A Day in Ken Erickson's Shop

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bigern26

Joined
Oct 2, 2009
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A few weeks ago I posted a design critique thread on a design I drew up for a slip joint. Ken Erickson pointed out a few things wrong with my tang. He noticed I was In Wisconsin and invited me to his shop for a day to learn about slippies!!!

A little about myself, I am very new to knife making, I have just finished the construction of my first knife. It is a full tang fixed blade. I have also finished building my first sheath, all I have left to do as of now is give it an edge and sharpen!!
Here is a link to my first knife wip
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=692312


Yesterday morning I got up at 4:00 am and left my house by 4:30
I got to Kens Shop at 9:00 a.m.

He greeted me with his shop door open and when I walked in I was amazed to see all his tools and machinery placed very well around in his small shop as to actually make the shop seem large.
We shook hands and went right to work.:thumbup:

He had a blade and spring already heat treated, but everything else he was going to build while teaching me all the aspects of building a shadow slip joint folder.

Ken Explained everything he was doing in great detail and as far as I can tell left nothing of importance out.

I am still amazed at this master craftsman at work!!!!

I asked questions that I thought were of minor importance but Ken answered them as if they were the most important. Ken sat there and expained to me the geometrics of the tang and spring and showed me how everything works.
We went over blade, spring and liner thicknesses in reguards to the astetics of a knife.


I have the utmost respect for Ken and he is a true teacher. I left his shop at 4:30 p.m. with so much knowledge I now am not scared to try my hand at a slippie.
I know Ken might not think of himself as a true craftsman and a great teacher but after a day spent with him I feel he is one of the best!!!

I am extremely proud to call Ken a friend.

Here are some pictures of the knife ken made as a teaching tool, that he let me take home. (thanks again Ken I cant stop holding it!!)

Reminder: this knife was made in 7 1/2 hours including coffee breaks, talking and q&a.

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My pictures are not the best and in no way do this knife justice.

I would like to thank you again Ken for inviting me to your shop to learn the basics of building folders!! I hope I can build a knife half as good as this one!!

I will forever carry this knife as a memory of meeting one of the nicest guys that I am proud to call a friend.
 
Congrats, Ernie on a worthy effort and befriending one of the best gentlemen I'm privileged to call a friend. :cool::thumbup:

That knife is not only nice but will be even more valuable as the years go by. Congrats again.
 
Man that is just awesome! You got to go to the shop of one of the best knife makers here on the site. His stuff is flawless. And he made that is such little time! Seems like you had the time of your life doin that. I'm glad you had fun. And you got a great knife to boot. Congrats on a great day. And good on you Ken. Not too many people really do that kinda teaching thing, let alone give away a knife.
 
To learn from someone like Ken is a true treasure , having talked to him on the phone , I can only imagine what a great learning experience it was.

That is a knife and friendship to be treasured forever.
 
Ken is following a great tradition here! I've heard similar stories about the top tier (in my opinion anyway) custom makers. They love the knives and tradition more than their egos, and are willing to share their knowledge.
Good on ya, Ken, for giving a newbie a leg up in a most generous manner!
And lucky you, Ernie, for the experience of a lifetime!
 
Ernie,

I was nervous to have someone spend the day in the shop but ten minutes after meeting you I was at ease. It was an enjoyable day for me, and I really like the fact you have a true desire to make handmade knives. Be it traditional folders or traditional fixed blade hunting knives.

Anyone that is willing to get up at 4 am and drive for 5 1/2 hours to sit in a little ol shop and listen watch and learn is tops in my book!

Ken
 
Thanks to both of you for sharing this experience with us. It sounds like a fantastic day. Wish I could have been there.
 
That is really cool. I've never met Ken, nor do I have any of his knives, Yet .:D

For someone who is obviously as busy as he is, to take the time to teach someone, speaks volumes about the man.

I always enjoy seeing Kens pics of his latest work.

Its been said many times, but still remains true. Its more than just the common bond of knives that we share, its about the people.

Enjoy your new knife, it s a true keepsake
 
Ken just moved up to my got to have list. All the best makers do this and I really respect a person that takes the time out to help others. Ken next time your in Point let me know and the beer is on me.
 
Well, how cool is all that? :thumbup: Thanks for sharing the adventure, and I'd say you got a pretty nice door prize from a pretty swell guy. :)
 
That's so cool of Ken to share his knowledge with you. Congrats on getting to learn from one of the best. All the best to your knife making future.
 
That's a great looking knife. It must be nice to watch a knife being made and taking it home.

I'm doing the same thing with Mike Vagnino except with a liner lock. Luckily, he lives only 10 mins away.
 
thanks guys for all the kind words!!

Ken, Dont feel bad I was really nervous also but like you said after about the first ten minutes I was completly at ease.
I have never had anyone spen the time you did to teach me and you did it well.
Even with all the stupid(so I thought) questions I asked you took the time to explain them as they were very important.
Thank you again ken!!!
 
Good for you and Ken! It really helps to have guys willing to show you how they do things, whatever it is, and very generous of Ken to give you a knife on day one!

(Hey Ken, thank heavens he lives over 4 hours away. I did the same thing with Tony, who is a 10 minute drive South, and now he can't get rid of me:p)
 
I was fortunate enough to go hang around with Bob Lum a little before he passed. He truly was a genuinely good person, who had almost as strong of love for guns as he did knives..
I wish I could find a slip joint maker close to where I live. I'd really like to be able to watch a true craftsman do his magic with a slip joint
 
That is an amazing story, thank you for sharing. Guys like this restore my faith in the human race, there's not hardly enough of these gifted and generous people left. The knife you two whipped up is a jewel. The blade and handle shapes are classic though I can't identify where I've seen them before. Use that knife well continue the tradition of passing your knowledge on to the new guys. Guys like Ken are the very fabric of what make this country great. Good luck to you. Thanks again.
 
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