Worlds most expensive (modern day) knife

[Dave O]

http://www.artknife.net/knives/kingtutLG2.html

made by the worlds greatest knife maker. Buster Warenksi Check out the link. It would sell for a million dollars if went on the Market today!

[gmusic]

She is a beaut Dave.....................Where does it call home?

[El Lobo]

Gary,

I was bored and did some searching. Unfortunately I found no joy in regards to the owner of the Warenski Tut reproduction.

Just for FUN however, here is another photo (by Jim Cooper).....

The second knife (unknown photo) is the "Gem of the Orient" also by Buster Warenski.....

Bored Bill

[Dave O]

Buster and I used to hunt rocks and artifacts together. His head stone is with in eyeshot of my home. A day does not go by that I do not miss him. He was such a great source of information about a lot of things related to our common interests. I wish you gents could hang out with him. Maybe you did! I do not know where the King Tut knife is now.. ?

[Ringmaster]

Purely an assumption, but I would think that Phil Lobred still owns the King Tut dagger ? He was the one that commissioned Buster to build it for him. I remember the article in Blade about it...took 5 years to complete, and cost Mr. Lobred a quarter-million 1982 dollars.

Here's a link to some more pictures:
http://www.sanfranciscoknives.com/artists/kingtut.html

As best I can remember, the article said that Buster made 2 trips to Egypt, to study the original, and talked to a bunch of metallurgists world-wide, to learn the art of hardening gold for the blade, as well as the technique of coloring gold - that handle isn't painted, the gold itself has been colored.

I gathered, at the time, that Mr. Warenski was happy to get rid of the thing. I never met him, but we did correspond a few times. Like 99% of all knife people, he was a truly great guy, and VERY talented.

Take Care,
JR

[El Lobo]

Thanks for adding to/filling in the story guys.

Now.....if we can just figure out where old JIM'S Bowie really is???

Bill

[Ringmaster]

Another trivial "factoid" popped into my old slick head today, about the King Tut... that puppy contains 2 1/2 Pounds, of 24K gold ! If memory serves, gold was around $600 an ounce, at the time.

Jim's Bowie is safe at my house...I bought it from the Cutlery Corner TV show...came with a certificate of authenticity.

JR

[El Lobo]

Well done JR!!

I sure hope you got the free GINSU kitchen chopper with it!






Bill (off to look for Excalibur)

[smiling-knife]

Wow What fantastic knives. Very interesting thread. Thanks very much JR, El Lobo, Dave. s-k

[gmusic]

Thanks for the updates. Very interesting stuff..........................

[Cope]

JR I count you as a friend and WOULD NEVER dispute your word, but I must tell you that you've been HAD!!! I picked up the origanal Bowie from Smokey's some time back......I KNOW this is it because they even furnished the origanal COA with the knife. Just goes to show even the best can be fooled sometimes.


Brad

[Ringmaster]

Hee Haw !!

I was kinda concerned, 'cause mine was stainless steel, with Pakkawood handles...shucks.

I shoulda known - I thought I was gettin' a bargain, for only $1.17 ! I reckon the real one is worth a lot more ?

Giggling,
JR

[andysdone]

Gem of the Orient, Fire and Ice, and three others are for sale at nordicknives.com. Andy

[Dave O]

Today Mr Warenski's brother brought in the Buster #1. He made it when he was 17..still in High School. It was a moving experience for me. The very first Buster Warenski knife: