Any knife makers in the Tulsa, Ok. area

[G.O.G.]

Are there any knife makers in the Tulsa, Ok. area that might be willing to show a complete newby the basics of knife making? I am interested in getting started but am not very good at anything without a more hands on approach than book reading usually offers.

 

[Stephen Tolar]

I'm not sure if there are any in the immediate area. STR is up around Bartlesville, Tom Krein and Dan Koster are just across the Arkansas line in Gentry Ar. All of them are good guys and very approachable.

I'm interested to see if there are any others too. I'm in Tulsa too and have wondered this myself.

Stephen

 

[STR]

Ray Kirk ABS MS is in Talequah. http://www.rakerknives.com/ and Jerry Lairson is in Ringold Oklahoma http://lairson-custom-knives.net

I know the area is full of knife makers but I don't know many of them personally. Bob Dozier is over in Arkanasas and I know of one other Oklahoma maker near me in Dewey but his name evades me at the moment. 6 miles away from me and I've never met him but I don't get out much. I know Lynn Drury and Mike Miller are both Oklahoma makers also. Seems I saw their contact info on Ray Kirk's web site somewhere.

Wish I knew more to tell ya. I probably should being that I'm one of them but I just never much have reason to leave town and when I do I just get behind.

STR

 

[Tom Krein]

Come on over to Gentry! We could have some fun!


Tom

 

[Allen Newberry]

Tom I'm over in the NWA and just getting started myself. So if G.O.G. doesn't take you up on your offer I will. Also, Hog hunting with a knife sounds pretty intense.

Allen

 

[argel55]

Guys the source you want is go to www.theknifegroup.com and go to our member list. It will show you what towns the people are in and also on some if you click on their names will give you contact info and well as go to their webpage or website. Several of us will set up at the Wannamaker gun show. We will also have a free admission knife show the first weekend of November at the Holiday Inn Airport in OKC. Info on our website Mike Miller

 

[bartblade]

hey im up in batlesville also, what are you interested in making? i do stock removal and basic homemade charcoal forging.

flat and convex grinding

fixed blades, folders, hidden tangs

 

[bartblade]

you could also check out smartflix you can rent these for 7 days for like 10 bucks or so.
i burn each 1 i get to have as a video library

here is the site http://smartflix.com/store/category/9/Knifemaking

 

[G.O.G.]

hey im up in batlesville also, what are you interested in making? i do stock removal and basic homemade charcoal forging.

flat and convex grinding

fixed blades, folders, hidden tangs

I was wanting to make a fixed blade knife with a Kershaw Baby Boa type of blade and I have no idea what shape or material I want the handle to be(unless it were stone, but that would take a while and be pricey I'd wager). I am really just looking for someone to show me the basics and give me some one on one time. I was hoping to be able to get an idea of what materials and tools I would need to get started (bare boned minimum expenditure for the wifes sake) and to be able to get my hands dirty.

I made a toy wooden sword for my kids over the weekend and had so much fun doing it I thought the making real thing, only a knife instead of a sword, might be more fun (maybe just more frustrating?) and more rewarding.

My other hobbies are expensive and I'm not a rich man so I am trying to learn the basics as cheap as possible. Here's a link I was given to do so
http://hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/
....but I don't understand much of even this simple lesson (thus the desire for some hands on time with someone who knows what they are doing).

Can a simple knife with no tangs and just a pinned wooden handle like the one in the video be made in a day or is this a longer process even for a simple knife?

One final wierd question. Are any of you local knifemakers familiar with the company Gleam Guard Wood Restoration? The reason I ask is at one point several years ago I refinished the cabinets of a knifemaker around here while working for that company. He was kind enough to sharpen some damaged scrapers for us. I wasn't interested in learning the craft then...but I am now

 

[G.O.G.]

Come on over to Gentry! We could have some fun!


Tom

I really might just do that. It is about 1 hour and 30 minutes form here so it might not be for a little bit (maybe a weekend?). However, if this is an open invitation, I may contact you when I would be able to come by (a few days or weeks before I came by of course).

 

[argel55]

You could do it in a hard day work but most in the cheapskate way are what you would follow. It would be easier if you had access to a acetylene torch to do the heat treating with and also the tempering. It seems to take longer every time you make a knife because you are more particular about how you want it to look. There are a lot of knives with a 400 grit finish that will be all you would need to do an adequate job. The knife in the tutorial does have a full tang but no guard. Ray kirk down at tahlequah is avery good teacher and has taught knifemaking at the votech before he retired and would be an excellent choice if he can work it into his schedule. Give him a call.

 

[Tom Krein]

Tom I'm over in the NWA and just getting started myself. So if G.O.G. doesn't take you up on your offer I will. Also, Hog hunting with a knife sounds pretty intense.

Allen

I really might just do that. It is about 1 hour and 30 minutes form here so it might not be for a little bit (maybe a weekend?). However, if this is an open invitation, I may contact you when I would be able to come by (a few days or weeks before I came by of course).

You guys are both welcome to come! Just give me a call to let me know to expect you.

Tom

479-233-0508

 

[bartblade]

i think that a blade flat on 1 side and the other sharpened " |/ "would be a good start for the begginer. its easy enough for a 1day job.

i live an hour away from tulsa. and off from tue.- fri. working at walmart distribution center

do you have any basic tools like

hacksaw, bench grinder, angle grinder, hand files, sand paper, hand drill or even better a small drill press and some drill bits. a hammer and 2 ton epoxy you have a harbor freight down there and their pretty cheap for this stuff

also do you have anywhere to burn wood there by your home? you need a heat source
a torch will work also but not as good as a small homemade forge. i could show you how to make it easily with some junk you prob. have at home

 

[Daniel Koster]

I'll vouch for Tom being an excellent teacher....busy...but truly a master grinder. :thumbup:

 

[G.O.G.]

Okay...I figured out what I'd really like to make (if at ALL possible). I realize this may not be the type of knife I would want to attempt for my first homemade knife, but at least I have a goal. I want a fixed blade with a blade similar to the ones pictured below, but with a smooth burlwood handle.

BTW...I borrowed these pictures from another forum member in another thread, but can't remember or figure out who it was or what thread it was in. If that's taboo I'm sorry.