5 from the Grinder: Elmer Roush III (EIII Knives)

It is 5 from the Grinder time knife fans, and today we bring you Elmer Roush III, a second generation knifemaker who is forging his own path with EIII Knives. I don’t know him (or his father) personally, but I remember seeing his table at Blade Show. I try to cold approach as many makers as I can, but somehow have managed to miss Elmer. But he has graciously agreed to participate in our 5 from the Grinder series, which you will see below. If you are a maker who would like to be featured in 5ftG yourself, check out this link for more information.

Without further ado, here is Elmer Roush III….

Please introduce yourself and let us know what led you to making/designing knives

I’m Elmer Roush III, owner/operator of EIII Knives. I started designing and making knives, because there wasn’t anything on the market that worked the way I wanted a knife to work for me. As an avid outdoorsman (ie fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, etc), I needed a knife that would do most outdoor tasks well.

What knifemaker(s) or designer(s) have had the biggest influence on you? Do you have any mentors?

The biggest influences on my design/making process, would be my dad, Elmer Roush and Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical.

What is your favorite knife pattern or style from history?

The Kephart Knife is my hands down favorite.

What is the next big thing in knifemaking? / What direction do you see the industry going?

I see the industry going to small EDC utilitarian type knives.

Is there a knife from your lineup that you feel best exhibits who you are as a knifemaker/designer in terms of design elements, aesthetic or techniques used?

The Possum and Stranger knives I make are simple, clean, every day use knives, that are good for a wide range of tasks, for both outdoor and urban environments.

What is your EDC and why?

I carry 2 knives- one is a Possum – because it excels at every day cutting tasks and the other is a Victorinox Tinker – I find all the small tools on it handy.