- Joined
- Sep 9, 2014
- Messages
- 80
Just wanted to share my experience with a guy I met on Monday about 20 miles from Tallahassee, Edgar Chattin. I was introduced by a friend after mentioning to him my interest in bladesmithing, he said "we gotta go see my friend Edgar, I have a knife I need repaired anyways". We drove out the forestry road to his shop/house and man, what an adventure! A one hour visit turned into an afternoon... almost stayed for dinner.
When we arrived, Edgar was finishing some cold ribs for lunch (and enjoying them!) so he and my buddy just caught up on old times while Edgar mixed in stories about knife making and his Cherokee heritage and family, a nice way to introduce himself to me. After he wiped the BBQ off his hands he reached into a box and pulled out some knives and tomahawks ("tommy hawks") explaining that he was pretty much sold out, a local collector had recently bought a dozen or so knives from him a few days ago and that he just doesn't make like he used to. That was cool I wasn't really shopping. The few knives he showed me were his personal knives (filets, kitchen and a sick drop point skinner), a custom order waiting to be delivered and and amazing something or other with a short, wide blade with a long arc... it was beautiful! Brass soldered to a carbon blade with antler and turquoise in the handle...drooooooool. If I had money on me I would have pulled it out... I don't even know what it was but it was awe inspiring, I kept picking it back up, he probably thought I was crazy. After seeing those knives I realized that this guy was the real deal, a true master knife maker. He told me later about his life making knives and shooting archery, loves telling stories!
After about half an hour he led us out to the shop area to fix the knife. His shop is amazing! I watched him reshape a skinner he made (my buddy broke the tip prying) and it was amazing! He had total control of the blade and made it seem effortless, a true artist. Acid dipped it afterwards and it looked as good as new (old). He had a coal and a gas forge and about 3-4 huge anvils outside under an eave. A ton of old steel, mill saws, springs etc, and took a moment to give me information on the type of steel and the associated physical properties... from experience, not a textbook. He shared so much information with me on knife making, skinning possum, baking biscuits over open flame etc... He invited me back sometime and offered to get me on the forge to hammer out some steel and "see if I like it". So generous with his knowledge and time despite the fact he has had some major health issues. Never once heard this man complain about anything while we were hanging out. I have a huge amount of respect for artists/tradesmen that will share their craft openly with those that are interested.
Anyways, just wanted to share that story and see if you guys have heard of him. I am pretty sure he doesn't really do the whole knife show thing or have a website ...can barely use the cell phone
but definitely check his stuff out, it is out there. He told me he has made a bunch of knives in the past. Made his living from it after he moved up from Gulf Coast FL about 30 years ago. Just wanted to share my brief experiences, mostly character, meeting this guy. Anyone have one of his knives? The ones I saw had "EJC" or "EHC" (I can't remember the middle initial) stamped in them.
When we arrived, Edgar was finishing some cold ribs for lunch (and enjoying them!) so he and my buddy just caught up on old times while Edgar mixed in stories about knife making and his Cherokee heritage and family, a nice way to introduce himself to me. After he wiped the BBQ off his hands he reached into a box and pulled out some knives and tomahawks ("tommy hawks") explaining that he was pretty much sold out, a local collector had recently bought a dozen or so knives from him a few days ago and that he just doesn't make like he used to. That was cool I wasn't really shopping. The few knives he showed me were his personal knives (filets, kitchen and a sick drop point skinner), a custom order waiting to be delivered and and amazing something or other with a short, wide blade with a long arc... it was beautiful! Brass soldered to a carbon blade with antler and turquoise in the handle...drooooooool. If I had money on me I would have pulled it out... I don't even know what it was but it was awe inspiring, I kept picking it back up, he probably thought I was crazy. After seeing those knives I realized that this guy was the real deal, a true master knife maker. He told me later about his life making knives and shooting archery, loves telling stories!
After about half an hour he led us out to the shop area to fix the knife. His shop is amazing! I watched him reshape a skinner he made (my buddy broke the tip prying) and it was amazing! He had total control of the blade and made it seem effortless, a true artist. Acid dipped it afterwards and it looked as good as new (old). He had a coal and a gas forge and about 3-4 huge anvils outside under an eave. A ton of old steel, mill saws, springs etc, and took a moment to give me information on the type of steel and the associated physical properties... from experience, not a textbook. He shared so much information with me on knife making, skinning possum, baking biscuits over open flame etc... He invited me back sometime and offered to get me on the forge to hammer out some steel and "see if I like it". So generous with his knowledge and time despite the fact he has had some major health issues. Never once heard this man complain about anything while we were hanging out. I have a huge amount of respect for artists/tradesmen that will share their craft openly with those that are interested.
Anyways, just wanted to share that story and see if you guys have heard of him. I am pretty sure he doesn't really do the whole knife show thing or have a website ...can barely use the cell phone
but definitely check his stuff out, it is out there. He told me he has made a bunch of knives in the past. Made his living from it after he moved up from Gulf Coast FL about 30 years ago. Just wanted to share my brief experiences, mostly character, meeting this guy. Anyone have one of his knives? The ones I saw had "EJC" or "EHC" (I can't remember the middle initial) stamped in them.
