A cut above the rest
Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 2, 2003
For 42 years, Ethmer Wright of rural Albert Lea has been honing a particular skill. And the result is between 400 and 500 hand-crafted knives over those years.
&uot;What I make are custom, handmade, fixed-blade knives,&uot; he said.
Each of Wright’s knives has a blade which is 1095 carbon steel. The handles are made with either wood or horn. As a final touch, Wright creates the leather sheaths for his knives.
He makes 10 to 20 knives each year.
&uot;I’ve got it down to seven to 10 hours each,&uot; he explained.
&uot;I do everything in my shop except the heat treating, which is done at Enderes,&uot; Wright added.
The Enderes connection may help to explain Wright’s interest in metal work and knife crafting. He has been employed by the Albert Lea hand tool manufacturing firm for 56 years. During 38 of those years he was the plant manager. Now he’s working part time in quality control.
&uot;I’ve got to have something to do, otherwise I’d go nuts,&uot; Wright said. This remark could apply to both his employment and a hobby of knife making.
The special material for his knife blades comes from Admiral Steel of Chicago in 1/34-inch by 2 1/4-inch widths, six feet long. Wright cuts this steel into the desired lengths and cuts and grinds the steel down to the desired shape and bevel. After heat treating and a process called double drawing, he regrinds and sharpens the blade before the final polishing process. Then the blade is attached to the guard and handle with spacers and the end pommel.
&uot;It’s quite rewarding when finished,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ve always liked working with steel and making things. (There’s) satisfaction in making a knife out of raw material that makes people want to own one. When I make the next one, I try to improve on the last one.&uot;
A hunting knife in a sheath is one way to describe the type made by Wright.
Also, several of his knives had historical connections. One is based on the &uot;Gung Ho&uot; survival and combat style originally made for the Second Raider Battalion (Carlsons Raiders) of the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942 and used during the campaign for Guadalcanal Island and other actions in the Pacific Theater during the World War II era.
The handles for his knives are made from cocobolo wood, desert ironwood, black ebony, and manmade laminated dymondwood, plus elk, red stag, mule deer and whitetail deer horns.
Some of the material for the handles comes from Texas Knifemaker’s Supply of Houston.
The guards and pommels for the Wright knives are crafted from brass, bronze and aluminum metals.
&uot;Leather work is not my most interesting part of building a custom-made knife,&uot; Wright explained. Yet, he makes the sheaths needed to complete a knife project out of 8-9 ounce cowhide, dyed black or brown.
&uot;I’ve given away some of the knives,&uot; he said. Some went to family members. Others were donated to organizations like Ducks Unlimited, South Central Pheasants Forever, Freeborn County Pheasant and Habitat, Big Island Rendezvous and the American Legion to be used as door prizes or auctioned for fund-raising.
Other knives have been sold to people &uot;who have heard about them,&uot; Wright said.
Every knife Wright makes has his name stamped into the upper part of the blade near the handle. He explains that there’s a point of pride with this personalizing of his creations.
&uot;If problems arise with any knife, it can be brought back.
I haven’t had one come back yet,&uot; he said.
&uot;There are many steps to make a knife. I start with nothing and end up with something people want to buy,&uot; Wright said. &uot;I enjoy going to my shop and doing something I think is fun.&uot;
(Contact Ed Shannon at ed.shannon@albertleatribune.com or call 379-3434.)