William “Bill” Adams was a revered knife entrepreneur, author and Cutlery Hall-of-Fame member. Learn about his immense impact on the knife community.
William Calhoun “Bill” Adams, knife entrepreneur, defender of all things knife, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member and invaluable friend of the knife community, passed away August 10. He was 87.
Known for his easy smile, snow white beard and amiable North Georgia drawl, Bill was liked and admired by many in the industry. He founded Atlanta Cutlery and, with Hank Reinhardt, co-founded Museum Replicas, both in Conyers, Georgia. Bill’s retail operations required him to travel the globe in search of the finest knives, swords and accouterments, including England, Ireland, Africa, India, parts of Central and South America, and all over the USA.
He served as president of the Antique Bowie Knife Association and helped found the Military Equipment and Weapons Collectors Association. He also helped found the Cutlery Collectors Legislative Committee, aka the CCLC, forerunner to today’s two leading pro-knife-legislation groups, Knife Rights and the American Knife & Tool Institute. In 1995, Bill was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame.
He was a knowledgeable, gifted author, editing Sheffield Exhibition Knives and co-writing The Antique Bowie Knife Book, both of which are go-to guides for fans and aficionados of vintage Sheffield-made and antique bowies, respectively. He also was a dedicated knife collector, winning several awards for his wide-ranging collections at the BLADE Show. He retired to Roberta, Georgia, to live along the Flint River, where he enjoyed a quiet, peaceful and happy life.
He is survived by his sister-in-law Dee Anne Adams, his nephew David A. Adams and wife Cheryl, and dear friend and travel partner Elaine Barnes. The family wishes to express its thanks to Bill’s Roberta, Georgia, friends, especially Charles and Kate Rice, who cared for and treated him like family.
Remembering Others The Knife Industry Has Lost:
- Betty Dowell, Driving Force Behind Knifemaker Ted Dowell, Passes
- B. R. Hughes, Pioneering Writer And Bladesmithing Teacher, Passes Away
- ABS Lose Two Long-Time Leaders In Passing Of Steve Dunn & Hanford Miller
- Bob Cargill Knifemaker, Company Founder And NKCA BOD President Passes
NEXT STEP: Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine
BLADE’s annual Knife Guide Issue features the newest knives and sharpeners, plus knife and axe reviews, knife sheaths, kit knives and a Knife Industry Directory.Get your FREE digital PDF instant download of the annual Knife Guide. No, really! We will email it to you right now when you subscribe to the BLADE email newsletter.
Hello and salutations:
I am bob dimesky. I am one of the earliest benchmark knife dealers from the beginnings of the companies dealings between blackie and RB Jenkins….I became a dealer in 77 thru Alfred Tobin my Gerber rep.
I own several of what I believe are the earliest blackie rolox knives, fully engraved pcs and checkered scale pieces, that were used to show and to entice RB to buy Benchmark from Blackie.. As a retailer for Benchmark, and as a collector of them, I have an interest in doing research and writing the story of Benchmark blades……I know bill and joe are both deceased now and I am 78 myself….so I need to get cracking if I am to get this project accomplished. Any history or materials you can point me toward are wanted, Any boxes, brochures, catalogues from benchmark are also needed to allow me to expand horizons on the early days of the the blackie/ RBJ connections…unfortunately, my dealer records, catalogs and old paperwork are gone in a flood….so I am starting with recollections of my dealings with the company and my collection of Roloxes and that is it…. Is the benchmark collectors ass still 0perational….who is carrying the ball if you know please…..bob dimesky