how did some of you get started?

V

vagabond1

Joined
Jan 9, 2014
Messages
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machinists? blacksmithing?

if i had the opportunity to apprentice with a blacksmith/ironwork shop making fancy railings and lawn art for yuppies but my interest is in blades, would that be a good use of my time? or would the skills i pick up be tangential to blade making?

if i had the scratch to take a class somewhere like the school at dragonfly swordforge, would that be a waste of my time as a beginner, way above my head? (thats my gut feeling)

thanks for any input. p.s. i'm in pittsburgh, if anybody knows any good resources in the area
 
I think if you've got an opportunity to learn a trade from a metalcraftsman, that is a very valuable opportunity. Also take the course, and get involved with your local knifemakers guild.

I started in 2007 as a hobby maker right here at Bladeforums. Reading and asking questions in Shoptalk. The guys that apprentice under me though, learn this stuff a lot faster than I did. AND, we've had a welder/ironwork guy that did gates and staircases work here and he learned very quickly and he tought us a lot about metalwork that we did not know.
 
The blacksmith/ironwork apprentice opportunity may or may not be good one. I would find out what you'd be doing specifically as many do strictly production type work that I wouldn't classify as traditional blacksmithing. As such, you may not be working with the tools and techniques that really get you going in knifemaking. Not that you wouldn't learn something and perhaps it pays?
I'd definitely recommend taking a class that interests you. Try to learn as much as possible about the terminology/techniques/materials/etc. in advance and that will help you get the most out of it.
Check out http://paaba.net. They are a blacksmith organization in your area. I'm involved with PABA here in eastern PA.
You may also want to try to find a local maker willing to teach you, even if they charge for lessons. IMO, it's money well spent.
I started out making knives by the stock removal method. I was fairly familiar with using tools but I didn't have any blacksmtihing or machining experience. I got in to forging and pattern-welded steel, then a little blacksmthing (for my own amusement), and then general metalsmithing (jewelry). I'm pretty sure I can spend the rest of my life learning new techniques that will help me in knifemaking. :)
 
Yuppies? I'm offended :p. Anyways, I started with kits and after a few I bought a crappy 4x36 grinder for stock removal and heavily modified it. I haven't been taught by anyone in person or had anyone help me hands-on, but blade forums is where I learned the bulk of my stuff. Along with trial and lots of error of course.

If you want to take my approach check out http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php
 
In 1973-74 I started putting handles on bought blades, after enough of
it (1977) I began making my own blades. Its been a long road, and the best
one I've ever gone down in my life. None or damn few books back then, and 0
internet.
Ken.
 
my cousin and I really loved the conan movies, and both wanted to have a sword of our own when we were kids. I was lucky that my grandfather was the boss of a company that had a pretty bit workshop in it and he let us find a piece of steel from the junk metal bin and showed us how to use the bench grinder. I made a slick "samurai" type, and he built a 2" bastard type sword, and hour after hour of files and emery paper they came to be. honestly, it was love at first sight and the two of us have been making cutlery off and on since then.
 
If you're interested in apprenticeship only, be sure that you're aware of the effort and time that most craftsman trades require. Yes, traditional blacksmithing would help you develop skills for knifemaking - especially if you plan to forge them out instead of doing strictly stock removal, but before asking someone "Show me how to make metal things", ask yourself "Do I have the patience and dedication to see this through?" I'm not questioning your interest or dedication toward it, I just notice some brand new makers getting frustrated to the point of quitting because they thought it would be easy, quick, and cheap. I never apprenticed, I started on my own, learning (albeit slowly) the process with aluminum wallhangers, then soft stainless wallhangers, and just a few years ago with *real* steel - the hardenable, high carbon stuff. Most of what I learned about how to ACTUALLY make a GOOD knife came from lurking on this forum. There are countless resources stored here if you would rather learn on your own, but taking a class or apprenticing will be just as beneficial. Both roads can get you where you want to go, so it's up to you which route to take.
 
My wife bouhgt my first custom knife. Started the 25 year addiction. Steal use the same knife to process animals
 
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