Though his works are not displayed at local art shows, Clay County native Charlie Edmondson is an extraordinary artist with a standard of excellence and an international following. Edmondson builds bowie knives in a shop at his Alexander City home. And while others might call it a sideline, building top grade knives is Edmondson’s true life’s work.
It’s a work he discovered at age 5, when the men in his family brought him their knives to sharpen. His grandfather used to bring pieces of aluminum home from work, and a young Edmondson fashioned them into swords.
kAm“x H@F=5 D:E @FED:56 H:E9 2 92?5 D2H 2?5 >2<6 DH@C5D] tG6? :? 9:89 D49@@= 28 4=2DD[ x 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ >2<6 <?:G6D[” 96 D2:5] “x’G6 366? G6CJ =F4<J 2?5 G6CJ 3=6DD65 E@ >66E D@>6 >2DE6CD>:E9D 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 =62C?65 7C@> E96>]”k^Am
kAmt5>@?5D@? ;@:?65 E96 &]$] pC>J 2E 286 `e[ 2?5 27E6C H@C<:?8 :? H2E6C EC62E>6?E 2E wF?E6C pC>J p:C7:6=5 :? $2G2??29[ v6@C8:2[ 96 =2?565 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ 2D 2 H2E6C EC62E>6?E @A6C2E@C] w6’D H@C<65 7@C E96 r:EJ 7@C `c J62CD[ H:E9 2 7:G6\J62C 3C62< H96? 96 H@C<65 6=D6H96C6 3FE C6EFC?65 E9C66 J62CD 28@] %9C@F89 2== E9@D6 J62CD[ 96 ?6G6C DE@AA65 =62C?:?8[ 56G6=@A:?8 9:D 4C27E 2?5 3F:=5:?8 9:D C6AFE2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D yF=J a[ a__f[ E92E x 564:565 E9:D H2D H92E x H2?E65 E@ 5@] x’== ?6G6C 7@C86E :E] x C62=:K65 x =@G65 5@:?8 :E[ 2?5 x H2?E65 E@ 8@ 7@C :E] p?5 E92E’D H92E x 5:5[” 96 D2:5] “x C625 6G6CJE9:?8 x 4@F=5 7:?5] x AC24E:465] x 4@?E24E65 >2DE6CD>:E9D 2C@F?5 E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 2D<65 :7 x 4@F=5 4@>6 DH66A E96 7=@@CD 7@C E96>[ 4FE E96 8C2DD[ A:4< FA 92J[ 2?JE9:?8 E@ 86E :?E@ E96:C D9@AD E@ H2E49 E96> H@C<[ D66 9@H E96J 5:5 46CE2:? E9:?8D] %96D6 H6C6 92C5 >6?] *@F >:89E DA6?5 2== 52J H@C<:?8 7@C E96> ;FDE E@ 86E E@ 2D< @?6 BF6DE:@?] x’G6 5C:G6? E9C66 9@FCD E@ 2 D9@A E@ 2D< ;FDE `d >:?FE6D @7 BF6DE:@?D 2?5 =62G6] x’> D@ 3=6DD65 E@ 92G6 366? 23=6 E@ 5@ E92E] x’== ?6G6C 7@C86E :E]”k^Am
kAmt5>@?5D@?’D C6D@=G6 92C56?65 H96?[ =2E6C E92E D2>6 J62C[ 96 2EE6?565 2 92>>6C\:?[ H96C6 D>:E9D 8@E E@86E96C E@ 92>>6C @FE <?:G6D 2?5 D92C6 E2=< @7 E96 EC256]k^Am
kAm“x 92G6 ?@E6D x 92G6 E2<6? E9C@F89 E96 J62CD @7 E96D6 6IA6C:6?46D] w@H E@ 962E EC62Ej 9@H E@ 86E E96 >@DE @FE @7 2 A:646 @7 DE66=] x H:== ?6G6C <?@H 6G6CJE9:?8[ @7 4@FCD6] x =62C? D@>6E9:?8 ?6H 6G6CJ E:>6 x DE6A :?E@ >J D9@A[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqF:=5:?8 2 BF2=:EJ 3@H:6 <?:76 :D 2E =62DE 2 `_\DE6A AC@46DD[ t5>@?5D@? 6IA=2:?65]k^Am
kAm“*@F 92G6 E@ 7@C86 @FE E96 >2E6C:2= J@F 2C6 FD:?8j 8C:?5 E96 <?:76j 962E EC62E :E] x EC:A=6 E6>A6C 6249 @7 >J <?:G6D 7@C EH@ 9@FCD 6249 E:>6] %96?[ J@F 92G6 E@ >2<6 2 8F2C5 2?5 E96 92?5=6] p =@E @7 E92E H@C< :D 5@?6 5:C64E=J 3J 92?5] *@F =62C? 7C@> 6IA6C:6?46[ >2<:?8 D@>6E9:?8 E92E 766=D 8@@5 :? J@FC 92?5[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 2 A6CD@? 4@F=5 >2<6 2 <?:76 H:E9 @?=J 2 7:=6 2?5 2 A:646 @7 9:89 42C3@? DE66=[ t5>@?5D@? D2:5[ D6C:@FD 7@C86CD :?G6DE FAH2C5D @7 Se_[___ :? E96:C 6BF:A>6?E] t5>@?5D@? 92D 2 A@H6C 92>>6C E92E H2D 3F:=E :? (6EF>A<2[ 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 7@C86 AC6DD 2?5 2 4FDE@> 8C:?56C H:E9 D@>6 a_ 36=ED[ H9:49 96 FD6D E@ AFE C2K@C D92CA 6586D @? 9:D 3=256D]k^Am
kAm“(96? J@F 8:G6 2 <?:76 E@ D@>6@?6 E@ D92CA6?[ :7 :E 5@6D?’E =@@< =:<6 724E@CJ 6586[ E96J 5:5?’E 5@ :E C:89E] xE D9@F=5 36 G6CJ[ G6CJ[ G6CJ D92CA] *@F D9@F=5 36 23=6 E@ 4FE @77 J@FC 7:?86CAC:?ED H:E9 :E] p?8=6 :D E96 <6J[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“(96? x 3F:=5 2 <?:76[ x 92G6 2 E9@F89E :? >J 9625 E92E x H2?E E@ 3F:=5 D@>6E9:?8 D@>6@?6 H@F=5 92G6 366? AC@F5 E@ 42CCJ a__ J62CD 28@] $@>6E:>6D[ x =62G6 492C24E6C:DE:4D] *@F 42? D66 E96 3:CE9 @7 >J <?:G6D] *@F 42? D66 E96 7@C86 E6IEFC6[ H96C6 E96 92>>6C 9:E E96 DE66=]”k^Am
kAm~? 2G6C286[ :E E2<6D 23@FE a_ 9@FCD E@ 3F:=5 @?6 3@H:6 <?:76 – =@?86C E92? E92E 7@C 2 =2C86C <?:76j =6DD E:>6 7@C 2 D9@CE6C @?6] t249 <?:76 :D @?6\@7\2\<:?5[ 5:776C6?E 7C@> 6G6CJ @E96C <?:76]k^Am
kAm“x 4@F=5?’E >2<6 EH@ E96 D2>6 :7 x EC:65] x 92?5 7@C86 6G6CJE9:?8[” 96 D2:5] “qFE H92E’D C62==J :>A@CE2?E E@ >6 :D E92E 6G6CJE9:?8 x 49@@D6 @? 6G6CJ 3=256 :D p>6C:42? >256] p =@E @7 >J >2E6C:2=D 4@>6 7C@> p=232>2] |@DE @7 E96 92?5=6D 2C6 E@A 8C256 p=232>2\8C@H? H2=?FE] x 5@?’E FD6 2?JE9:?8 E92E’D ?@E 8C256 p] xE’D ?@E 4962Aj 2?5 E96?[ J@F 92G6 E@ DE23:=:K6 :E[ D@ :E H:== ?6G6C 4C24< @C 4964<] xE H:== =@@< 2D 8@@5 `__ J62CD 7C@> ?@H]”k^Am
kAm#2C6=J 5@6D t5>@?5D@? 92G6 2? :?G6?E@CJ @7 9:D 2CE] p== @7 9:D <?:G6D 92G6 366? DA@<6? 7@C >@?E9D 28@] p?5 E9@F89 96’D AC@F5 E@ D66 9:D <?:G6D FD65 3J E96:C @H?6CD[ >@DE @7 9:D H@C<D 2C6 5:DA=2J65 369:?5 8=2DD]k^Am
kAm“x =@G6 86EE:?8 A9@E@D @7 A6@A=6 E2<:?8 82>6 H:E9 E96>] w@8 9F?E:?8 H:E9 E96>] z?@4<:?8 5@H? 5@@CD[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmt5>@?5D@? t=:E6D 2C6 H@C? 3J $](]p]%] >6>36CD[ 5CF8 6?7@C46>6?E 286?ED 2?5 G:?6J2C5 G:8?6C@?D[ 2D H6== 2D 9@8 9F?E6CD 2?5 p=2D<2? 3FD9>6?] (96? E96 &]$] >:=:E2CJ C2:565 E96 9:5:?8 A=246 @7 G:@=6?E ;:925:DE =6256C p3F q2<C 2=\q289525: :? a_`h[ E96 G:56@ 7@@E286 D9@H65 2? t5>@?5D@? t=:E6 @? @?6 D@=5:6C’D 36=E] k^Am
kAmw:D 7@==@H:?8 2C6 72?D @7 E96 D@FE96C? 3@H:6 DEJ=6[ H9:49 E2A6CD 2=@?8 E96 =6?8E9 @7 E96 3=256]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 @FC @H? DEJ=6 96C6] &A }@CE9[ E96 3=256D E96J >2<6 2C6 >@C6 A@:?E65] ~FCD 92G6 2 36==J E@ E96>] %96J 2C6 >@C6 7F?52>6?E2==J 3:8[” 96 D2:5] “*@F 42? =@@< 324< 2E DEJ=6D J62CD 28@[ 2?5 D66 E92E H6 92G6 4@>6 2 =@?8 H2J :? <?:G6D ?@H252JD] %@52J’D 3=256D 2C6 72C DFA6C:@C E@ d_ J62CD 28@] (6 92G6 36EE6C >2E6C:2=D ?@H]”k^Am
kAmqF:=5:?8 <?:G6D :D 9@H t5>@?5D@? C6=2I6D 27E6C 2 D9:7E 2E E96 A=2?E[ 2?5 96’D 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 DFAA@CE @7 9:D 72>:=J :? E96 6?562G@C]k^Am
kAm“|J H:76[ $92??@?[ H6 H6C6 >2CC:65 :? a__g[ 2?5 D96’D 366? 2== @G6C E96 4@F?ECJ H:E9 >6 E@ 86E 2?G:=D[ 2EE6?5 H@C<D9@AD[ 8@ E@ D9@HD[ 96=A:?8 >6 3FJ >2E6C:2=D] $96 92D 366? C:89E E96C6 36D:56 >6[ 2?5 x 2> 7@C6G6C 8C2E67F= 7@C E92E] xE’D 9F>3=:?8 E92E x 2> <?@H? 2== @G6C E96 H@C=5 7@C >J <?:G6D[ 2?5 E92E’D D@>6E9:?8 >J <:5D H:== <?@H 23@FE >6] x 92G6 2 D@?[ y2<6[ H9@ :D h[ 2?5 >J =:EE=6 8:C=[ #2496=[ :D f] %96J’C6 86EE:?8 @=5 6?@F89 E@ C62=:K6 E92E x 86E 42==D 6G6CJ 52J 7C@> A=246D =:<6 t?8=2?5[ $H:EK6C=2?5[ pFDEC2=:2[ 46=63C:E:6D :? r2=:7@C?:2] xE’D 2== E96 H2J 2C@F?5 E96 3@2C5] |J 72>:=J 92D D24C:7:465 2 =@E E@ 2==@H >6 E@ 92G6 H92E x 92G6 2?5 >2<6 H92E x >2<6] %96J >256 >J 5C62> 4@>6 ECF6 H:E9 =6EE:?8 >6 5@ E9:D]”k^Am
kAmt5>@?5D@? 4C65:ED 9:D 72E96C H:E9 E6249:?8 9:> E@ C6249 7@C E96 36DE 96 42? 36]k^Am
kAm“|J 525 H2D 2 DE2E6 492>A:@? 4@@? 9F?E6C] w6 H@? E96 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A] w6 5:5?’E 92G6 2 =@E @7 >@?6J[ 2?5 H96? 96 H6?E E@ E96 4@>A6E:E:@? 96 H2D `e J62CD @=5] p =@E @7 A6@A=6 E96C6 925 ?:46 42>A6CD 2?5 E96 36DE 5@8 9@FD6D] w6 ;FDE 925 2 =:EE=6 @=5 E6?E] qFE H96? :E H2D E:>6[ 96 EFC?65 E@ 9:D 5@8 2?5 D2:5[ ‘r@>6 @?[ {25J[ =6E’D 8@ D9@H ‘6> 9@H :E’D 5@?6]’ p?5 96 H@? :E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJ E:>6 x H2=< :?E@ >J D9@A[ x E9:?< 23@FE E92E] x E9:?< 23@FE 9@H >F49 H@C< >J 72>:=J AFE :? E@ 364@>6 H92E E96J 2C6[ D@ x 42? 36 H92E x 2>[ 2?5 x’> ;FDE 3=6DD65 E@ 86E E@ 5@ E9:D]”k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 4@?E24E t5>@?5D@? 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i4]65>@?5D@?<?:G6DoJ29@@]4@>Qm4]65>@?5D@?<?:G6DoJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^Am








