Robert (Bob) Ball was born in Mississippi and grew up in Seattle Washington. In 1964 he went to Alaska as a truck driver to help in the reconstruction of Anchorage following an earthquake and remained in Alaska.

After a severe traffic accident in 1972, which left him partially disabled. he took up wood carving to pass the time but found it difficult to get a good enough knife, so he decided to make his own. Bob discovered he enjoyed making knives more than carving wood.

He was taught to grind knives by Bob Willis, an Anchorage Cutler who says his student quickly mastered the art because he has a natural gift. He developed a folding knife in 1991, at first with a back lock mechanism and then in 1993 with liner locking. From 1992 onwards he traveled regularly to knife exhibitions, including those in Germany, where he won many distinctions. The engraving on his knives is done by Jim White. Bob Ball does not make runs of the same knife so each knife is unique.