A little message I recieved today!

[OleyFermo]

Jimmy

Sure is nice to have you posting again around here

Please stick around and spread that knowledge brother

Thanks, Joe,

I always enjoy reading the posts by the guys here and seeing some of the absolutely amazing work that is being done. There are some fine craftsmen (and women) out there nowadays.

As for me spreading any knowledge... if I had any TO spread, I'd be glad to do so. The unfortunate fact is that I know so little about knives and knifemaking that I'm afraid to say much for fear I'll be "found out".

Here's a true story: A couple of supposed knifemakers once asked me if they could stop by the shop and watch me make a blade. I told them that I'd do a quick demo blade for them. I roughed out a blank with a torch from an old car spring and ground off the crap from the torch cut. Then I forged the blade, did a very rough grind, heat treated and tempered it. I edged the blade and put it through it's paces myself, then let them do their own cutting. They seemed puzzled. I asked what they were puzzled about. One of the guys asked what I had done that they didn't see. I said that I didn't know what he was referring to, that they had watched me do the whole process. He informed me that I "could not have made a knife that performed like this one does without doing SOMETHING that they didn't see me do"... as if I had pulled off some kind of metallurgical magic stunt while their backs were turned and was trying to somehow fool them. It began to dawn on me that what they had seen was "too simple" to fit into their concept of what "should" be done... and I was more than a tad ticked off at being called a liar in my own shop. So I told them if they had missed "it" that was their problem, not mine, and escorted them to their car.

Even Don Fogg, my friend of over 35 years has said (in a good natured way) in many, many discussions we've had over the years that my blades shouldn't work like they do considering how I make them. And he's right from a purely scientific standpoint. So most of the little I have to offer is out of vogue and/or doesn't seem to make sense. I just go with what works for me... whether or not it is "supposed" to work. So if I'm quiet on a lot of topics, that's a large part of the reason why

That said, I'm always willing to hold forth on any question that I can answer.

Jimmy the Unwise, First Earl of Prestidigitation

 

[Dawkind]

We love you, Jimmy........in a manly way, of course!

Please send me the link you wrote about, if you would, Sir....email sent.

 

[peterinct]

Here's a true story: A couple of supposed knifemakers once asked me if they could stop by the shop and watch me make a blade. I told them that I'd do a quick demo blade for them. I roughed out a blank with a torch from an old car spring and ground off the crap from the torch cut. Then I forged the blade, did a very rough grind, heat treated and tempered it. I edged the blade and put it through it's paces myself, then let them do their own cutting. They seemed puzzled. I asked what they were puzzled about. One of the guys asked what I had done that they didn't see. I said that I didn't know what he was referring to, that they had watched me do the whole process. He informed me that I "could not have made a knife that performed like this one does without doing SOMETHING that they didn't see me do"... as if I had pulled off some kind of metallurgical magic stunt while their backs were turned and was trying to somehow fool them. It began to dawn on me that what they had seen was "too simple" to fit into their concept of what "should" be done... and I was more than a tad ticked off at being called a liar in my own shop. So I told them if they had missed "it" that was their problem, not mine, and escorted them to their car.


Jimmy the Unwise, First Earl of Prestidigitation

I don't know you Jimmy...only "of" you and your knives through the forums.

This story gives me some insight as to why you are respected so much.

Hopefully, your health has improved to allow you to do the things you want to,
and I hope to see more posts from you,

Peter

 

[OleyFermo]

Oh yeah, it's there! I just started watching, that first tree whack with the Jungle Honey was nuts... so clean! That was about the coolest thing I have seen in a while.

I'm going to have try that brass rod spine whack test and the blade being tested is cool.

Thanks for making those videos available!

Hey there, Daniel

I don't lose many blades to the spine whack test, but there have been a few. That's why I test everything that goes out the door. I actually also have a mild steel rod I test with. I use the brass rod on blades that are differentially heat treated since I hit them hard enough that the spines will dent if I use the steel rod. If a blade is fully hardened and differentially tempered, I use the steel rod. I'm not sure it makes much difference really since I believe it's the induced vibration, as well as the force of the blow, that will open up a crack. But as with many things, I may be wrong

A good friend of mine, Chris Tidwell, is helping me out in the shop when he can find time. One of his tasks is to do the minimum rope cutting test with each blade. Every one is tested and has to cut 100 pieces of 3/4 inch manilla rope and be able to shave hair after a bit of stropping on a piece of leather. They'll do a lot more rope than that, but 100 pieces is enough to tell what's going on with a blade and if it's going to be up to standard.

Cutting even 100 pieces of rope is rough on the hands. Chris is a big guy at 6' 3" and about 270, and he's strong, but the cutting wore his hand and arm out very quickly. That's why I had friends helping me cut the 500 pieces of rope in that old video. Chris asked if I really thought it was necessary to test each knife and if other makers did similar tests. What I told him as part of his "knife education" was that I didn't know what other makers do (although with some I do know) and that it didn't matter anyway. I make MY knives, not their knives... and I want to know what mine will do BEFORE they leave the shop. It's not that I make the world's greatest knives, or claim to. But what I do want to make is the best knives I know how to make. Since I'm human and make mistakes, I test to try to keep my mistakes in the scrap bucket. So the videos show the "minimum" tests that every knife goes through whether it has a two inch blade or a blade that's two feet long. If I'm not mistaken, you do a lot of testing on your blades, too, so you know exactly where I'm coming from.

I like the old Jungle Honey design. It was a workhorse. What stopped me making them was the things some of the people who had them were doing with the things. My dear friend, Fred Perrin, a French bladesmith, was THROWING his at trees. THROWING the blasted thing. With an edge as hard as the Honey's and a point as long and thin as they were, I could just imagine the damned thing snapping. Fred was just here for a visit, along with Elsa Fantino (a very talented smith) and claimed he's cut more wood with his Honey than he has with a chain saw... and he was being serious and went into detail. Hearing that kind of stuff gives me the willies. I'm glad I'm wasn't Babe Ruth. Hitting a homer every time at the plate must have been a damned daunting thing to be expected to do.

I still have the cleaver that was used for the rope cutting in the old vid. Steve Schwarzer... another old buddy of mine (and an fine knifemaker)... tried to pry it out of my wife's mitts on a visit last year. Steve lost that round although he did snag one of my paintings, the crafty so-n-so

Toward the end of the video a bunch of us guys are down in the woods chopping trees. One of the fellows is Don Fogg, working with one of his Dha blades. The tall, well dressed young man is Chris... a much LIGHTER young man... hehehe. He was at the shop to pick up a knife he'd ordered and brought his Sensi with him, a fellow who was a certified sword cutting instructor. I was unimpressed with Sensi's cutting I'm sorry to say; too much show and not enough cut.

Glad you enjoy the videos, Daniel.

Be good and best regards.

Jimmy

 

[OleyFermo]

We love you, Jimmy........in a manly way, of course!

Please send me the link you wrote about, if you would, Sir....email sent.

Dudley,

I am having Chris ship both my arms to you via FedEx so as to be able to give you a hug... a manly hug, of course I had to keep my hands here since they're doing the typing.

I'll get that link off to ya. You ought to get a chuckle out of the vids.

Jimmy

 

[OleyFermo]

I don't know you Jimmy...only "of" you and your knives through the forums.

This story gives me some insight as to why you are respected so much.

Hopefully, your health has improved to allow you to do the things you want to,
and I hope to see more posts from you,

Peter

Hi Peter,

Thank you for the kinds words. Folks on this forum have been extremely good to me over the years and their continued support through thick and thin is perhaps the main reason I'm back out in the shop and trying to fill some of my old back orders and a few new ones. It would be difficult indeed to find a better bunch of people than you'll find here.

Pain is the main issue I have to deal with as far as health. Bad back and kidney stones... and I consistently refuse to use (and get hooked on) pain meds for the back since I've seen that become a quick downhill slide for some people. My doctors have said that I'm hard-headed to the point of being stupid and perhaps they're right.:grumpy: All I know is that I've always had a difficult time getting my brain to fire on even half the cylinders under the best of circumstances and that pain meds would most likely shut me down completely. I still have a few knives yet to make.

With the help of my wife, Maggie, and my buddy, Chris, I'm not doing too badly in the shop. I seem to be picking up steam instead of losing it, thank goodness.

Jimmy

 

[Win Heger]

What a great set of posts! I just IM'd Ryan Weeks the other day about coming over if he's in the area. We'll take out a couple of Jimmy's knives and do some cutting. Ryan (young) will cut, Win (old) will film. LOL

Win

 

[JParanee]

Jimmy

Your the makers maker and every maker I know and respect ..... Respects you....from Bagwell to Knight they all say you are alright

 

[OleyFermo]

Jimmy,

WOW ! This is fantastic news !

Most certainly interested in getting to use and play with that knife.
Glad it turned up AND happy to hear you're getting in the shop and making knives.
Just now read your email and will be getting back to you shortly.
THANKS again, Jimmy !

Doug

Hi Doug,

Knife will be shipped to you either this afternoon or tomorrow. I'll send a couple snapshots via email. Back when I tested this it had no wrap on the handle, but now it does.

Old dragging-butt Jimmy

 

[OleyFermo]

What a great set of posts! I just IM'd Ryan Weeks the other day about coming over if he's in the area. We'll take out a couple of Jimmy's knives and do some cutting. Ryan (young) will cut, Win (old) will film. LOL

Win

Hey Win,

Ryan wrote a while back. Nice guy! He also makes some very, very nice knives himself. If they cut as well as they look you might as well leave mine back at the house when you guys go out for your ramble. Pass along my hellos if you would and let him know I haven't forgotten the knife he's interested in.

Ryan (young) will cut
Win (old) will film
Jimmy (always paranoid) will quake and worry

You guys have fun and post some pics!

Jimmy van Fret

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Jimmy, thanks for the helpful response! I have read it about five times now, good stuff there.

I really enjoyed the video and got a real kick out of a few parts. I wouldn't be surprised if you get a few comments that you must have done something to the blade to get it to cut like that, I'm pretty sure it was magic too. You have me thinking seriously about blade geometry.

 

[OleyFermo]

Jimmy

Your the makers maker and every maker I know and respect ..... Respects you....from Bagwell to Knight they all say you are alright

Thanks, Joe.

I've never met Mr. Knight but of course have seen his work and have chatted with folks who do know him. Fine work and an upstanding individual from anything I've ever heard. No bad words about him at all... and I have big ears, if nothing else. Would like to meet this man one of these days.

Bill and I go way, WAY back... all the way back to 1977, if I remember correctly. Darryl Meier introduced us. Bill is a character, for sure, and I've always liked the man. It seems his knives have a following, too, to put it mildly... and for good reason If you talk with him, pass along my hellos. I don't think I've seen Bill since I became a hermit sometime in the middle '80's.

Jimmy

 

[JParanee]

Jimmy

Bill and I are friends and he has taught me a lot about what makes a Great Bowie Knife

When we have time, we visit with each other and have even done some hunting together.

I think he likes Sharps Rifles better than knives I know he loves to hunt

Here we are a few years ago

I do talk to him and I will say hello for ya

 

[OleyFermo]

Jimmy, thanks for the helpful response! I have read it about five times now, good stuff there.

I really enjoyed the video and got a real kick out of a few parts. I wouldn't be surprised if you get a few comments that you must have done something to the blade to get it to cut like that, I'm pretty sure it was magic too. You have me thinking seriously about blade geometry.

Blade geometry is a mystery, that's for sure. It's even more mysterious when you realize that there was no single type of blade geometry on the knives/swords in that old video. The cleaver cutting books and rope is slack belt ground, as is the sword I cut down into the barrel rim with. Some of the other katanas cutting wood and paper were chisel-ground and the grinds were flat. Same with the tanto I was punching through the barrel with and the wakizashi that Hank Reinhardt was cutting books with. I believe the jungle honey in the vid was slack belt ground but I've made them that were flat ground that cut just as well.

So what's the common demoninator? Dang if I know, truly. Blade geometry is another one of those things I don't even begin to understand, so I pretend it doesn't exist. And I can pretend PRETTY HARD when necessary.

Jimmy

 

[RyanW]

Daniel Just shot me a link to this Thread. Jimmy Great to see you here! Win has been very generous to let me handle some of his babies. I look forward to doing the chopping (RyanW = Middle Aged bordering on Old), Hope to get out there around Easter.

Thanks for the kind words regarding my knives. I hope they perform BETTER than they look, that is the goal anyway... I am Elated that you remember "The Knife I am interested in" and my knives will not be within 50 Ft of yours. I may have something to leave with Win as a thank you, he can put it through the paces after I leave.

Ryan Weeks

 

[Doug C]

Jimmy sent me some pics of the knife he's sending but I'm having a little trouble this AM.
I hope these show up, please let me know if they don't.

View attachment 335026 View attachment 335031

Doug

 

[drf1]

hello Jimmy,

I have been a long time collector of your work and its great to read these posts,

here is a piece that I am very fond of that is unmistakably yours

all the best
dan

 

[OleyFermo]

hello Jimmy,

I have been a long time collector of your work and its great to read these posts,

here is a piece that I am very fond of that is unmistakably yours

all the best
dan

Hi Dan,

I wrote to Win recently and spoke about these very pieces. He had been thoughtful enough to send me the links to your site.

Of all the work I've ever done... axes, spears, armor, swords, knives, cleavers, ironwork, jewelry Japanese blades, sculpture... these three pieces are the pieces I'd pick as my "best work". They have nothing at all to do with edge holding, or sharpness or any of the other factors that contribute to a knife being a good tool. They're more than that. They're the magic before the hunt. I made these because I wanted to make them, and for no other reason. At the risk of sounding like a fool, these knives are "who I am". I'm glad that you have them in your collection.

Thank you.

Jimmy

 

[OleyFermo]

Dan,

Just as a FYI, the knife you posted the pics of was the first of that series. The toothed edge blade was the second and the copperish-colored, spiney-surfaced one was the last.

Jimmy

 

[Win Heger]

This thread just keeps getting better! That set of "tribal" daggers is exceptional!