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- Jan 8, 2002
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I wanted to learn from how to make knives from him. He lives pretty close and I have heard some good things from people I respect. Anyone have input on the subject?
Zach
Zach
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J.P. Moss?
- Thread starter Zach Chalmers
- Start date
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- Nov 25, 2000
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- 5,548
I have known him for many years. I have not taken his course, but I know some who have. You will come away from his class with a solid foundation in the proper ways to make a knife. J.P. is a no BS guy, he tells it like it is. He will not skimp with his time teaching you.
The class lasts about a week, the accomadations are furnished by him (guest house), the meals are also furnished, but I think his wife Cindy does those.
They are both great people, and I think you would enjoy the course.
If you have any specific questions, write me and I will answer them.
The class lasts about a week, the accomadations are furnished by him (guest house), the meals are also furnished, but I think his wife Cindy does those.
They are both great people, and I think you would enjoy the course.
If you have any specific questions, write me and I will answer them.
Let me start this response by stating J.P. Moss is a SUPERB knifemaker and is one of the nicest folks you will ever have the pleasure of knowing and doing business with. I also want to say that when I saw this post it brought a twinge of guilt to me. I'll explain later.
My first experience with J.P. was several years ago when I saw a tiny ad in a knife mag advertising his "Unforgiven Bowie". He was selling 50 models of a knife he had made up for a Clint Eastwood movie entitled, "The Unforgiven". I loved the photo in the ad of the bowie and I called him. I found out he was an ex-Marine like I was and a bond was started. We talked into the night many times and I finally ordered one of the bowies, eventually receiving #32 of #50.
Through our conversations, I found out how he had met Clint and talked his way into making some knives for the movie. A deal was struck and Clint hired him to make some prop and real knives for the movie. J.P.'s knife is in a very short scene where a prostitute is knifed but you can see the knife clearly for about a second. The movie went on to win ALL the major academy awards and I really liked that Clint gave J.P. a mention in the closing credits that the knives in the movie were made by him.
J.P. and I had a few more conversations in the ensuing months but as life is, we went our seperate ways. J.P. called me a couple of times to tell me his health wasn't the greatest and my "twinge of guilt" is that I responded kindly but never spent more time keeping in touch. I DID read in several publications later on that he had started his knifemaking classes and read where his former students had nothing but praise for his teaching and "down home" hospitality from he and his wife.
In closing, J.P.'s as good as they come and you WILL learn how to make a knife from a MASTER!
My first experience with J.P. was several years ago when I saw a tiny ad in a knife mag advertising his "Unforgiven Bowie". He was selling 50 models of a knife he had made up for a Clint Eastwood movie entitled, "The Unforgiven". I loved the photo in the ad of the bowie and I called him. I found out he was an ex-Marine like I was and a bond was started. We talked into the night many times and I finally ordered one of the bowies, eventually receiving #32 of #50.
Through our conversations, I found out how he had met Clint and talked his way into making some knives for the movie. A deal was struck and Clint hired him to make some prop and real knives for the movie. J.P.'s knife is in a very short scene where a prostitute is knifed but you can see the knife clearly for about a second. The movie went on to win ALL the major academy awards and I really liked that Clint gave J.P. a mention in the closing credits that the knives in the movie were made by him.
J.P. and I had a few more conversations in the ensuing months but as life is, we went our seperate ways. J.P. called me a couple of times to tell me his health wasn't the greatest and my "twinge of guilt" is that I responded kindly but never spent more time keeping in touch. I DID read in several publications later on that he had started his knifemaking classes and read where his former students had nothing but praise for his teaching and "down home" hospitality from he and his wife.
In closing, J.P.'s as good as they come and you WILL learn how to make a knife from a MASTER!
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- Dec 3, 1999
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- 9,437
I can first hand recommend you take his class. I took his lock-back folder class a couple years ago and it really opened my eyes to the intricacies of fit and finish.
There is a small house that JP bought and had moved back behind his place. That's where you will stay. They will feed you lunch and dinner in their home.
They are great folks and I had a great time...I learned a LOT when I was there...I'm sure you would too.
Nick
There is a small house that JP bought and had moved back behind his place. That's where you will stay. They will feed you lunch and dinner in their home.
They are great folks and I had a great time...I learned a LOT when I was there...I'm sure you would too.
Nick
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2002
- Messages
- 328
Thank you for all the information.
Zach
Zach
J.p. Moss has become a friend of mine over the years. We meet through a trade of a gun for a knife. I made out on that one.but i think j.p.wanted it that way.he is that type of man., they dont come any better than j.p. And his wife cindy. Great people. A treasured friendship i will always truely cherish and honor..p.s. My knife is the "beaupre bowie" made from a ferriers rasp..t.y. The bopester.
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2006
- Messages
- 15,020
J.P. is a great guy and I have a few of his knives an UNforgiven bowie and a few more. I used to talk with him all the time and he was a fantastic guy. Would love to talk to him again if anybody has his number I would like it.. I would also like to see some of his work pictured here so if anybody has any please post it up. Thanks
Hi.i have a bowie that he made for me and it may well be his last. If i can get a pic to come up on this darn sight!! I will post it. It is called the "beaupre bowie".. And i do cherish it, t.y. Bope..p.s. I cant get a pic to come up. I dont know how to do an ///url
I would echo the exact sentiments I have seen here. JP is a great guy and one of the little known "Ultimate" knifemakers out there. Unfortunately, last time I talked to him, he admantly insisted that he was retired and not interested in making anymore knives. I begged him to make just one more little..teensie, weensie dagger and he said "No".
I have 7 of his knives...Brazos Bowie, Unforgiven Bowie, Custom Ivory handled Fighting Bowie, Bukeye Folder, Custom micarta combat knife (made for when I was in the Border Patrol) and 2 stag hunters. Every one an example of nearly flawless craftsmanship. The 2 stag hunters he gave to me for nothing because I had to wait a bit longer for the bowies than he thought I would have to.
I have seen examples of practically every knife maker there is or was, fom knife shows on both coasts and place in between..Moran, loveless, Dean, DE Henry, Fitch and many others. I can say without hesitation that JP Moss makes a blade that is truer and flatter than ANY of the others. you will not find a wave or a dip on his blades. He built them to the micrometer in tolerences. No less than Harvey Dean asked him how in the hell he got his blades so flat and even.
he is one of the few makers that fit his guards by making the hole in the guard where the tang goes in, smaller than the tang and then using a 10 lb hammer to pound the guard on..you will never find a hint of a gap between the blade and guard and he'd rather break the knife than consider using silver solder on it. you will never break the guard off his knife..EVER!!!
I enjoyed being on a waiting list for one of his knives, there are none better, nor is there a nicer and genuine man than JP Moss.
Bpman
I have 7 of his knives...Brazos Bowie, Unforgiven Bowie, Custom Ivory handled Fighting Bowie, Bukeye Folder, Custom micarta combat knife (made for when I was in the Border Patrol) and 2 stag hunters. Every one an example of nearly flawless craftsmanship. The 2 stag hunters he gave to me for nothing because I had to wait a bit longer for the bowies than he thought I would have to.
I have seen examples of practically every knife maker there is or was, fom knife shows on both coasts and place in between..Moran, loveless, Dean, DE Henry, Fitch and many others. I can say without hesitation that JP Moss makes a blade that is truer and flatter than ANY of the others. you will not find a wave or a dip on his blades. He built them to the micrometer in tolerences. No less than Harvey Dean asked him how in the hell he got his blades so flat and even.
he is one of the few makers that fit his guards by making the hole in the guard where the tang goes in, smaller than the tang and then using a 10 lb hammer to pound the guard on..you will never find a hint of a gap between the blade and guard and he'd rather break the knife than consider using silver solder on it. you will never break the guard off his knife..EVER!!!
I enjoyed being on a waiting list for one of his knives, there are none better, nor is there a nicer and genuine man than JP Moss.
Bpman
Wow! I knew J.P. was a master but just did not know how great. 13 or 14 years ago, I spent a day with J.P. and his wife to gather information for a newspaper story. He told me to get there early and plan to stay all day. The visit ended up with me getting much more than I expected. J.P. felt that, in order to write the story, I needed to really learn what I was writing about. Under his hand and at his instruction, he had me make a knife that he sent home with me. It is a treasure and I will never forget the courtesy, hospitality and friendship extended to me that one loooooong day.
Thanks J.P.
Thanks J.P.
