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Butch Ball holds a scrimshaw handle. The scrimshaw work was done in Texas.

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On the cutting edge - Ball Knives have collector appeal

by Roger Mannon
Staff Writer

Ball Knives is starting to gain some recognition, even though the man behind the business says it’s more a hobby than a job.
Butch Ball makes custom knives at his shop on Reedsville Road in Floyd, and his customer base is growing.
“I’ve had some people buy them locally and at shows,” he comments. His next show is coming up in April. Right now he travels to Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Atlanta. At a recent Harrisonburg show, he won awards for the best custom folding knife and the best custom fixed blade knife.
He hopes someday to take home awards at the Atlanta show. “The Atlanta Blade Show is the biggest knife show in the world. People come from everywhere,” he says. “It’s not unusual to see custom knives priced at $10,000 to $20,000. Some of them would be $50,000 to $100,000.”
The local knife maker says he’s not quite there yet. “One of my fixed blade knives that a hunter might actually use would go for $150 to $200. The collector pieces go on up from there.”
His knives can be used for hunting and skinning.
Some people also consider them “tactical” knives, which can be used for self-defense.
He has had an interest in knives since he was “able to walk.” When he worked at a machine shop in West Palm Beach, Florida, he began making his own knives.
He says he did that for about two years, until he was laid off. “I just kind of put it aside. Then, after I moved to Floyd, I started again in 2001.” He moved the operation into his new shop about six months ago.
All of his knives are hand filed. He uses stainless steel, Damascus steel and Damascus carbon steel.
He might spend eight to 20 hours on a folder. A fixed blade knife could take five to 15 hours.
He uses a variety of ivories and mother of pearl for the handles. The handles can be made of warthog tusks, walrus tusk and elephant ivory (pre-ban).
Ball also makes handles from woolly mammoth ivory. He explains, “That has different colors, depending on the soil it is found in.”
Material for one handle might cost $60. A piece of Damascus steel can cost over $100. It can make one fixed blade knife, or up to three folders.
He says his prize piece is a fixed blade knife with an ivory handle. He had to send the knife to a woman in Texas to have the scrimshaw design cut in the handle. “At the shows I put a ridiculous price on it, because I don’t really want to sell it. It is one of a kind.”
Ball works full time at Hollingsworth & Vose, so he says he doesn’t have as much time to devote to knives as he would like. “Maybe when I retire, I can turn it into a business.”