George Herron is literally a legend in custom knifemaking. He wasn't just known for the beautiful knives he made, he was known as a great designer, developer of tools and techniques and a teacher who advanced custom knife making. In addition to those accolades from his peers, he always shared his techniques and specialized tools he developed with those we might see as his competitors. The tool rest he developed allowed makers to improve and speed grinding. I've been told that thanks to his tool rest he could actually finish a blade and have it ready for the buffer using it without all the time and effort normally required. Very few people have the grinding skills to be able to pull that off. In recognition of his contributions he was inducted into the Blade Cutlery Hall of Fame in 1987 and while he appreciated the praise he never let it go to his head. He passed away in February 2007 and his work was cut off. All the Herrons there are and will ever be were fixed at that time and like all great artists their value goes up.


George Herron Knives....the first 2 are consecutive serial numbers (1953,1954)..they have been Scrimmed by South Carolina WildLife Artist Larry Seymour.
The next one has handles of Iron Wood, or African Dark wood..serial number 548.
The last is a Stag handle..serial number 2148.

That's a very nice pack of very niice knives! Thanks for sharing!

I have seen his knives at shows and in some books.
Very nice stuff!
Tony

Added this George Herron Model 8 to my collection...

Rex

I know nothing about Herron knives. But each year there is a excellent display of Herron knives at the Blade Show. I am sorry I don't know the persons name who has the display, but it is truly an excellent display.

Thanks for the pictures.

Rod - I wasn't at the show so this is only speculation as to the displays owner but it 'might' be a man by the name of Jay Mealing who has a fabulous collection of George Herron's work. His father was good friends with George and some of the knives he has are quite literally 'one ofs'!
Perhaps someone that was at the show will see this and chime in.
Jay use to participate occasionally when Herron knives were a part of the previous format of this forum -- FWIW.

Rod and Mike...thanks for the info. I am familar with Jay Mealing's collection...we have exchanged email's a few time's.

Regards, Rex

Here's one of my Herron's, scrimed Ivory and engraved bolster & pins, hard to photograph with that mirror polish on the blade!

I did a google search month's ago just looking for images of Herron knives...and I saw this knife ...it didn't say who owned it, and I thought at the time that 'this' was the finest George Herron, I had ever seen...I'm glad you own it.

Herron Model 6, ATS-34, 4.5" blade, ivory, circa 1997.