Not necessarily your influence or mentor, but the knifemaker, living or dead, that you look up to, as the definition of a knifemaker, the best in your opinion.

Buster Warenski.

only one?

tough one....at the moment it must be Terzuola. I have gotten into a craze about his knives....and don?t even have any yet...but one is on it?s way....soon hopefully.

I like him because the few folders of his I have handle have been the best I have ever felt. e does GREAT design work and his book is real good.

Off the very top of the list it's gotta be Mr. Engnath and David Boye.

Well the only knifemakers I've ever really studied would be Loveless and Moran. Only because I had access to books with thier input in them.

Other than those the fellas on this forum have given me much in the way of help and guidance. Special thanks to: Don Cowles, Steve Johnson, and Gene Osborne.

You've helped me more than you know!

Ok, Im not a maker. But if I was, George Herron would be at the top of my long list.

I'd have to say Fain Edwards. you used to see his stuff in the mags occasionally, and I always really loved the look of his work. It really appeals to me and is very much what I am trying to do. I actually know very little about Mr. Edwards, but several years ago when I was getting going good, I wrote him a letter and told him I really responded to his work, etc. Looking back on it I think I assumed he was a venerable old Master, but jeez he could have been 20 years old for all I know. Any way, Fain called my house while I was at work and left a message. I lost his phone number and was too embarresed to follow up. Gee whiz. Any way, Hi
Fain if your listening. I'm still forging blades.

In Knives 2001:

Fain Edwards 828-321-3127

George Herron would be hard to beat by any standards. He is a class act and a fantastic knife maker. He helped me more than he knows and we spent some very plesant times when he was still in Aken S.C. Three cheers for George

James L. Poplin

Are we talking about the James Poplin who also sells knifemaking supplies? If so, he's from my home town. His brother runs one of the local gun shops, and his father was the principle of one of the schools for many many years. He's a good guy, and I always try to buy alot of my supplies from him at Southeastern Custom Knife Show in Winston Salem each year. Is he still making any knives? I've seen some of his work and it's top shelf.

Dana,

got this link from Mike Snody's website, looks like he is not actively selling his knives on the web, at least not on this site.

www.popsknifesupplies.com/ (http://www.popsknifesupplies.com/)


Hope this helps ya out.

Yep,that's the one J.L. Poplin.
He's not actively making knives now due to his knife making
supply business. He's been my mentor since 1994.
Thanks,Alvin
www.blademan.org

Mr Poplin is a member of our Association. I haven't met him yet, but should soon!

Ed Fowler....he knows what a knife is supposed to be.

Wayne Goddard...down to earth

Don Fogg.... a good blade and artistic expression





ghostdog

Bill Bagwell - simple, clean, and good

I would have to say Don Fogg. His website has helped me on numerous occasions. I love to look at his work on the site.

Craig

I look up to every knifemaker!! More so to the ones that I've met and interacted with but I would have to say all of them because i can't single out just one!!

Man, there are so many great makers that I look up to it is a tough question. I would have to say Eldon Peterson, great folders. Bill Harsey, great fighters, and SR Johnson for his clean classic lines.

I agree with Les Herron is a great.
Wade Colter is a great maker. He is out there but he has the aura.

I have had a lot of help from a lot of makers in my career. The ones who I have actually worked close with and who has had a lot of influence in my work are George Herron, Walter Brend, Tom Maringer, Jim Crowell and Harry McEvoy.

Bobby

That is to hard to decide, as great knife maker is born with each great knife.
Wayne.Wayne.Wayne

Tim Herman and Bill Pease. Both do beautiful and original work. Now one of them
might be a little out spoken, but that's OK.

Stay Safe,
A.T.

Not only is he a great knifemaker, but a decent guitar player and a pretty good Dad!

There's a few that I really look up to...

Terry Primos, Joe Kious, Ed Caffrey, Josef Rusnak, and Antonio Montejano. Each one has their own unique sense of style and are all extremely tallented. If I could only be half as good as any of these fine makers....

Chris Nilluka

Wow! This is an old post I started about 4 years ago! Someone dug deep in the archives for this baby! ;)

There's alot of fine knifemakers out there, but these are my major influences.

1. Wayne Goddard.

Before reading his books I thought knifemaking was only for those guys who had a shop and all kinds of big fancy equipment. He's the guy who made me dig around in my fathers tiny little toolshed in the backyard and make a "knife" with what I had on hand. I emailed him a few times, and he answered all the questions I had. Nice guy.

2. Jens Anso

The first time I saw his knives is when I stumbled across his website. I was awe stricken. Jens makes the absolute coolest knives I've ever seen. The epitome of form and function. I also emailed him a few times. Very nice and helpful guy.

3. Terry Primos

His tutorials are excellent. He has the same effect on me as Wayne Goddard, making knifemaking seem more down to earth, and that's encouraging. Everyone has different tastes in what they like in knives, and Terry's knives have everything I look for.

Hmmm...

David Boye wrote the book that made me believe I could do it when I was 12 or 13 years old.

His knives are not the best, his methods aren't either. But his can-do attitude and inspiring book make him first on a long list of knifemakers I'd like to buy a drink.

Andy

Don Fogg.

Just about everyone that has been listed so far has had a impact on my knifemaking career. However, the Esteemed Dr. Jim Lucie, on my left, has had the most influence. In a very short period of time, I learned more from this person than I could have read or done myself in years. He is a Scagel expert, and was also his physician. His willingness to share is almost unequaled. Why do I say "almost"? Because recently, another expert has been helping me with yet another phase that's involved with knives, and that's Paul Long, for his expert help in my sheathmaking. Thanks to these two fine gentlemen, my abilities in knife and sheath work has taken a noticeable change for the better. I posted a photo of Paul several days ago, and here's Dr. Lucie.
http://www.fototime.com/4F4A6568A750E4D/standard.jpg

Don Fogg!

I would have to say Don Fogg. His website has helped me on numerous occasions. I love to look at his work on the site.