Beginning through the end

not2sharp

not2sharp

Platinum Member
Joined
Jun 29, 1999
Messages
19,876
Like each of us, knifemakers have to start somewhere and eventually will have to end their careers. The prevailing opinion is that you wouldn't want an early knife, since the makers skills are likely still developing. nor would you want a knife made towards the end of his run, since he may be suffering from advanced age and no longer able to perform at his peak.

Lets put that to the test. I would like for us to post examples of a maker's early work, along side examples of his final work. I am sure that many of them went out at the top of their careers while others continued to make knives for way too long.

n2s
 
Let me start with a Florida Knife Maker by the name of Tom Enos.

Tom started making knives under his own name in 1973, after spending a year working at Randall Made Knives. Prior to that he was in aerospace and worked on engine components for the early space program. He was an interesting person, among other things he was a helicopter pilot, and also famously known as someone who had said no to Disney when they came knocking at his door. He actually owned property right in the middle of the Orlando resort and steadfastly refused to sell. He passed recently and still had a 7 acre lot within the Disney property line.

Here is an example of his work from 1973. This was his 135th knife.:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/custom-made-tom-enos-knife-one-of-a-kind

This is a much later example from 2007. It was his 1,765th knife, and he would only make another 35 knives over the next 10 years.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/big-bowie-knife-tom-enos-randall-117715968


n2s
 
Last edited:
Very early Loveless's (1950's) -
216-DelMaid.jpg
.

https://blademag.com/wp-content/uploads/216-DelMaid.jpg .

Bob-Loveless-Abercrombie-Fitch-Bowie.jpg
.


Loveless 2007ish -

Bob-Loveless-Chute-Knife.jpg
.
 
Last edited:
This thread is going to be fantastic if any of the.previous posts are a sign of things to come!!!!!!
 
Most knife makers either get better over time or stay about the same.

The good ones continue to improve and call it quits when they can no longer deliver a quality product.
 
tltt said:
Very early Loveless's (1950's) -
216-DelMaid.jpg
.

https://blademag.com/wp-content/uploads/216-DelMaid.jpg .

Bob-Loveless-Abercrombie-Fitch-Bowie.jpg
.


Loveless 2007ish -

Bob-Loveless-Chute-Knife.jpg
.
Click to expand...

It is rumored that Bob actually completed his last knife sometime in the 1990’s due to health issues and that his knives were actually finished by some of his best disciples, like Steve Johnson. This was mainly to fill orders from a years-long list.

Again, this is something I heard at the shows and I am not an authority - but would love to hear from people more knowledgeable than me

His final complete knife was said to be a Big Bear Bowie delivered 25 years after it was ordered
 
Finally an excellent thread to read and get educated about great knife makers, half of which I personally never heard about…
I only wish some of the pictures were visible.
 
not2sharp said:
Let me start with a Florida Knife Maker by the name of Tom Enos.

Tom started making knives under his own name in 1973, after spending a year working at Randall Made Knives. Prior to that he was in aerospace and worked on engine components for the early space program. He was an interesting person, among other things he was a helicopter pilot, and also famously known as someone who had said no to Disney when they came knocking at his door. He actually owned property right in the middle of the Orlando resort and steadfastly refused to sell. He passed recently and still had a 7 acre lot within the Disney property line.

Here is an example of his work from 1973. This was his 135th knife.:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/custom-made-tom-enos-knife-one-of-a-kind

This is a much later example from 2007. It was his 1,765th knife, and he would only make another 35 knives over the next 10 years.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/big-bowie-knife-tom-enos-randall-117715968


n2s
Click to expand...

AR-Trvlr said:
Love the concept, but your links aren’t working for me.
Click to expand...

Your links work just fine not2sharp not2sharp 👌
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top