Ask the maker.....questions for JK

[outdoorsfan]

I asked John if he would be open to this and he agreed so, here's the idea....

Post a question and John will answer. It can be anything you are curious about, from "how do I" to "what is your favorite....? Here's your chance to get the straight dope right from the man himself!

 

[outdoorsfan]

I will start......

John, what was the first knife you ever purchased and do you recall where you got it?

 

[KYenglish]

cool thread idea, I'll have to think of a good question now

 

[JK Knives]

I will start......

John, what was the first knife you ever purchased and do you recall where you got it?

Easy one. A Colonial fish knife, with the scaler on top of the blade, and black tin handles. Bought it at the old drugstore in town off one of those cardboard display boards. Still have it, the blade has been "retipped" with a file, broke it throwing it at a tree.

 

[RGrizzleLeather]

Out of the knives you offer or have offered, what is you favorite pattern?

 

[mykel m]

Great idea Sean.
My question for John is..when did you stop using 1095 & start using the great 01 steel you use now.

 

[JK Knives]

Out of the knives you offer or have offered, what is you favorite pattern?

Without a doubt, the Kephart.

 

[JK Knives]

Great idea Sean.
My question for John is..when did you stop using 1095 & start using the great 01 steel you use now.

I actually started with O1, then added 1095 for those who (wrongly ) thought it was better.

 

[Rockywolf]

What pattern have you made the most of? ( the EWOK is my guess).

 

[mykel m]

What pattern have you made the most of? ( the EWOK is my guess).

After the limited run possibly,but my guess would be the Kephart.

 

[cbwoods67]

Or the tin knife/keychain companion..

 

[mykel m]

I actually started with O1, then added 1095 for those who (wrongly ) thought it was better.

Cool,your use of O1 is why I started buying JKs & will continue to.You offer the best bang for the buck in O1 I've seen yet.

 

[mykel m]

Or the tin knife/keychain companion..

OH yeah,John used to give tin knives away with orders,so he must have made a lot of them too.

 

[mykel m]

What is the biggest knife you've made?
My guess would be the Kepzilla.

 

[JK Knives]

What pattern have you made the most of? ( the EWOK is my guess).

Kephart would be #1

 

[JK Knives]

What is the biggest knife you've made?
My guess would be the Kepzilla.

Sounds about right, I don`t remember how long the Chopmuk was.

 

[KYenglish]

hey John,

I was trying to remember how you got the grin on Todd's chuck wagon? you were explaining it at the gathering but I can't seem to remember it right.

Thanks

 

[JK Knives]

hey John,

I was trying to remember how you got the grin on Todd's chuck wagon? you were explaining it at the gathering but I can't seem to remember it right.

Thanks

I used a thin piece of leather between the grinding belt and the platen.

 

[outdoorsfan]

Who is/are your favorite custom makers?

 

[JK Knives]

Who is/are your favorite custom makers?

The first one you probably never heard of, his name is Kevin Hoffman. He lives in Florida now, and mostly does folders. Many years ago, he lived in Mount Prospect, and every month there was a small knife show in Willowbrook that we used to meet at. I had a bunch of his fixed blades, and a couple of his folders.
The second one, I`m sure you all know, Scott Gossman. I`ve owned only a couple of his knives, but Scott is the nicest, most helpfull guy you would ever want to talk to. I blame him for getting me started making knives.