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

Hi I'm Trevor, and I'm a 20 year old college student going to Industrial Design. For those of you that don't know what that is, IDers design almost everything from cars to furniture, lighting, knives... the list goes on and on. Anyways, I've worked in a shop and loves tool since I was old enough to use them. My progression into hot metals came pretty naturally I think, creating objects is something that I love. My dream after graduation, is to open up a fabrication studio that builds prototypes and pretty much anything you could ask for. I want to bring manufacturing back to the US, and teach some of the lost skills to our society so we don't loose them.
 
I'm Robert Hensarling, live in Uvalde, Texas. Man I've really enjoyed reading about all you guys! I've been married to Carrie for 27 years, and I'm just about to 59. No kids, a few cats and dogs. Like everyone else here, I like knives, and anything to do about them. I started in 1988 making railroad spike letter openers for my small shop. I make my own Damascus now, and also like 159 CMP. I've learned much of what I know from this forum. Also for the past 27 years I've cut down mesquite trees, changed them into lumber on my sawfill, then dried and edged them. From there I've made all kinds of furniture but mostly rocking chairs (Robert Hensarling Rockers = Rhrocker). If you like you can see some of my stuff at www.mesquiterocker.com. I can't say enough about the good friends I have on this forum.
Also, USMC. Came onboard at MCRD in San Diego, July of 70. Honorable discharge in 76. I loved every second of being in the Corps! Semper Fi!
 
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:D I'm a retired Postal worker who has a lot of knives and some guns too... :D

I have collected stone since I was a teenager and now I get to do what I want to do so I do stonework knife scales to pass my days.

I now actually look forward to getting up and "going to work" each and every day now....

Mike Hoover
Fox Island
Puget Sound (Washington)

The Redrummd is a game handle from way back in the 1990's when I played "Quake" online as part of a group called the Kavorkian clan. Then came the rum "Redrum" and of course "The Shining", and so Redrummd just became my online name and seemed appropriate for the stonework I do with knives. Nothing sinister just a bit of fun. I actually got "hate mail" from a group of people who actually thought I was Doctor Kavorkien! I actually spent a lot of time explaining it was all just a play on words INCLUDING the intentional misspelling of Kavorkian for our game play team.......... Now those people were weird.....
 
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rhrocker said:
I'm Robert Hensarling, live in Uvalde, Texas. Man I've really enjoyed reading about all you guys! I've been married to Carrie for 27 years, and I'm just about to 59. No kids, a few cats and dogs. Like everyone else here, I like knives, and anything to do about them. I started in 1988 making railroad spike letter openers for my small shop. I make my own Damascus now, and also like 159 CMP. I've learned much of what I know from this forum. Also for the past 27 years I've cut down mesquite trees, changed them into lumber on my sawfill, then dried and edged them. From there I've made all kinds of furniture but mostly rocking chairs (Robert Hensarling Rockers = Rhrocker). If you like you can see some of my stuff at www.mesquiterocker.com. I can't say enough about the good friends I have on this forum.
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You forgot to say that you are a junk collector too. HEHEHEHEHE
 
Ha Ha! IG is right! A few years ago I decided that I wanted one of those antique "Hit and Miss" engines, made around the turn of the 19th century. Well, I ended up with about 160 differient old engines. I would fix them up, go to old engine shows, swap, sell, buy. Anyway, I've just about sold all of those crazy things, but they were a blast. At least I think that's what IG is refering to. Then again, it might be the 100 Pounds of antique anchor chain he sold to me a few years ago. I was going to make all of my knife furniture out of it, but the chain is just to neat looking, so I haven't cut a link out yet.
But I will, someday! He also traded me a Indian Motorcycle primary, and after seeing B-Bumps tutorial on using motorcycle chain to make a knife, I'm planning on giving that a try.............in a few years:D IG, what year is my chain? Is it off a Indian?
 
rhrocker said:
Ha Ha! IG is right! A few years ago I decided that I wanted one of those antique "Hit and Miss" engines, made around the turn of the 19th century. Well, I ended up with about 160 differient old engines. I would fix them up, go to old engine shows, swap, sell, buy. Anyway, I've just about sold all of those crazy things, but they were a blast. At least I think that's what IG is refering to. Then again, it might be the 100 Pounds of antique anchor chain he sold to me a few years ago. I was going to make all of my knife furniture out of it, but the chain is just to neat looking, so I haven't cut a link out yet.
But I will, someday! He also traded me a Indian Motorcycle primary, and after seeing B-Bumps tutorial on using motorcycle chain to make a knife, I'm planning on giving that a try.............in a few years:D IG, what year is my chain? Is it off a Indian?
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The chain I traded you was off a late 30's HD that my Buddy was restoring. The anchor chain that was the one that the found under Plymouth Rock when they moved it. HEHEHEHEHEHE!!!! How about the airplane???? You junk collector you.:D:D
 
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Under Plymouth Rock eh? Airplanes, I've had 7 or 8 of them. Several were planes I built myself. I've sold all of that and now I'm making a helicopter from a kit (lifesized). Probably a 4 year project. Say IG, I don't have a test pilot yet! I'll pay your way, one way, cause that's all you'll need.
 
Hi, I'm Mike Robertson and Iv'e been putting together knives with blade blanks from Bob Engnath and Randel blades since 1969. I live just south east of Indianapolis off I74.
I deceided I wanted to do the whole thing. Iv'e been forging for about three months now, long enough to become addicted. I would like to meet other Indiana knifemakers and attend a hammer in in Indiana. If there isn't one, Let's get one going. I have really apprieciated all the good info and generosity on this forum.
 
Robert Hensarling

Which chopper kit?

I've got a real yearning for a bell 47 / babybelle-safariland kit myself...not sure if I will live long enough to do that or not....
 
Oh man Steven the Bell/babybelle is a fantastic kit. I don't have quite that budget, so I went with a "Mosquito Air" http://www.innovator.mosquito.net.nz/mbbs2/index.asp
They're kits are selling like hotcakes. New innovative swash plate system. They sell a basic kit, like the one I bought, and a really neat fancy kit, the XL. You have to license that one, whereas the "air" is a legal UL. I know all the ranchers in this area, and will use mine to locate the bigger Mesquite trees, mark them with a push of the GPS, and go to them later on for a closer look by vehicle. It would be good for shooting feral hogs also, except it takes all of the hands, feet, head, toes, fingers, and other things that can move, just to fly a heli. I h ave a good friend that has a Robinson 22, he's training me in it so that the learning curve (curse) won't be as bad. I had my private ticket since 1967, and now have my Commercial, Instrument instructor. Problem is, some problems I've developed health wise, so I quite the big stuff. If you go for the Baby Bell, send me some pictures of you building it. I'd love to have one of those!!
Knife content: I'll use the heli to find the mesquites that I'll saw up into lumber for the handles on my knives. :o)
BTW, the Mosquite kits are built in Canada. You should look them up!
 
Hi, my name is Joe Hoover,I'm 49 years old. My occupation is Law enforcement, I've been married to very patient, beautiful woman for 21 years, and have one child, a boy 10 years old named Wiley. Being born, raised, and living on a farm in Northern NC (Piedmont) I have hunted and roamed the woods all my life. As a kid I would whittle knives from wood, now I grind them from steel. I'm learning as I go, having made most of my equipment myself I find making knives to be an enjoyable, stress relieving hobby.
 
Hullo, My name is Matt Martin, I'm 26, Husband to Jenna and father of 20 month old Dionicia. We live in North-Eastern AZ I, currently, am trying to start a camping/military surplus store up here; which mostly means I sit on the highway on the weekends and peddle goods that I get here and there. I used to manage a martial arts supply store in the valley and found MA to be the heartbeat to my life esp. edged weaponry. Knife combat has since been my focus of study, all my kicks and punches, however, they call Hwarang Do. I started making ninja weapons as a kid, which progressively grew into poor facsimilies of knives, which is now growing into so-so knives, it's progress 'eh? The walls of my shop are littered w/ 1:1 sketches of knive waiting to be freed from barstock. And I have a great appreciation for all the free flowing knowledge on this site.
Audaces Fortuna Iuvat
Fortune favors the bold
 
Hi, konichiwa,
I'm FUJITA yuji, identical to my user name.
I live in Kyoto Japan. Made some knives about 14 or 15 years ago
when I was a student. Both by grinding and Japanese traditional
forging learned from a swordsmith.
I'm still using some of them I made at that time.

Works posted here in BF is so amazing!
Especially, awesome hamon, I'm deeply impressed with them.
Not many blades with such beautiful hamon are seen in
even most privileged shops in Japan.
 
My name is Daniel Frazee. I am a physical therapist by day and a "crazy" knifemaker during other times. I make stuff because I like to. It is a great creative outlet and relieves stress. I make knives using forging (only beginning) and stock removal, as well as ti chopsticks, rings and other stuff. I am married to my wife Jeanice for 12 years now and we have two boys ages 5 and 7. They really keep us on our toes! We also have a dog, two cats, two big fish tanks and a garden to keep up with. I know a couple of guys from the forums here, Bfinigan, bill seigle and a couple others. I am going to try and post a few of my knives for sale in the next couple of days. Dan
 
Hello everyone! I am Barbara Fischer. I grew up in Sunset Beach, Hawaii but now live in Orem, Utah. Eventually I will return to my homeland, but for now I am enjoying the mountains and everything included. I am 26 years old and love anything that involves being outside including, but not limited to, camping, hiking, swimming, snowboarding, biking, longbording, exercising, boating, 4-wheeling, sports, surfing, and more that I can't think of at the moment. The ocean is my first love and always will be (sorry Jarod).:cool:

I am not officially a knife maker because I haven't made any knives yet. My boyfriend, however, is a knife maker (Jarod Todd aka jtkives) and wants me to try it out and see how i like it. Being the type of person that will try almost anything once (especially for him) I said that I would give it a go and see what it is all about:). Part of trying it out included joining the forum, so here I am. I am just waiting for him to finish building his new forge and setting up his shop. I am really getting anxious and excited to do it! I have really enjoyed seeing all the work that you guys do and hope to learn a lot. Keep those imfomitive threads coming!:)
 
bladsmth said:
For those who don't already know me, I'm Stacy Apelt, just shy of 58. An avid kilt wearing Scotsman, Stacy Elliott Apelt, FSA,Scot
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I am a collector, not a maker, but I couldn't resist responding to the scotsman remark...we scotch need to stick together
 
Hi, all. My name is Rick DuBois. I'm 43 and I live in rural N.E. Oklahoma with my wife and daughter. I do GIS mapping for a sub-state planning district. I'm an avid hunter and shooter, and do a little light gunsmithing (hobby only).

A little less than a year ago, I ordered a knife kit from Knifekits.com to see what it was like. It went well enough that I've been hooked ever since, but have only been putting handles on factory blades thus far. I'm now completing my first stock removal blade as part of an 8 week class at the local vo-tech, and I have a new respect for you guys. Freehand hollow grinding ain't easy! My class project knife isn't coming out too bad, though, and I hope to be able to afford a proper grinder soon.

I've learned tons from these forums, and hope to someday be able to reciprocate by helping out other newbies. Thanks to all who share their wisdom so generously.:D
 
Hi, I'm maybe the most "far-flung" member of the forum (Mitch Wilkins used to call me like that). Emre Kipmen my name, 35 years old. Officially I'm an archaeologist but I'm now working as a part-time & home office IT manager.
I had blacksmithing techniques lectures and fieldworks at archeology Faculty. Also I've been in excavations finding some blacksmith molds and tools from Bronze and Iron age civilizations. After University I had to use my programming and IT knowledge because that was much profitable but city life and stress was not for me, returned to my family orange garden couple of years later. Gone to military obligatory service, there I saw the hunger for quality cutlery, afterall I had a brief info about metalworking history and techniques. Returning as a IT manager to a firm, also started to build a blacksmithing shop. Experimented and built some tools, knives for friends and family. Nowadays I've managed to convert my previous full time work to parttime. So I'm a parttime knife maker also thanks to this great forum. I had huge support, even had some supply give away from generous members when I was furious because no available material around. That really kept me going. Now I have 2 shops one for forging one for stock removal. I like to combine both techniques and cover my weaknesses in one with other (sorry its too hard for me to define my self in English). Mainly I use D2. Forged only one little damascus billet.

Now I live in a bungalow by myself, parents are my neighbors, have 2 cats and hundreds of orange-tangerine trees around.

Hopefully I'll gather enough experience to give something to this most dear forum. Great to know you guys...
 
Hi all, My name is Floyd Marquez. I am currently 19 yrs old and living in Santa Fe, NM. I will be shipping out to basic training for the Navy now in January. I am going to start making my own knives hopefully real soon here. I already have my forge body made and just bought my kaowool and fire bricks today. Hopefully this friday I'll be able to buy my coating for the inside of it. I am using an old rail road track that i am getting from Christopher Tomson of Chris Tomson Ironworks. I want to make more primitive knives that focus on the skill of the forging and filing rather than technology of machines. I plan on using no electricity at all during the blade making process and after i get more familiar with the forging process i would like to make a switch to using natural charcoal or coal to truly take me back to the viking age. I also plan on making some traditional Viking Bearded axes.
 
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