Ed Fowler's Willow Bow Ranch Seminar

"if you did come in here specifically with the motivation of testifying for the benefit of promoting the school as the only way to make the "best" knife, would you consider it understandable if people got pissed?"

Mike, that's my whole point! I didn't "come in here" with that motivation, and didn't even suggest that it was "the only way to make the "best" knife"! Those aren't my words or my intent.

I just said I learned something and met some nice people!

Had I come to YOUR shop, I may have said the same thing.
But guess what? There STILL would be people mad because I didn't mention THEIR name!

There's a LOT of talent here! Let's celebrate THAT!
Karl B. Anderson
 
Karl, it is then very simply the misunderstanding of what someone's saying versus what someone else thinks they're reading. It is a common source for misunderstanding on the internet, because it lacks the nuance of hearing the words from the person's mouth.

I promise you, that misunderstanding is why you got the reception you did. It has happened more than once recently regarding Ed's students, as I'm sure Butch has conveyed to you after his traumatic reception.

It is obviously all Ed's fault for having had students and a school and a magazine column in the first place! :D (That's a joke, PLEASE don't get pissed.)

Your enthusiasm brings to mind my experiences returning from learning how to make damascus in the 80's, or my first time as a visitor at a Guild show, or my first knife sold, or, more recently, the hammer-ins at Bowie's.

Those are precious memories, and I'm truly saddened if yours were sullied by a reception damaged by misunderstanding. I sincerely congratulate you, share your joy, and wish you the best in using your new perceptions to grow your skills even more.

Perhaps this thread, though pretty devisive, may help futher the comminuty by teaching a lesson. That wouldn't make it worth your pain, but it may be a helluva contribution to our culture, intended or not. It may provide a lesson on both sensitivities and expectations.

I would truly be interested in seeing you post some of your work and telling us about how doing them at home, away from the school, worked out. That's always the proof of the instruction.

Take care, I wish you well.
 
kbaknife said:
I have gone to the web sites of a few of the guys who just couldn't resist "jabbing" me, and ya'll make some bodaciously awesome knives! Breathtaking stuff.
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Man he has to be talking about me. :D ;) :D


On a serious note, it is very important to be as concise as possible when posting messages. Try to say what you mean without leaving any room for interpretation. Your words about "run of the mill" "cookie cutter knives" did not reference your knives, it referenced all the knives you see every where. That statement was even in a paragraph of its own, so you can see how some of us took it the wrong way.
 
Laredo7mm said:
Man he has to be talking about me. :D ;) :D


On a serious note, it is very important to be as concise as possible when posting messages. Try to say what you mean without leaving any room for interpretation. Your words about "run of the mill" "cookie cutter knives" did not reference your knives, it referenced all the knives you see every where. That statement was even in a paragraph of its own, so you can see how some of us took it the wrong way.
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No Sean, He was talking about me and I didnt even bash him.

By the way, who is this Ed Fowler guy? I never heard of him. Maybe he should advertise more. You know, get his name out there a little? Just a suggestion.:rolleyes:
 
fitzo said:
So, by your own reasoning, David, wouldn't you have to afford the dissenters just as much right to voice their opinion?

I tried to be relatively nice, understanding enthusiasm may have generated language that could be construed as an insult (which it is; whether it was intended or not is the important qualifier). I apologized if I had misunderstood. Mr. Anderson came back with disdain. If you have a problem with what I considered a fairly reasonable attempt at dialogue, then I can put it much simpler:

Bite me. Now, that's neither Emily Post nor confused. :)
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Ah Mike, you golden tongued son of Erin, may the gift of blarney never forsake you.
 
shgeo said:
Ah Mike, you golden tongued son of Erin, may the gift of blarney never forsake you.
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What can I say, I was taken by my Muse..... :p
 
You sure opened a can of worms there.

Anyway, Welcome back from Willow Bow. Hope the motorcycle ride wasn't too tough on you. Let me know when you aare ready to hammer out some of that 1" square stock so we can put some of that new 5160 knowledge of yours to the test!

Gents, it might be a good time to ask him what he learned about forging , quenching, and tempering 5160 before he forgets something!! ;)
 
Do not stop with one knife style or maker. go see others and get well rounded in other steels and procedures. Then come up with your own style that you perfer. all makers have their own likes and dislikes. Gota go smell popcorn burning. :cool:
 
Just can't get past the dead goat horn handle. must be left over from goat lab at Bragg. UGH!!!! flashback!!!UGH!!!Nasty!!!! :D
 
Laredo7mm said:
Probably 52100, but I haven't been to the class so I am not sure.
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I believe they where were working with with 5160 (at least that is what Mr. Fowler said they would be working with when I talked him at the Blade show), but Karl would have to confirm that for sure.
 
Hey Kim, please don't go telling us any more about your flashbacks about sheep or goats....LOL :D

Laredo, Ed uses 5160 JD load shafts for the schools however Karl brought along some square stock 5160 that he has obtained so he forged some blades from that. Ed and I have also tested some 5160 round stock that Dan Gray sent and Ed posted the results of that steel on Dans thread about that steel. The JD load shafts are getting scarce so some people are starting to find alternate sources which is great.

Maybe someday we'll all be able to read what a person is thinking and trying to say rather than just what he typed. Of course then Mark W. would quit buying popcorn. :D

Happy Hammerin
Butch
 
But then Mark would know that we're thinking about him wearing a Speedo, and he may take it the wrong way. I mean, surely I;m not the only person who thinks about Mark in a Speedo, right? Right, guys? Guys...?
 
This is a better, more friendly place than when I visited it a day or two ago. :D

I think Karl was sincere, not trying to offend.. it just got off track and I am beginning to believe there is a conspiracy towards students at Ed's school, among a few people who see it as a negative attack on everything else, and Ed's own legacy.

Fitzo you have shown good intentions. As one "reg. user" to a longtime maker, I respect that. Thanks ;) (..No Biting!)
David
 
.. there are others, inherently evil in their quest to destroy credibility, add doubt, make the honest look foolish.. unrepenting souls who would burn in the fires of the forge before giving anyone a moment of satisfaction. These are the devils. :mad:

We must root them out and expose their intentions.

Bring out much popcorn! :yawn:
David
 
2knife said:
Fitzo you have shown good intentions. As one "reg. user" to a longtime maker, I respect that. Thanks ;) (..No Biting!)
David
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David, thank you. I have no economic interest in any of this, because I no longer make knives for sale.

My concern is only for the fact that I despise it if a man goes out of his way to boost his knives by unfairly denigrating others' methodolgy. I am a firm believer there are many desirable knife configurations and room for any custom knife that has been optimized for optimal performance within it's potential characteristics. For instance, I'd vastly prefer a stainless knife for eating an apple over that nasty taste one can get from carbon steel. the purpose changes the design needs.

Since this thread wasn't intended to say "this is the only good way", then I have no argument with Karl and cheer his personal epiphany. I honest-to-God really dig it when I "see" that starry -eyed look in a maker's eyes.

Have a good one. :)
 
Evil.......EVIL... Someone do an incantation? I thought I heard my name. :)

I dont think there is any conspiracy.

........yet.

I think the whole thing with Karl's post right behind Butch's, just seemed a little too orchestrated apparently for some. I like a juicy thread myself. That's the way it used to be around here . :)


Oh .....and bite me :)
 
Mark Williams said:
Oh .....and bite me :)
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You're gonna have to let it go for a second if you expect anyone to do that....... :D

Kit's prob'ly gonna shut me down, soon, so I gotta say this has been a fun coupl'a days. Almost like7-8 months ago! ;)
 
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