Growing up in a small Texas town, the great outdoors was of interest to me. Like most of boys in that era, I carried a small pocket knife. Usually they came from a local 5-dime store. My first knife came with the purchase of a pair Levis from Pete Briscoe's clothing store. I believe it was an Imperial knife. I graduated from Gainesville High School in May 1966. One week later, I went to work for General Dynamics, in Fort Worth, TX. as a tool and die maker apprentice. I was drafted into the Army in 1971, and did my basic training at Fort Ord, California. Two weeks before basic training ended, my orders were amended sending me to Germany rather than to Vietnam. At that time I was disappointed because I was ready to fight for my country.

Looking back now and being a little older, I am glad I was stationed in Germany, rather than the original tour of duty to Vietnam. Upon arrival to my duty station in Schwetzengen, Germany my responsibility was to maintain and operate a mobile machine shop. This mobile machine shop would prove be very valuable in my future.I saw my first handmade knife in 1966. I asked Mr. Talley, the knifemaker, to make one for me. He laughed. Indicating that if I wanted a handmade knife I would have to build my own. So in 1967, after much research, I made my first handmade knife. It was a folder with two blades. I thought my first knife was a very well made knife. I was told by others that the knife was indeed a very nice knife. Since my humble beginnings as a knifemaker in 1967, I have made many knives. My craftsmanship has greatly improved because I strive to make the next knife better than the last. I had an attachment to the first knives that I made, I would not sell them. There was no way I could put a price on them. To me every knife became a unique work of art. Therefore, I gave the knives away to people that appreciated the craftsmanship of handmade knives.

I still have an attachment to the knives that I make, but not so much to the knife, but to the craftsmanship of making the knife. After my tour of duty in the US army, in 1973, I went back to work at General Dynamics. While working at General Dynamics, I attended college and earned an Associate degree in Applied Science, machinist. By 1978, I had experienced several layoffs, in Aerospace Industries. I was offered a more secure job with Santa Fe Railroad in Gainesville, TX. I worked at Santa Fe Railroad for 5 years as a machinist. And you guessed it, there are no secure jobs. The railroad closed that facility, and I was once again without a job. I went back to work for General Dynamics. The drive to Fort Worth was 82 miles one way. I made that commute for nearly 3 years. My wife, Pauline and I decided that this daily commute had to stop. We sold the house in the country, and moved to Fort Worth. When we moved I had to leave my knife shop behind and I ended up selling most my equipment. Pauline and I have six children, five sons and one daughter. And we have ten absolutely wonderful grandchildren, three boys and seven girls. After raising my family I realized that my kids didn’t have one of my handcrafted knives. I wanted each child to have one of my handcrafted folders.

My wife and I want to travel after I retire from General Dynamics/Lockheed. From my military experience in Germany, I decided I would build a mobile knife shop. In order to fulfill this goal, I have converted a 22' utility trailer into a mobile knife shop. (Please visit my web site to see my mobile shop) By the time I had made six knives for the kids, I had the fever back and I wanted to make more knives.A lot of things had changed in the years of not making knives. I had always wanted to be in the Knifemakers’ Guild. I am very fortunate to have had a friend and mentor like Martin Pullen. He encouraged me to apply at the KnifeMakers’ Guild. Today, I am a probationary member and in 2005 I will become a voting member. While working at General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin, I have held several positions. (Tool and Die maker, Supervisor, Tool Engineer and Buyer) I also worked for Lockheed for 4 years as an off-site manager in Detroit, MI. Currently, I am working in Fort Worth, as a Manufacturing Engineer. I am looking forward to retiring from Lockheed very soon. My knives are made in my shop by me, using my equipment.

The Blade materials that I prefer to use are ATS-34, 154CM, 440C, D2 and Damascus steel. They have been selected for their ability to hold a sharp cutting edge. Some of these steels require double tempered after heat-treatment to reach the full optimal performance of the steel. I send my knife blades that are stainless steel to Paul Bos for heat-treatment. Steels that are carbon steel are heat-treated by me. I use the stock removal method to handcraft each knife.The primary handle materials that I use are Giraffe bone, Horn, Ivory, certain exotic woods, micarta, G10 and carbon fiber.

I try to use handle material that requires very little maintenance. In the future I want to forge my own Damascus steel. This is just another step in the process that I want to control. I believe that the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) has been very successful in promoting handmade knives. Now, all I have to do is find some time to pursue the world of forging.