crazy idea

I

ima19d

Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
46
hey everyone, i was sitting around tonight browsing the web for knife making supplies, tools etc.... and a crazy idea came to mind. im super new to making knives/ tinkering with production knives. im stationed at schofield barracks HI and i know that ken onion is a former marine and lives on oahu too. do yall think i should try and contact him and see if he would let me come check out his shop or do ya think it would annoy him that some new guy is pestering him? everything ive read about him is that he is a super nice person but i dunno, id kind of feel like i was wasting his time because he has to be super busy designing/making/doing shows. but it woul;d be nice because maybe he knows some local shops where i could get equipment and steel so i wouldnt have to pay the crazy shipping fees.
 
its no harm in asking mate, i think alot of knife makers like to show off what they do and are happy to help out anyone who shows interest, contact him, get chatting, and just ask, never hurts to ask, even ask if you can watch as he makes a few knives im sure he wouldnt mind that either i know if i was a reputable maker that i would love someone showing interest
 
the old tried and tested process of making an appointment. offer anything in return, whether a bottle, stimulating conversation, or working in his shop for one month without pay.
 
Give it a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
Remember, he had to get his start somewhere, too.
Read up on his bio to find out, it's pretty interesting.
 
hank_rearden said:
the old tried and tested process of making an appointment. offer anything in return, whether a bottle, stimulating conversation, or working in his shop for one month without pay.
Click to expand...

There are other knifemakers in HI that you could check with, I think Tom Mayo is still in HI and I once bought a knife from a friend of his that would sometimes hang out in his shop.

Since you are active duty maybe there is something you could get in the way of a genuine military collectible that you could offer in exchange such as a patch or something like that.
 
Damn good idea... Everyone loves coins... And I had no idea there were other makers here
 
All you can do is ask. Leave it to him to say "yes" or "no".

If you send him an email, I suggest you take the time to use proper and respectful punctuation.
 
bdmicarta said:
There are other knifemakers in HI that you could check with, I think Tom Mayo is still in HI and I once bought a knife from a friend of his that would sometimes hang out in his shop.

Since you are active duty maybe there is something you could get in the way of a genuine military collectible that you could offer in exchange such as a patch or something like that.
Click to expand...


I was going to mention Tom Mayo as well. He learned some of his knifemaking from my uncle, Glen Hornby (Tom talks about it in his bio on his website).

I have had a few emails with Tom. From his description, he jumped into knife making by reading and doing, but was helped just as you describe, by striking up a friendship with a knife maker who could help teach him.

You will also find great resources on the shop talk and custom makers subforums on here. There are great tutorials etc.


I had the idea, growing up, that when I graduated from high school, I wanted to go learn the knifemaking ropes from my own Uncle, Glen Hornby. Unfortunately, he died at a young age, the year I graduated from Highschool.
 
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