Handmade Masters

L

lively

Joined
Nov 9, 1999
Messages
215
Neat forum y'all! I was checking out the photos of Nara and his son working in their shop and am most impressed. This is exactly what I try to emulate with my work. My shop is very simular to Nara's and I wish I knew of a way to pick his brain on techniques and tools. I'm sure I could learn a lot from him. There are just precious few knifemakers who can work without electricity and gas and epoxy. Especially is the West. In fact as far as I know I am the only Professional Knifemaker who works full time without electricity in the US. I don't have a son to use as an apprentice like Nara, and students here in the US don't last long at working this way. Most students that come to my shop take a look around and start saying stuff like You know what You need is a grinder and a ... I use to have all of that stuff and got rid of it so that I could become more intimate with my work. Handmade all the way. Most smiths don't understand that kind of thinking. And precious few collectors do either.
I would really like to know more about their techniques. Is there anyway to exchange infomation on knifemaking with these master smiths? For example: What kind of mixture is he using for a glue or epoxy? I am using a mix of deer dung, pinion pine pitch and a little charcoal dust for a blacker color.
Tim http://www.livelyknives.com


[This message has been edited by lively (edited 05-23-2000).]
 
Welcome, Tim. We have not heard from Nara for two or three years. He uses what I call Himalayan epoxy which is made out of tree pitch with a couple of other ingredients tossed in just as you do. Some kamis will even throw in some animal blood for good measure.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
Tim,

Glad you made it over here. I hope you find the information you're seeking.

There's a little information on Laha in the FAQ on the construction page.

You may want to check out the thread http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum33/HTML/000330.html at the Gurkha House forum also. Craig is relaying some questions to the smiths that work for his supplier.

It is exciting to think that some of these old traditional skills might find a new root in the United States.
 
Oh OK, I'll just cut and paste my topic on the end of the thread you mentioned and see what kind of response I get. Thanks,
Tim
 
:
Welcome to the cantina Tim. I am glad to see you made it here as well.

Bro, Tim is the guy that knows how to make the charcoal with the 55 gal drum I believe it was. Tim's is the site I sent you about it.
I know you were busy getting ready for the trip and then all the med problems you have had since coming back.
Since the charcoal is so expensive in Nepal perhaps this is something you could pursue further and take the info over to Birghorka when y'all go back later this year.

Tim's a great guy ready and willing to share info wih anyone who is interested in makng things in a primitive way.
I was impressed with the fact that the Neo people have to make a knife where only 10% of the material is removed other than the forgeing. That's getting it dayum-ed close!!

One of these days I still am going to build that forge Tim!!

------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
Hello Yvsa, my Cherokee brother! Good to see you here and thanks for the kind words. Thank you too Bill. You are welcome to visit my shop. I think you will find it very simular to the Kamis shops. I have the beginnings of a shop tour off of my home page if you have the time to check it out. We also have a video available on our style of primitive knifemaking and there are some good photos on that page you might find interesting. I have been reading the FAQ link you have posted at the end of your comments. Very informative. I really would like to get my hands on one of those magic stones you were talking about that the Kamis use. I think maybe Yvsa is onto something that the Kamis may be able to use to make charcoal. I was making it in a 55 gallon drum utilizing the direct method of making charcoal by burning it. But since then I have been taught a better way to make charcoal by a bladesmith from Dallas, Daniel O'Connor. He uses a retort set up that can be made out of a 55 gallon drum too. It's very efficient because it bakes the wood into charcoal using it's own combustable exhaust as a fuel. It only takes a small outside campfire to get it going. There is a whole thread on charcoal making on The Neo-Tribal Forum that describes this method in depth. If they are not using a retort then I'm sure the Kamis would find this info useful because it can be made from salvaged materials like drums and pipe. And because it's simplicity can provide each smith with personal sized charcoal maker that's lightwieght enough to throw on top of a bus and even backpacked if necessary.
Tim http://www.livelyknives.com
Click on the full moon graphics to get to the forum. All are welcome.
 
Tim, I checked the link, took a tour but I can't see the pix and I'd sure like to! Email me with an address. If I get your way I will certainly stop in and take a look at the shop and say hello. I admire your effort.

I think there is something really eloquent in the simplicity of a village "arun" or shop and I found them a peaceful place to visit, almost like visiting a Gompa or Stupa. I think I would find the same thing at your shop.

I hope you'll become a regular here in our forum.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
I was surfing around and noticed photoloft went down for a while, it should be back online now. I can't gripe too much since all of my pages and photos are free.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top