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David Yellowhorse Knives

This past Wed. we had a Buck Information Chat hosted by Gus Marsh. The main chat can be found in the pages area of this Buck Group. I started this because I wanted us to have a place to show off our David Yellowhorse Knives. We had the honor of having David come on with us for the chat and he was willing to discuss his knives and his timeline with Buck also. so I thought Buck would be a great place to put his portion of the chat and also see if we can get some pics of our knives by this fantastic maker.

I(I started in) 1983, with Buck.

• started my first custom work on A Buck #112, yr 1978

• Met Al Buck on the phone in 1983... Wow great experience.

• My most sold knife was the Buck 112 horse sold 6000 plus

•

• Re Al Buck-.. For sure... A man of great mind in business,he was very helpful with any needs I presented.

• At first, he was not sure he could sell knives to me, because I had no retail. But he said if I can sell you the knives with no handles, this will work..

• I had to find a larger source for the 112.

• A catalog would want me to make some knives for their catalog

• they where the "sharper image"

• A large company selling high items

• they wanted to sell my knives at a national level.

• This was about 1984.

• It was crazy.... I worked like I never worked before...

• I hired house wives to help build the wood boxes back then....LOL I need help! Have to ship these knives!

• I hired and trained my brothers, in-laws, and out just kidding of course

• Had much fun help family members with work... It was great

• We, as a group was young and we could easily put in heavy hours..

• I never thought I would have anyone working for me, but things happen, and I was able to put family and friends to work.

▼ Question - Were there any knives that you designed for Buck in terms of blade shape? handle shape? that were not traditional buck designs

• Sure, it was called the Chipflint blade.

▼ When Was that?

• 1987

▼ I took the idea to Buck with the man that invented the chipflint blade, his name was Bill Cheatam out of Pheonix He went with me to. Cul to sell the idea to them. he is an Arizona knifemaker. Bill and I went to Buck to sell the chip blade idea to Buck.

▼ It is interesting, because to me, it fits the "Buck" brand well.... was it received well?

• It went very well, and Bill made some money for his chip flint blade idea., so the new blade started to appear. The apeal with well with my Native American theme of my work.

• (it is) A very good match.. And went well with a new edition I had in the works "The Cuthair Yellowhorse" edition -This edition was to follow my great grandfathers walk through life. The years of 1868 to 1958- (Yes) his face was on the first. The cuthair series was to be six editions,with 1868 in each edition, the year cuthair was born (ed.-The long walk home, The silversmith ,The ceremonial, The Rug Weaver, The well digger, The medicine man)

• My father talked a lot about his famliy and took me to where they lived, when I wss a young person.

• I ask today about cuthair to some elders here on the rez. And they knew him.

• makes me ask more...

• Traditional Navajo Elders have very interesting stories..

• anyway, I sure love the shape of the Buck knife, and still customize them today.

▼ Question - Is there a signifigance to the 196 Eagle feather.? It is a beautiful knife

• I have always wanted to this design on a knife.

• So, time came, when I could break away from my traditional style of inlays

• The Eagle Feather this very sacred to us Navajo and used in our cereimonies.

• We all own these feathers and take great care with them.

• This is why this design shows on the 196

•

• !985 was the first knives I sent to buck, about 500

• the 500 first was a 112 horse

•

▼ QUESTIONI imagine you must be a very patient person... those stone inlays have to break often with the natural lines of the stones.

• I use recon stone today, so it helps, when I used natual stones in the pass, it was very difficult to hold the pieces together. They broke offen..

• my most favorite, is the desert ironwood, such beauty,mixed with kingman turquoise, it was to die for...

▼ QUESTION- do you work just with Buck?

• • Two companies at the time.. Buck Knives and Bear and Son...

• I do other knives as well..

▼ They have some nice knives do you design for them?

• I just finished a design on their knife, they sold to NRA.... Great project. I have been a big supporter of the NRA, and have many edition for them. its out now on the NRA web site, ck it out..

▼ • I feel the same about my work.... And it can not be unless it give me that feeling

• gives me that feeling.

6 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on November 2, 2012 at 20:14

It was really great and hope to be able to talk more. What impressed me was his openness and honesty and really one of the most interesting conversations I have had with a great craftsman.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on November 3, 2012 at 15:58

It was fascinating to me and gave me a greater appreciation for his work. It encompasses his life, his heritage and his family. Now I gotta get me one! I was hoping we would see a few here :)

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