Kentucky Cutlery Association

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  Dedicated to the Support of the World of Knives 

December 2008 Newsletter
Volume VIII, Issue XI
Jonathan Reasor, Editor

KENTUCKY CUTLERY ASSOCIATION

2009 KNIFE SHOW

Paroquet Springs Conference Center

395 Paroquet Springs Drive, Shepherdsville, KY

June 26, 27 & 28 2009

Show Hours:

Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Free Admission with Donation to the "Crusade For Children"

Exhibitor Information:

8 foot sales tables: KCA Members - $65 each.
Non-Members: $75 for first table and KCA Membership, $65 for each additional table.

6 foot display table - $15 each

Exhibitor Set-Up Friday June 26, 7:00 AM, Saturday and Sunday, June 27 & 28 - 8:00 AM

Contact Jerry Bodner (502) 968-9546 or (502) 552-1103 (Cell) or Gary Reasor (502) 367-6772 or kca@insightbb.com

Click HERE for Printable Table Reservation Form

Message from the Editor

by Jonathan Reasor

If you missed the last meeting then you missed one of the biggest announcements in NKCA and KCA history.

The NKCA has dropped it's spring Louisville Show. Jerry Bodner, sensing a need for the show and an opportunity for the KCA, negotiated a great deal with the Paroquet Springs Conference Center for the KCA to have a show. He presented the information at our meeting and the members voted to have the show. Jerry Bodner is going to chair the show and has already been working hard to get the vendors and knife-makers from the fall show to come to our KCA show. Jerry has also been working his contacts to get some vendors and knife-makers who haven't been to the show for a while or ever to attend. I can't mention names yet, but it looks like this is going to be a great show. A special thanks to Jerry for all his hard work on the show and his continued support of the KCA.

Miniature knives of the Early Sheffield Cutlers

BY BARRY CARITHERS

Among past generations of Sheffield knife makers, the cutler who crafted the spring-back knives, held the honor of being among the most highly skilled workers of Hallamshire. Now Hallamshire was the region that surrounded the town of Sheffield. It was the local sandstone from which grindstones were made, the availability of water power, and the creation first of blister steel that placed this great city on the British map as the true center of their cutlery industry.

The spring-knife cutler, was constantly tested by his fellow craftsman to display his skill and dexterity at his trade. To do so, the multi-bladed miniature spring-back, considered a most difficult piece to create, displayed the true talents of these craftsmen. Whether it was for amusement, bragging rights, or a tiny gift for the wife's sewing basket, the fine qualities of creating miniatures of multi-bladed pieces divided the simple blowhard from the truly adept professional. Master cutlers were also known to require their apprentices to craft tiny pieces to prove their worthiness.

With tiny rat-tailed bolsters and fine scales of pearl and ivory, tiny miniature pieces were created with three, four, six, or more blades. One of the truly most beautiful miniature multi-blades pieces, was conceived by a cutler at Rodgers with 25 blades & tools, and a total length of less than 1 1/2 inches when closed.

One should not forget that London was another British cutlery center that could also trace its heritage at creating fine edged weapons back to the medieval period. A history of rivalry between the cutlers of Sheffield & London went back several hundred years and wonderful vintage mini-springbacks with London, Sheffield, or commonly no tang markings, will occasionally occur on the marketplace.

Today, the growing numbers of British cutlery collectors have re-discovered these tiny gems created by their forefathers at the working cottages and factories in Victorian Sheffield and London. No longer ignored as just a novelty of past generations, fine British miniature folders will bring a very premium price on both English collectables web sites and at the shops that specialize in fine vintage cutlery and militaria in London and other larger cities in the United Kingdom. If one is ever fortunate to travel to the rural shires of Great Britain, a small, out-of-the-way antique shop might be the hiding place of a tiny leather knife purse that holds one of these treasures at a bargain price for you! Good hunting!

KCA OFFICER DUTIES AS PRESCRIBED IN THE BY-LAWS!

President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and at meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall have general and active management of the business and affairs ofthe Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.

Vice President: The Vice President shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President, and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

Secretary: The Secretary shall endeavor to attend all meetings of the membership and Board of Directors, and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He/she shall attest all instruments and documents requiring attestation, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President. If the Secretary is not present at any meeting, the President may appoint a member to act as Secretary during the course of such meeting.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate records of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. He/she shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name of and to the credit ofthe Corporation in such depositories as may be approved by the Board of Directors. He/she shall disburse the funds of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements and policies of the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render and account ofthe fiscal condition of the Corporation at each regular meeting of the membership. If required by the Board of Directors, he/she shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such security as will be satisfactory to the Board for the faithful performance of his/her duties, any cost of such bond to be paid for from corporate funds.

Sergeant-at-Arms: The Sergeant-at-Arms shall keep order at all meetings and shall see that all faculties are properly set up.

Members requested that these be printed in newsletter at November Meeting.

Jonathan Reasor, Secretary

• The meeting was called to order by President Glendon Downing at 7:00 P.M on November 10, 2008 at the V.F.W. Post 8639. Members said the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Glendon Downing informed the Members of the passing of Shelby "Pockets" Wentworth and shared some of his fond memories of him. A moment of reflection was observed in his honor.
   

• Treasurers' report was accepted as read by Jonathan Reasor. Glendon reminded the club about the Christmas Party.
   

• Jerry Bodner reported on the NKCA cancellation of the Spring Knife Show and the opportunity for the KCA to fill the void by having it's own show at Paroquet Springs. A good discussion was had by the members about the show with the members voting to have the show in June. More details on page I of the newsletter.
   

• Nominations were accepted for the 2009 Officers and Directors. Members requested duties be published in newsletter.

• Mac Howard conducted a lively auction with several items being sold.

• Glendon adjourned the meeting.

2008 D' Holder Custom Pearl Club Knife with Hand Made Sheath.

Knife is 5 3/8 inches long and has D'Holder, Peoria AZ laser etched on one side and will have the KCA logo or KCA etched on the other side. Limit of one knife per customer.

It's beautifully crafted with a custom sheath. There is only going to be forty of these made. D' has only made club khives once before and that was for his home club.

We only have a few more available and they are being sold on a first come first serve basis. It's a $125.00 to reserve a knife or $250.00 to pay in full. A special thanks goes out to D' Holder and Jerry Bodner for making this special opportunity available to the KCA Members.

Click HERE for printable order form.

Be sure to order your 2007 KCA Club and Youth Knives before they are all gone! 

The 2007 Pearl Club Knife has already sold out but we still have a few 2007 Stag Club Knives and
2007 Bone Youth Knives available.

Click HERE for the order form.

~ KNIFE SHOWS ~

Nominations for 2009 Officers and Directors

Use this form as a reminder at the November meeting. Officers and Directors may succeed themselves.

Current Office Holders                                 Nominations

President - Glendon Downing                                    President - Jerry Bodner

Vice President - Mac Howard                                   Vice President - Jim Haberman

Secretary - Jonathan Reasor                                     Secretary -

Treasurer - Gary Reasor                                           Treasurer - Gary Reasor

Sergeant at Arms - Ben Gray                                    Sergeant at Arms -

Board of Directors

Deborah Buchanan - 1 Year Remaining

Jim Haberman - 1 Year Remaining

Dan Johnson - 1 Year Remaining

Bill Medlock - 1 Year Remaining

Dale Greenwell - Term Expiring                                Director - Dale Greenwell

Robert Greenwell - Term Expiring                            Director - Robert Greenwell

Joe Jones - Term Expiring                                         Director - Mike Carter

December 2008 Newsletter

Kentucky Cutlery Association
626 West Woodlawn Ave.
Louisville, KY 40215
Phone: (502) 367-6772
www.kentuckycutlery.com

Jonathan Reasor, Editor
E-mail: kca@insightbb.com

Officers
President - Glendon Downing (502) 459-5358
Vice-President - Mac Howard (270) 877-5718
Secretary - Jonathan Reasor (502) 367-6772
Treasurer - Gary Reasor (502) 367-6772
Sergeant at Arms - Ben Gray (502) 409-7932

Board Directors       
Deborah Buchanan - 2
Jim Haberman - 2
Dan Johnson - 2
Bill Medlock - 2
Dale Greenwell - 1
Robert Greenwell - 1
Joe Jones - 1

Regular Meetings are held at the V.F.W. Post.
The address is 4205 Lambert, which is located off Preston Hwy in Okolona.
CLICK HERE for a map.