• Custom knife expert for 40 years
  • Exclusive designs & limited editions
  • Personal customer service
  • Offering custom knives from some of
    the best custom knife makers in the world
08
MAY
2026

The Magical Decades – Collectible Vintage

Posted By :
Comments : Off

The latest Blade Magazine highlights the Magical Decades of the 80’s & 90’s when Custom Knives came of age. Many of the knife patterns and styles that were to become iconic were developed or refined. Several founding members of the knife maker organizations were in their prime. On pages 48-53, Les recalls the knives & knife makers that made collecting great back then.

Blog Magical Decades 80's 90's Blade Magazine march 2026 Vintage Custom Knives Les Robertson Field Editor Sigman, Rigney, Davis, Busfield, Chappel, Lovestrand Custom knives from the 1980’s-1990’s have become especially collectable, not just because of nostalgia.  To understand why, a trip down memory lane is in order, click to read the entire article online.

We now have some of the knives available for sale that Les was writing about in the article.

 

Doug Casteel Custom Presentation Fluted Dagger Pink Ivory Handle Vintage Beautiful Work! WC Bill Davis Custom made Drop Point Hunter Ivory Hunting Knife studied under Bob Loveless Full Tapered Tang Vintage Knife Gordon Defreest Custom made Presentation Fighter Vintage Fixed Blade Cocobolo handle Studied under George Herron Full Tapered Tang Mirror Finish Ron Gaston Custom Drop Point Hunting Knife Vintage Hunter Gorgeous California Buckeye Burl Full Tapered Tang Leather Sheath

Ruffin Johnson Custom Vintage Hunting Knife Ruffin, El Lobo Solo The Lone Wolf was known for his unique handle configurations. He made knives for 40 years Handle is a combo of Ivory, Maple, Oosik & Snakewood Great handle ergonomics! Butch Vallotton Bill Harsey Collaboration Applegate Fairbairn Custom Combat Folder Vintage 1994 Serial #009 Tactical Folding Knife Rare double edged daggers Gordon Defreest Custom made Semi Skinner Sambar Stag George Herron Student Full Tapered Tang Jody Sampson Tactical Boot Fighter Custom Rare Vintage Knife double hollow grind double edge blade

 

The ’80s and ’90s encompass a unique intersection of custom knife history, innovation, craftsmanship and scarcity. In the 1970s, custom knifemaking was mostly hobby-based and regional. The two leading knifemaker organizations were The Knifemakers’ Guild and the American Bladesmith Society (ABS), established in 1970 and 1976, respectively. The latter, in fact, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The two organizations helped move knifemaking from a predominantly hobbyist pursuit into the business realm. Custom knifemaking had become a viable full-time option for some custom makers.

Knife makers like Schuyler Lovestrand, Rod Chappel, Jack Busfield, WC Davis, Willie Rigney & Corbet Sigman are featured in the article with photos taken and provided by Robertson’s Custom Cutlery. These craftsmen took pride in their work & were personally involved with every aspect of making the knife that came out of their shop. The knives made in this era encompassed a unique intersection of custom knife history, innovation, craftsmanship and scarcity.

A shout out to the Knifemaker’s Guild (est. 1970) & the American Bladesmith Society who are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year.

If you were fortunate enough to be collecting custom knives in those Magical Decades and have some you might wish to sell or consign, please contact Les to discuss. customknives@comcast.net | 706.650-0252. We are always looking for quality, custom knives and will work with you to get a fair price.