Page 31 - Blade (February 2020)

“He was extremely intelligent,” observed
Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer B.R. Hughes. “He
was profi cient in terms of intellect, and his
ability to communicate was outstanding—
probably because of his background in
education.”
Ted was first a teacher of mathematics,

progressing to a teacher who made knives

with his fi rst effort in 1967 and fi nally
becoming a full-time knifemaker in 1975.
“When we met in that calculus class, Ted
was a math major and I was struggling,”
Betty laughed. “I thought that if I ‘hitched
my wagon’ in the right place, I might make

it!” The two were married on Oct. 3, 1953,
and the union lasted until Ted’s death in
th

2012 at age 83—two days after their 59
wedding anniversary.

The journey was long, challenging and,
ultimately, quite rewarding. Ted was born
®
Dowell trues up the surfaces of one of his integral-hilt-and-cap designs. (BLADE fi le photo) in Waltham, Massachusetts, a suburb of
Boston, and Betty was originally from

hen T.M. “Ted” Dowell made a said, “Ted was very quiet—until he got to Maine. They found their home in Oregon
knife, the sum of the parts was know you.” after a bit of friendly advice from one of

Walmost always something of ex- A commitment to excellence in Ted’s Navy buddies.
cellence. Known as one of the best custom any endeavor is serious business, and, “When Ted graduated from college in
knifemakers of his era, Dowell understood compared to the rest, Ted had a head start 1951, it was the height of the Korean War,”
the sweep of the curve and the subtleties when it came to getting things right. His Betty remembered. “He got a draft notice in
of the angle. And when he fi nished, every- undergraduate and master’s degrees in January and a deferment until June. When
thing added up. After all, he was a math- mathematics from Boston University were he finished school, Uncle Sam was waiting

ematician, too. Go fi gure! proof enough of that. (Ironically, he met at the bottom of the stairs. He had joined
Many who met Ted during a knifemaking Betty in an integral calculus class.) the Naval Reserve while on deferment
career that spanned more than four decades
recall seeing him at a show dressed in a suit
and tie, a table of fine, handmade knives

laid out before him with his wife, Betty,
at his side. The two of them never missed

a Knifemakers’ Guild Show for 40 years,
proud of an unbroken string of perfect
attendance that stretched until 2010.
Dowell popularized the integral knife,
made from a single piece of steel and
known to many as the integral hilt and
cap. He was best known for his hunting
and skinning knives, and also his art
knives and the precision-built Funny
Folder. He was one of 11 original founding
members of the Guild in 1970, serving as
the organization’s president from 1975 to
1976, and championing the development
of the Guild Show into one of the industry’s
premier annual events.
“Ted was a serious person who was also
courteous and professional,” remembered
Dave Harvey of Nordic Knives, who hosted
the Solvang Custom Show* for many years.
BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame®
The Funny Folder was one of Dowell’s best-known designs. (SharpByCoop image)
member Dan Delavan of Plazacutlery.com

FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 31