A Simple KITH

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S.Grosvenor

S.Grosvenor

Fulltime KnifeMaker
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Jan 24, 2010
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Good Morning folks,

I would like to run a KITH this fall if there is any interest in my rules, something basic.

2 Hours (not including HT) is all you have to make the knife, any shape and grind, any length you like, but you ONLY HAVE 2 hours to complete the knife from raw material to ready to its ready to ship form (including if a sheath if you have time).

You'll need a egg timer and your honor to not exceed the 2 hrs, if you do not complete it, send it anyway, the receiving maker can finish if he or she wishes.

Looking for constructive input, just a 2am thought I had. Something that involves the forum and is relatively no stress, just fun.

Let me know what you think.
 
2 hours is barely enough time for me to get some steel layed out, profiled, drilled and rough ground.
If you put the time at 4 hours, I'd totally be in.
 
I agree that 2 hours isn't sufficient time for much more than a kiridashi. It takes 24 hours for good epoxy to cure.

If you are only counting the time the blade is in your hands being worked on, I would thing 4-5 hours would be more practical.
 
I agree that 2 hours isn't sufficient time for much more than a kiridashi. It takes 24 hours for good epoxy to cure.

If you are only counting the time the blade is in your hands being worked on, I would thing 4-5 hours would be more practical.
 
I guess I'm trying to figure out what the goal is by putting the time limit on? I think we will see some poorly finished or incomplete knives. I wouldn't want a knife like that coming out of my shop. Just my .02
 
I think a short time limit serves better as a "challenge" or even a competition of sorts, and not so much a KITH.

Instead of limiting time, I would limit other parameters, like size/amount of materials. 8" of 1/8" thick steel, 8" of handle scale material, 8" of pinstock, etc... (8 is just an arbitrary number here)

Or you could could limit the amount of investment in material: Starting from scratch, you have $20 to spend on materials. Now, there would probably have to be a couple exceptions, based on the minimum amount of kydex you can buy from most places, or a minimum length of steel. Example: if you spend $20 on 4' of steel, but you only use 12'' of it, that only counts for $5, or if you only use 10% of a $15 sheet of kydex, then it's only $1.50 of your $20. Also, shipping costs are variable, so they could be eliminated.

I don't know... just thinking out loud.
 
I'd be in for a kith if it had a size limit or dollar limit. 2 hours is definitely not long enough for me to do much with a knife.
 
Okay,

this was just a 2 am thought, but I think it may have potential,

Some good suggestions, the time limit is just hands on the blade, not the epoxy cure time or amount of time for heat treat.

I like the idea of a price of materials requirement and maybe implement both, 4-6 hr project costing maker no more than $ ???

I would be happy to run this if everyone can agree on what we should do.
 
4-6 hours is much better. Should be enough time to get something done so that even if it's not properly finished, it won't look completely half assed either.
Personally I think one 8 hour day with 20$ in material would be a really cool challenge/contest.
It'd be kinda neat to see what people can accomplish in one standard work day (not a knifemakers work day) with just 20$.
 
Neat idea. I'd like to participate in a KITH. However, being a new hobbyist maker I'd worry about participating with better more experienced makers. I pretty sure I could produce a fairly nice edc-style knife from 1084 with full non-tapered tang and G10 scales in 4-6hrs. That would also be well within a $20 limit.

I think the part that would hurt me the most on time is finish sanding. I'm getting better but that's where I spend a lot of my time these days. However, a scotchbrite or high grit working finish wouldn't take much time at all.
 
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I agree that 4-6 hours is probably the minimum I would want. I like the idea of a one day knife, having made a few at recent hammer-ins.
 
I like the 2 hour limit of hands-on knife-time, just to see what people can do in that time.
 
The problem with a short time limit is it makes it a competition, not a gift giving exchange..

Pros can do it, but they may not bother.
New maker may not even be able to shape a knife profile in 2 hours.
Mid level makers may be able to finish a knife in 2 hours, but it may well look like a 2 hour knife :)


The whole object of a KITH is to make the best knife you can with the skills you have, and to gift it to an unknown recipient.

If you folks want a regular KITH this year, I will happily run it again. It will be a standard KITH where each person makes a knife and posts that he is ready by the deadline. No exceptions, no exclusions. As a caution, I will say that a KITH isn't for everyone. Newer makers with entry level skills should watch and enjoy, with great excitement for entering in a year or so as their skills develop to the degree that they make a suitable knife. You should be able to make a good quality knife and finish it properly. No one expects anything more than a good effort. I think most people can decide if their effort is up to a KITH. If you start one and it doesn't turn out as well as planned, there is no harm-no foul. Just don't post in the "I'm Ready" thread in December.
 
I agree with Stacy.

I like the idea of a time limit at something like a hammer in, were maybe you have 5 or 6 grinders, or anvils, or whatever, and everyone can start and finish at the same time. Just like the video linked above.

The idea of a KITH is that you are putting your best knife forward, to exchange with somebody else's best. Now, sometimes there are parameters, such as a style, materials, technique, etc..., but the idea is usually to put your best work forward. I think the short time limit can hamper that for a lot of makers. I'm not saying it can't be done, or done well, but not everybody works at the same pace.

One maker's 4 hour knife might be another makers 24 hours knife, or even a 48 hour knife. What about makers who use a 1x30 belt grinder, or files and hand sanding? That kind of rules them out from the start.
 
I'm in favor of the traditional KITH as I already have the knife set aside and just started working on the sheath. No way I've got less than 6 hrs in the knife.

Jeff
 
Can't we just have both?
I assumed the regular xmas time KITH would be a given regardless of how this one played out.
This one just sounded like a fun challenge. A personal challenge, not so much a contest against others.
 
I would definitely be in if you started a KITH Stacy. Fewer restrictions would increase the number of participants I am sure.

bladsmth said:
The problem with a short time limit is it makes it a competition, not a gift giving exchange..

Pros can do it, but they may not bother.
New maker may not even be able to shape a knife profile in 2 hours.
Mid level makers may be able to finish a knife in 2 hours, but it may well look like a 2 hour knife :)


The whole object of a KITH is to make the best knife you can with the skills you have, and to gift it to an unknown recipient.

If you folks want a regular KITH this year, I will happily run it again. It will be a standard KITH where each person makes a knife and posts that he is ready by the deadline. No exceptions, no exclusions. As a caution, I will say that a KITH isn't for everyone. Newer makers with entry level skills should watch and enjoy, with great excitement for entering in a year or so as their skills develop to the degree that they make a suitable knife. You should be able to make a good quality knife and finish it properly. No one expects anything more than a good effort. I think most people can decide if their effort is up to a KITH. If you start one and it doesn't turn out as well as planned, there is no harm-no foul. Just don't post in the "I'm Ready" thread in December.
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