- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
This knifemaker I know contacted me a while ago with a pretty cool idea. The concept was - give three different makers identical raw materials and have them make a knife - of any style or design they choose, but using only the materials provided. As an added wrinkle - the makers would be at different rungs of the knifemaking ladder: a rank novice, an established maker and a very experienced maker - for lack of precise terms.
This struck me as intriguing - obviously, the further up the ladder, the greater the greater the range of design options - yet there is still the limiting factor of using the same stuff. I told him I thought it was a very cool idea. The "him" in question was Karl Andersen - recently anointed with his Journeyman Smith stamp at this past Blade Show. He had slotted himself into the middle position. Cool! Who will be the next step up? Lin Rhea - who has been turning out a diverse range of superb knives for a while and will be testing for his Master Smith stamp at the next Blade Show.
Excellent! Who will make the rookie piece, I inquired?
"You will."
Um, say again?
I thought you wanted a rookie knifemaker?
Yes, like any other dumb fish in the pond, I had swallowed the hook but good.
At Blade, we gathered for a group shot - left to right - Lin, Karl, me.
The materials to be used will be as follows:
1 Inch Square 5160 manufactured in Illinois in 1984. .61% C.
1 1/4" Bakelite salvaged from an office building in Wisconsin that was built in 1907.
Wrought iron from a structure in Illinois built in 1903.
That is a big hunk of steel - probably enough for a decent sized sword (no, I will not be making a sword) - so the options really are wide open.
Now, seeing as I don't own enough tools to fill a meaningful-sized tool box - much less a forge or anything resembling a shop - I will once again have to impose on the generosity of Dan Farr to let me use his place to get this done. As such, my time line for completion is the most uncertain - but I will get 'er done. I already have some design ideas kicking about in my head - all of which have to be tempered by a realistic assessment of my ability to actually make the piece.
Can't wait to see what the others come up with, and you can be sure that we'll show you the results here when all is said and done.
Roger
This struck me as intriguing - obviously, the further up the ladder, the greater the greater the range of design options - yet there is still the limiting factor of using the same stuff. I told him I thought it was a very cool idea. The "him" in question was Karl Andersen - recently anointed with his Journeyman Smith stamp at this past Blade Show. He had slotted himself into the middle position. Cool! Who will be the next step up? Lin Rhea - who has been turning out a diverse range of superb knives for a while and will be testing for his Master Smith stamp at the next Blade Show.
Excellent! Who will make the rookie piece, I inquired?
"You will."
Um, say again?
I thought you wanted a rookie knifemaker?Yes, like any other dumb fish in the pond, I had swallowed the hook but good.
At Blade, we gathered for a group shot - left to right - Lin, Karl, me.
The materials to be used will be as follows:
1 Inch Square 5160 manufactured in Illinois in 1984. .61% C.
1 1/4" Bakelite salvaged from an office building in Wisconsin that was built in 1907.
Wrought iron from a structure in Illinois built in 1903.
That is a big hunk of steel - probably enough for a decent sized sword (no, I will not be making a sword) - so the options really are wide open.
Now, seeing as I don't own enough tools to fill a meaningful-sized tool box - much less a forge or anything resembling a shop - I will once again have to impose on the generosity of Dan Farr to let me use his place to get this done. As such, my time line for completion is the most uncertain - but I will get 'er done. I already have some design ideas kicking about in my head - all of which have to be tempered by a realistic assessment of my ability to actually make the piece.
Can't wait to see what the others come up with, and you can be sure that we'll show you the results here when all is said and done.
Roger
:thumbup:
)
