Today, American bladesmiths are numerous. Each
month sees new candidates present themselves, some last; others are just a
flash in the pan. When the Knifemaker’s Guild saw the light of day in 1969, its
ranks were much more sparse and not many veterans of this golden era remain.
One who is still going strong through is Corbet Sigman, whose renown in the
1960’s was still in its infancy. Corbet was born March 8, 1932 in Putnam, West
Virginia and lived there all his life.
Shy, humble and modest, he is deeply respected by
his peers; when one of them finds himself faced with a technical problem then
it is to Corbet, and to him alone, that he turns.
He is an Old Master of all stages of the
manufacture of a straight knife, something sufficiently exceptional to warrant
a mention.
An illustration of his status comes from the
magazine American Blade, which had
the idea of publishing a book entitled How
To make Knives. It asked the best knifemakers to write about the stage of
manufacture that they knew the best. Chapters were written by such prestigious
names as Bob Loveless and Bill Moran. Only the “polishing” section remained;
but to whom should it be entrusted? You guess right, Corbet Sigman. But it
could very well have been him to write any other chapter. And we should not
forget that when the Dutchman Frans van den Heuvel wanted to learn American
cutlery techniques, it was Corbet Sigman he contacted, who generously provided
him with his advice by mail.
His straight knives are like him: robust, clear,
simple and authentic, but what authenticity. Corbet died August 5, 2006 in the
same house he was born in 74 years earlier in Putnam, West Virginia.
It looks similar to this Skinning Knife
ReplyDelete