- Joined
- Oct 19, 2005
- Messages
- 19,687
Just to be clear, I'm not a member, or a probationary member yet at all. They've simply accepted my application. Let me tell you all that the room full of craftsmanship at the Knifemakers Guild show is very intimidating to me. I know my work, and I can tell you that half the room is 20 years ahead of me if I work as hard as I can at it for 20 years. I saw a collaboration knife by Steve Johnson (flawless knives, worked with Bob Loveless) and Edmund Davidson (again, no detectable flaws on the whole table) sell for $20,500.00. I'm excited to apply to a group that includes that kind of talent, and I don't go at it thinking of the challenge as small or easy. I want to show them my best work, the best work I can do a year from now. I have 800 or so knives to get this stuff right. (They''re going to want to see a lot of tapered tangs too, so be ready for a lot more of that.)
Edmund Davidson gave Dylan and I some advice at the show that I treasure. It was my plan anyway, but to have such a master confirm for me that I was on the right track was stunning. He said our knives were nice, then he said he remembered when his knives were like ours and asked if we knew what he did to improve. "I didn't quit," he said. "Just keep at it." I was stunned just to get to meet him. I was too timid to hand my knife to Steve Johnson, but I did shake his hand. These men make masterpieces. I once got a piece of advice from mastersmith J. Neilson. I was just done making my 6th knife (2000 knives ago) , and handed it over to him at Blade Show for criticism and guidance. He said my grinds were "impatient" and I needed a lot of practice at that. He also told me to focus on my handle shapes, and refine them. I focused on that for a long time until I got grinds I thought were correct and handles that were pleasing. I think advice from a craftsman of this caliber is priceless. And I was very happy and very gracious to have spoken with Edmund.
So I'll be handing these kind of men my work next year, and I don't go at the task like its a sure thing. I want to hand over very good knives.
Edmund Davidson gave Dylan and I some advice at the show that I treasure. It was my plan anyway, but to have such a master confirm for me that I was on the right track was stunning. He said our knives were nice, then he said he remembered when his knives were like ours and asked if we knew what he did to improve. "I didn't quit," he said. "Just keep at it." I was stunned just to get to meet him. I was too timid to hand my knife to Steve Johnson, but I did shake his hand. These men make masterpieces. I once got a piece of advice from mastersmith J. Neilson. I was just done making my 6th knife (2000 knives ago) , and handed it over to him at Blade Show for criticism and guidance. He said my grinds were "impatient" and I needed a lot of practice at that. He also told me to focus on my handle shapes, and refine them. I focused on that for a long time until I got grinds I thought were correct and handles that were pleasing. I think advice from a craftsman of this caliber is priceless. And I was very happy and very gracious to have spoken with Edmund.
So I'll be handing these kind of men my work next year, and I don't go at the task like its a sure thing. I want to hand over very good knives.
