Knife Making Videos

Joined
Oct 1, 1999
Messages
6,490
I’ve seen dozens of threads here mentioning knives in movies, but what I’ve never seen is a review of a movie on “How to Make a Knife”. I’ve seen a couple of good ones recently and I thought I’d share them with you. I have no immediate plans to start making knives, but it’s really educational to see the steps of making a knife. It just makes you appreciate more the folks that do make knives, and the knives themselves.

The first video I saw on knife making was about a month ago, I got a copy from Max Burnett of his stepfather Bob Ogg making a slip joint folder.

http://store.yahoo.com/knifeart/oggknives.html

Now this was a homemade production with Max’s Mom doing the camera work, and she did a very nice job. Although it’s not a professional production, I will tell you this if you watch this movie, you will know how to make a knife. There is no doubt that Bob was a character and a true professional. If you go to the Shop Talk Forum here you would think you needed a ton of expensive equipment and it’s all like real precision work, but if Bob says. “That’s close enough.” once, he says it a dozen time. Aside from the years of experience Bob had making knives, he shows and explains just how he did it. He sure removed any fear I might have about trying to make a folder.

<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=254126&a=1889223&p=47779897&Sequence=0&res=high" TARGET=_blank>

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I know I’m not the only one here that thinks Ed Fowler makes the best High-Performance knife there is. If you also believe that form follows function you will probably think there’s no more beautiful knife either.

This video was professional done, but not editided in a way that takes away from the sheer charm of Ed Fowler. You see Ed on his ranch with his dogs, working with his cattle, but more important you can watch him turn a ball of 52100 steel into one of his knives, skipping none of the steps. It’s amazing to see, but what’s more amazing is the obvious joy that Ed has in making them. Unlike Bob’s video, I would not even attempt to match the amount of work that goes into one of Ed’s knives. Not that he makes it complicated, on the contrary he goes into and shows you why he goes through all of his techniques in search for the perfect knife.

This video should come with a Warning, because you will come away with the feeling that Ed just doesn’t charge enough for his knives.

You can get a copy of the “Bob Ogg Video” from Max Burnett of Ogg Custom Knives,
If you wait until he gets back from ABS school
His E-mail is,

mburnett@cswnet.com

Ed Fowler’s video “Design, Construction and Function of a Using Knife” is available directly from Ed at Ed Fowler, Dept. BL4, P.O. Box 1519, Riverton, WY 82501.
The price is $45, plus $3.50 shipping.

I don’t care if you’re a knife maker or not, if you love knives these videos should be on your “Must See List”. I’m a child of the 50’s now in his 50’s, so I grew up on TV and I learn quickest when I can see and not just read about how to do something.

Okay now your turn now;
Who has seen either one of these videos?
What did you think and what did you learn?
What other videos have you seen on Making a Knife?


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"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site
 
I got an interesting E-mail last night, I'm sure he won't mind if I post it here.

"Hi Phill:
I received the Bob Ogg video and watched it several times. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
I was amazed at how wonderfully simple his shop was. Old buffers that harmonized while he worked, a drill press that probably was worn out when he got it, no guards on anything, a cut off wheel that would scare
most of today's knife makers out of the shop. Still when he worked on his equipment he was more safe than most men in modern shops, I watched as he used the natural physical forces generated by the human body to
provide all the safety he needed. In short it was a lesson in harmony between man and machine that resulted in our most creative environment, freedom.

He knew what he wanted to do, knew well his equipment and got more out of it than any other man could. He was obviously at home in his shop, he and his equipment were family. So many knife makers today think that they need an elaborate shop, we don't, a man with a file and a dream can make it happen. Throw a small fortune in equipment his way and the
equipment will limit him and his dream will look like every other knife on the shelf. Bob's choice of equipment set him free to make his knife."

Ed Fowler

 
GR8 post PhilL!

I would love to see these and would probably get them at some stage.

I had another idea regarding knife-making videos - I would love it if the custom makers I order from would find the time to shoot the process making of MY knife.

Now that would be a superb addition to a custom knife and a great addition to the appeal of a said knife.

Any maker out there that would do that? Or is it just too much hassle??

 
I think that's a great idea Blilious. I'd also like to see a video with segments from a number of different maker's shops. Imagine watching Darrel grinding out some blades and Kit fileworking and fitting pieces, etc. That could be really fun. If I had the vacation time and the funds and cooperation of the makers I would love to travel around and put it together.

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Peter Atwood

email: fountainman@hotmail.com
 
Gadi & Peter, I like both of your ideas, but I don't know how practical either one would be. I think I'd rather have a knife maker making my knife rather than shooting video.

This reminds me of an old Letter to the Editor I wrote to Blade Magazine back in 1999 before I got a computer. They printed it in the Oct. 1999 issue (the one with the Case/Bose Trapper on a green background on the cover, page 10) that was the same month I found BFC and never wrote to Blade again.
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"Why isn't there a Blade Magazine TV Show? There are very few shows I would rather see. Inexpensive to produce, there would be no shortage of adverisers, no shortage of material, interviews and how-to-advice...."

...If this is a new idea for you and worth considering, do not thank me, just send me an Ed Fowler "Pronghorn."

Needless to say I never heard from them again and I'm still looking for that elusive "Prong horn."
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A Blade TV show would be great but the production values for TV make shows so expensive to produce that we may never see it. A low budget home video production would be much more within the grasp of the average person. Plus, advertising for TV is astronomically expensive. I can't imagine any maker being able to afford it except factory of course.

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Peter Atwood

email: fountainman@hotmail.com
 
PhilL!

I was thinking more in the lines of a home made video - not much editing - just a few minutes of every stage - with the video camera standing behind the shoulder of the maker - much where we would love to stand if we could - and see how our knife is being made...

I may be able to convince some maker one day....

Maybe even Jake...
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Blilious:

I may be able to convince some maker one day....Maybe even Jake...
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Gadi, do you have any idea what Jake looks like?
I can tell you this, I sure don't want to see a copy.
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PhilL:
Gadi, do you have any idea what Jake looks like?
I can tell you this, I sure don't want to see a copy.
tongue.gif
</font>

I said - the camera should be placed behind the shoulder - from the back!!!!!
biggrin.gif


Oh BTW - I have an image of him - with the "smiling" arm...



[This message has been edited by Blilious (edited 05-10-2001).]
 
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