Haywood Community College - ABS Slip Joint Class?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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I just noticed that Haywood Community College (about 5 hours away for me) will be offering an "ABS Slip Joint Folders" class in the near future.

It appears that they also offer quite a few other knife making classes as well that seem to be sponsored by the ABS.

I'm seriously considering signing up for the slip joint class but am unfamiliar with Haywood Community College, the ABS or slip joint construction.

I do have a general understanding of how slip joints are designed and made, but have never actually made one myself. I do make liner locks, and assume that making a slip joint shouldn't be that much harder.

I'm also a bit concerned that due to time constraints, the class might be geared to assembly rather than actual construction; essentially explaining how to assemble prefabricated slip joint parts. The class is a week long, so I would hate to eat up my vacation for a sub-par class.

Has anyone taken this class? (Or any other knife making class at Haywood Community College)

If so, how was the class? Would you recommend it?
 
Send an e-mail to the community college and request a syllabus. Also inquire as to the possibility of contacting the instructor(s). You might be able to get a packet with all the information that you need.
 
Bo T said:
Send an e-mail to the community college and request a syllabus. Also inquire as to the possibility of contacting the instructor(s). You might be able to get a packet with all the information that you need.
Click to expand...

That's my plan, but was curious to see if any BF members had attended in the past. It appears that they likely use the same instructor each semester, so it should be easy to obtain more info.
 
I can't imagine any class like that using pre-made parts.
Or simply focus on assembly.
I'm sure it includes design, lay-out, part creation, heat treating, fit-up, etc.
Easy to find out.
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
I can't imagine any class like that using pre-made parts.
Or simply focus on assembly.
I'm sure it includes design, lay-out, part creation, heat treating, fit-up, etc.
Easy to find out.
Click to expand...

+1 while we don't really know, I can't imagine the ABS approving a less than very good class.

Five hours drive is a long way, but I would consider myself lucky to have a chance to attend. Definitely something I would consider burning a weeks vacation for.

Is it expensive?
 
Yeouch. Wonder how many slippies it would take to make it back. Meh... Just chalk it up to self edification, then act like it's a bonus when you sell one. :)

Wonder which patterns they go over. One thing I know about traditional knives, their fans are serious about them. The production knives seem to sell for a lot less than a typical high quality modern folder, but I've seen a number of expensive customs sell.

Also, I've noticed a lot of people moving in interest from modern/tactical knives to traditionals.
 
I have been to three day classes in which we started with raw materials and finished with a completed knife. I have no doubt that this will be an intensive class.
 
The facilities at Haywood just got renovated, they were already good, now they're exceptional.

All of the classes are very high speed. I'm here local, and even though I've only taken the Handles & Guards class (which set me years ahead), I see first hand results from most of them. These aren't casual affairs with just "whoever" feels like teaching. Bill Wiggins hand picks the instructors and is very serious about trying to offer the most intensive and concise learning experience available in the world.


I'm not sure however, where you're seeing info on an upcoming class for slipjoints though? I haven't seen the 2014 schedule posted, and Daniel Warren was supposed to teach a slipjoint class in December, but there weren't enough sign-ups to make it happen. Maybe they rescheduled, but I'm surprised I didn't hear about it.

Regardless, if you get a chance to attend an ABS class at Haywood, you'll get 100% out of it what you're willing to put into it. Even if you don't put much effort into, you'll likely learn more than you'd deserve.

Even though I see Daniel every week, and he'll share anything ask about, I was one of the people signed up for the December class. If that tells you anything about what I consider the value of these opportunities to be.
 
I love that statement! :thumbup:

javand said:
Regardless, if you get a chance to attend an ABS class at Haywood, you'll get 100% out of it what you're willing to put into it. Even if you don't put much effort into it, you'll likely learn more than you'd deserve.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the info guys.

The reason I was asking about the nature of the class is because a friend of mine signed up for a folder class (Not at Haywood CC), and was handed a bag of pre-fabricated parts to assemble. That's not how I learned to make folders, and seems like a terrible teaching methodology.

It sounds as though this is a legitimate class, but I will make a few calls for additional information.

It will probably end up costing around $1500 once I factor in travel and the hotel, but I suppose it's not too bad considering the l limited number of slip joint makers in the area.
 
javand said:
Regardless, if you get a chance to attend an ABS class at Haywood, you'll get 100% out of it what you're willing to put into it.

Even though I see Daniel every week, and he'll share anything ask about, I was one of the people signed up for the December class. If that tells you anything about what I consider the value of these opportunities to be.
Click to expand...

Sounds great; that's exactly what I'm looking for.

If you find out that Daniel Warren is scheduled to teach the upcoming class, please let me know. I would like to give him a call and ask a few questions whenever he has some free time.
 
Strigamort said:
Yeouch. Wonder how many slippies it would take to make it back. Meh... Just chalk it up to self edification, then act like it's a bonus when you sell one. :)

Wonder which patterns they go over. One thing I know about traditional knives, their fans are serious about them. The production knives seem to sell for a lot less than a typical high quality modern folder, but I've seen a number of expensive customs sell.

Also, I've noticed a lot of people moving in interest from modern/tactical knives to traditionals.
Click to expand...

It seems a bit on the expensive side, but I imagine that I would waste untold hours trying to teach myself how to make a slip joint from scratch.

I've noticed an increased interest in traditionals also. Most of the knives I make are modern/tactical, so I think making a slip joint would be a nice change and a challenge as well.
 
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