Blade Forums Customs Forum-Are we changing?

Thanks guys....but it almost was even LONGER...until I realized that nobody wants to read Moby Dick on a holiday weekend ;)

That...and my wife saying what the heck are you pecking away at for so long.....

Bill
 
RogerP said:
STeven - your not posting here is a significant net loss, in my view. I'd much rather you aimed for the balance mentioned earlier, even if you occasionally bounce off the ceiling. I can't immediately think of another forum member collector who brings your broad range of experience to the table - and I very much include myself in that comment.

That said, I understand your feeling that engaging with makers directly off-forum is more rewarding. I certainly have found the same.

Roger
Click to expand...

Thanks, Roger!

It's mostly a matter of time more than anything else.....I don't have a lot of it anymore since I became a fish cutter....three more hours on average away from home and typing forum posts on a Blackberry is very tedious.....haven't had a job this rewarding in almost 20 years. Using and analyzing knives as a component of my labor has me smiling ear-to-ear just about every day. My boss won a regional filleting competition(I tuned his edges for two heats of filleting, and he won each heat) and is competing for a "Global" win at the Aspen Food and Wine Festival in June.....I ordered him a custom knife to use, and he acts like it is Christmas every day.

Stuff like that is doing it for me right now.....I'll post again when compelled to....the changes are there for all to see, no great mystery, and while I very much might not love every aspect of that change, this place belongs to all of us, sages and fools, newbies and salty dogs alike.;):D;).

Be well, and stay thirsty, my friends!(great post, Bill Flynn!)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
Stuff like that is doing it for me right now.....I'll post again when compelled to....I see the changes, and while I very much might not love every aspect, this place belongs to all of us, sages and fools alike.;):D;).
Click to expand...

Amen to that! Glad you are loving the new job. Enjoying what you do and finding reward in the work - that's pretty much priceless.

Roger
 
STeven

Great to hear that you are loving your job - that really makes life worthwhile! I also spend my days cutting flesh....although it is people:D.....

and I don't get to use custom knives, just disposable scalpels - haha

Perfect for what they have to do - ie very purpose driven - but boring as hell !

You, on the other hand, are NEVER boring as hell :p

Drop in when you are able...and watch your fingers!

Bill
 
Geez, I see Roger and I cross posted....practically the same thing!

What does that say about a doctor and a lawyer?????
 
billf said:
WOW

First, I'd like to thank Kevin for starting this thread - lots of interesting posts:thumbup:

One thing that topics like this always bring to my mind is the fact that the Internet area has certainly changed social discourse - I think it's the "videogame mentality" - fire and forget, and then figure you can push the reset button if you die! Myself, I am more "old school" . I think that my profession influences this as well - surgeons are often thought of like test pilots - seat of the pants cowboys- but in reality the best surgeons do ALOT of planning BEFORE they operate...because when it hits the fan sometimes, you are better prepared to deal with problems. So....with that in mind..I've read and re-read the responses...and here's my take

Objectively, this forum has clearly changed - many of the "old guard" post much less, and without doubt there are fewer criticisms offered. I agree too that the forum had moved more toward "forged blades" and away from folders - except for those smiths like DHIII and Larry Fuegen who do both. Also, fewer "stock removal" participants - who've possibly been "run off" by the forging crowd.

Having said that - EVERYTHING changes over time, and again, I think it depends on your perspective.
I'm 51, and I think the guys around my age (+/-) have a bit more "perspective" (not sure I'd call it maturity :p) as well as a sense of nostalgia. Think about it, in life, in politics, in love...we tend to idealize the past in many ways. We tend to get a little set in our ways. Is that Bad? NO, but we have to keep it in perspective and not get stodgy.

Younger guys are FULL of enthusiasm, but perhaps lack a bit of perspective. They have endless energy, but many have not yet learned to "work smart, not hard"
The social morays of this generation are different than mine, and so sometimes we older guys take offense where none is meant....or you younger guys rub us the wrong way unintentionally.

But, each "camp" has something to bring to the table obviously...the trick is to blend the best of both worlds.

Let me give you an example - Bill Moran is an icon to the "forging world" and with good reason - he talked the talk, he walked the walk, and he kept bladesmithing alive for future generations. Having said that...I have held some Moran knives that would NOT pass the current MS exam. I say that with ALL respect, because I have no doubt they would perform any task you asked of them, and they clearly were made with love....but there it is.

Conversely, I've held knives from some of the younger guys, especially the folders...and they are mechanically perfect. Some of them have "the feel" as well...and some just don't have "it" - and you all know what I mean!

This is why I agree that the forums are necessarily an incomplete experience -

Even the best fotos (Coop, Buddy, David etc) are a "2 dimensional" representation of a knife - so "judging" a knife by a picture is therefore incomplete. Sure, you can spot gross flaws, but until you HOLD a knife in your hand, you cannot fully appreciate it. As great as Coop's pics where, I could not fully appreciate my Wheeler/Paranee fighter until it was in my hand.

Another example from the "real world" .....Women:D

You can see a picture of a beautiful woman, and be attracted to it....but I don't think you can "fall in love with it" ( and if you CAN, I don't want to hear about it:p)

You can see a beautiful actress in a movie...now you have more "information"....but it is still unreal.

Now, see a beautiful woman IN PERSON - how she looks, moves, talks, smells...well NOW you can fall hard..."in love" or "in lust":D
But still, you need some time (usually) before you KNOW she's THE ONE.

Not to trivialize this....especially if any women are reading:p - but isn't it similar with knives from a collector point of view? See knife - interest! Hold knife...more interest!! Speak with knifemaker, get to know his likes,dislikes, vision....well, now you not only want the knife but you may form a "relationship" that results in further knives, maybe even some collaboration!

Now, think about this.....you post your new knife, which you "love" and someone you don't know, who has never held the knife - "disses it"...at least from your perspective. You can see how this might be taken badly....kinda like someone "dissing" a picture of your wife on Facebook or whatever ! You MIGHT see red, no???
OK, maybe your wife is NOT Heidi Klum...but she is IT to you:D

Now, I also LOVE and adore my daughter. She is a "collaboration" between my wife and I...Is she "perfect"?
Well, she is to ME
If someone were to say something disparaging about her....in person or on the Internet...well, I would absolutely see RED and personally, I would be very likely to lose it and do something that would be quite immature...and feel good about doing it !

Now picture a knifemaker who has poured his "soul" into a knife - maybe it's not perfect, but it is his baby....and then folks he doesn't know rain all over his parade....guess how he feels now????

I realize that this has been kinda long-winded, but at least I tried to break it up into sections - haha

Long and the short of it:

Things change and it is our responsibility to see that they change for the BETTER. As a collector, but also occasional knifemaker, I agree with Roger...until you "walk a mile in the shoes" of a knifemaker, you can't quite fully understand what it means to him or her. That doesn't mean you can't express your opinion - I am a big "open exchange of ideas" kinda guy. Just think before you post, and try to keep it constructive.....IF the maker ASKS for critique !!!! If the maker has not asked for critique, perhaps consider NOT saying anything, or taking your advice offline.

Having said that, Snody is also absolutely right - if you are a maker who is going to post in THIS forum, you should have done your homework AHEAD OF TIME!
I've never met Snody, but I've seen his posts/vids etc and it is clear to me that he is a "professional knifemaker" - in the truest sense of the word:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: He is true to himself, he has distilled his process for max efficiency, and he makes quality products and markets them well!
Hope to shake your hand someday bud !

I DO miss STeven, and Kevin Cashen, and Burt Foster, and RJ Martin....guys who don't post much, but who bring ALOT to the table. I'd love to see them back more...if it is right for THEM - but they don't have any responsibility to make ME happy. I like seeing newer guys post - Dave Lisch, Tad Lynch, Mike Quesenberry - they bring plenty of enthusiasm AND talent. I love reading Nick Wheeler's WIPs - I think he is giving back, and making this a better place.

Without being TOO kumbaya (;)STeven and Coop!), I want EVERYONE to feel free to post and bring something to the community!!

If some newbie type posts a "turd" but seems interested and enthusiastic...well, maybe some of the "senior" guys can gently steer him/her to the right spot, without humiliating him/her in public...we need new blood, both on the maker and collector side. I've seen new collectors get "smoked" as well, by presumably well-intentioned advice designed to "steer" them to the "correct makers" for one reason or another...so it goes both ways.

In the end, though, this forum has led to me meeting many of you IN PERSON - and that is what I've gotten the most from! I've been impressed that the makers and collectors alike are some of the nicest and most helpful folks you might meet:

And so I'd like to say THANKS - whether I agree or disagree, I've learned something from each and every one of you.


Bill
Click to expand...



This just might be the best post in this thread.

Very well put......I wish I could of summed things up so eloquently :)

Happy Easter Bill
 
Bill nailed it. Perfectly.

All I have to add is that after almost thirteen (egad, almost 14!) years of being here, change is always a constant. In many, many different ways.

Love what you love, fools and differing opinions be damned but enjoy the education.

Ok, done with my navel gazing for now. Carry on!:D
 
Bill, thank you so much for taking the time to lay down your thoughts.
I think it's the best thing I've ever read in this forum, it really struck a chord with me.
 
RyanW said:
I don't want to chyme in on this thread but feel the need to. I am a new maker that has learned most of what I know about knife making on these forums. I get tired of hearing about the "Good Old Days" I am of the opinion that when we look back in life we tend to see the good more than the bad. There are Many MANY great people willing to give Helpful constructive criticism to those that want it. I think part of the "Meek atta boys" that are common is due to the permanance of those comments. Why not point out the good and follow that up with a PM in private voicing your opinions on how they may be able to improve their work (Which people have done for me in the past). I agree with Mike that people need to be told what they are doing wrong to become better, does it have to be done in the public eye? I know I don't do that to my children when they do something wrong.

Threads like this one make me wonder If I should stop posting my work in this forum, who tells me when my work is worthy? I personally want honest feedback and as long as it is respectful and not given as the be all end all, it is up to me to take it or leave it. If I go down the wrong road, I am the only one out the money and time.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ryan, that's how I feel.
 
I'd also like to mention that I think this is the best place around, we have some great people here.

I posted a knife yesterday that had a ton of work in to it. I was he best I could do in my opinion, I spared no detail.

I didn't get a comment on the knife here and that is no big deal, when it is mind blowing good I will get some comments. I know that feeling of excitement I get when I see a great knife and want to compel others to post about it!

It can be tough when you spend all your time trying to do the best and there is little reward but that's knifemaking, when I am amongst the very best I will be rewarded. I spent 12 hours grinding a sword yesterday and last night when straightening after quench it snapped on me. It was heartbreaking to be honest and I lost a whole day's pay as well as my investment because of it but I wouldn't be happy doing anything else, it is my passion. I try to roll with the punches and do my best!
 
Good to see STeven's and Snody's remarks. Valid and no condiments disguising the true flavor. :)

Billf's post: Yes, very well stated. Earlier I mentioned how not all have the command of writing skills to impart what they want to say. Bill does.

Critique alert: Also in his thread: HE USED SHORTER SENTENCES AND A LOT OF SPACING TO ALLOW US TO READ IT. Forgive the shouting, but there are really good voices (some in this thread) whose words (thoughts, really) I can't read because; it's a wall of text, or a grammatically, punctualized mess.

If you are participating on the internet forums, it is NOT the same as writing a book. It isn't. You have to break things up into manageable bites. The clearly written examples are right here. Just like a good knife: See why it's declared good and incorporate that vision into your own work.

Nice post, Kevin. This thread is still a work in progress.

I feel the need for a visual thread to resurrect our older pieces, too. Someone mentioned this, and even tried, but it needs a firm kickoff. I'll attempt this later.

Coop
 
Last edited:
billf said:
STeven

Great to hear that you are loving your job - that really makes life worthwhile! I also spend my days cutting flesh....although it is people:D.....

and I don't get to use custom knives, just disposable scalpels - haha

Perfect for what they have to do - ie very purpose driven - but boring as hell !
Click to expand...

Fish cutting CAN be boring....but I am always looking at....that perfect cut..... It's a lot of zen for me, no knife, no fish, just breathe, and if some dipshit wants .65 lbs of fish, I try to cut within 5/100's of that request. You are cutting on people.....is the cut perfect as can humanly be?

If not, there is a challenge to reinvigorate your purpose.....you have one shot, one chance to make it clean, deep, straight(when applicable) and in your case, leaving as minimal a scar as possible. Those OPPORTUNITIES would drive me for years to come, as dead fish don't complain, nor suffer vanity.

Just sayin':D

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Bill, no need to apologize for the length of your post. I agree with others here, that is maybe the best read and summery I've seen. As a maker I've waited for many years before getting the guts to post on this forum. Your take of the seasoned makers guiding the newer makers is particuarly appreciated. We were all in their shoes at one time.
Thanks Bill
 
Steven, while we have not always seen eye to eye, you have always had, and always will have my respect. Regardless of how poorly I might express it. You're about as real as they come.
 
I have learned some very interesting things in this thread! I shall remove myself from this forum until a much later date.
 
RogerP said:
Why? Do I get a vote???
Click to expand...

I should clarify, I got a message from a maker that I highly respect and feel the post was short. It seems this sub forum is a Gentleman's club that has unposted rules and qualifications to be allowed to post your work. When I start to question whether comments are directed at me whether it be my past offerings or my grammar. I choose to go where I know I am welcome.

I respect almost everyone that has posted in this thread, and last thing I want to do is overstep my abilities. This has been a good thinking thread. I will still view the amazing work displayed here but will definitely think twice before posting my knives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top