2011 CHRISTMAS KITH - "I'm In" THREAD

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

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Well, old man time has run fast this year. It is already September and it seems that January was only a few months ago. Now that we are entering the fall/winter seasons the Canadians are sewing up their Long Johns, Sam is thinking about looking for a woman to winter with ( or was it a bear?), and the rest of us are ready for - The 2011 KITH.
I delayed an extra month to allow the PIF build to wind up. After the PIF is un-stickyed, I will sticky this thread.

The rules will be pretty much the same as last year:

2011 CHRISTMAS KITH
This thread is for all those interested in joining the 2011 KITH.
While it is usually called the Christmas KITH, it can be a Hanukkah KITH, or a Winter Solstice KITH, etc. The purpose is to make a knife and give it away to another knifemaker. In return you will get a knife from someone. No one will know who they are making the knife for until after the knife is finished, and no one will know who they will receive a knife from until it arrives in the mail.

SOME BASIC RULES :

The entrant must make, finish, and box the knife by or before December 1, 2011. Once finished, the maker can then post on the “2011 KITH - I’m Ready” thread. This thread will be posted starting November 1,2011. Photos of the completed knives can be posted on a separate “KITH Photos “ thread.
By December 10, 2011, I will make a shipping label and an envelope for each entrant, from those who have logged on the “I’M Ready” thread. I will have a third party randomly draw the labels and stick them in an envelope. The only examination of the names will be to assure no one is sent their own label. I will then email the name and address to each person in the KITH.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this:

Post on this thread,
“I’m In - I will make a knife by December 1,2011.”
Also, sent me an email to, sapelt@cox.net . Give me you real name, your forum name, shipping address, contact phone, and email.

At this point, that is all you need to do. I will keep track of those who are interested in participating. I will send out monthly reminders by email to keep us all going. If you don’t finish the knife, or if there is a conflict of schedule, there is no problem this way - the recipients are only drawn from those who have completed their entry by Dec. 1, 2011. You can enter anytime up to November 1,2011.

About the knives:
The entry can be any knife or bladesmith related item. Fixed blade, folder, axe, hawk, sword, etc. The only requirement is that it be made by the submitter ( For simplicity, I will refer to it as “the knife“). The workmanship should be of the best quality that you are able to do. Levels will vary depending on ability and experience, but if you feel your knife will be a suitable gift, then by all means enter. If you are just starting, and still learning the basics, perhaps sitting this year out would be best. The knife should be fully completed, and a sheath or case is advisable. You should provide all the pertinent information on the knife in a note to the recipient ( put this in the box). Outside services, such as Water Jet, Stabilization, and Heat Treatment are fine, but the workmanship on the knife should be yours.
The value level of the knife is up to you . It should be something that will be happily received by the new owner, but levels of value will vary, depending on the maker and their circumstances. It is a fun gift exchange, not a swap meet. It is not about what you get back for what you put in. Some knives will be worth $100, and others will be worth $400. I would suggest that you keep the knives in the general range of $200 in value, but it is totally up to you. No one is obligated to go beyond their means to enter this KITH.

Lets all have some fun and make some truly worthy knives.

List so far: (Red means I have not received your info, plesase send it)

Bladsmth
jonnymac44
Jason Magruder
tryppyr
rasret01
Mike Davis
redneckswami
syvmn
AA Forge
SBuzek
unky_gumbi
tattooedfreak
Tiiiiiiiim
tobinsmith
RyanW
Daniel Fairly Knives
darrin sanders
JBS TOOLMAKER
legato1
Rick Lowe
Shawn fu
klammer
jasperdog032469
RWN2000
robloveday
bacustomknives
coolhandluke4
MSCantrell
Knifemaker87
JasonSCarter
J. Hoover
arcadiaknives
PocketEdge
Dan Pierson











 
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I wanted to do this last year, but I wasn't ready.

This year......

I'm in! I will make a knife by December 1, 2011

Thanks for doing what you do Stacy:thumbup:
 
I’m In - I will make a knife by December 1,2011.


I haven't done one of these since 2005 when some crazy dude sent me a damascus blade with wrought iron guard and a gold escutcheon engraved with both of our names in the handle. I think he missed the two hundred dollar mark by a bit :D


I think I'll do a folder this time around.
 
As it says in the rules:

Don't Forget To Send Me An Email With Your Contact Info

sapelt@cox.net

This allows me to set up the 2011 KITH file to keep track of the participants, send out reminders, and make up the label list.
 
As improbable as it may seem, I’m In - I will make a knife by December 1,2011.

- Greg
 
I'm in for the 2011 KITH.

Thanks Stacy. Email on its way.

Matt
 
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Edit: i think i'm going to wait till next year. false alarm. everyone can begin breathing again, crisis averted ;)
 
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I'm in. I will make a knife, and sheath, by December 1. I wanted to do this previously, but life has gotten in the way for the past couple of years. This year, however, I'm good to go and have been looking forward to this since last September!
 
In an attempt to keep the annual KITH running as well as it has in the past, I will offer some advise to those wishing to participate.....and some straight forward comments :

If you are on your first few knives, or are just developing your skills, it would be best to sit back and watch this year. The excitement of wanting to be involved is understandable, but you need to have the prerequisites to participate fairly. Waiting until you are ready will make it more enjoyable for all involved.

We have had some great ,and nationally known, members participate in the past, but so many brand new makers joined in, that most of the old guys dropped out. It isn't all about what you get for what you give, but the participants should expect to get a good knife, or other bladed item, that demonstrates good workmanship and some skills.

As I said in the intro, some will be worth far more than others, but all should be as good as they can be for the makers skills. In that statement it is assumed that the maker has developed his skills to complete a quality knife. A rough ground karidashi with a paracord handle may get "Cool" comments from folks, but is it really good enough for a KITH exchange where the group will be doing burl wood handles and hand sanded blades?

I usually advise those with less than 10-20 finished knives to sit it out for another year. There are a few makers who's knives are exceptional from the get-go, but most makers take a few years and as many as 50-100 knives to get the skills needed.

If you are on the fence, go ahead and join in. If the knife you are working on isn't up to snuff, then don't put it in when the deadline comes. Every year we have about 30% drop out for this reason. If you aren't sure about your knives being ready for this KITH, then email me or another experienced maker some photos of several knives you finished and ask for his/her honest opinion.

Another issue is that this KITH will have some expense to it. You will have to make a knife from quality materials; make or purchase a sheath, box, or case; and ship it insured to the recipient. The recipient may be in Australia , Austria, Alberta, or Arizona. Most will run about $15 , but people have spent up to $50 for shipping in some cases.

If you aren't prepared to spend about $100 total and have the time to devote around 20 hours to the project...don't join in. You may spend less, and some will only need 10 hours, while others will take 50 hours to finish the knife.
 
Any chance to do an open Kith, and an Invite Kith? Just thinking out loud here.

I want to join this years KITH, only because I sat back and watched how much fun you guys had with it last year. However I would hate to have entries like mine drive other, more experienced makers away from enjoying this event, thus killing it eventually.

I am not sure how it could be done where people are not discouraged from even entering, or hurt that their workmanship is not quite above a certain level yet. Anyway just throwing that out there. I want in, but will sit back and watch for a few days to see what the general consensus becomes.
 
Carl,
There has been a Newbies KITH done in the past.

As far as an "Open KITH", this KITH is open to everyone who can make a good knife.
 
I really want to join in officially, but I think I will just make some knives and see if any come out good enough. Anyone can join in up until the deadline, correct Stacy? As long as a suitable knife is done by 12/1?


-Xander
 
I'm working towards getting my shop set up so if things are done by Nov 1st I'll be in

.....as long as a chefs knife is acceptable?
 
Yes, you don't have to Pre-Register.

It would be good to have the knife done and sign up by mid-November to make record keeping easier.
You will have to post a photo on the "2011 KITH photo".
The photo isn't for us to judge the knife, but to show that you have actually made it. In the past we have had people say they made a knife, but never did.
That thread will start November 1st.
 
“I’m In - I will make a knife by December 1,2011.”

E-mail on the way!
 
This will be my 5th year to do this.It has been a blast every year:thumbup:
I'm In,I will make a knife by Dec.1st.
E-mail incoming
Stan
 
To make my life easier, please send me your email with all the info in an nice package that I can copy at one click - exactly like this, please:

Bladsmth
Stacy Apelt
8076 Moose Ave.
Norfolk, Va 23518
23518
757-237-2552
sapelt@cox.net


Every year I have to figure out who is who and what their email address is, ( bitch, wine, snivel).
If there is any special info, include it under the contact info.
 
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