Background and Artistic language

[Lorien]

There are plenty knife makers who've had in-depth jobs or experiences who turned to knife making after a lifetime of mastering another art/craft/knowledge base.

I was hoping to hear from knife makers about their transition to knife making as a vocation, and how their past experiences help them find their own Artistic language in making their knives, or how making knives has influenced the former interest. Are there watershed experiences in finding that language? Did you create a knife which opened a new door to new options in expressing your imagination? Where are there parallels between the knife making and the other?

As always, pictures and feedback are mightily appreciated!

 

[Will Leavitt]

I'm going with 42.... the answer is 42.

As soon as I finish looking through my dictionary for some cool words I'll answer you..... I might just cut and paste something from Tai Goo in here.

Just thought someone should reply to you Lorien so you wouldn't feel all alone up there.

 

[Lorien]

I think I'll go back to lurking.

 

[Doberman_Dave]

"There's no going back," as they say. Besides, you post too much good stuff.
I can think of more than a few makers that could make this a very interesting thread.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[2knife]

.....

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

Can't say I have mastered any craft , but when I lived back east ( Pgh PA ) I was working doing auto repair & auto paint & body. When I moved to Vegas and changed industries , I no longer had the creative outlet that painting cars provided.

After too many years of playing pool and just plain ol bar hopping , I stumbled onto modifying production knives , which led to buying more tools and equipment and a jump into knifemaking.

Wife was ok with it , as it keeps me home near the house where she can keep an eye on me

Great thread , and I look forward to seeing more people chime in .

 

[D lisch]

Hey Lorien I have been a welder most of my life then about 14 years ago I found blacksmithing and I have a love for carving stone. I use all of these skills in knife making, which I started 4 or 5 years ago. Having a blacksmith shop is a big help when it comes to making damascus. But when it comes to making knives. It takes time tools and passion it helps to have a wife that love's you and understands your love for knife making.

 

[Bruce Bump]

I spent 27 years as a Honda Motorcycle Mechanic. Specialized in the Honda Gold Wings. It was easy though because the Gold Wing never broke down. Mostly I rebuilt dirt bike and atv engines because the idiot owners never could figure out how to oil their air cleaners and the dirt would wear them out in a day of riding.
I was making knives the last 10 years as a mechanic and used the knife money to buy knife making tools. I finally made the switch and nearly went broke making $100 hunting knives. I was too proud (stupid) to go back to my old job and stuck with it until the income improved. Now I only fix the bikes that I want to fix. I still have my tools and could go back if hell freezes over.
My pistol/knives are mechanical and I think the time spent on Japanese engines has helped me come up with some of my designs.

 

[Michael Lovett]

. I finally made the switch and nearly went broke making $100 hunting knives. I was too proud (stupid) to go back to my old job and stuck with it until the income improved.


Man, Does this ever sound familiar!!!

Mike

 

[ddd]

Lorien,

Dellana's story fits the definitions laid out for this Thread....
Her professional artistic career began as a jeweler.

In 1979, she started her own successful goldsmithing business.
She loved the high karat golds and other precious metals and
gemstones she worked with, not knowing there was something
missing.

Then she met the late Jim Schmidt, a master at making art knives,
especially folders. Dellana was intrigued with his beautiful Damascus
steel and the mechanisms on the custom folders.
She states that "Fortunately for me, Jim Schmidt was a very generous man,
and he kindly allowed me into his shop where he taught me the secrets of
forging Damascus steel and the intricacies of creating folder mechanisms
with few power tools".

With this knowledge, Dellana incorporated the aspects of jewelry that
she loved with the physical involvement of forging.

By 1996 she became a full time knife maker, creating folders for the
next two years. During this period she became a Voting member of the
Knifemakers Guild and a member of the American Bladesmith Society.
In June of 1999 she was voted into the Art Knife Invitational (AKI).

The text is from my book "....Custom Folding Knives" (2003)

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

Shown here is Dellana's art folder "Gold Rush" made for
the collector and a matching gold pendant made for his wife....

 

[ddd]

Tim Hancock is another example...

Tim Hancock made a a very successful career as a pipe welder
and later as a welding engineer in the nuclear power plant construction industry.
It was in that field that he learned the high value of working within measures of
extreme precision.

In 1987, Tim was admiring an ancient Sioux Indian sheath on his
father’s mantle. It was decorated with dyed quills and beads,
and it obviously needed a knife, so Tim took on the task to make one.
“Surely,” he thought, “Any farrier worth his salt can make a knife.”

A year later he finally finished that first knife, and he realized that
constructing a knife was a bit more difficult than he first anticipated.
Always enticed by new and difficult challenges, Hancock began to
make more knives.

He learned from some of the legendary masters, notably Bill Moran
and Jim Crowell, and he applied his newly acquired knowledge with
the tenacity and eye for quality and precision that had become part
of his being.

From my book "Tim Hancock The Western Bladesmith" (2009)

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

 

[stephanfowler]

Lorien-

I have worked in Construction most of my life, always LOVED architecture. Spent 8 years doing High end Millwork / Cabinetry.

Most of my aesthetic draws heavily from my experience primarily building Mantles, because that's where I was taught the Golden Ratio and how to apply it.

 

[peterinct]

Lorien,
I was thinking this was one of your more insightful posts and was hoping more knifemakers would chime in.

From my experience, which is NOT extensive compared to many, quite of few knifemakers and engravers also, have machinist backgrounds. It makes a lot of sense to make that progression to knifemaking having experience with precision.

I always loved tools and tinkering, but at the time I needed to acquire skills to earn a living it made sense to go into the corporate environment for the security, to wear nice clothes, good benefits, etc.

Looking back, I would tell anyone to do what they like and the financial rewards will come. Seems like you are doing that.

Peter

 

[jdm61]

I don't have a machinist background or a background in any "hands on" trade for that matter. Pehaps that is why I can never do the same knife twice

 

[steelshaper]

I studied art in school and came from a family of do it yourselfers. I got started working with steel when I was very young. My dad and I used my grandfather’s forge and anvil to make my first few knives. It was not until I started interacting with other makers and this forum that I learned how much my dad did not know. Although I have no personal experience with machining (as far as previous to knife making) I do work with my father some still.

I like to paint and have done so for some time now. Unfortunately I am color blind so most of my painting is monochromatic. I choose to use steel as my primary medium because of my limitations and because I simply love knives. Of all the art fields I have dabbled in I feel I am best suited to knife making.

It does take a special combination of mechanical and artistic abilities to be a great knife maker.

 

[steelshaper]

I bet you would get more responses if you would pose this question in the knife maker Q&A section.

Thanks

 

[RogerP]

Knifemaking isn't a vocation for me, but it is a passion - so I'll reply anyway.

I have no background in machining, woodwork, metalcraft, sculpture or anything that might remotely assist in this endeavor.

When Dan invited me down to make a knife, I thought he was out of his mind. I mean, I thought it would be fun, but the idea that I might produce something even remotely recognizable as a knifelike object seemed pretty far-fetched. That I managed it (with a boatload of guidance) was a revelation.

I don't see myself shifting from the collector side of the fence to making full time or even seriously part time. But I DO see myself pursuing making as opportunities present over the next several years, and it is definitely something I will spend a lot of time on once I retire and quit the day job.

Roger

 

[J.Wade]

I was a toolmaker/machinist for 13 years making plastic injection molds and dies , I enjoy metal working, lathes, mills, CNC, EDM in can run them all and really enjoyed it, but knifemaking is just plain fun, getting to explore curve and work exotic materials , making something that works.


After making some of the most modern tools going I figure why not go back and make one of the oldest, I bet us knifemakers could give hookers a run from there money as far as the oldest profession goes.

it just plain fun..


cya
jimi

 

[Kevin Jones]

Lorien,
I was thinking this was one of your more insightful posts and was hoping more knifemakers would chime in.

Peter

Same here. Glad we are starting to hear from makers.
I'm sure there's great stories to be told.

Good thread Lorien.

 

[Will Leavitt]

Speaking for myself, it's not that we're ignoring Lorien's question, I'm just having to take some time to really think about this because I think it deserves a better answer than my usual stupid, flippant remarks.

My background is a combination of my time in the Army and doing handwork. I grew up working in my godfather's hobby shop cutting giant scale model airplane kits and I flew free flight airplanes. From this I learned a love of craftsmanship and some basic "art" stuff basically "form follows function" and that "weight doesn't fly." I love curves and despise a heavy knife (unless it's a chopper where weight is a design requirement.)

My Army time (and all the time I've spent hunting) taught me a lot about using knives, MY preferences in using blades. I'm not claiming to be a ninja, death dealing spider monkey guy, I've just spent a lot of time using my knives for field craft. My time in the field has taught me to despise "crew served knives" that you see advertised as "field knives".

Post Army I've worked in the cabinet and automotive industry. Mainly applying the wood finishing techniques and love of getting things right.

As far as what is a transcendent moment in my knifemaking... I've just decided to start making the knives I want instead of what will sell. I hope what I like will strike a chord with people and they'll want to buy them, if not people around me will be getting a lot of bladed gifts

Lastly, one of the main lessons I apply in life from my football coaches and Army is that if you're willing to do what others aren't you will be a success.