Knife Magazine

Knife Magazine

  • LOG IN HERE
  • Newsfeed
  • SUBSCRIBE!
    • NEW Print Subscription
    • RENEW Print Subscription
    • Premium Online Membership
  • Books & Mags
    • Books
    • Magazine Archives
  • Events & Orgs
    • Upcoming Events
    • Submit Your Event
    • Knife Club Directory
    • Submit Your Knife Club
  • The Vault
    • Knife Markings (Goins Encyclopedia)
    • Worldwide Knifemaker Database and Directory
    • Magazine Archives
    • Digital Library
    • Knife Glossary
    • Submit an Entry
  • About
    • The Knife Magazine Team
    • Our History
    • Contact Us
  • Contest Entry
  • Log In
  • Create Account

Type and hit enter to display search result

Recent Posts
  • KNIFE Magazine July 2022 Sneak Peek
  • 5 from the Grinder: Jaymes Stevens (J.M. Stevens Knives)
  • Weekend Open Thread: Combustion Inflation Conflagration Edition
  • Winkler Knives: Extended Free Preview
  • Winkler Knives – The Tradition for the Past, a Legacy for the Future By Jamin Brackett
0 - $0.00
  • Help & Support
  • Cart
  • Log In
  • Create Account
Advertise With Us

Knife Magazine

Knife Magazine

  • LOG IN HERE
  • Newsfeed
  • SUBSCRIBE!
    • NEW Print Subscription
    • RENEW Print Subscription
    • Premium Online Membership
  • Books & Mags
    • Books
    • Magazine Archives
  • Events & Orgs
    • Upcoming Events
    • Submit Your Event
    • Knife Club Directory
    • Submit Your Knife Club
  • The Vault
    • Knife Markings (Goins Encyclopedia)
    • Worldwide Knifemaker Database and Directory
    • Magazine Archives
    • Digital Library
    • Knife Glossary
    • Submit an Entry
  • About
    • The Knife Magazine Team
    • Our History
    • Contact Us
  • Contest Entry
0 - $0.00
  • Home
  • /
  • Knife Making / Materials
  • /
  • Knife Stories
  • Knife Making / Materials   Knife Stories  

    Handles from the Old School

    By H. Clay Aalders September 7, 2021September 7, 2021
    Old School Knife Works

    Handles from the Old School
    by H. Clay Aalders

    Just a short hop over the mountain from the KNIFE Magazine offices in Knoxville lies the town of Otto, North Carolina, home of Culpepper and Co. and Old School Knife Works. Culpepper is a 3rd generation company specializing in dyed bone, mother of pearl, stag and antler. They also operate Old School Knife Works, a retail knife shop which just so happens to be located in an actual “old school” – the former Otto School (pronounced “OTT-toe”), which was in operation from 1941-2001.
    Culpepper was founded in 1976 as D.A. Culpepper Co. by David A. Culpepper, father of Joe, who together with wife Kristi own and operate the company today. Their daughter Ashleigh has grown up around the business, and today heads their online sales and social media efforts. It is worth noting that the Culpepper website (www.knifehandles.com) credits KNIFE Magazine Editor at Large J. Bruce Voyles as one who helped introduce David to the industry and to legends such as Jim Parker, Jim Frost, and Bob Loveless.
    “In the mid-‘70s my dad was a custom knifemaker, and long story short, he started using exotic materials, using some ivory and abalone, and before too long he’d go to these little shows and other makers would say ‘Hey, I’d like to make a knife out of that material.’ Not long after that he quit making knives and just started cutting handle material. It started in his basement and I think the first warehouse was around 1982.”
    They moved into their current 20,000 sq. ft. facility, the above mentioned Otto School, in 2007. Purchased at municipal auction and despite needing extensive renovation to suit their needs, Joe feels that they “got it for a steal.” It was pre-wired for 220 volts and had a commercial cafeteria kitchen which today serves as their dye-room. Joe’s office is the Principal’s Office, and many other rooms show telltale signs of their former use. In fact, the floor of their largest storeroom still bears the basketball lines from its days as the gymnasium and auditorium.
    The modular nature of the building allowed them to open up new areas as the business expanded, though Joe says that pretty much the whole building is now occupied in some manner. The most notable expansion was Kristi Culpepper’s brainchild, the Old School Knife Works retail knife store. Occupying around 6000 square feet of the facility, it carries a range of production knives from all of the expected companies, vintage pocketknives, some customs, Old School Knife Works merchandise, and even dog chews from antler offcuts.

    This article appears in the September 2021 issue of KNIFE Magazine. You can read the whole thing by clicking the blue button below.

    Culpepper

    0 Tags: Culpepper and Co., Knife Magazine Archives, KNIFE Magazine September 2021 issue, Old School Knife Works

    H. Clay Aalders

    H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

    You May Also Like

    Winkler Knives

    Winkler Knives – The Tradition for the Past, a Legacy for the Future By Jamin Brackett

    June 16, 2022

    Ed Caffrey: Montana Knifemaker (Extended Free Preview)

    May 20, 2022May 20, 2022
    Ed Caffrey Knives

    Ed Caffrey: The Montana Bladesmith by James Takenaka

    May 20, 2022

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    About Us
    Author Picture:

    KNIFE Magazine is an oversized, full color, glossy print publication — 50% larger than a standard magazine and dedicated to serving collectors, knifemakers and other enthusiasts. KnifeMagazine.com is our online presence, offering news, events and other information to all visitors and a wealth of information to Premium Online Members including information on historical knife markings, knifemaker markings, about 500 magazine issues, and more!

    sales@knifemagazine.com 1-800-828-7751 (M-F, 9-5 EST)
    Knife Magazine - PO Box 11012 - Knoxville TN USA 37939
    Author Signature:
    CLICK HERE TO SEE A SAMPLE ISSUE!
    Stay Updated
    Recent Comments
    • Del Corsi on Weekend Open Thread: Combustion Inflation Conflagration Edition
    • Mark R on Weekend Open Thread: Combustion Inflation Conflagration Edition
    • Mark R on Weekend Open Thread: Combustion Inflation Conflagration Edition
    • cmeat on Weekend Open Thread: Combustion Inflation Conflagration Edition
    • StuartB on Weekend Open Thread: Combustion Inflation Conflagration Edition
    Knife Magazine

    © 2020. Knife Magazine - Site by Epic Nine

    Type and hit enter to display search result