Jody Samson

Jody Samson (November 4, 1946 – December 27, 2008) was a knifemaker and bladesmith from Burbank, California, who designed butterfly knives for Benchmade and the swords used in movies, including Conan the Barbarian, Conan the Destroyer, First Knight, The Mask of Zorro, Blade, Blind Fury, Batman & Robin, Batman Forever, and Streets of Fire.

Early life

Samson learned knife making and bladesmithing from John Nelson Cooper, a veteran knife maker located in Burbank, California, in 1969. Samson began making knives full-time in 1974. Soon after, he was hired by Les DeAsis of Pacific Cutlery (now Benchmade) as a knife designer. Samson's first design won Blade magazine's Knife of the Year award in 1979. The following year, Samson unveiled his "Wee-hawk" blade profile which was made by Benchmade for years.

Samson left Benchmade in 1994 to return to Burbank to produce movie swords and props for Tony Swatton's Sword & Stone in Los Angeles, California. He designed and built the weapons for the films First Knight, The Mask of Zorro, Blade, Batman & Robin, Babylon 5, and Batman Forever.

Later years and death

Samson was found dead of pneumonia in his workshop on December 27, 2008, after complaining of cold symptoms for a week.