Henry Frank Folding Stag Handle （1980s）

I met Henry Frank around 1985 at the Solvang Knife Show. His style was both exquisitely detailed and robust, pure yet imbued with warmth. The overall balance of his blades struck me like a bolt of lightning.

At that time, I believe Henry Frank had been making knives for about twenty years. He showed me a simple brochure from the early days of his knifemaking, where a standard stag-handled folder was priced at $250 and a pen knife at $450.

By 1985, those prices had risen to roughly ten times that amount. I had heard that among knife collectors in the United States, there were several who collected only Henry Frank’s work — and in a way, that was entirely understandable.

The knife makers I admire most are Henry Frank and R.W. Loveless. What these two masters share is that elusive “something” that conveys the warmth of the maker’s hand. In Henry Frank, the finest custom knifemaker, the finest engraver, and the finest designer are united in a single artist — a truly extraordinary synthesis of mastery. If I were to compare him to a painter, he would be akin to Picasso himself.

This piece is Henry Frank’s most popular work — the standard folder with a stag handle. The blade is made of the carbon steel Henry regarded as the only steel worthy of his standards for sharpness. Onto it he engraved his own uniquely intricate designs by hand — true blade engraving. It is painstaking work: even if the engraving is completed flawlessly, the blade can warp during heat treatment, rendering the entire effort worthless.

Blade engraving is a deep and demanding art, enough so that there are specialized artists known as engravers. Among the most renowned are Lynn Skaggs and Michael Collins, yet Henry Frank’s engraving possesses a special “something” — a superior, distinctive quality that seems to surpass even theirs.

The motifs of the engraving are oak leaves, acorns, and arabesque patterns. The handle is made from stag antler selected through Henry Frank’s singular sensibility, and further refined with his unique finishing techniques. The result is an antiqued, almost luminescent surface — noble, subtly glossy, and evoking the feel of graceful aging.

It fits the palm with perfect ease, offering an indescribable sense of bliss when held. I was truly humbled by the unmistakable handling that only Henry Frank could achieve.

the price is 7,500 USD⇒6,000 USD.