Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky

Big Smitty

Big Smitty

Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
509
Does anyone know of any knife makers in the Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky part of the world? I live in Union,KY which is just south of Cincinnati. If there is anyone in the greater Cincinnati area who might be willing to get together and talk shop or work on knives, please let me know. I have tried to locate some contacts, but have not had much luck. I know there must be some makers close by, I just need to get in the loop. Thanks!
 
:)Smitty, I live about 30 miles southeast of Ashland, KY, little town of Sandy Hook (it's actually on the map). Shoot me an e-mail and I'll forward you my contact numbers. I might be able to help you out.
 
Man I wish we had the web when I started. This is soooo coool to make a post and have knifemakers come out of the woodwork. I was the only one in my area until I moved then a bunch showed upon the forums.
 
i wonder how many makers are out there that dont belong to any forum. i'm the only one in my area with more than a few years experience thats on a forum, so far. this year i hope to teach a few local members and friends how i make my knives and change that. i will also be giving lessons on sharpening with the cardboard wheels.
 
Hey, thanks for responding guys! I agree it is cool. I am just starting out and I have learned so much on the internet from gracious people who are willing to take the time to share what they know. I have really looked for someone in my area that might have knife making experience. To this point I have had no luck here in the local Cincinnati area. I did find a group from the "unusual suspects" forum that is having a small get together here in N KY next month, but I think they are more collectors not makers. i will still attend and meet some people.
 
I'd like to help out; demonstrate, participate. I have never been able to get anything going on in Central KY.
 
Im in Middletown Ohio, its about 20miles north of Cincy, Im by no means any kind of expert, Ive only made half a dozen or so knives, but its always great to see how other people do it. I do stock removal
 
A.T. Barr lives in Nicholasville Ky, just outside of Lexington.

I believe the famous Gil Hibben lives and works out of LaGrange Ky, which is in Oldham Co. Northern Ky.

I'm living here in Paris, Ky, trying to get my stuff together to start making knives. So far I have a 2X72 Coote still in the box, a 300lb bridge anvil, and a head full of dreams.
 
Psycho
You sound like me. I have a 2X42 Sears grinder with a flat platen I modified, A drill press, angle grinder, chop saw, a bunch of hand files and a lot of determination. To this point I have only done stock removal knives with bush leage heat treats (although the HT's I have done have come out well). I am in the process of building a forge and looking for a make shift anvil so I can start to forge blades. I usually work with 10XX steel and have just got some O1 for a first try with a new steel. You are only about an hour away (I live off the Richwood exit just north of the I-75 / I-71 split). Once I get my forge up we can try to meet up and bang some metal.
 
can you still find those little sears craftsmen 2X42 grinders around? I heard that they were discontinued. Sad because it looked like a pretty nice little machine, perfect for new makers to get their feet wet.

I bought my Coote about a year ago, but I don't have the space to set it up. The subdivision I live in wouldn't be too knifemaker friendly I don't think. Gonna try and get out into a wooded area with a cabin and a shop to work out of.

I was looking at a chile forge. Too much of a headache to make my own I think.

May start with a few kits, maybe a simple slipjoint or two for now.
 
yes, you can still get the Sears grinder. Theya re a bit difficult to find on their website but they are there. I just went to our local Sears adn they had one in stock. It works OK and was the right price. As soon as funds allow it I am going to upgrade to a "real" grinder and use the Sears rig for handle shaping. The forge build is really not that difficult, but you do need access to a welder.
 
I live in olive hill, looking for knife makers in KY, not having much luck finding, maybe somebody could help.....thanks
 
Hank
John W. Smith is in West Liberty. H.L. Holbrook is in Sandy Hook. W.D. Pease is in Ewing( Fleming County). J.D. Clay is in Greenup. I'm also in West Liberty. Send me a email on what your looking for, I 'll help if I can.

Rick
 
There are several good knifemakers scattered around Kentucky. Gil Hibben, A.T. Barr, Ed Baumgardner, Kit Carson, Ed Wallace, Gene Baskett, W.D. Pease, David Steier, Shane Armstrong, Cliff Fendley. I know I'm forgetting some.

I live in Louisville. I would highly recommend that you give Gil Hibben a call. It's only about a 1 1/2 hour drive to LaGrange. I couldn't begin to tell you how much I have learned from Gil and he has a very nice shop behind his house.

By the way, the Knifemakers Guild Show will be in Louisville next year. You should definitely make that one if you want to meet some great knifemakers and see some inspirational work.
 
MisterSat said:
There are several good knifemakers scattered around Kentucky. Gil Hibben, A.T. Barr, Ed Baumgardner, Kit Carson, Ed Wallace, Gene Baskett, W.D. Pease, David Steier, Shane Armstrong, Cliff Fendley. I know I'm forgetting some.

I live in Louisville. I would highly recommend that you give Gil Hibben a call. It's only about a 1 1/2 hour drive to LaGrange. I couldn't begin to tell you how much I have learned from Gil and he has a very nice shop behind his house.
Click to expand...

MisterSat,
Thanks for the list of names. I will locate Gil Hibben and llok him up. LaGrange is only about 45 mins from me.
 
Hey,
I'm a former Ky boy, my mom lives in Florance, Ky. I'm now in Shelby county IN, just south of Indy. I've been looking for some guys interested in a hammer in. We ought to form a list of those interested in the KY, IN area. WE are all within 2 hours of one another. It ought to be doable. Maybe some Saturday in sept or oct when the heat breaks. Anybody interested let me know. Iv'e got a 5 acre place on the best bass lake in In., just off I-74. Bring your beer hammers and best lure.

James7729
 
Hey James,
Count me in. This is a great idea. It would be really cool to get so interaction going in our area! Let us know the details. If you want I can start a new thread to get the word out.
 
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