Knifemaking Paradign Shift?

W

Will Leavitt

Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
3,953
I've decided not to retire but to return to my roots as a smith. No power tools except using an electric blower and my drill press, I guess a "quasi-neo-tribal" concept. I guess all of my past designs were designed with the needs of my shop tools instead of the needs of the smith in mind. All the sketches I've been producing are designed for total smithing with minimal tooling. I'm really buzzed about this.

I'm really excited, replanning my smithy, getting ready to make some sens of various sizes and looking for files of every kind at yard sales and flea markets (not that I don't have bunches already :) )

I don't know if this is a somewhat natural progression, some of the smiths I really, really follow use minimal tooling. I guess for me it's more equivalent to hunting, rifle hunting is pretty easy for me, compound bows not bad, I really didn't feel like a "true hunter" until I took a deer with a stick bow I made and some arrows I shafted.

Another reason I guess is that I give so much advice about not worrying about tooling and then grinding on my Burr King. Time to put my hammer where my keyboard is.

I will use known steels, I will use science to a certain degree with my approach to heat treating and plan on quenching in quench oils instead of panther urine and deer bile or whatever the moon phase calls for. :p

Any comments, advice or general usual rudeness from the peanut gallery is invited and will be appreciated and all rocks, arrows and darts will be returned :p
 
As Kotter said "WELCOME BACK" Sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun and thats what it should be. Enjoy!
 
Sam, it's being put through the wringer by a forumite :) I'll let him talk about Berthie as he's dubber her. You missed it on sale a while back. I will sell you a spoon of cinnamon though :p
 
Sounds like fun, but don't go too far "back to basics" - flintknapping is a real pain. :)
 
Good Luck. I can relate to your hunting metaphor. I decided several years ago that I wouldn't kill anymore (except for self defense of course) untill I made the weapon myself, and haven't been hunting since. I have not done a bow yet, but it is on my list of things to do someday when I have time. Along with a lot of other things.

Peat
 
Not sure about Arkansas but in Alabama you can hunt with a spear. I only know of one guy that's actually taken a deer with a spear but it can be done here and would be easier to make than a stick bow. The guy is known around Alabama archery circles as "The Rob", one helluva stick slinger, one of the top IBO/ASA guys and a regular top 10 in Buckmasters World Finals. He makes one of the hardest ASA 3D courses I've ever shot on, targets in trees, big valleys between targets and the stick. His bonus target is usually a steel outline of a rabbit with a 2" foam core.
 
I went through something very similar after about 15 years of knifemaking. I can definitely relate! It'll be a great learning experience if nothing else.

Good journey bro! :)

... "quasi-neo-tribal",… now that almost sounds like a double negative. ;)
 
Hey, that's great news, Will! Had it not been for you a pep talk you gave me a year or so ago I would have probably quit, this stuff. See I didn't get a chance to give you that pep talk all I got was a post "I'm done" and no answer to my emails!
This year has been a tooling year for me, so haven’t got a lot done this last part of the year. But if the health holds next year I will be here to aggravate the snot out you Will! :D Glad to hear you are coming back "ole friend"! :cool:
 
Cliff, sorry about not answering your emails... thought I did ah well...

Tai, noooo noooo nooo! I'm not going to forge nude! Can I use a $5 bench grinder? :p You know what I'm talking about!
 
Hey Will,
Welcome back. I had a bit of an epiphany a couple years ago with going primal (exploring the essence of smithing as opposed to working to a predesigned product, I started to really get into where I could move metal to and what I could do with it rather than just drawing what I already know how to produce. I can just work the steel to what grows under the hammer. I still draw up and produce final designs for customers, but I make my own blades just "can I make steel do this today?"

-Page
 
Using a spear to take a deer would be the fish story of a lifetime and has crossed my mind. I have been told that in Arkansas game can be taken year round with primitive weapons (knives, spears, clubs, rocks etc NOT bows) but it was not from a reliable source, and I can not find that rule in any of the guide books. I am sure a spear would be ok during any open bow season, but I would have to spend a lot more time in the woods and lees in my workshop.

Peat
 
What is the proper attire for this venture. Loin cloth or over the shoulder drape of self cured road kill. What goes on the feet? Or is it a matter of getting immune to the feel of hot scale wedged between the toes.

Do primitive smiths bath monthly or yearly?

There are so many questions that need answers here.

Just curious, Fred:D
 
I got some advice Will, Come get this big hunk of anvil laying in the middle of my floor,LOL I got a ton of big files also that are worn down but you might be able to bring them back to life for sens, got that W1 rod to, its all here in my lonely shop waiting for its new Master, gimme a call buddy,Charlie
 
Charlie, let me know what time you'll be up and I'll swing by before the game tomorrow! I'm just going to use up the 1084 I got for steel. I'll take the old files though never have enough of them :)
 
Glad to hear you're getting back to it. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
 
Will, nothing wrong with goin non-elec. I remember when that Goo dude did it years ago
and thought he was crazy :D, but I like his Neo knives better than the earlier stuff.

Just have fun, man!!!
 
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