Bladesmith vs. Knifemaker?

M

mike_758905

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May 13, 2009
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Ok, I am new to knifemaking so don't tear me apart here. What is the difference between a bladesmith and a knifemaker? I grew tired of wondering and decided to ask. I assume a Bladesmith is someone skilled in all aspects of knifemaking a.k.a. expert? Which also makes me wonder what am I as someone just starting out with some knowledge and skills that has made a few knives many years ago? If you can't tell I am bored waiting on tools to show up so I can start playing lol. Thanks for the info. in advance.
 
Either can become an expert; in fact many gentlemen here are experts in both techniques. "Knifemaking" may involve strictly stock-removal. "Smithing" refers specifically to forming most or all of the blade's shape by forging the hot steel on an anvil.
 
Multi-talented. :)

Actually even most diehard forgers do at least some finishing work on a grinder (stock removal).

Be sure to browse through the stickies listed at the top of this forum, especially this one. A lot of your questions will be answered there.

Have fun, happy reading, and welcome to the forums!
 
Tai doesn't do any finish grinding on a machine, so I guess there's a die-harder (sorry I had to make the reference). We're all knifemakers, in my opinion. I leave the bladesmithing definitions for those who need or want to make them.
 
I wasn't aware of that, AcridSaint, but you make a good point. (notice I used words like "most" and "some"? Helps prevent me sticking my foot in my mouth too far. ;))

All I know is I'm NOT a bladesmith because I've never forged anything in my life.
 
Bladesmith is a pretty specific term. It implies forging a blade and excludes stock removal in my eyes. With that said, I haven't forged a blade myself yet, but hope to in the future. All my work so far has been stock removal.

Knifemaker carries a lot different connotations, and it has different meanings to different cultures and geographic locations. In Scandinavia, the blade smith and knife maker are often (but not always) 2 different people entirely. One specializes in the forging of blades, the other in making beautiful knives out of the others handiwork.

Walter
 
On my business card, in red lettering, it says; Bladesmith. I had it added to my card after I had been making knives for about six years.

Now, I did not say I had been a knifemaker for six years, but that I had been making knives for six years. They are two different things.
I would not call myself a plumber, if I had repaired one toilet or plumbed one sink. To be honest, I have repaired dozens of toilets and the same number of sinks and still do not consider myself a plumber.

I forged the first blades that I put handles on; but that did not make me a bladesmith, just as putting handles on them, did not make me a knifemaker.
The first 50 or so knives I made, were given away, to be tested and assessed by people that use knives in their daily work. Some would say, oh
"I didn't know you were a knifemaker" I'm not, I'm trying to become one.

Personally, I don't believe you are a knifemaker unless you possess the collective knowledge that it takes to both understand and practice your craft with a high degree of skill.
To be a bladesmith, I believe the same holds true.

So in its simplest terms, a bladesmith forges his blades and knows the how and why of what he is doing as he forges.

In the simplest terms a knifemaker is someone who produces knives by whatever means and fully understands the processes and metalurgy needed to make a quality knife.

In any skill you might wish to acquire, setting the bar very high assures one of attaining a high degree of proficiency or failing to do so, not lowering the standard of that skill.

Please don't get me wrong; I am still in the learning stages of becoming both a knifemaker and a bladesmith and feel there is still much for me to learn.

This is just how I see it, Fred
 
I am a bladesmith, I forge my blades
I am a metalsmith, as blades are not the only metal I smite (I have been making jewelry professionally on and off for 25 years and I have done other work that involves forming metal for a portion of my living since I was 18)
Nothing against the stock removal folks (although I jab Spangler whenever the opportunity presents) but there is something special about being able to form the metal into the shape you want rather than just grind away everything that's not a knife. When you start to think of metal as a plastic/fluid medium the walls of the box melt away.

-Page
 
I AGREE WITH THAT GUY! LOL Thanks for the words of wisdom I just see lots of guys calling themselves by both of these titles and they never seem to be used in what I consider proper context. I was at a show last month and saw a maker with a very fancy silver badge he wore with the title "BLADESMITH" yet everything on display was stock removal, so it brought this question to mind as I was reading here this morning and someone had title knifemaker below their name. IMHO we are all knife makers, if you start with nothing and create something it is being made and we are on a knife forum. I agree that bladesmith implies forging. Just thought it was a stupid yet interesting topic.
 
Afterthought, it seems someone with my current level of training is a "Gold Member". LOL bet ya'll can see where I saw the knife maker title below the name now. Always fun being the new guy lol.
 
I've already beaten Mace Vitale in thumbwrestling, even with his 400 pound weight advantage against me, so I think bladesmiths aren't all they're cracked up to be.



:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D



...oh, I'm gonna catch hell for this.;)
 
mike_758905 said:
I was reading here this morning and someone had title knifemaker below their name.
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Alot of us have that its a membership catagory. Like your Gold member.
I don't know if I'm a knifemaker or bladesmith. I'd like to think maybe a little of both.
 
FWIW Tai referred to himself as a metalsmith, the last time I asked. :D On my last project we did use a bench grinder for 2-3 minutes--the point was getting way too long so we lopped it off.

I have often wondered at the distinction between "knifemaker" and "bladesmith". After all, there are few (if any) "gunsmiths" or "locksmiths" who have ever done any forging work.
 
Knifemaker is what I call myself when I'm with people that wouldn't have the foggiest idea as to what a bladesmith is. I'll answer to either, plus hey you........
 
Yes...Pay dearly you will.:cool:
Matt, just because you paid $30.- and they put the word "knifemaker" next to that picture of your girlfriend does not make you a knifemaker!;)
Asshat.
Mace
 
Mace said:
...that picture of your girlfriend...
You know better than to make fun of my Moms, man... that's too mean. Now you're hurting my feelings.

Regarding the topic at hand, I suppose I could be called a bladesmith. Or a metalsmith. Or a knifemaker. Or a salesman. All would be correct, but none of the would define me. Does the definition truly matter so much? I guess not to me... I'll respect another's use of it, but I certainly wouldn't take offense from one applied to me over the other.


BTW, I just won $50 in the New York lottery using the first five digits of Mace's weight! Must be my lucky number!:D:D:D
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Did not Bladesmith evolve from Blacksmith ???? Did not sanitation engineer evolve from Janitor ??? So if a Jeweler is now a metalsmith , what to we call the mills ???
 
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