Back from the knif show...

D

deker

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
3,496
Just got back from the Chesapeake knife show and just wanted to take a second to share what a great time I had and spread around a little bit of thanks.

There was a whole lot to see and some amazing work by some really top-notch makers. I could have just wandered around and looked at the same stuff over, and over and always found something new. I spent a little $$ on supplies (so I guess now I have to get out into the shop and get to work!). I knew it was a great show when I kept finding myself arguning internally over whether I wanted to stay and look more or whether I wanted to come home and get the forge fired up. Anything that can provide the kind of inspiration I got today is something I need to do as much as possbile.

Everybody was just so friendly, helpful, and patient with me. I was simply astounded. I stopped in at Robert Eggerling's table and he very patiently answered every question I threw at him about his mosaic work (which is freaking AMAZING...I had to buy a small piece just to have it to look at).

Thanks to Larry Nowicki for the general BSing and the excellent cord-wrapping demo. Once I get some proper power into the shop, we'll have a mini-HI here....

Thanks to Ray Smith and his wife for their patience with me as I kept coming back to drool all over his "Little Curlies", while practically chanting "I'm only here to buy supplies...I'm only here to buy supplies...". And thanks Ray for taking a few minutes to help me understand where that little guard curlie comes from. Your time is greatly appreciated and I hope that my attempts at it will be one tenth as nice as yours.

A special thanks goes out to J. Neilson and his wife Tess. They put up with me stopping by every 5 minutes and dragging somebody else along with me to show off their amazing work. If you've ever looked at a knife/sheath combo from this dynamic duo and been "on the fence" about it. Hop off that fence and grab your checkbook! It all looks good online, but words fail me to describe the quality of the fit and finish of J.'s knives and the excellent sheath work by Tess.

All in all it was an awesome experience. I got some more small wheels for my grinder that I've been wanting, found a few sets of awesome dyed purple bone slabs to make stuff for my wife, some corby's & stuff I needed, etc.

Now it's time to go out to the shop and keep working on the pattern-welded billet I'm in the middle of. :D

-d
 
I just got done emailing a fellow forumite about why I upgraded my account to 'knifemaker', and this thread pretty much exemplifies why.

I suck as a knifemaker. Maybe, eventually, I'll get better. It'd be nice, but it doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is everything about knifemaking -
- I love the science of it
-I love the processes involved
-I love the tools
-I love the materials, and all the subtle differences
-I love the fact that people who, by definition, are an enormous group of 'loners' (yes, a contradiction in terms, or is it?) are drawn to one another and selflessly share their skills, experiences, and time among one another


...and here, on the opening post of this thread, I basically read what I just wrote -- in slightly different words, maybe, but my guess is the same sentiment.

I'll reluctantly accept the title of knifemaker below my name on this forum, but it's hard for me to think that I may be associated with so many on here with such amazing talent and skills that use the same title. Regardless, I'm honored to be among you, gang!



So, how far off am I, deker?;)
 
another one in the "club" hehehe
hope you are ready to spend $$$$
and learn more then you will ever know
i have to say i had a great time at the show and could have spent more time there if i would have eaten something before getting there
first meal of the day at 430 can be hard on the body
 
MrPurple said:
So, how far off am I, deker?;)
Click to expand...

You're pretty much spot on. When I can squeeze a few more $$ out I'll be buying my subscription as well. I'm not a knifemaker by any stretch in my own mind, but hopefully with time... :D

-d
 
The people are so great at knife shows. Thats why I like going too. I agree J and tess are the best kind of people. I would like to meet Ray Smith sometime.
Glad you had fun, wish I was there.
 
Bruce Bump said:
The people are so great at knife shows. Thats why I like going too. I agree J and tess are the best kind of people. I would like to meet Ray Smith sometime.
Glad you had fun, wish I was there.
Click to expand...

I wish you had been here too...I owe you a beer! :) And I could have given you a look at a piece of that first billet.

The one thing I forgot to mention above was that this was my FIRST trip to a knife show. I don't think I could have had a better experience without magic or winning the lottery :)

-d
 
Wow,
You got hooked before your first knife show? I was semi-hooked prior to my first knife show. I saw a Rick Hinderer folder one time, at a gas station in Canton, Ohio. I ran into a friend who had just purchased it. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I had been making a few knives here and there, but had no idea what a knife could look like. He told me that he had purchased it at the show in Dover, at Warthers Museum. I went to the show the following June ( I had to wait a year, and Rick Hinderer was there teaching a damascus welding class). That show "set the hook" in me bad.

I've been aspiring to improve with each knife since then. I'm getting there slowly. I'm glad to here that you had such a wonderful experience at the show. Soon, you'll have a table at one of them, and people will be admiring your creativity.
 
scottickes said:
Wow,
You got hooked before your first knife show?
Click to expand...

A knifemaking class from my blacksmith guild hooked me. I started the addiction by forging a big-a$$ clip-point hunter with a stick tang and brass fittings. To their credit, they get folks from zero to a knife that just needs finishing in 2 days. The "instant gratification" bit helped, even though I've never even put an edge on that blade. It will remain "frozen in time" for me.

scottickes said:
I've been aspiring to improve with each knife since then. I'm getting there slowly. I'm glad to here that you had such a wonderful experience at the show. Soon, you'll have a table at one of them, and people will be admiring your creativity.
Click to expand...

Well, at the rate I'm working, I'll need 10 years to fill a table for one show! It's strange. I feel that along the axis of real time I'm moving pretty slowly, but when I look at how many actual hours I get to spend working on things (not very many) I feel like I'm moving at light speed in terms of my improvement. That's one of the reasons that my next vacation from work will be to take a whole week to do NOTHING but make knives. I plan to start with raw materials and see how many good damascus knives I can turn out in a week. I'll be happy with one, but I have a feeling that if I forge out a few of similar design and work them as a group I may get 2 or 3 done. Right now I'm making sure I have all the materials I'll need since my "vacation" is the 2nd week in January :)

-d
 
Thansk fr the kid words D. It was good seeing you, and many others, at the show this weekend. I don't think I've talked as much at a show except for Blade. By the end of the day, my voice box was whooped. Had a grea time, saw some great folks and Looking forward to next year already.

Remember your invite D. We're always here.
 
J. Neilson said:
Thansk fr the kid words D. It was good seeing you, and many others, at the show this weekend. I don't think I've talked as much at a show except for Blade. By the end of the day, my voice box was whooped. Had a grea time, saw some great folks and Looking forward to next year already.
Click to expand...

You were sounding a little rough there towards the end. Apologies if I contributed more than my fair share to that. It was great to get to meet you and Tess (and the little one whose name I missed) and I look forward to chatting sometime where we don't have to scream quite so much :)

J. Neilson said:
Remember your invite D. We're always here.
Click to expand...

Don't you worry, I won't forget! I'd venture a guess that you'll hear from me sometime after the second week in Jan. That's when I take my "vacation" and do nothing but work in the shop for a week. I'm sure I'll generate lots of questions and stuff to show off :)

Thanks again,

-d
 
J. Neilson said:
Thansk fr the kid words D. It was good seeing you, and many others, at the show this weekend. I don't think I've talked as much at a show except for Blade. By the end of the day, my voice box was whooped. Had a grea time, saw some great folks and Looking forward to next year already.

Remember your invite D. We're always here.
Click to expand...

your voice sure was but you sucked it up and kept talking anyhow good man:thumbup:
 
MrPurple said:
I just got done emailing a fellow forumite about why I upgraded my account to 'knifemaker', and this thread pretty much exemplifies why.

I suck as a knifemaker. Maybe, eventually, I'll get better. It'd be nice, but it doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is everything about knifemaking -
- I love the science of it
-I love the processes involved
-I love the tools
-I love the materials, and all the subtle differences
-I love the fact that people who, by definition, are an enormous group of 'loners' (yes, a contradiction in terms, or is it?) are drawn to one another and selflessly share their skills, experiences, and time among one another


...and here, on the opening post of this thread, I basically read what I just wrote -- in slightly different words, maybe, but my guess is the same sentiment.

I'll reluctantly accept the title of knifemaker below my name on this forum, but it's hard for me to think that I may be associated with so many on here with such amazing talent and skills that use the same title. Regardless, I'm honored to be among you, gang!
Click to expand...

Ha! well said Matt,that about sums me up too:)
 
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