

"Price has no meaning without a measure of the quality being purchased" Deming

Have you heard the comment “That’s a TRADE SECRET”. What a joke, when I hear those words I get really hacked off. To me that means the knifemaker is afraid of me and my knives. It also means he is very small minded.

Knifemaking would not be where it is today if we did not share secrets. There are no secrets, only new procedures. Knifemaking is a very complicated process (when it’s done right), I have been making knives over 17 years and I’m a long way from knowing it all.

There have been many knifemakers that have helped me over the years. I am going to mention three, but there are many more. To all of them I say "Thank You".

I had made knives about one year when I met R.W. Wilson. Before long I was on my way to West Virginia. I spent a whole week with him. Wonderful man, he was honored in 1996 with the Red Watson award.

Dr. Fred Carter, Wichita Falls, TX
This man showed me many “procedures” that add quality to a knife . After my time with him my production went down to half the amount of knives I used to make. My quality (I feel) soared. One time he noticed I was admiring some of his patterns, and he told me something I will never forget. He said “A.T., you can copy anything in my shop, except my name”, now isn’t that the way it OUGHT to be?

Kit Carson, Vine Grove, KY
Kit was gracious enough to show me the correct way to make a safe and strong liner lock. I asked Kit if I could pay him something. "He said I could repay him by sharing what he taught me", again that's the way it OUGHT to be.

Over the last 17 years there has been many makers that shared their “procedures” with me on the phone and at knife shows. The majority of knifemakers are caring people. If they see a person is having a problem, they hold back nothing.

There are a few makers that will talk their head off, until I mention I am a maker. Then they become very rude and silent. May the “bird of paradise fly up their nose”

Back in 1979 I decided I wanted to make custom knives. I had never made a knife. When I mentioned to my boss that I was going to learn how to make knives, he ordered and payed for 6 sheath knives. Those knives were $60.00 each, so it came to a total of $360.00. With that money, I was able to buy a vise, a drill press, and a 2" X 48" belt grinder. This fellow had a lot of faith in me and in basically all mankind. He name is Gus Lohman and he lives in Texas. I will always be thankful for his faith and trust in me.

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