(SharpByCoop.com knife photo)

“I became interested in knives when I was about 7 or 8 years old,” Ronald Best begins. “I would grind Dad’s wrenches up trying to make a knife.” Around nine years ago, Best made a meat cleaver for his father and enjoyed the process so much that he decided to intensify the pursuit. “I was contacted by a collector who wanted an integral knife,” he recalls. “I made the knife for him and it turned out great.” Best works primarily with 440C, D2 and ATS-34, and does all of his carving with files and sandpaper. He won the W.W. Cronk Award as a probationary member at the 2007 Knifemakers’ Guild Show. His integral (right) is done in 440C with a madrone burl handle. His contact information: 1489 Adams Ln., Dept. BL9, Stokes, NC 252.714.1264 ronbestknives@msn.com.

This article appears in the Knifemaker Showcase section of the September 2008 BLADE.

“Knifemaker Showcase” spotlights the photographs of knives sent by any and all custom knifemakers to BLADE® for filing in the Knifemakers’ Archive. The Knifemakers’ Archive is the most complete collection of photographs of knifemakers’ knives and information in the world. If you are a custom knifemaker and have not sent us a photo (the better quality the photo, the better chance it has of getting in the magazine), write to: BLADE, c/o F+W/Krause Publications, 700 E. State, Iola, WI?54990 brendan.obrien@fwpubs.com. Please include a close-up mug shot of yourself with your knife picture.