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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
A Neighbor's Enthusiasm
- Thread starter ddavelarsen
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 5,179
Well, this guy's no kid - he's forty something, and frankly not the kind I would feel totally comfortable with letting him make dust of my steel. 
The redhead sipping gin however is a nice image... 
...that only goes on and on. Zowie! Slap me!
I've had three guys work in my shop under my "supervision" so far. Only one of them was a 'natural' tool user, someone who might ulimately be more a help than a hindrance. And none of the three really had the dedication to making that I think is required. Maybe I'm just a knife snob, but I'm not going to apologize for it.
Another buddy of mine is truly a craftsman - he's probably a better craftsman than I am and I've learned a whole lot from him over the years. But he has no interest in making knives; it's too much work for, I think, too little notoriety. He was my partner in the armor project, and we certainly have received doses of accolades for that one wherever we've gone. Honest, we've won significant money and major awards in world competition; it was intoxicating! But I'd rather make knives because they are just plain cool. Costuming and sculpture are more widely known but they just don't have the genetic connection to my psych that knives do. So, when we do knives - or anything involving grinding - I make em, and when we do other stuff he's the guide. It's a great arrangement really, and of all the makers I've known he is the most accomplished. Of course, I'm working in a craft desert here; Iowa is not a great producer of artistic folks - outside the literary realm anyway. (We have had a number of great writers and poets; just no great knifemakers (gimme time!).)
Thanks for all of the interesting discussion here, it's been fun to read. There truly is nothing in my life that gives me the same satisfaction that building a nice knife does. I've made lots of stuff and tried my hand at a number of other creative endeavors, but only making knives gives me true satisfaction that lasts. I'd do it regardless whether anyone else cared, but it's nice that others do get it occasionally. Now, if we could only get everyman to grok tools!
The redhead sipping gin however is a nice image... ...that only goes on and on. Zowie! Slap me!I've had three guys work in my shop under my "supervision" so far. Only one of them was a 'natural' tool user, someone who might ulimately be more a help than a hindrance. And none of the three really had the dedication to making that I think is required. Maybe I'm just a knife snob, but I'm not going to apologize for it.
Another buddy of mine is truly a craftsman - he's probably a better craftsman than I am and I've learned a whole lot from him over the years. But he has no interest in making knives; it's too much work for, I think, too little notoriety. He was my partner in the armor project, and we certainly have received doses of accolades for that one wherever we've gone. Honest, we've won significant money and major awards in world competition; it was intoxicating! But I'd rather make knives because they are just plain cool. Costuming and sculpture are more widely known but they just don't have the genetic connection to my psych that knives do. So, when we do knives - or anything involving grinding - I make em, and when we do other stuff he's the guide. It's a great arrangement really, and of all the makers I've known he is the most accomplished. Of course, I'm working in a craft desert here; Iowa is not a great producer of artistic folks - outside the literary realm anyway. (We have had a number of great writers and poets; just no great knifemakers (gimme time!
).)Thanks for all of the interesting discussion here, it's been fun to read. There truly is nothing in my life that gives me the same satisfaction that building a nice knife does. I've made lots of stuff and tried my hand at a number of other creative endeavors, but only making knives gives me true satisfaction that lasts. I'd do it regardless whether anyone else cared, but it's nice that others do get it occasionally. Now, if we could only get everyman to grok tools!
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 5,179
Hey Tracy, I know you have a more complete shop than I do but you're always welcome to come by and play with stuff. I still want to get up there and weld up a stand for my grinder attachments. Just gotta convince "She Who Must Be Obeyed" that it's truly important... 
Tools are not her big thing either; if you ever want to see true apathy, take my wife into the shop and start telling her what stuff is for.
I hope to see you soon man!
Tools are not her big thing either; if you ever want to see true apathy, take my wife into the shop and start telling her what stuff is for. I hope to see you soon man!