The I.R.B.I. knife shop opened in July 1971 under the name “Kenai Lake Tourist Trap,” after founder Irvin Campbell taught himself how to make knives while working on the Discovery oil well in Prudhoe Bay.  He crafted his first knives from worn-out hand tools and copper tubing (above, with art work by Clara Elge).

Three generations of I.R.B.I. Knife makers: Virgil (left), Hunter (right), and Irvin (seated)

Not long after opening the shop, Irvin’s knives started selling better than the knick-knacks he stocked, and he began making knives on a full-time basis.  It wasn’t long before Irvin and his wife, Clara Campbell, ran out of craftsmen to make their knife sheaths for them, so Clara had to learn the craft herself. 

In November 1990, Virgil and Dawn bought the business from Irvin and Clara after learning the knife and sheath making trades during the previous three years.  Hunter, now the third generation of I.R.B.I. Knife makers, started learning the trade in 2005.

In the Spotlight

You can read more about our history in these articles, which appeared over the years in the Seward Phoenix Log, our local newspaper:

1. •November 30, 2006:    Making knives a cutting-edge family business
   

2. •April 3, 1997:                The independent guy: Knife-maker has always done it his way
   

3. •May 31, 1990:               Knife maker, Campbell, carries on family tradition
   

4. •February 9, 1989:         Irvin Campbell names Who’s Who 1989 Artist of the Year
   

I.R.B.I. Knives have also made it to the national spotlight - CBS’ “Northern Exposure” featured an I.R.B.I. Knife on several episodes, with the first one airing November 28, 1994.