Audra Draper

Mikey

Mikey

Joined
Aug 20, 2001
Messages
172
I am a new member, and this is my first post. I too met Audra Draper again at the Denver PKA show. I own her knife that won Best of Show and Best Damascus here in 1999, and she needs a better photo of it. The reason I mention this is that she no longer works in sheep horn, her former standard. Since she worked with Fowler, sheep horn was a natural handle for her, but the dust has ruined her lungs. She is only (32)and has major respiratory problems. As a result, my Draper knife is one of her last with sheep horn. It's a real shame for such a delightful, talented, and lovely person.
Mikey - Littleton, CO

P.S.: She told me a wonderful story about a man from N.Y. who bought her "Masters" knife and then gave it to her as a gift for Christmas. Brought tears to both of our eyes!
 
Welcome to the forums, Mikey. :)

I'm not sure I read your post correctly, but it sounds like you're interested in having your knife professionally photographed. If that's the case, there are a few folks here who would be able to help you. One photographer who comes to mind is a gentleman named Terrill Hoffman, and though their names escape me right now, I know there are others here who could do a fine job of it as well.
 
WULF,
Wow! Great knives. I was pleased to see the Stek fighter. I won the door prize at the 1999 PKA show in Denver and selected a Stek damascus/stag dagger (love those double-edged knives).

Actually, I plan to try to photograph the Draper knife myself first. I do pretty well with macro and a ring-light strobe. If that fails, I'll get it done for her, since she's really special. The knife is a diamond pattern damascus, and the sheep horn handle makes it really irregular and difficult to photograph while maintaining the true proportions of the knife. The key will be to support it properly to keep the blade and handle in the same plane.

Mikey - Littleton, CO
 
Mikey, thanks for the kind words. Please be sure to post the pics when you can. I love Audra's work and would really like to see yours.

By the way, when I take knife pics I prop up the blade with pencil-erasers. Not the normal erasers, but the gummy ones you buy in art stores (you can mold them like silly putty, but they're a bit stiffer and a bit more "grabby").
 
Audra is one sweet and pretty lady, and a terrific knifemaker. Her blades are as good as they come. Fortunately, her husband Mike has rigged a positive airflow mask for her so she can continue making knives at all. That still doesn't eliminate the dust that collects on you and everything around you, following you wherever you go. Just ask my wife! :)

BTW, if you ever had to be in the same room with sheep horn as it was being ground you'd never ask anyone to work with it ever again. It *really* stinks!!!
 
Originally posted by Jerry Hossom

BTW, if you ever had to be in the same room with sheep horn as it was being ground you'd never ask anyone to work with it ever again. It *really* stinks!!!
Click to expand...

Wet dog comes to mind!:)

C Wilkins
 
Hi Mikey,
That Christmas knife story is well known around here. We refer to that guy as our own Hannukah Harry :D
He's one of the best.

Welcome to BF

Dave
 
I too think the world of Audra, I have one of her blades, and will take delivery of the next at next year's blade.Mike is a great sport to tolerate folks stumblin' around their table. He makes great knives, but Audra is so nice to look at:D:D I enjoyed talking with both at Blade.

OH, and I love her sense of humor! she loves cats too:D
 
I have to agree: Between the two of them, the Drapers make some really great knives! To see for yourself, and to check for the rare available piece, look at their photopoint.com albums under adraper@wyoming.com. Hard to find any nicer folks, too!
 
It would be hard to find two nicer people and their knives are fantastic.
Here is a pic of Audra and Mike from the Blade Show this year.
 

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Gosh!!! Guys, your gonna make me blush!!
Actually laugh.. If you could only see me now!
Mike really likes going to the knife shows because he gets to see me with makeup and a hair do.. It just seems, well, not really necessary in the shop!
As for the sheep horn, I still have several orders for them , but I am no longer taking orders . When the horn I have is gone I will not be getting any more.
The lungs are a strange thing. Sometimes they act up when I am no were near the shop. However I have found that there are many materials that will shut them down immediately in the shop.. Oh well, so goes life!
Fore warning to ya all out there use a positive air supply respirator. Before the problems start!
Thanks for all the kind words, Your friend,, Audra
 
Yup forgot to add that those two dress up pretty nice too.

BTW. Fair warning! Never, Ever get into a bidding war with either of them at an ABS auction over a knife with a handle made out of a dog's leg bone :D. (You had to have been there)
 
Audra,

It was a true pleasure meeting you. I won't forget who you said "really smells like sheep"!!!!!



:rolleyes:
 
And notice how tight Mike was holding on to her in Eugene...;)

draper2.jpg


Mike and Audra are some of the best people around. Oh, and their knives are great too!

~Mitch
 
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