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Lonely knifemakers

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
3,415
I cut out my first knife with a hacksaw, files and sandpaper. Wife and friends went, :yawn: Thats nice.
Made my first leather sheath everyone went :yawn:
Got my Bader grinder :yawn:
Got my oven :yawn:
Heat treated my first knife in my own home :yawn:

The two nearest makers are about an hour away, at least the ones I know. They are great guys but never get to see them or hang out much. I was in the garage heat treating today hoping a neighbor or someone would walk by and stop to chat, then maybe ask a question or two about making knives. Nothing. Wife got home and I told her I just heat treated four blades, she was ok why are you using my stove then? Do you guys ever get the "you make knives?" look followed by the wrinkled nose look. :D Maybe they're just jealous. Hehehe...
 
I have not yet come out of the closet yet to most of my friends about this endeavor I am about to begin. I suspect most will want to know why the unfortunate part is no matter what I tell them they won't understand. Wife is very understanding so far however I have not purchased the parts for my grinder build yet.;)

P.S. Its nice to see I am not the only one that has this issue I was afraid I was alone.
 
I don't make knives, but I have yet to encounter any knife enthusiasts that share my joy of cutlery. Except for on bladeforums that is.
 
people think its either the coolest thing ever, or they think im a serial killer.
 
I live an hour from Tim Zowada and 2 hours from Kevin Cashen, both good friends that I have known for years and 2 extremely talented knifemakers. Tim came over to visit on monday for a couple of hours and to see my new shop; that I built almost 3 years ago. I would love to see both of them more often, but we all are full time makers(and if you think thats just 40 hours in and out of the shop, think again, its more like 80 hours) and have families.
I am to friendly for most to think I am a serial killer, but I too get lonely and long to talk about knife and damascus stuff.
My cure is long telephone conversations, boy was I happy when the flat rate long distance plan came online, it saves me a bundle.
Frank,
If you get too lonely call me and I promise to talk your ear off.
Del
 
I do alot of my forging in my driveway in a suburban neighborhood. We are fairly new to the area. My son is not yet two but when he gets older I hope the other kids parents let them play with him:).
 
lol...yep, people don't think knifemaking is a job

I live in the woods at the end of the road, no visitors ever come around
 
Sounds like you need to be going to shows Frank! :)

I'm extremely fortunate to have family that gets pretty excited about what I do! :)

As per other people... most of the time I just tell people I do fabrication work (which I DO) because that isn't weird or scary to sheeple.

I got sick of so many people being shocked that I make "weapons!!!!!!" :rolleyes: I stand by my opinion that very few things are strictly/definitively weapons until a man takes action that redefines a TOOL as a weapon.
 
So what do you you do for a living? (typical question) I Make Knives--Chirp--Chirp--Chirp--

Can you make a living making Knives? (strange looks.) WHO buys Knives???

I wonder if Case, or Buck ever had that problem.

Now days I just tell them that I'm either a cutler, or a metal worker. They are either confused, or sorta impressed. Just for fun, I sometimes say I'm an artist in metal sculpting. That's always a conversation starter. (I've always wondered why it is so impressive to sculpt bronze, or other soft materials,(Clay=Whoopy!) yet so UN-impressive to sculpt HARD steel into something beautiful and usefully!) Just between you an me,I'll bet those real artist couldn't do it! Just saying---

I love it when a lady tells me she is scared to death of Knives. I always ask, so how the heck do you cook with out knives. Same Ole answer. "Well that's different they always say" They're just Kitchen Knives. Did I say I didn't make Kitchen Knives?

I'm so confused!

Mike
Maker
The Loveless Connection Knives---(UH, Metal Works)
 
im lucky i have a unlimited phone plan (think i need a ear bud so i can keep working some times ) and am an internet whore
alos i have a deker not more then10 miles from me

but really im more like don and would just be happy up on a hill making my knives
my GF is suportive of the knife making and so is my fam as they know i seem to have a knack for it and love to see how far i can take the skils i learn
 
I get that too... luckily I have quite a few friends who are either gun or knife users , or both , and a couple local that are knife makers as well.

I find it is easier to surround myself with like people or not surround myself with people at all.

Last night , in the pouring rain in the parking lot of Auto Zone , I was the only one with a flashlight and a knife... as about 15 people were trying to change their wiper blades.
One lady after I used one of my small fixed blades ( that I made ) to open the packaging from hell that contained her new wiper blades , she looked at her hubby and said " now why the hell don't you carry a knife ? ".
He said " Cause I carry a gun "..... I said " Yeah me too , but if I shoot this thing open , I think the wiper blade will be damaged , but if you want to hold it up , I will take a shot at it ".

We both laughed.... then I gave him a small SAK from my center console.
 
Good point Mike!!! I have an aunt that always said the same thing!!! Of course kitchen knives are probably the most used knife in actual knife attacks. :rolleyes:

Interesting about the artist thing too. I recently went to an ARTrails demonstrator. I don't know if any of you have these nearby, but they do it every fall here. There are several artists that open their shops to visitors for the last two week-ends in September. It gives them exposure, sales, and comradere with other "like-minded" people within a 25 mile-or-so radius.

I asked about being included in the future. When I told him what I do, you could literally see him gulp! LOL He started making all sorts of weird comments like, "Well it's pretty full, it's juried, etc." Then I put my portfolio in front of him. He quickly changed gears. It's interesting that even other people who build things with their hands, can be so hesitant to appreciate what WE do.
 
Mike i love telling ppl im a knife maker and seeing that look
then i tell them i specialize in kitchen knives (the look of relief)

then cause i love messing with ppl tell them more kitchen knives are used as weapons then any other type of knife :) realy spinns them around but hey im funny like that
 
People usually think I'm a psychopath when I tell them what I'm into. Still, I never apologize for it or use any other terminology to describe my hobby. I'm extremely proud of what I do, and this is a part of who I am. You guys should be the same. This is very cool work man.
 
I've been a collector and retailer of knives for a very long time, and most people who know me are aware of that, so when I mention I've started making my own it's not much of a surprise. My wife and inlaws are also very supportive, as are my two little girls who think that daddy is some kind of sparks flying mad scientist!:D That being said, I never get those really passionate responses that we give each other here on the forum. Even those that appreciate it really don't "get it".

I don't have many knifemakers very close by, but recently I have reached out to a few, like Serge who is right up in Sacramento. I would like to start meeting more in my area to share ideas and get feedback from.
 
I once entered an Arts and Crafts judging in the Culture center of America. Killeen Tx. Yeah Right!!!

First they wouldn't let me enter, Because of my work being weapons. I took the time to educate them on the fact that edged tools were not only mans oldest creations, but were also mans oldest known adorned implements. In other words, one of Mans earliest known Art Forms.

Well., they reluctantly let me enter. I won best metal sculpture, and best jewelry. ( A tiny sward and hand made silver necklace with it.)

I was told to come in at 4 pm for two blue ribbons, and a couple of checks and free dinner passes to a few local eateries. When I arrived, I learned that the honors had been taken away, as I still made weapons. Not art.

It seems that a funny looking little duck, pushed around with a glued on stick, and floppy feet made from a piece of inner tube is Art here in Central Texas.

Back wards Country F's!

I'm so ashamed, I make weapons!

Mike
Maker
The Loveless Connection Knives
 
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