A KNIFE FOR THE WORKINGMAN
From the beginning his knives were meant for work, and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Rudy Ruana never strayed from that premise. A knife simply isn’t a knife if it can’t hold up to heavy use, deliver in the clutch and come back for more.
A giant of handmade knives in the early 20th century and a contributor to the fabric of history that ties everyone in the knife community together, Ruana strived for simplicity. He hammered sturdy blades, pioneered the aluminum cast handle, made elk antler a signature material, and built cutting tools that survive long after his death in 1986 at 83.
Ruana was straightforward, strong and steady, physically powerful, and focused on a knife that always performed. He began his career circa 1920 while serving as a blacksmith with the U.S. Army’s Third Field Artillery, 6 Infantry Division. When two American Indian horse skinners of the outfit found their knives inadequate, they came to Ruana. He accepted the challenge, pounding blades out of spent .30-06 shells and
