Brother thread, what are some high points of your knifemaking career?

R

Rob Simonich

Big Bear
Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
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This is a brother thread to bobH's thread. I read through it and it got me thinking on the high points of my years of knifemaking. I will certainly miss some points and names, but here is a short list, and not in any particular order.

Finishing up that first knife and it actually cut! Still got it around in a shed somewhere.

Selling a knife for the 1st time for $15 and thinking I cut a fat hog in the a$$, at the time I was making $12 a day working on a ranch.

Meeting all these makers that I consider to be TOPS! Doing collaborations with Camillus, REKAT, and Darrel Ralph.

Having other knifemakers buy my knives! This has to be one of the highest points. Wont post a list due to no permission!

Getting those letters that say how much they like thier knives.

Getting those letters that point out something that I could improve on, makes me make better knives.

Smoking out on the dock and shooting the bull with Kit, Bob Taylor, Darrel Ralph, Ken Onion, Dexter, Will, Anthony, and a hundred others at the Blade Show! Drinking beer on Mike Turber at Ruby's after show hours!
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Actually handling a Herman Sliver in ruby's bar, the most finely executed knife of that style I have ever held, my wife still talks about it!

Working with all the great people in the industry.

I could go on and on and on. I love my line of work!

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www.simonichknives.com
 
I would agree. Making the first one is a great feeling. Selling your first 2 knives and seeing the customers mouth drop open is cool too. oh yeah, getting paid is pretty cool, too!
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Rob,

lots of high points too....like meeting you famous young makers that get all the press nowdays
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hehee

i really enjoyed meeting you and your wife at Blade show this past june
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Hard to add much to that list, Rob.

I guess I could say that dressing my first deer with a knife I'd made was a kick.

Finally getting orders for more knives than I could make in a month was a good feeling.

There is the recurring pleasure of figuring out how to do something you've been struggling with for a long time.

There was that day when a knife actually turned out *better* than I expected. That was a novelty...

Then there was that day that I ran into Tom Mayo on here. Hmmm. I guess you have to take the bad with the good...
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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
The Tom & Jerry Show
 
This ones easy for me, Blade Show 2000! Finally getting to meet lots of the people I've been talking with here on the forums and getting to see the unbelievably amazing things people can do with steel and various handle materials. 2000 was my first Blade show and I will never forget it. I got to meet folks like Tim Herman, Kit Carson, Darrel Ralph, Alan Folts, Pete Peterson,Steve Jernigan, and many more including James Mattis. Part of the bitter side is knowing it was my first Blade Show and James' last. I'm just glad some of you forumites prodded me into gettin off my can and going.

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
I would have to say that the high point in my knifmaking career is still in the future, but I am working on trading a custom folder to a gentleman in the Air Force who is going to do a covert op on an small Atlanta suburb with his black helicopter!!!!!!!!! Now that is cool!

[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 11-19-2000).]
 
many high points, first knife, first sale relizeing i had found my heart desire. about two years ago when there was anuff income to go full time! and about a month ago when a gentleman mentioned some prominent knifemakers and said i like your designs and ordered two customs on the spot. from me a self taught nobody! god is good to me!

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Laurence Segal www.RHINOKNIVES.com
 
I cant think of anything else to list here except seeing that first picture of one of my knives in Blade magazine,I didnt think that I would ever get there...The best feeling to me is to see the customers faces when they get there knives or the look on a kids face when you give them there first knife........Bruce

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Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives
The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society
 
Rob
I agree with what you said about meeting other good makers .
Being lucky enough to meet folks like you , Kit , Tim, All the folks at schools, L6, and others is great. All the great folks at shows, has been a highlight.

Taking the training from my past and converting it to knifemaking has been fun.

Learning something new everyday is a joy.

Watching the knife industry from 14 years ago untill now has been great. The progress is just overwhelming.

Getting my new little drill press's last week was a joy . hahahahah
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Having a son who is coming along in the industry is great also.

Never a dull moment.

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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
NEW WEB SITE TAKE A LOOK!!!!!!!!!
New projects and pics to look at !!!!

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 11-21-2000).]
 
Hey Rob.. Well I would have to say that seeing knives I made in magazines like TK, and Blade, is foremost on my list.
A few years ago I read them just because I liked knives:-)

Having a maker like R.J. Martin! tell Les Robertson to take a look at my work...

Getting E-mail from customers with subject lines of "Awesome" and "GREAT JOB" Etc. Is the best!!..

Also the opportunity to learn from people I admire greatly is one of things I like most about making knives..

Last but not least, I LOVE what I do, and would not trade it for all the tea in China.

Take Care
Trace Rinaldi http://www.pe.net/~thrblade/

 
Sitting around a camp fire with 10 or 12 other hunters and having 5 or 6 who had my knives-some for several years- telling stories how well my knives had worked for them.
 
Here is my list: Meeting and learning from other makers and collectors; The first knife I made; The first knife that turned out the way I wanted it to; My first knife sale, second, third...; Getting new tools (toys?); Seeing the works of art other makers turn out, and owning a couple of them; New materilas and techniques; Looking forward to future knifemaking experiences; Overall, the fact that knives have added meaning to my life.
 
Darrel said "Having a son who is coming along in the industry is great also."
That has got to be the most satisfying thing a man could hope for!!!

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
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