last week I spent 5 days with James Rodebaugh MS at his home and shop in Wyoming,
I essentially went for a handles and guards class that morphed into an intermediate skills building.
James is a current ABS Board member. He is an avid outdoorsman and I find his working knives to be very practical in design as well as sleek and minimal.
Jim and his wife were extremely hospitable as I stayed with them for the 5 days.
James is also a very good cook! Well his wife did the cooking but apparently his recipes.
Each days was tiring as I pushed him for alot information and learning and he responded.
James was very generous in a lot of million dollar tricks and tips,
I also made notes of 4 pages of tools or equipment I noted was in his shop that assisted him in efficiently creating a superb Master Smith level knife,
We each forged a W1 knife together on day 1, to be later turned into a knife.
I brought several blades with me to put handles and guards on.
We completed 1 knife, 2 other handles and guards almost fully completed, I of which I worked on by myself throughout the week.
And lastly a frame handle with stag, pretty complex for a smaller knife and in a short period of time.
The best tip I learned? - To enjoy the journey.
Yep, slow down and enjoy the journey of each process, so each process successfully builds on itself to reach excellence,
Check out Jim's work, I can personally attest to his high level of skill
regards
Harbeer
forged a blade from W1
learning a proper guard fit
complex curved handle
Antelope back strap, delicious !
working with ram's horn
the clean room of Jim's shop
grinder section of his shop
frame handle cut out
stag dovetailed
I think this was lightly breaded bluegill that Jim caught
almost finished, we ran out of time, its 95% done
I essentially went for a handles and guards class that morphed into an intermediate skills building.
James is a current ABS Board member. He is an avid outdoorsman and I find his working knives to be very practical in design as well as sleek and minimal.
Jim and his wife were extremely hospitable as I stayed with them for the 5 days.
James is also a very good cook! Well his wife did the cooking but apparently his recipes.
Each days was tiring as I pushed him for alot information and learning and he responded.
James was very generous in a lot of million dollar tricks and tips,
I also made notes of 4 pages of tools or equipment I noted was in his shop that assisted him in efficiently creating a superb Master Smith level knife,
We each forged a W1 knife together on day 1, to be later turned into a knife.
I brought several blades with me to put handles and guards on.
We completed 1 knife, 2 other handles and guards almost fully completed, I of which I worked on by myself throughout the week.
And lastly a frame handle with stag, pretty complex for a smaller knife and in a short period of time.
The best tip I learned? - To enjoy the journey.
Yep, slow down and enjoy the journey of each process, so each process successfully builds on itself to reach excellence,
Check out Jim's work, I can personally attest to his high level of skill
regards
Harbeer
forged a blade from W1
learning a proper guard fit
complex curved handle
Antelope back strap, delicious !
working with ram's horn
the clean room of Jim's shop
grinder section of his shop
frame handle cut out
stag dovetailed
I think this was lightly breaded bluegill that Jim caught
almost finished, we ran out of time, its 95% done
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