It's a good day (to make knives for my JS test) Professional photos added

Brother from another mother, maybe? :D

Yeah, something like that, like maybe you met a nurse, that nursed you back to health after you got blowed up in Vietnam. She and you could be my Mom and Dad, and we found each other after years and years of not even knowing about each other.
 
Great thread. Good luck with the judging.

In reading trough the thrwad, and looking at all the effort you put in, in my mind I was thinking you would pass a master smith test. It was not till you said JS test again at the end, I went back looking for daggers!
 
I like them all Mark and doubt you will have an problems impressing anyone with them, fit and finish look very good, would love to be able to handle them in person.
Rob
 
Mark

Those look excellent to me :thumbup::thumbup:

Good luck....not that I think you will need it.

Bill Flynn
 
Well, I'm a little late to the party, but don't want to miss my chance to congratulate you on work well done and say thanks for another informative and enjoyable thread. The knives all look great, and with 3 in reserve you should be set for all contingencies. Good luck anyhow. I really like the "Alaska theme", by the way.

My daughter loves her new ulu and the Steller sea cow connection to home. She's quite the chef and I guarantee it'll get a lot of use. She just popped out my first grandchild, a girl, after weeding in the garden only 2 days earlier. I hope her kid grows up as tough as she is.

Amazingly early spring this year. Hope you were able to try out a winter's batch of flies when the ice went out. Enjoy the Show!
 
Well, I'm a little late to the party, but don't want to miss my chance to congratulate you on work well done and say thanks for another informative and enjoyable thread. The knives all look great, and with 3 in reserve you should be set for all contingencies. Good luck anyhow. I really like the "Alaska theme", by the way.

My daughter loves her new ulu and the Steller sea cow connection to home. She's quite the chef and I guarantee it'll get a lot of use. She just popped out my first grandchild, a girl, after weeding in the garden only 2 days earlier. I hope her kid grows up as tough as she is.

Amazingly early spring this year. Hope you were able to try out a winter's batch of flies when the ice went out. Enjoy the Show!

Thanks Bob, sounds like things are going good for you.

I have been working the flies some but the conditions have not been good, murky water and wind. So far just conventional fishing.

I leave for a week of fly fishing the salt for halibut, ling and rockfish in Sitka next week. That's always a good time.

Let me know if you will be coming up sometime, we can go fishing.
 
Hi Mark I am not a knife maker but I have been watching this thread since you started it. I just love the work you are showing and would be PROUD to be a owner of any of them . GOOD LUCK Terry KT
 
I am pleased to say that the judges at the JS test were kind to me. I passed with a unanimous vote, all seven judges checked the "passed" box for me.

Thanks to all the people that guided me along the way. These people include but are certainly not limited to; the instructors at my ABS bladesmithing class, Jim Crowell, J.R. Cook and Tim Potier, the masters who helped me most recently while I prepared for the test Bill Burke and Steve Culver and the countless others on Blade Forums and here at home who's guidance and moral support is much appreciated not the least of which is my buddy Bob Hook.

I will post pictures when I have them, stay tuned.
 
It has been very exciting watching you work towards and pass your JS test. Job well done.
 
I was waiting with fingers crossed to hear the results of your testing. Congratulations Mark:thumbup:

Darcy:)
 
Congratulations Mark.

If I may ask- How did the handle materials hold up in Atlanta? Did they act the way you expected?

"You never know what the humidity and temperature will do to these handle materials when they get to Atlanta?

Thanks for sharing this stage of the journey it was great to watch and Congratulations on your success.
 
Congrats Mark!

So nice meeting you and your charming wife!

I stopped by your table while you were elsewhere, very nice test knives for sure!

Steve
--------------
Member, W.F. Moran Foundation
ABS AP
 
Congratulations Mark.

If I may ask- How did the handle materials hold up in Atlanta? Did they act the way you expected?

"You never know what the humidity and temperature will do to these handle materials when they get to Atlanta?

Thanks for sharing this stage of the journey it was great to watch and Congratulations on your success.

I used all pin-less, hidden tang designs, and I proud-fit the fittings to limit any problems with shrinkage. I had one stellar sea cow bone handle shrink and pulled the guard away from the ricasso. It was noted by one of my judges but he didn't fail me for it (Adam DesRosiers). I had some hairline cracks in the mammoth ivory open up later in the week end. These cracks closed right back up as soon as I got home.

The judges were all fair and professional. A couple of them commented on some things to work on and some of the comments were positive.
 
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