40 years of knife making

D

DevinT

Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
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I started my first knife during the winter break 40 years ago at the age of 13.

I worked with knife makers Bob and Jimmy Lofgreen three years later for one summer. Won the award for the most impressive knife by a new knife maker at the Aneheim show in ‘81.

Made first damascus in ‘86. Made first stainless damascus ~’89.

I was the first to swage patterns in damascus, like ladder and rain drop, instead of grinding grooves or drilling.

I developed the current techniques and materials for powder and canister damascus. Had help with this from Ed Schempp.

I was the first to offer surface ground damascus bars. Early on, I convinced everyone to switch to 1084 and 15n20 for pattern welded steel, before that everyone was using w2, O1, 5160, L6, 203E, nickel, 1095, 52100, which are all good steels but are more difficult to use.

Thank you to all the knife makers over the years who have helped and inspired me. Thank you to all the forum members who continue to help and inspire.

It has been an incredible journey.

Much love and respect,

Hoss
 
DevinT said:
I started my first knife during the winter break 40 years ago at the age of 13.

I worked with knife makers Bob and Jimmy Lofgreen three years later for one summer. Won the award for the most impressive knife by a new knife maker at the Aneheim show in ‘81.

Made first damascus in ‘86. Made first stainless damascus ~’89.

I was the first to swage patterns in damascus, like ladder and rain drop, instead of grinding grooves or drilling.

I developed the current techniques and materials for powder and canister damascus. Had help with this from Ed Schempp.

I was the first to offer surface ground damascus bars. Early on, I convinced everyone to switch to 1084 and 15n20 for pattern welded steel, before that everyone was using w2, O1, 5160, L6, 203E, nickel, 1095, 52100, which are all good steels but are more difficult to use.

Thank you to all the knife makers over the years who have helped and inspired me. Thank you to all the forum members who continue to help and inspire.

It has been an incredible journey.

Much love and respect,

Hoss
Click to expand...

I have a photo somewhere of me as a younger man (kid?) standing with you and a couple other quite notable makers receiving awards at the Boise show in 2011. I remember feeling honored and humbled to be standing with such fine company.

Thanks for YOUR inspiration and contribution to this craft. Congrats on 40 years! Good post.
 
DevinT (The Hoss!) has been so very helpful to me and many others on this forums. I can only stand in awe and appreciation of their skills and willingness to teaching. THANK YOU!!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy 'n Safe New Year to all.
 
Yep, Hoss, you have been around a while. I remember buying some of your new damascus back around '90. IIRC, I used to buy your mokume, too. You always had first class material.

As moderator, I appreciate your participation and advice.
Merry Christmas, Hoss.
 
I remember speaking with you at a Blade Show a number of years ago. I was asking about how to make Damascus. You were very patient, answered my questions and suggested I add some Boric acid (Roach Proof) to the 20 mule team borax.

THANKS! Its great to have you on this forum.
 
I have such admiration for guys like you who have blazed the trails. That is a lot of hard won knowledge that you freely share with the community. Thank you. Congratulations on your accomplishments and your longevity. I hope it is God's will and yours that we have you around for another 40. Merry Christmas!
 
Mr. Thomas, "Hoss" don't feel like I know you well enough to call you Hoss. I've only been doing knives a few months, working on Christmas gifts that won't be ready by Christmas, but you have already been a helpful inspiration for me. I am looking forward to using your SS on some knives in the near future. Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing you knowledge.
 
What all them guys said Hoss!

For some of those perhaps unfamiliar with Hoss' steel:

Vines and Roses:

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shRkstooth:

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Thanks for all you have shared with the community and to me personally as well. Here's to the next 40 years!
 
Wow what a flash back!

I was at that Anaheim show in 1981. If I knew then what I know now I would have stock up on stag they had at those shows :)
 
Devin
you have give much of yourself to this "Craft" much of it with high cost to family/health/personal well mental state (Smile), what i Respect very much is on this post you Aknoledge the help you have recieved along the way by guys like Ed Schemp. very humble guy,very knowledgeable.
time she is not a good friend!!
my Respect is what you have earned,Merry X-mas.
 
A few thoughts on the old days.....

When I started there was no internet, no forums, no ceramic belts, no structured abrasives, no illegal ivories, no social media, no stabilized wood, no ban on stag, no hammer-inns, the ABS was not talked about much, the knife makers guild was the strong one.

There were four major knife shows, Anaheim, Vegas, Guild show, and New York. There were about 200 knife makers and a dozen damascus makers. Most knives were mirror pollished, most folders were lock backs, schrimshaw was important and collectable, the big name knife makers were ~40 years old.

The Blade Magazine was called The American Blade Magazine. There was a bigger separation between factory and custom knives. There was no cnc machinery, the rule at the time was, in order to qualify as a custom hand made knife, you had to hold the knife or the tool in the hand. Milling machines were frowned upon.

There were lots of articles that touted custom knives as good financial investments. Buster Warenski, Herman Schneider, and Corbit Sigman were considered the best knife makers in the world. People that invested in knives soon found that most lost value and custom knives struggled in the mid ‘80s. After that, there was a bigger interest in forging (because of damascus mostly), heat treating, knife testing, (all because of the ABS) which seemed to resurrect hand made knives.

Forums, social media, YouTube, internet, knife dealers, etc. has changed the way we sell knives. There was a time where we were all dependent on knife shows.

Enough for now.

Hoss
 
Hoss, a very interesting walk down memory lane. I sold my first knife in 1980 and know what you are talking about. Back then there also were very few books on knife making. There also were very few places to buy knife making supplies. For several years Bob Schrimsher was the only one I knew of who put out a knifemaker's supply catalog.

If you don't mind, could I ask you what you are using for flux these days? I noticed in some of your videos you lay the billet on the bottom of your forge. I don't think I could do that with borax.
 
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