Bladesmith vs. Knifemaker?

Most Jewelers are not metalsmiths,about the only smithing experience they have is seeing a photo in a book or on the internet.
 
Shakudo said:
Most Jewelers are not metalsmiths,about the only smithing experience they have is seeing a photo in a book or on the internet.
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then there are people who actually forge gold and silver to shape it, do repousse and chasing, and sinking and raising.
I do most of my forming with a hammer one way or another. Most of the masters are formed in metal, then I pull molds and do waxes

-Page
 
Being a twin, I have friends I have known all my life that aren't really sure who I am and get my name wrong about half of the time. On top of that, with a name like Mathews, that most people spell Matthews, it just gets worse. I don't get too concerned about names or what I am called. After spending about thirty years in the corporate world, titles don't impress me much either.

You can see all kinds of knives on the tables of people with all kinds of titles. After a good look at a few of a person's knives, it's not hard to tell whose table you are standing in front of and what someone wants to call him doesn't matter much. His knives do his talking for him.

If you look up the word "smith", in addition to being a person that works in metals, it also means "maker" and has been applied to all sorts of occupations historically. I like to think of myself as a knifemaker. I can and do make knives by both stock removal and forging. To me, the method doesn't really make any difference. When I am forging a blade, I am still a knifemaker and I will also always be a Smith since my middle name is Smith.:D
 
After my thought on the subject and the attention it has drawn I have decided to formally introduce myself as Michael but you can call me Mike!
 
Hmathews said:
I don't get too concerned about names or what I am called. After spending about thirty years in the corporate world, titles don't impress me much either.
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That just about sums up my view, too. Well said Mr. Mathews!
 
Some of the makers are using both techniques. I've hammered some steel to shape before but mainly I'm using stockremoval as I'm using high alloys and my steel stock is 3 feet wide X 3 feet long so I'm not restricted by the dimentions of my stock. I would forge my W2 or 1095 stock if there were any demand on these steels but unfortunately no one wants a knife that can rust easily here...

Maybe we can call most of the makers here as they use both techniques "knifesmiths", but who cares. For me you can call me anything; bladesmith, knifemaker, cutlery maker, tool maker, sucker, steel fetishist, metal shop mazoshist, newbie, master... I don't care, I'll create and enjoy, regardless of my title...
 
galadduin said:
Some of the makers are using both techniques. I've hammered some steel to shape before but mainly I'm using stockremoval as I'm using high alloys and my steel stock is 3 feet wide X 3 feet long so I'm not restricted by the dimentions of my stock. I would forge my W2 or 1095 stock if there were any demand on these steels but unfortunately no one wants a knife that can rust easily here...

Maybe we can call most of the makers here as they use both techniques "knifesmiths", but who cares. For me you can call me anything; bladesmith, knifemaker, cutlery maker, tool maker, sucker, steel fetishist, metal shop mazoshist, newbie, master... I don't care, I'll create and enjoy, regardless of my title...
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Artist, craftsman, it works

-Page
 
smith:

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger schmied (older schmid) < IE base *sm&#275;i-, to work with a sharp tool > Gr smil&#275;, knife
 
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