I think it's time : Another "who the heck are ya post.

My name is Ken Volle and live in Milford OH. I started making knives when I was 17 and I am 39 now. I make combat style knives and japanese style knives and swords more than anything else but do make a few other pieces every now and then. I use 1095, 1084, 5160, O1, and W1 and 2 if I can get my hands on it.
My hobbies are teaching Karate and Iaido, Shooting and of course making blades. I am an electrical contractor and work for a company in Kentucky. I was in the Marine Corps and I am still a Marine although not as lean but still as mean. Semper Fi.
 
My name is Kyle Royer, I am seventeen years old and I live in southern MO. The way I got into bladesmithing is, my Mom told me that I should make a knife for a 4 H project when I was 13, so I went to the library and got a book on how to make knives and learned how to heat-treat a blade, pin handles etc… So I made my first fixed blade, I made the blade out of an old file and the ferrule out of a small piece of mild steel, the handle I made out of an old piece of deer antler that I found on our property, I epoxied it all together with J B weld, pinned it with a brass pin, and I had my first fixed blade knife. After that I made a couple knives a year and learned how to make Cable Damascus, for my handles I used stag (deer antler). In March of 2007 I went to the W.F Moran School of Bladesmithing in Old Washington, Arkansas where I took a two week class on Intro to Bladesmithing under ABS Mastersmiths Bert Gaston and Greg Neely where I learned how to make a blade that would pass a Journeyman smith performance test, after that I took a class on Handles and Guards under ABS Mastersmith Jim Walker where I learned how to make handles out of stag, exotic woods and many other interesting materials and I also learned how to make beautiful guards and ferrules and how to do some filework. Just after that I learned how to make leather sheaths. My favorite handle materials are Desert Ironwood Mammoth Ivory and African Blackwood. My favorite steels are 1084 and 15N20 for my Damascus, and for my plane carbon blades I like 5160. I make all of my own Damascus with a forge and a sixty ton hydraulic press that my Dad and I made, and I forge my blades to shape by hand on my 400 pound anvil that my Dad and I made. I only use carbon steels.

I am currently working toward taking my Journyman smith test and then my Mastersmith test.
 
Hello,my name is Drew Boyer, i just signed up a little while ago, i started making knives when i was 9 or 10. my dad would rough out the patterns out some junk steel with a torch and he would let me grind them to shape with his angle grinder. he helped me with the handles. i made my first knife by myself when i was 13 out a peice of junk stainless my uncle had given me (at that time i didn't know to much about heat treatable materials or heat treating for that matter). it was also my first full tang knife which what most the knives i made so far are. then i got The Book, How to make Knives by loveless and moran. After that made a knife out of 440c and one out of 0-1 using a hack saw and my moms 1x42 belt sander and i got lucky because the local heat treater would do all knives for me for free pretty much, and my moms homemade black berry jam didn't hurt either.

The more i learned, my choices in steel changed to D-2 and me and my dad built a pretty decent grinder out junk he saved from the oilflield. My knives got better, i got a subscription to blade, started reading ed fowlers knife talk alot and wayne goddard's $50 bladeshop articles and really got intrested into forging. Built propane forge and the foot powered hammer and hammered out some knives. My anvil was just railroad anvil which worked ok. I tried forging some ball bearings but that wasn't happening, but i still wanted to try some 52100 and admiral steel has in .750 diameter. so i made a few out of that and i still have some left. when ever i get my new anvil i think i'll crank up the old forge and hammer away.
 
My name is Stefan Lockton,
I am married, I have a son and a daughter (born while I was deployed). I don't get much time to spend with the family or do anything else since I am usualy on mission somewhere (nature of the beast these days).
I am currently Active Army Infantry. I enlisted in the Army in 1992 in the reserves which allowed me to continue school and was commissioned in 1998 sending me into the Infantry and active duty. I deployed with 1-61 Cavalry Squadron in 05 to Baghdad (I was on a MiTT for an Iraqi Army BN, great job). After that I pcs'd (changed stations) and am now the S3 for a training/OC BN.
I was always into firearms, knives, motorcycles.
I ride both street and dirt bikes as well as road race motorcycles (when I get the chance for WERA and any other organization close by). My current street bike is my baby which is a 2005 Aprilia Factory, my race bike is a 2000 SV 650 and my dirt bike is a 2002 KTM 400SX.

For firearms I have a decent collection, a couple of Wessons, some AR's, a couple of bolt guns, a couple of shotguns, some .45's and a .50 cal BMG rifle.

For knives I have some pocket knives (Bundeswer, Swiss, Benchmade, Spyderco, Gerber), a TOPs Firehawk, Cold Steel Kuhkri, a old Solingen Bowie that was given to me as a gift (it is a very special gift since it had belonged to an Iraqi LT who was working with me when he had been shot and killed in an engagement that my team was also involved in), among a couple of others.

I really enjoy knives, I mostly enjoy big bowies and recurves. Maybe I'm compensating for something:eek::D:D. Seriously though, I was always a "Bigger is Better" type person. I made a knife while drinking a lot of Dos XX's while I was stationed at Fort Benning which looks soooooooo crude. So far I have forged three knives (two were railroad spikes and one that I'm really working on is W2). I love the fire and the work (hammering) to make something like a knife. My problem is I lack patience, knowledge and skill to make a phenominal blade (trying to learn).

Another reason why I'm trying to make knives (besides enjoying it) is that I really can't afford all the wonderfull pieces people here are making!!! I am always astonished by peoples works!!!!! If I could only have a quarter of the tallent that I see on this board!
 
Well, I'm still new to these forums so nobody knows me. My name is Byron , age 17. not really sure what gave me the urge to become a knifemaker.

I still haven't made my first knife, but working on it, actually working on two of them. My first knife going to be a clip point full-tang styled knife made from lawnmower blade steel with red linen micarta handles. I'm also working on a full-tang swage point knife made from lawnmower blade steel as well with black linen micarta handles and I'm going to try to make brass bolsters for it. The goldist tint of the brass goes well with the black micarta in my opinion. I already have both knives fully file worked, the clip point with full round wave pattern and swage point with full triangular wave pattern.

After I get good at the basics, I'll then start to develop skill at leatherwork,embellishment, etc.
 
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Let me introduce my self. My name is James Hartman and i live in Colorado Springs Co. I have liked knives all my life and would like to try to make some
as a hobby. This sight is great and i love the picks from all the good knife makers out there and i am just starting.
God Bless all James
 
hello my name is Lane Galloway and live in northeast mississippi,my first passion is the ministry and have been preaching about 9years now,by trade an electrican,but from a boy loved knives,and since 3 years ago after going to mt.view ar.i met Mr.Jack Thomas he help me to start making a few knives,then found out that in my area they are other makers,and would also like to thank
 
hello my name is Lane Galloway and live in northeast mississippi,my first passion is the ministry and have been preaching about 9years now,by trade an electrican,but from a boy loved knives,and since 3 years ago after going to mt.view ar.i met Mr.Jack Thomas he help me to start making a few knives,then found out that in my area they are other makers,and would also like to thank Mr.Don Hall and Chad Nicholes for all there help and support,i really enjoy this website its been a big help,thanks to all who post this imformation. GOD BLESS Lane
 
hi my name is Jose Torres i live in new jersey i had just attended Mace Vitale 4th bladesmithing class 2 days and i got to forge 2 blades i loved every minute of it mace is such a good teacher i cant wait for his next weekend class.
 
Hey Guys! I am Darren Swerid, 28 years old and a engineering student. I move back and forth from Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan (the the town is literally on the border) and Calgary, Alberta. I have a couple fixed blades ground out and waiting for HT. Once I get done school for the year, write my last final today, and move back home for the summer I will be setting up my grinder.

Hopefully I will be able to fire out a couple more blanks and send them out to HT with the other two blades before the snow hits the ground this winter. I don't have space during the winter to do any grinding so I plan to use those months to finish them off.
 
Hey! I'm Harry Stone. I'm a 39 year old aspiring maker just getting started. I've been interested in knives since I was little. Knifemakers were my rock stars when I was a kid. I would pour over the "Knives 19XX" books every year and see the work from some of my favorite makers like Bill Moran, Joe Kious, Jimmy Lile and Jot Singh Khalsa. I have dreamed of making my own ever since.

So, I've finally decided to get off my can and start working towards making my own. Today some of my favorite makers are Daniel Winkler, Gene Ingram and Ray Laconico. So far my style as far as designs is all over the map but I hope to refine it a bit this year. Lately I find myself gravitating towards restyling traditional patterns with modern materials. I've always loved Bill Scagel's knives and I hope to do my own take on his style someday, hopefully without desecrating his legacy with my crappy workmanship. :D

I'm starting with only hand tools. I hope to buy a Coote later this year and stick with stock removal for a few years at least. Some time after that I want to start forging.
 
Hello all. My name is Dwayne Gibbs. I am a hobbiest knife maker. I first became interested in knives way back when. I have made a few so far. they are ugly. Hey its all a learning process right.
I am married I have 4 kids. 2 boys and 2 girls. If I had had the boys first. I would only have 2 children! I live in New Jersey. I work full time as a desk jocky at a warehouse.
My first knife was made out of a file and with a grinder. I have moved up to a badder belt grinder. Shoulda stayed with the 4 in angle grinder. I have a HF Buffer. i tried to buff a knife once. HELLO. :eek: Snatched the thing across the room. I payed attention to the post about mounting it backwards. Good info. Sorry this is long. Have a good day. DSG
 
Hey, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Larry Cooper and live in Morgantown, WV. I've always enjoyed rolling my own stuff and would rather make something then buy it. I'm married with twin girls in college now. Twenty seven years ago I bought a book about making knifes and another on making recurve bows. But building my house,working two jobs most of the time, raising a family never left much time or money. Finally I'm at a point in my life I can finally enjoy my hobbies more. I've been making my own takedown recurve bows for about 10 years and just last year decided it was time to make some knives. I honestly thought I'd just make one or two and quit. But I guess you folks know what happened. I'm totally addicted to this new hobby and have been lurking here for awhile sucking up all the knowledge that gets posted here. I've learned a ton with just reading, can't thank you folks enough for the knowledge you give freely here. Can only imagine the learning curve on making knives without the internet, places like this and people like those that post here! Thanks.
 
Howdy All,
My name is Patrick Williams. I’m a married father of three. I’m employed in public safety here in Oregon.

My dad’s been a knife maker for years but I recently took up the hobby as well. I’ve sold two of the three knives I’ve made so far (price something low enough and somebody will buy it :) ). I’m only doing fixed blades for now until I get grinding down.

I’m very fortunate to have a supportive wife and family. Heck, my mother in law is a black belt and wants me to make her some sharp stuff. Having a dad who’s been a maker for many a year is nice because I’m always bugging him with inane questions.

Take care,
Patrick
 
Steven Penner
Kitchener area, Ontario, Canada

I am a 37 year old, formerly microbiology laboratory technologist, now in school retraining in accounting which takes up a lot of my time and energy.

I have to say I really like the bladeforums site. I’ve lurked for years before registering and find it to be a great resource. I have great respect and appreciation for those who spend serious time and effort to share their knowledge and further the craft. This is especially true for those veterans who answer the same old questions again and again with the same sincerity and seriousness.

When I can, I try to chime in with what I know. My personal tendency is toward facts and information, so I like to do my research when posting and include some links– this always takes longer and means my posts are few and far between. As you may have guessed, I like the established procedures and a methodical approach to design and technical performance.
Traditions are good but should not replace thinking.

I’ve carried a folder since I was 14. There were never any problems about having a knife in school. In fact now that I am in college again I'm happy to note that the school's weapons policy has a small folder exception.

My favourite style is the dagger shape. There is no logical reason; I like the pretty symmetrical shape. My favourite style is the gents/tactical folder. It’s handy and useful. My EDC is the Dozier-Ka-bar Thorn. It was a rare impulse purchase that I bought within seconds of laying eyes on it at the AG Russell site. It’s light, fast, and the D2 cuts well. With spurts of the Boguszewski-Benchmade Spike thrown in and of course a SAK for good measure, it’s been my primary carry for 7 years now. (And yes I have a spare-of each one)

Am I a collector? Well the title of collector implies a purposeful direction. Accumulator is more like it. I have far too many and still want for more. Most of what I have is factory with a very few user level customs thrown in.
Highlights of my accumulation include a Fairbairn-Sykes pattern 2, and pattern 3, with a Pattern 1 deeply coveted.

Over the years I have developed the response to the inevitable question “How many knives DO you have”?
“They are all different, but I’ve never counted them, how many shoes do you have”?
It’s a good analogy that works on women. Few men ever ask the question with the same undertone.

Why knifemaking? Three reasons:
It’s in the family.
I can’t afford the knives that I really want.
Somewhere along the line I said “I can do that”.

My grandfather made knives and I’m lucky to have a few of them. As a farmer/logger/outdoorsman, he has a smithy, bucksaw blades, and the need for sharp knives. They look crude by today’s custom standards, but will still out-cut any commercial kitchen cutlery I can buy today.

Although I have been trained and work in Laboratory science and now accounting, my formative experiences are in the technical trades. With my father being a licensed auto mechanic, industrial maintenance millwright and forklift mechanic, I have had a lot of exposure to a well equipped home shop and the make it yourself & make it better philosophy.

I’m awed and a little shamed by the photos that some members post here. As I have more time and I complete more projects, I hope to post some photos.

Thanks for letting me be part of your forum.

Steve
 
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Welcome guys! Its good to start off right I think. I appreciate the real names the most. I know it seems like something bad can happen and maybe it will but I still think a serious knifemaker would want to use his name here. It can only be good for accountability, business and We are family afterall.
 
hello my name is mark sAMSEL,currently im living in athens georgia.i was born in connecticut then spent 5 years in germany, 1 year as a army soldier, the next 4 as a ups driver.i have 1-- 2.5 year old wonderful son and a beautiful wife. my initial interest in knives was my boyscout feild knife.As i had no father fiquere growing up i didnt get to learn much of tools/mechanics etc...i always wanted to make knives but was to concerned with my total lack of mechanical principal. since now i am a dad i want to teach my son to follow his passion and introduce him to my passion and my learning exp.--not to be scared to ask questions and pursue your dreams. when i am holding a knife or planning on the things i will be attempting i enter a dream land- i cant explain in words.when people say follow your passion-at 39 years old i finally said yes. to me it is art, to me it is meditation, to me it is liberation. oh ya and i have a tendency to go off on tangents.....thanks yall
 
I'm Simon, just turned 17 years old. i like to come through here from time to time to pick up on tips and tricks, but mostly hang out in the wilderness and survival subforum.

i started making knives for real about 4 or 5 months ago, but have been modding and making knives from scrap steel for the last year and a half or so. i am slowly building up a larger pile of tools, but i am still working with a pretty basic shop. i do stock removal from bar stock, i tried making a forge a while ago but without some proper tools i had a tough time of it, so i decided to wait on that until i can do it right.

outside of knifemaking, i like to use knives really hard and i love to be out in the woods in general; hiking, camping, canoing, etc.

so far, i am really enjoying making knives and i am really happy with how my work has gotten better since i started. its been great hanging out here and learning from all of the more experienced members.
 
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