About the South Carolina Association of Knifemakers

The South Carolina Association of Knifemakers (SCAK) prides itself on the quality of its members' products, "quality resulting from continuing education; a sharing of knowledge of materials, manufacturing skills, techniques, and marketing." Find out about the history of the South Carolina Association of Knifemakers, its members and its ongoing activities.

Beginning of the SCAK

Duncan Rutherford invited knife makers from throughout the state to attend and participate in the Third Annual Gun & Knife Show, which took place in August, 1980, in Aiken, South Carolina. Rutherford, then the president of the Aiken Arms Collectors Association, as well as a knife enthusiast and collector, suggested the idea of a state-wide guild for knife makers. Ten of South Carolina's knife makers (Richard Bridwell, Wayne Childress, Gordon DeFreest, Steve Fecas, Dick Gillenwater, George Herron, Tommy Lee, Joe Prince, Ralph Smith and Chip Williams), as well as three scrimshanders (Bob Burdette, Jim Gullette and Ron Williams) along with Rutherford himself, officially formed the South Carolina Association of Knifemakers.

Mission of SCAK

The members of the South Carolina Association of Knifemakers, from all over the state of South Carolina, "exchange ideas and information, and promote the knife making craft, custom knives, and knife makers, and assist knife makers and promote ethical and professional business conduct." While some members create functional knives for fishermen and hunters, others specialize in the manufacture of tactical knives, throwing knives or even conventional knives for cooking or the dining room table.

Membership in SCAK

In order to enjoy status as a full-fledged member of the South Carolina Association of Knifemakers, a knife maker must submit an application, signed by two current members who have personally observed the candidate's work, and who believe that the candidate is an "asset" to the organization. Of the 60 or 70 members of the SCAK, only a few dozen qualify as voting members. Ralph Smith, of Taylors, South Carolina, presently serves as the president of the SCAK.

Activities of SCAK

The South Carolina Association of Knifemakers meets twice a year. Once in the spring, and once in the fall. The fall meeting of the SCAK also features the Knife of the Year competition, open to makers of fixed-blade knives or folding knives. Members of the SCAK recently displayed their work in an exhibition at "Art on the Knife-Edge," an exhibition at the South Carolina State Museum.

The craftsmen of the South Carolina Association of Knifemakers work together to promote interest in, and knowledge about, the craft of knife making throughout the state of South Carolina. By sharing knowledge and skills, and challenging themselves with competitions, members of the SCAK continue to produce many different types of knives of increasingly good quality.