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March 2008 Newsletter
Volume VIII, Issue III
Jonathan Reasor, Editor
President’s Message!
Hello KCA members,
It’s now the beginning of March and we need to start making plans on our activities for the year. There will be a meeting of the KCA Officers and Directors at 6:00 PM before our regular meeting on March 10th, we have a full agenda of issues to discuss so please be on time. Some of the issues are:
· Date and Place for Club Picnic
· Dates for knife show, availability and cost of VFW Post, possible other knife show locations
· Decide how to handle the “Kit Karson” Stag Knife engraving debacle, it should have been “Kit Carson”.
· Decide on the engraving for the KCA 2007 Pearl Club Knife, it’s a beautiful 3 Eye, 2 Blade Trapper
I would like to tell you about a group called the Mt. Washington Coon Hunters. They meet on the first Thursday of every month to trade knives and guns, swap stories and just have a good time. The meeting starts about 4:30 PM and several of our KCA members attend. The group has great facilities in Mt. Washington on secluded 13 acres which might be a good place to have our KCA Picnic this year. I have included directions at the end of my message if you would like to check out a meeting.
The KCA would also like to extend its sincere condolences to the family of Bruce Corish for their and our loss.
Glendon Downing, President
Directions: The meeting takes place on Houghlin Hill Road in Mt. Washington. If you head out Bardstown Road, it is about 4 miles past Highway 44 on the left next to a two story Log Cabin. You should also see some big plywood signs telling you where to go.
Jerry Bodner does it again!
Jerry Bodner has donated another beautiful mini knife for the KCA to raffle off as a fundraiser for the club. The knife is a D’ Holder Custom with drop point blade that has beautiful file work, a yellow-horse style handle with abalone, coral and turquoise. It is a gorgeous knife and it comes in an engraved presentation box. This knife will be awarded at our annual Christmas Party. The knife will be at the KCA meeting for viewing. Tickets will be 3 for $5.00. Thanks again Jerry for your generous contributions to the club.
Here is a little bit more on this great custom knifemaker and fellow KCA Member:
D'Alton Holder ("D" as he is widely known) was born in Heald, Texas at a time and in a place where guns, rifles and knives were commonplace and accepted. D has an older brother, an older sister, and a younger brother. He and his wife Pat have two daughters and a son, and, four grandchildren. His initial hobby was custom guns, and after one of his customers asked him to make a knife and was thrilled with it, D was hooked! He sold that first knife in 1966 for $8.00, and now, 41 years later, he is still making knives. They cost a whole lot more now though!
D has been a full-time knife maker since 1988,
and has
given much back to his craft, including many years on the executive board of the
Knifemakers Guild (including 8 years as President), and many years and positions
with the Arizona Knife Collectors Association. He freely shares his time,
knowledge and skills with others from all across America.
D's knife-making has taken place in: Denver, Phoenix, Amarillo, Farmington, back to Phoenix and now Peoria, with a different maker's mark for each place. He does his own leatherwork, and his sheaths truly compliment his knives. Each sheath is made specifically for the knife it accompanies, and is made as each knife is completed. His wife Pat does a lot of the engraving on his knives, and is also a major factor in D's success as a knife maker.
D is self-taught, and although many folks visit D in his shop, D makes all his knives himself without any assistants or help.
Tom Mix’s movie biography billed him as a 1/4 Cherokee-Oklahoma native, member of Teddy Roosevelt’s ”Rough Riders”, wounded veteran of Spanish-American War, Philippines insurrection, Boer War, & Boxer Rebellion, a Texas Ranger & U.S. Marshall. Of course none of it was true. This early movie cowboy was born in Pennsylvania of pure English ancestry. He was a U.S. Army deserter, small town Oklahoma Marshall and a Kansas deputy sheriff. Married 5 or 6 times...no one is
sure....he was one of the biggest stars of Hollywood in the 1920’s, and spent most of his earnings as fast as he made it. With the introduction of the “talkies” and the crash of the stock market In ‘29, Tom, using his fame, began a new career in the circus. Cornered between circus stops in 1933, Toms scribbled his approval for a radio show on the back of an Gardner Advertising Company envelope, and thus months later began the longest running juvenile radio cowboy show in U.S. history.
Ralston was given approval to have an impersonator of Mix for their show and with a continually changing cast of side-kicks and supporting characters. This series of ceaseless cowboy shenanigans, did not go off the air until 1950. The demand for Tom Mix radio premiums was so strong that virtually every type of child’s product was produced with a Tom Mix logo. From books to bandana, badges to branding irons, the Ralston cereal box tops poured into St Louis for 17 solid years. Those hard-earned dimes and quarters were taped to those box panels and anxious kids awaited the arrival of their eagerly sought treasures.
The Ideal Knife Company (1924-1986) of Providence, R.I. contracted with Ralston Purina for the production of an inexpensive, tipped bolstered jack knife which would be added to their line of late 1930’s cereal premiums. Although I could not find actual documentation, I believe the knife was available to the young members of the Straight Shooters club for a quarter and several cereal box tops. Thousands of these heat-stamped, cracked-ice celluloid handled jack knives were produced. Most of these pieces, although fairly well constructed for the money, did not survive the ravages of time & hard childhood use. Collectors today are lucky to find any example with full strong blades & the bright red & blue logo of the “Ralston Straight Shooters” stamped into the handle. Good hunting!
THE ELEGANT EASY-OPEN JACK by Barry Carithers
Designed
with a half-round notch at the rear of the knife handle, the easy-open has
provided generations of knife users a unique and simple way of opening the
master blade on various patterns of jack knives. The concept of the easy-open
goes back into the 19th century. One would like to think that it might have been
created by a New England cutler who had the disagreeable habit of biting his
nails. Short nails and lack of dexterity could have been the reasons for the
easy-open ranking among the top three desired styles of pocket knives among boys
of the early 20th century.
Generally found with a spear-point or sheeps-foot master blade, the easy-open was more commonly made with the swelled-jack pattern. Among the rarest pattern to use the easy-open was the gunstock, a concept popularized by Boker in the 1920’s & 1930’s. First created in knives with ebony, cocobolo, and walnut handles, it has also been used, but rarely, on jacks with pearl and ivory handles. Most frequently the easy open concept is found with jigged bone and celluloid handles. One has only to journey back six decades in time to re-discover the most prolific production of the easy-open style. This came in the years 1942-1945 with the accelerated manufacture of the jigged bone-handled Navy general utility pocket knife. Made under government contract by Camillius, Imperial, Pal, Utica, and Kingston, millions of attractive and finely-crafted “Navy easy-openers” were provided to the troops during WWII. Most are found with all steel liners, bolsters, and ball, although a few exceptions have been noted with brass liners and nickel-silver bolsters.
The gradual decline in the manufacture of the easy-open was accelerated with the introduction of the “blade hole” by Spyderco Knife Company in the 1980’s. Today we find a growing number of knife collectors who are specializing in easy-openers. With so many handle materials and numerous pattern styles to choose from, a knowledgeable collector could assemble a exquisite display of easy openers with moderate funds and a keen use of the Internet.
Good hunting!
Minutes - January Meeting Respectfully Submitted by Jonathan Reasor
The meeting was called to order by President Glendon Downing at 7:00 P.M on January 14, 2008 at the V.F.W. Post 8639. Members said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Æ Treasurers report was accepted as read by Jonathan Reasor. Gary Reasor attended his first meeting since going into the hospital in July. He said he was glad to be back and ready to trade a few knives.
Æ There was a short discussion regarding a 2008 KCA Knife Show. The Show Committee is Mac Howard, Jerry Bodner, Glendon Downing, Ben Gray, Eddy McIntosh, Gary Reasor and Jonathan Reasor
Æ The club asked the knife committee to investigate liability issues associated with different types of shows. One day verses two days or possibly a three day show..
Æ The Members were asked to check out our new website and present ideas for making it the best it can be for our club. Thanks and praise were given to Mike Carter for all his hard work on the website.
Æ Jim Haberman was presented the 2007 President’s Award for outstanding contributions to the KCA.
Æ Ben Gray presented a German 3 Eye Pearl 4 Blade Large Congress and a 3 Eye Pearl 2 Blade Large Trapper for as a possible 2007 Pearl Club Knife. A vote was taken by the members and it was decided to make the 2 Blade Large Trapper the 2007 Pearl Club Knife.
Æ Ben Gray updated us on the 2007 Stag Club Knife. They are being engraved and should be available at the next meeting.
Æ The 50/50 auction made $46.00 and the Choice knife raffle raised $43.00.
Meeting was adjourned.
Club Knife Update!!!
The 2007 Great Eastern Scout Trapper Stag 2 Blade Club Knives had some problems in engraving; Kit Carson was misspelled and the dates were left off the blade. So the etching is being redone at the engraver’s expense. This is a rare mistake made by a company that has a great record of doing business with our club and they have guaranteed that they will make it right. These knives should be available for the April Meeting and should start mailing out the same time.
The 2007, 3 Eye Pearl 2 Blade Trapper Knives are ready to be sent to engraving. A decision on what and how to do the engraving will be made at Mondays Directors Meeting. The knives should be ready by the April meeting and should start mailing out at the same time. The pearl on these knives is absolutely gorgeous. The cost will be $90. This will be a limited run of 25 knives so get your orders in.
The 2007 Great Eastern Scout Trapper Primitive Bone 2 Blade Youth Knives have been selling well but there are still a few available if you order now.
Click HERE for Order form for all three knives!
~ KNIFE SHOWS ~
March 1-2 ~ R&K Gun & Knife Show, Ashland, KY
El Hasa Temple, 13450 State Rt. 180,
For more information call(563)927-8176 or (563)927-8207
or e-mail: kehrli8@n-connect.net
March 1-2 ~ TRI-STATE Gun & Knife Show, Salem,
IN
National Guard Armory Freeman Field
For information call (812)521-9367
March 7-8 ~ NKCA N.W. GA Knife Show (Dalton, GA)
(Held in conjunction with Goodman Gun
Show)
For more information call (423) 875-6009 or e-mail: NKCALisa@hotmail.com
March 8-9 ~ R&K Gun & Knife Show, Lexington, KY
Heritage Hall of Lexington Center.
For more information call (563)927-8176 or (563)927-8207
or e-mail: kehrli8@n-connect.net
March 15-16 ~ R&K Gun & Knife Show,
Hopkinsville, KY
Western KY State Fairgrounds Convention
Center.
For more information call (563)927-8176 or (563)927-8207
or e-mail: kehrli8@n-connect.net
March 29-30 ~ TRI-STATE Gun & Knife Show,
Seymour, IN
National Guard Armory Freeman Field
For information call (812)521-9367
April 5-6 ~ R&K Gun & Knife Show, Somerset, KY
The Center, 2292 S. Hwy. 27
For more information call (563)927-8176 or (563)927-8207
or e-mail: kehrli8@n-connect.net
April 19-20 ~ TRI-STATE Gun & Knife Show,
Evansville, IN
National Guard Armory
For information call (812)521-9367
April 11-13 ~ NKCA Wilmington, Ohio Spring Knife
Show
For more information call (423) 875-6009
or e-mail: NKCALisa@hotmail.com
April 26-27 ~ TRI-STATE Gun & Knife Show, New
Albany, IN
National Guard Armory
For information call (812)521-9367
March 2008 Newsletter
Kentucky Cutlery Association
KCA MEETING
March 10, 2008
7:00 P.M.
VFW Post
4205 Lambert
626 West Woodlawn Ave.
Louisville, KY 40215
Phone: (502)367-6772
Jonathan Reasor,
Editor
E-mail: kca@insightbb.com
Officers
President - Glendon Downing
Vice-President - Mac Howard (270)877-5718
Secretary - Jonathan Reasor (502)367-6772
Treasurer - Gary Reasor (502)367-6772
Sergeant at Arms - Ben Gray
Board
Directors
Deborah Buchanan - 2
Jim Haberman - 2
Dan Johnson - 2
Bill Medlock - 2
Dale Greenwell - 1
Robert Grenwell - 1
Joe Jones - 1
Webmaster - Mike Carter mike@cartercrafts.com
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS MARCH 9, DON’T FORGET TO SET THE CLOCKS UP AN
HOUR !!!
Knife Swap ~ Every Monday Morning, 8:00 A.M. at Hardee’s Restaurant, 9506 Taylorsville Road
2007 CLUB and 2007 Youth KNIFE ORDERS
2007 Pearl Club Knife -
3 EYE Mother of Pearl
4 In., 2 Blade Large Trapper - 1 0f 25
2 Color Deep Acid Etching on Blade $90.00
2007 Club Knife - Great
Eastern Genuine Stag Model 73
3¾ in. 2 blade Scout Trapper
Knife
Special color etching on blade - 1 of 25
$90.00
2007 Youth Knife - Great
Eastern Primitive Bone Model 73
3¾ in. 2 blade Scout Trapper Knife
Special color etching
on blade - 1 of 25 $70.00
