Buster Warenski
Encyclopedia
Buster Warenski was a custom knifemaker from Kimberly, Nevada
who made "Art Knives" utilizing gold and other precious metals. Warenski is best known for making a reproduction of King Tut's dagger with a cast blade; over 32 ounces of gold were used in the construction of the dagger, making it one of the most valuable knives made in recent years.
for 2 terms and a Blade
Magazine member of the Cutlery Hall of Fame.
Warenski made knives of all types prior to 1975, specifically hunting knives and skinners
, but became famous for his "Art Knives" which he made exclusively after 1975; particularly what became known as his "Legacy Knives". Warenski built a recreation of the gold dagger found in King Tut's tomb. Making the knife took five years and it contained 32 ounces of gold including a blade cast from gold and specially heat treated. This knife was a stand-alone project, but became the first of his "Legacy Knives". He followed this knife with a knife he called "The Gem of the Orient", which incorporated 153 emeralds totalling 10 karats and 9 diamonds with a total weight of 5 karats. These gems were set to accent the gold filigree
which overlaid the jade handle. It took Warenski 10 years to make this knife and it was sold for $2.1 million (US). The third knife in this series was named "Fire and Ice"; this knife contained 28 ounces of 18K gold, 22 rubies totaling 4.25 karats and 75 diamonds totaling 7 karats. The handle for this knife was constructed of quartz, accented with red enamel. A fourth knife was planned, but not finished.
With the exception of any damascus steel used in the knives, which Warenski ordered as a blank from an ABS Mastersmith
and ground himself, all of his knives were sole-authorship, meaning he made and finished every part of the knife including making sheaths and engraving. After 1986, his wife, Julie Warenski, aided him with the engraving and gold embellishments.
Warenski died in 2005.
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
who made "Art Knives" utilizing gold and other precious metals. Warenski is best known for making a reproduction of King Tut's dagger with a cast blade; over 32 ounces of gold were used in the construction of the dagger, making it one of the most valuable knives made in recent years.
Knifemaking career
Warenski began making knives as a hobby in 1966. In 1972 he was hired by Harvey Draper to grind blades and assist him at Draper Knives, but the operation went bankrupt in December of 1972. Warenski became a full time knifemaker in 1975. He was a president of the Knifemakers' GuildKnifemakers' Guild
The Knifemakers' Guild is an organization made up of knifemakers to promote custom knives, encourage ethical business practices, assist with technical aspects of knife making, and to sponsor knife shows...
for 2 terms and a Blade
Blade (magazine)
Blade is a long-running consumer magazine about knife collecting.First published in 1973 under the title American Blade by Southern House Publishing Co. with Blackie Collins as the editor, the magazine's title was changed to Blade in 1982 after its purchase by Jim Parker and Bruce Voyles...
Magazine member of the Cutlery Hall of Fame.
Warenski made knives of all types prior to 1975, specifically hunting knives and skinners
Hunting knife
A hunting knife is a knife used during hunting for preparing the game to be used as food: skinning the animal and cutting up the meat. It is different from the Hunting dagger which was traditionally used to kill wild game....
, but became famous for his "Art Knives" which he made exclusively after 1975; particularly what became known as his "Legacy Knives". Warenski built a recreation of the gold dagger found in King Tut's tomb. Making the knife took five years and it contained 32 ounces of gold including a blade cast from gold and specially heat treated. This knife was a stand-alone project, but became the first of his "Legacy Knives". He followed this knife with a knife he called "The Gem of the Orient", which incorporated 153 emeralds totalling 10 karats and 9 diamonds with a total weight of 5 karats. These gems were set to accent the gold filigree
Filigree
Filigree is a delicate kind of jewellery metalwork made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver or stitching of the same curving motifs. It often suggests lace, and in recent centuries remains popular in Indian and other Asian metalwork, and French from 1660 to the late 19th century...
which overlaid the jade handle. It took Warenski 10 years to make this knife and it was sold for $2.1 million (US). The third knife in this series was named "Fire and Ice"; this knife contained 28 ounces of 18K gold, 22 rubies totaling 4.25 karats and 75 diamonds totaling 7 karats. The handle for this knife was constructed of quartz, accented with red enamel. A fourth knife was planned, but not finished.
With the exception of any damascus steel used in the knives, which Warenski ordered as a blank from an ABS Mastersmith
American Bladesmith Society
The American Bladesmith Society or ABS is an non-profit organization composed of knifemakers whose primary function is to promote the techniques of forging steel blades. The ABS was founded by Knifemaker William F...
and ground himself, all of his knives were sole-authorship, meaning he made and finished every part of the knife including making sheaths and engraving. After 1986, his wife, Julie Warenski, aided him with the engraving and gold embellishments.
Warenski died in 2005.