Knifemaker 1st's maybe even Then/Now

[Bruce Bump]

Here's my first knife (2005):

And here's my first folding knife (December 2008). Come a long way, huh?

Cantrell, You made leaps and bounds in just 3 years. I cant wait to see where you are in the next 3 years.

 

[MSCantrell]

Cantrell, You made leaps and bounds in just 3 years. I cant wait to see where you are in the next 3 years.

Thanks, Bruce! From a maker of your caliber, that means a LOT. :thumbup:

(Pun not intended. Ok, maybe kinda intended. )

 

[fivefold]

I don't know if mine count because I've only been doing this for about seven months, but I feel I've made at least a little progress. I also started with kits, but I'm showing my first attempts without training wheels. My first knives were actually my first two... finished the same day at least, so I'll show those versus my last two. I know i have a LONG way to go, but it's all about baby steps.... anyway...

My first(ish) knife #1 (June '08) was a small camp chopper cleaver belt knife..

and one I finished in Nov. for a buddy of mine in Iraq...btw... I posted this in the gallery and got ZERO feedback... does it suck? I know it's a little rough, but he seems to like it....

ok... so first(ish) knife #2.. a little chute-ish knife

and my current project... about 98% done with this one...

It takes me forever and a day to finish a knife right now, but slowly and surely, they get finished.

-Mark

I hadn't seen your post before now, but I think your knives look great!

 

[galadduin]

Thats a great idea and love to see the masters' firsts. To see them make me very emotional as I know now what you guys can do now...
Although I'm not a veteran, not even experienced (enough) I'd like to share my first (March 2005) and one of my last (Dec 2008) together . Both were presents to mom. Took that picture to test my lightbox..

 

[Mark Redmon]

I hadn't seen your post before now, but I think your knives look great!

Thanks! :thumbup: Still have a lot to learn, but I appreciate the feedback!

-Mark

 

[ddavelarsen]

Emre, your mom is one lucky woman! I keep wondering when you're going to adopt me... Great work, your recent knife especially is something beautiful but your first knife is nothing to sneeze at! You had a lot of guts to undertake something like that and you sure pulled it off. Good going.

 

[ddavelarsen]

and one I finished in Nov. for a buddy of mine in Iraq...btw... I posted this in the gallery and got ZERO feedback... does it suck? I know it's a little rough, but he seems to like it....

-Mark

That absolutely does not suck. That knife would catch my interest wherever I saw it and I keep coming back to look at it. That's a totally fine knife and you have a fortunate friend. And whenever you talk to him again, please tell him thanks for his service.

 

[Garrett Schmidt]

and one I finished in Nov. for a buddy of mine in Iraq...btw... I posted this in the gallery and got ZERO feedback... does it suck? I know it's a little rough, but he seems to like it....

I agree that it absolutely doesn't suck. That is way coool! I think your buddy is lucky to have a great blade to carry in the sandbox. Great blade.

 

[69_knives]

I don't know if I can handle the scrutiny of this thread..

Anyway, this is my first and last knife using stock removal; from a cheap bastard file (No pun intended). from Octover or november ish and before I had even come across a knife forum.

This is my latest knife, finished last weekend, and my 4th forged blade.

 

[silver_pilate]

Well, I never though these would see the light of day, but here goes.

Here's my first completed knife ever (I played around grinding on some steel off and on for a year prior to this). It was an old hand saw blade that I just ground out cold and never annealed hoping it would keep its hardness:

This is my second ever, and it is the first knife I ground from bar stock and heat treated myself. It's O-1 and canvas micarta:

And here is one I finished up recently for a friend's dad. O-1 and desert ironwood:

The very first one there was made about in the spring of 2006. The last one was made in November of 2008.

--nathan

 

[atakach]

great stuff, im glad this thread is going so well, and thanks to all who have participated, i'd like to see it kept arround for a bit, so every one can get a chance to add to it as they get some free time there's still alot of makers here who haven't showed anything, maybe when they see great appreciation from the newbie makers they'll step forward, knowing it's a great confidence booster to see while some may have more natural talent than others, we all started out in the same basic ways..........and like mr. bump stated keep working at it and your work will continue to improve, i know thats advice i plan on following


andrew

 

[NickWheeler]

This is awesome!!! Thanks for starting it Andrew!!! :thumbup:

I'm sure no master, but I would like to add my first and something recent. I'll try to get some pics this week-end.

 

[ddavelarsen]

Nick you're a freakin tease.

 

[ddavelarsen]

Nathan I'd say you've come a long way. Nice stuff. You too 69_knives. Making sharp pointy stuff is sure fun and gratifying. :thumbup:

 

[Mark Redmon]

I think your buddy is lucky to have a great blade to carry in the sandbox. Great blade.

That's a totally fine knife and you have a fortunate friend. And whenever you talk to him again, please tell him thanks for his service.

Thanks! I have told him many times how much all of us in our nice, safe homes appreciate what our armed service men and women do. He's career military, and has been all over starting back in Bosnia during the Clinton years... he was in Afghanistan for a year and this is either his 2nd tour in Iraq. I'm proud to have one of my pieces in service, and I hope it serves him well. He sent me a pic of the knife on his belt, and it is by far my favorite picture of any of my knives. He said one of his soldiers took a picture of his battalion commander checking the knife out, but I haven't seen that one yet.

-Mark

 

[silver_pilate]

Dave, it's been a wild and crazy ride! These first efforts (among others) reside in a dark drawer in my knife cabinet. They are good reminders of where we've been and where we're going.

They only come out at night. The days are just too bright. They only come out at night. (let's see if anyone catches this obscure song reference)

--nathan

 

[Diomedes Industries]

I hope it is okay that I post here. I am not a knife maker - I am still figuring out how to use and sharpen them.

This thread is very cool. My best bud is buying a knifemakers grinder and I will be trying my hand at this craft soon as well. I will hopefully putting up my knife soon.

I like the support you guys give each other here - honest - but supportive.

TF

 

[Larry Hensley]

here is my first Forged With Black Walnut Handle

and here is my last finished knife. ATS-34 with Buffalo Handle

 

[atakach]

all are welcome to post!!
good luck to you and your bud! talfuchre


pretty stuff there larry,

andrew

 

[Keith Willis]

I am nowhere close to where i would someday like to be.My first one was cut with a chisel from an old handsaw,and has a piece of cedar for the handle,not very pretty however,it will take and hold an edge.It was my very first ever,made about 18 years ago,i only started really trying to work with knives and learn what i can about a year ago.The second,i am almost finished with,is made of SKS5 carbon steel with a homemade denium handle.I've still got a long way to go,but i think i've made a little improvment.