The name "Sparks" is synonymous with
handmade knives. Bernard Sparks's interest in knives began when
he was only a child in a sheepherder camp with his favorite
sheepherder, Joe Goegas. The colorful character enchanted a
small boy with his knife throwing ability. He carried a big
knife on his back and could grab and throw it in into a tree
in an instant. From those early childhood days Bernard's fascination
with knives never waned.
Using a Knife
Skinning knives became his next interest
as he began trapping beaver in the 1950's for the Idaho Fur
Fish and Game as a state trapper. Beaver skinning really tests
a knife edge. A custom built knife was not common and the commercial
knives he tried could not perform the task of beaver skinning
to his satisfaction. After many tries he settled on a commercial
model made from 440B series steel by Herters . It held a better
edge than most and became his constant companion as he skinned
hundreds of beaver over a 15-year period. It continued to serve
quite well when he and his father went into Mink Raising in
a high mountain valley in Idaho. The knife was retired to his
collection after skinning thousands of animals and still holds
a place of respect among his collection today. There was one
thing that concerned him about that knife during all those years.
Being an avid hunter and fisherman, he needed a knife to perform
functions other than skinning. Skinning was that first knife's
only function. It stirred the "Sparks" embers, which had started
to glow, into a burning
desire for a hunting knife that could
be used as much or more for cutting fuzz sticks or shavings,
slicing bread or bacon, or chopping onions as for skinning game.
A better hunting knife was a constant goal. Once again he tried
all commercial models available, but found good edge holding
ability rare and the typical chrome coated blades soon rusted
with use. Handles seldom fit his hand. They were either round
or slippery in deer grease, inviting a dangerous slip, or the
handles had an uncomfortable contour in the hand. Workmanship didn't please his eye. Handle joints seldom fit tight and allowed moisture inside the handle. This caused loosening and decay of the handle and made it very difficult to clean. A combination of these factors and his own internal "sparks" brought him to try making his own knives again. When he was a boy he pounded a few blades out for throwing only. Two giant cottonwood trees in front of his house eventually died from damage they suffered during those early days as the "sparks" began to fly.
Making a Knife
The desire to own something better drove him to research. In the mid 1960's he began researching steels and heat treatment for what made a good knife. He tried to buy a knife with high carbon content and a stainless quality. He wanted a knife blade to hold an edge well and stay beautiful also. Still unable to find a knife that met his qualifications, he decided to try making his own. He began using 440C stainless steel because it met his criteria. Over the years other knife steels have been developed. He continues to try newly marketed knife steels but feels that 440C is still one of the best on the market especially with his own highly refined heat treatment. During those early years no one told him 440C was not to be forged. It was made in round dowels and he began forging it in a StokerMatic furnace. He quickly developed his own style and "spark." He loved to use exotic hardwoods for his handles until he found a very beautiful horn from a Sambar Stag in India. Both handle materials proved to have long standing credibility with the knife industry.
Joining the Circuit
In 1966 he sold his first knife to Boyers Rod and Reel in Jackson Hole Wyoming. His first custom-made knife was for well-known Outdoor Film Maker, Gordon Eastman. Wanting to know if there were others with his "spark" to make knives he began researching the United States for hand made knife makers. To his surprise he found several with the help of A G Russell, an early promoter of the hand made knife. Mr. Russell organized the first known knife show of the 20th century in Las Vegas in 1967. He gathered together fifteen men who also had the knife-making bug. They became a close knit group with a desire to spread the news about a hand made knife and its maker and unselfishly promoted each other for the several years. In 1970 the American Knife Makers guild was organized in Oklahoma City. Bernard was unable to attend that organization meeting because he was finishing his Bachelors degree in summer school. He joined the Guild in the summer of 1971 in Kansas City. He rose quickly among his peers because of his likable, generous nature and his flair for design. Many mimicked his designs from the beginning. He made the smallest knife to be exhibited in the Knife show in Houston Texas in 1973. He was the first modern knifemaker to promote the slanted guard and the index finger groove. Frequently his designs received writer attention. His work was published in the Field and Stream, Guns and Ammo, Guns and Ammo Annual, Gun Digest, Knife Digest, Guild Directory and Bates and Schippers's, "The Custom Knife" prior to 1973. He attended many knife and gun shows and received awards for design and craftsmanship through the seventies and mid eighties as a part time knife maker. He was elected to the Knife Makers Guild of Board of Directors and served there for three years.
Artist, Teacher, Father
Bernard began teaching school in 1967 in a nearby high school He taught Wood Shop, Drafting, Leatherwork and Fine Art. In later years he included Vo-tech Ed and computerized Drafting on AutoCAD. He was raising a growing family of four daughters and two sons. During those years the knife orders he had backlogged kept him busy nights, weekends and holidays just trying to keep up. His flair for highly polished steel with amazing edge holding ability continued to bring more orders than he could fill. He developed several Folding Knife designs that were far ahead of the times in the hand made knife and began teaching himself to engrave and scrimshaw his knives. A teaching career and a growing family forced him to leave the Guild when they moved to Orlando Florida, but he continued to make knives part time and sell everything he made as fast as it was finished. Reluctant to take orders he couldn't fill in a timely manner he did not advertise or promote his work and the frenzy for handmade knives carried him along.
Full-time Knifemaker
At last in 1995, Bernard was able to convert the "sparks" talent to full-time knifemaking when he retired from a 30-year career in School Teaching. After years of teaching art he was able to dedicate himself to developing his own artistic flair on metal and Ivory. Currently every knife he makes is engraved with a variety of subjects. He targets the hunting knife enthusiast who wants a collectible knife, but makes a fascinating variety of other styles. He continually designs new knives and engraves them with an original art scene. Every knife he makes is unique. No two are alike. Each basic style has a name but the individual knife is an original. His most famous design is "The Wapiti" which is shown on the home page of his website. His one-man shop is built onto his home and the "sparks" still fly daily in the knife shop. A frequent comment his customers make is: "This beautiful knife feels good in the hand too!" Bernard makes knives because he loves to create with his hands a tool to perform the function that it was designed for and at the same time produce a work of art that fits the hand like it was made for it. His beautiful engravings are pictures in steel finished in such detail it takes a magnifying glass to appreciate the quality. He says, "I try to make the best knife that free-hand grinding and personal pride can create.
He welcomes e-mail or phone calls anytime, but sometimes the whining grinders and flying "sparks" make it hard to hear the phone so if there is no answer call back in the evening. You can catch him reading, researching and designing "Sparks Knives." He would enjoy crafting one for you.
