Bladesmithing school? Should I go?

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Sid Post

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http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ABS_School1.htm

I'm trying to plan my year end vacation. One thing I have always wanted to do is learn how to make good working knives. For lack of a better reference, I have owned and used various custom knives but I was always attracted to the simplicity and functionality of the Newt Livesay carbon field knives I owned. I don't have visions of making any folders or knives of the quality I see from the better known makers I admire and respect so much so, hopefully my expectations for what I will be able to do after the class are realistic.

I would like to be able to make fixed blade hunting knives in D2 and larger field knives in simple carbon steel.

What I am trying to learn is:
  • What sort of physical toll will making a fixed blade take on my body - especially on my hands and wrists?
  • What tools will be required (I'm not a professional knife maker so, special furnances and high tech grinders aren't going to happen?
  • What sort of cost am I looking at when I get home to purchase the basic tools of the trade I will need?

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
Hi Sid, are you only interested in forging blades? I see that you're worried about the toll it will take on your body, which makes me think stock removal might be a better option for you. The tools won't change between the too, you'll just need more of them to hammer out your knives, so getting started in stock removal won't hinder you moving into blade smithing.

The North Carolina Custom Knifemaker's Guild works with Montgomery Community College here in NC to provide several knife making classes every year, including basic knife making classes. These are affordable and offer some other options for learning the trade if you don't know if you're up to forging.
 
The bladesmith school will def give you all the knowledge needed to make great knives, but it isn't cheap. You might want to check out some of the literature available before you decide, if you haven't already. Of the books I have, the one that comes to mind is Goddard's $50 Knife Shop. The Loveless book is great also, and has some good descriptions of tools needed, from macines to using only hand tools. There are many others, plus online resources - I don't know your situation, but I would make a few on my own before investing so much dinero. Also, I believe the school teaches basic forging first, as opposed to stock removal.
 
The Blade Smith school is great from all I've heard.
Now here is your real concern, knifemaking is like a drug once you start you can't stop. You can make great knives with basic hand tools.(stock removal) forgeing will also require a forge and anvil of some type. Then move to basic tools.
My advice is to read all the info you can get your hands on. Books and on the net. Make a couple of knives useing basic files and hand tools. In the beginning keep it simple and don't overthink it too much. You are starting a long and rewarding journey.
 
Thanks everyone! I'm definitely thinking about forging some blades. However, it sounds like stock removal might be a better initial option for me. It's appealing to take a raw piece of steel and turn it into a work of art but, perhaps buying bar stock carbon steels is a better option for me to avoid some of the possible issues with my hands and wrists banging away on an anvil.

The books are a great idea. I need to go through my move boxes and see what treasures might await my rediscovery from Blade Shows past.
 
Sid, The answer to the question you ask in your title is yes! You should go.
You will learn so much about knife making in the time your there whether you lift a hammer or not. Only you can decide what your body can handle. I have CT in both hands...the worst for me is trying to hold and sand/file small things.
As far as how much $$$$ you will need to spend to engage in this endevor:
That all depends on how far you want to take it. I made a bunch of knives with a belt sander I got from Sears when I first started. I think it was $150.-

Go to the school...you will not regret it!
I've been twice(drove 1600miles each way!) Twice!!!:D
Go.:thumbup:
Mace
 
Thanks Mace!

You bring up a good point about working with small things. That certainly puts a different type of stress on my hands I hadn't really considered but, other then cutting pins and tubes for lanyards and scales I don't see too much fine detail work. With sanding, I've always used power tools for short periods to avoid problems with my wrists and hands. However, polishing and sanding steel probably increases the stress a lot from what I've done in the past.

A dead blow hammer on steel isn't too bad but, one that rings good would put me out of action pretty quick. That was my main initial concern. Thinking about stock removal some more makes a lot of sense to me. However, it looks like the Montgomery Community College class is already filled.

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
Sid

I agree with Mace, go to the school. Not only will you be taught the basics by someone who uses the skills on a regular basis, but you will meet 11 other students who share your interest and who you can call on later to help you work out any problems you might encounter.

From the dozen people who were in the intro to bladesmithing class I attended in 96, there are three master smiths, two journeyman smiths, five others who still make knives, one of which is a knife purveyor. This only leaves two others. Out of the dozen, I see at least five of them at the bladeshow each year. The friendships are ever bit as important than the knowledge gained.

I suggest trying to forge a few knives and heat treating them before you go. This will put you in a position where you better understand what knowledge you lack and what questions are more important to ask.

Take your gloves, goggles or safety glasses, leather apron and a long sleeve cotton shirt, high top shoes or boots. If you are a coffee drinker, take a zip lock bag full of coffee and some filters. Take a camera and take lots of photos!
Good luck!
PS don't go in July, it is too dang hot!

Jim Arbuckle
ABS JS
 
Sid,
I attended the Intro Class in 04. I loved it. I learned so much, one thing that has been mentioned is the friends and contacts you will make, that alone makes it worth it. I am sure you have heard it before but when you see it done and then get to practice it with a seasoned person near for help, it makes things much easier. Plus it is great fun! Good luck.

Brad Singley
ABS Journeyman Smith
 
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