Local knife retailer becoming knifemakers
Red Hill Cutlery buys historic brand
By BEN SHEROAN THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE – May 8, 2026
After a lifetime as a knife collector and four decades as a knife retailer, Lonnie Basham is taking a step into manufacturing.
His passion for pocketknives helped fuel a business that sells and ships hundreds of knives weekly and has established Red Hill Cutlery as an industry leader.
It also gave rise to the Kentucky Museum of American Pocketknives where he displays his vast personal collection of artifacts in the rear of the store. The free exhibit, combined with the Guinness-certified World’s Largest Pocketknife out front has become a tourist attraction and resulted in Radcliff being declared the Knife Capital of Kentucky.
Now the dream takes a new direction. Basham said he long has wanted to have his own knife brand. A connection among collectors led him to a historic twist as he was able to purchase rights to a name cherished in industry circles.
For the first time in more than a century, knives bearing the trademark J.B.F. Champlin Cutlery are being made and will be available exclusively through Red Hill Cutlery.
“It is a big responsibility to bring all this history back,” said his son, Josh Basham, who operates the knife store.
Champlin was a knife distributor and salesman too before he became a manufacturer in 1865. Although his business lasted just a few years, his legacy extended thanks to an act of nepotism. He hired his four brothers-in-law to work for him.
His wife’s maiden name was Case. The brothers later went out of their own and today Case knives still are made by the W.R. Case & Sons Company, which is the world’s largest knife manufacturer.
He hopes to have the first models ready in time for a scheduled Case knife show June 13 at Red Hill Cutlery, 92 Bourbon Trail, Radcliff, just off Joe Prather Highway.
Basham said he initially will offer 3½-inch knives known as the medium-size Barlow. He plans to use the old styles commonly used in the 1800s. The knife will be available in five different handle materials: mother of pearl, Abalone seashell, genuine stag, Shetland red bone and saw-cut walnut.
The knifes will be sold separately and in a mint set for collectors. The Bashams will have certificates of authenticity available for collectors.
**A note from Red Hill President Josh Basham: The Champlin knives will be made in America by a variety of factories. Due to some of the confidentiality agreements with different manufactures we will not be disclosing each individual maker as there will be several collaborators. We are truly excited to bring this historic brand back to its glory.
I would also like to add, that the RHC exclusive Champlin knives will be the first “major” factory production. The brand has been in good hands and has had success with small private production runs available in limited supply by Derek Smith and Michael Losicco. These two avid collectors and noted authority on Champlin history were the catalyst to bringing JBF Champlin knives back into the forefront and into the hands of Red Hill Cutlery. They were mentioned in the interview but not published in the article and I had to set the record straight on the importance of these two fine gentleman not only to JBF but too the future of the brand.