Wharncliffe Lockback

Warren, Alan Charles (AC)

"In 1978 I made my first knife while working as a tradesman saw filer in a Bend, Oregon sawmill. I had noticed some other saw filers working on knives during their breaks using the narrow tang design. I began making knives after finding a supply of F8 Silvanite, a high carbon, high tungsten tool steel making hundreds of knives with it and also worked in some D2 planer blade steel. In 1985 I participated in my first knife show at the Oregon Knife Collectors Association (OKCA) in Eugene, Oregon. There I quickly learned that I had some progress to make when I saw the high quality work that others were doing. Also in 1985 I took some of my knives with Hawaiian Koa handles with me on a vacation to Hawaii. That proved to be a great market for many years with my knives selling on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. My work in Hawaii is now mainly concentrated on Maui at the Lahaina Scrimshaw Factory. I moved from central Oregon to California in 1988 to a higher paying sawmill job and a warmer climate, then began to participate in California knife shows. In 1990 I initiated my membership into the Knifemakers Guild. I am a current member of the Professional Knifemakers Association. In 2009 I began making knives full-time."