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CKCA Interview Series
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Interview with collector Phil Lobred
About the collector, as a person:
1. What single knifemaker has influenced you most, and how?
I learned so much about knifemaking in general, and knifemaking and myself, during the 4 years I
spent with Gil Hibben that I would say that he had the most influence on me. The first thing he told me
was that once I learned how to make knives I would probably not collect them anymore. I found out that
I was not talented enough to make the knives I wanted to collect.
2. Who is your favorite knifemaker, and which knife?
As a pure knifemaker my favorite was Buster Warenski. Putting the King Tut Dagger (Figure 1. below)
aside from the discussion, I would probably pick a Buster gold quartz handled California knife (Figure
2. below) that I got at the 2001 AKI show. It was the cover knife on the catalog that year, and was Buster’
s bid up knife. (At the AKI, makers may have a knife on the table with a reserve, that goes to the highest
bidder)
3. If you could start at the beginning of your knife collecting, what would you change?
I would learn more about the history of knives right from the start. It was hard back in the late ‘60’s to get
much information about knives, and living in Alaska did not help much either.
4. What do you like about knife collecting?
Besides the knives themselves, I love the people. My best friends are knifemakers, collectors and/or
dealers. Most of all my best friends have something to do with knives. I have collected handmade
knives for over 40 years now, it becomes a lifestyle.
5. What don't you like about knife collecting?
There is so much information out there now that was not before, new collectors should start making
good choices from the start, and many don’t. That aside, there is really nothing that I can think of that I
don’t like about knife collecting.
About the collector's approach:
6. What specific material or design elements do you currently look for in a knife?
I have collected so much and so long that I am getting very jaded as to what I like or look for. I first
have to select a maker I want, and then work out a knife design. I have varied tastes and most of the
knives I collect these days are commissions.
7. What key points do you look for in a knife?
I’m way past my “everything must be perfect” days. Of course I look at fit and finish, but overall, design
is the MOST important to me, and that might be because of the makers I favor. I always trust them to
do the highest quality work they can.
8. Do you prefer that your knives be tested for performance goals, and if so, how?
Because of the makers I use and the knives I collect, I don’t feel the need to have knives tested for
performance goals. I own and use tested-in-the-field high performance knives when I hunt.
9. What is the single most important non-knife item that you use in your collecting?
A cleaning rag.
10. Could you name three, and only three inspirational knifemakers?
Buster Warenski, Jim Schmidt and Ted Dowell.
About the collector as a critic:
11. What personality qualities do you think are required for a "successful" collection?
I like to see specialized collections. I don’t have a preference for what the specialization is , I just like
the fact that a collector has a special or specific interest. I always personally admire those kinds of
collections over simply random collections.
12. Are there any materials that you will not own, or knives you will not buy?
I like only natural handle materials and am a fossil ivory freak. I absolutely love fossil ivories. I don’t
buy many wood handles, though. There are no specific types of knives that I would not buy, but I really
don’t buy a great deal of knives. I only want a few.
13. Please indicate how much time you devote daily to knife related pursuits?
With the AKI(Phil is the organizer of the AKI), I spend quite a bit of time daily.
14. What shows do you attend, how did you pick them?
Starting in January, I go to the Antique Arms Show in Las Vegas because it’s awesome. I then go to
New York in the spring because it is a great show….and it’s in New York. I go to Solvang because it is
within easy driving distance and is a lot of fun. Sometimes I go to the ABS Expo, the Blade Show or the
Knifemaker’s Guild Show if I can, and every other year, I go to Dan Delavan’s show in Los Angeles.
That is enough shows to upset my wife.
15. How do you promote your collection, or custom made knives?
I have pictures of my collection taken professionally, and put on my website(http://www.
sanfranciscoknives.com/) I have had a hobby website since time began. I get every knife published as
many times as I can in books and magazines. Knives shown on my website list where they have been
published if I know about it. The history of a knife, or it’s provenance, is very important. This is a crucial
time in the history of American handmade knives, and the well documented pieces will live on for a
long time.
About the collector as an individual:
16. Do you consider knives to be a weapon, tool or art object, or all of the above, do you carry
a knife daily, if so, what?
I would say all of the above, but the art object is what appeals to me. When I carry an everyday knife,
like a pocketknife, I usually carry what I call a “disposable” tool. Not a piece of junk, just something I
wouldn’t lose any sleep over if I lost it, or it got damaged. I carry a Case pocketknife a lot. If I go to a
show, or want to show off a bit, I might throw a Michael Walker Bladelock Zipper in my pocket. That
always gets some attention.
17. If money was no object, what maker would you own a knife from, and what would it be?
Michael Walker makes some of the greatest folding knives on the planet. He is a genius, and even
though I mostly collect California Knives, I might pick Walker. I think a great Zipper blade, probably.
18. What is your favorite meal, automobile, type of music, firearm, sport and vacation spot?
I like a great steak…am a Corvette nut, and like a lot of Rock and Roll (but I’m old). I love to shoot my
German Luger, watch football and really love London, England.
19. What object do you covet most in your life, and what is your favorite thing you already
have?
I have always coveted a Paul Pletka painting titled “Mesquaki”. I have many “things”, as you might
surmise, but as I get older, I think I covet my friendships the most. Without them, it would be a lonely,
long life filled with “things”.
20. Any last words? What do you perceive as the value of an organization like CKCA?
I love knives and am in favor of anything or any organization like the CKCA that promotes knives. I
find it very difficult to find the time and energy to have a presence in everything these days, but am
supportive of anyone who does find that time and energy. I have Parkinson’s disease and it tends to
limit what I can accomplish in the average day.
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Figure 1. King Tut Dagger
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Figure 2. California Knife
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