Page 34 - Blade (February 2020)

PAST MASTERS |
Three old friends share time at a past
Art Knife Invitational, from left: BLADE
Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame member Bob
®
Loveless and Ted and Betty Dowell. Ted and
Bob spent hours on the phone developing the
bylaws of the Knifemakers’ Guild.
he visited Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bo
Randall’s knife operation in Orlando. He
read books and worked at making knives,
teaching himself.
“He taught school and continued that as
a sideline,” Betty explained. “At that time,
custom knives were in their infancy. He
basically had two jobs—teaching school
and making knives—and then he made the
jump to full-time knifemaker.”
For some, that would have been a leap of
faith. For Ted, it was a step ahead.
“He hated the bookkeeping, and I had
plenty to do in the house. So, he was in the
shop, and I was taking care of the business
end. That’s the way it worked for 40 years,”
she said. “I had to pay for all the equipment
he suddenly decided he had to have and
Fancy integrals were also part of the Dowell
repertoire, as done here in a double-fullered
blade. (Weyer International image)
34 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
that he couldn’t aff ord not to buy because it
was such a bargain.”
Ted’s knife business fl ourished with
Betty doing the bookkeeping. He never
took a deposit and amassed a backlog
of orders that, at one time, stretched to
seven years. When the customer’s order
number came up, a phone call confi rmed
that he still wanted the ordered knife,
and the work began. It didn’t take long
for the rest of the budding custom knife
community to take note.
ONE-PIECE WONDER
In 1973, Hughes wrote that Ted made 11
models of functional design, using carbon-
tungsten tool steel and standard handle Ted Dowell circa the early 1970s.
materials. Today, he stands firm in his
assessment of Dowell’s work. produce a superior cutting tool, not just an
“For one thing, it was far above average attractive knife. He was also quite versatile,
in terms of slickness and cleanness. He able to produce fancy art knives, folders and
was one of the first makers I am aware of great hunting knives.”
who used the one-piece blade, tang and However, the integral remains Ted’s
buttcap, and one of the few who off ered legacy. Delavan confirms that, “more
an aluminum guard and buttcap that gave makers started doing integral designs aft er
a knife better balance. Ted’s designs were Ted, and the high-end work pushed others
smooth. He set himself apart with his to do so as well. At the time there was a
workmanship,” Hughes stated. handful of makers, and Ted was among the
B.R.’s favorite Dowell creation is the best. The Funny Folder was also really well
Model 5 fixed-blade hunter with an made. There were no loose parts and the
aluminum guard and cap. Hughes once workmanship was the best.”
owned a Model 5—with its sweet little
curvature to the handle that made it such LASTING IMPRESSION
a pleasure to hold—but it was stolen. Betty says her husband’s proudest
“Ted’s knives were beautifully shaped, with achievement was the development and
flowing lines,” he added. success of the Guild Show. Ted was fond
Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Phil Lobred, of saying it was achieved in the face of
organizer of the Art Knife Invitational, was considerable opposition from those
an admirer of Ted’s work and called upon
him to help get the AKI off the ground.
Reluctant at first, Ted finally obliged. He
eventually made several art knives, and the
public found that he was equally adept in
multiple genres.
Ted’s son, Jeff, has managed to acquire
some of those rare art knives, now keeping
them in the family. In addition, Betty bought
an integral from a collector friend a couple
of years ago. Family members still use sets
of kitchen knives Ted made, and Betty brags
about their edge-holding quality.
“Ted was one of many makers who
contributed to the early appeal of custom
knives,” Harvey related. “There were certain
makers who set themselves apart from the
others through excellent craft smanship and
superior designs. Ted certainly took his Ted was known for such creative designs as
knifemaking seriously and always strove to this sword cane. (Weyer International image)