Joe Keeslar, M.S. Brut De Forge Hunting Knife, 50th Anniversary (SOLD)
$0.00
Joe Keeslar is a United States Marine. He completed his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Arts Education at Murray State University with majors in Wood and Metal working. He then taught Industrial Arts at Murray High School for the next twenty-three years retiring in 1993. Joe's love of crafts began at a very young age. He tooled leather as a teenager, made his first knives in 1962, and built his first Dixie Gun Works kit long rifle in 1964. Active in black powder buck skinning he built Pennsylvania flintlock rifles, pistols, fowling pieces, and accessories. In the mid seventies Joe first met Bill Moran who was exhibiting his early Damascus steel knives at the second American Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA) Conference in Lumpkin, Georgia. He returned home to make his first Damascus knife the next week. In the early eighties he attended an American Bladesmith Society hammer-in at Washington, Arkansas, saw demonstrations by Bill Moran, Don Hastings, and Bill Bagwell, and heard his first Bill "BR" Hughes presentation on James Bowie and the Bowie knife. He immediately joined the ABS due to its focus on education, and promptly switched from rifle making to knife making. Joe received his Journeyman Smith rating in 1987 and Master Smith rating in 1989. He is a frequent instructor at the William F. Moran School of Bladesmithing, and has served on the Board of Directors of the association since 1989 and was Chairman of the ABS from June 2003 through June 2007.
This is a Joe Keeslar Hunter, built in Joe’s signature Brut De Forge style. It was likely forged from a file or rasp. Joe oftentimes used old French rasp cut files. The handle has been wrapped with nylon cord, ending in a unique bead. The top edge of the clip point blade has not been sharpened. The integral finger choil affords the user a secure and positive grip of the knife. It is quite comfortable to hold in-hand. Joe’s maker’s mark is seen on the presentation side of the “flat”.
The frog button, tooled leather sheath was also made by Joe. The stamping on the back indicates that this knife was made in 2012, to commemorate Joe’s 50th anniversary of knifemaking, 1962 – 2012. A little piece of Joe Keeslar’s knifemaking career. The knife is previously owned, and in excellent condition. It has never been used, carried, or re-sharpened. Of note are the initials “BH” stamped on the front of the sheath. These are the initials of the original owner, who purchased the knife directly from Joe in 2012. The knife is comfortable in-hand and well balanced. Ready to be put to work.
Condition: Previously owned, Excellent.
Never carried, used or sharpened
- Overall length: 8 1/2"
- Blade length: 4 1/2"
- Handle length: 4"