Looking to Get Started

B

Buteo Blade

Joined
Mar 21, 2001
Messages
3
Hi. I've been looking to get started making knives but I want to go in as well-prepared as possible. Can any of you direct me to good resources with which to begin? I've done both wood and metal working, and am an avid escrimador. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Thanks,
Brian
 


Welcome to Blade forums Brian.

I'll let the makers chime in here for specifics, but one of the most important things is to meet folks in your area and the best way to do that is to hang around shows and get to know other makers. Go to as many of them as you can. There is also a wealth of information all over the internet.

Blade Forums has the shop talk forum. Knife Forums has several forums pertaining to making knives as does the Custom Knife Directory. There are several makers that have quite a bit of information on their sites. Don Fogg and Bruce Evans immediatly come to mind, but there are many that have a page or more pertaining to knife making on their sites. The net enables makers to get together and exchange ideas and have a little fun too. Where else can you have access to folks like Don, Kit, Darrel, Mel, Steve, Alan, Tom, Tim, Tom and many others on close to a daily basis.

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" The real art of living is to keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post in memory of James Mattis
 
Brian-

I was born in San Mateo, but I'm not there anymore, so visiting my shop (Detroit area) is probably not an option for you. Gus's advice is as good as it gets; I guess I would also suggest you get all the books on knifemaking you can get, and subscribe to the available knife publications. If you've really been bitten by the bug, you can look forward to a very satisfying journey.

Good luck!

Don Cowles
www.cowlesknives.com
 
Thanks gentlemen. I'll definitely start hitting the shows. I've been to a few and seen some amazing pieces. Are there any magazines you would recommend over others?

Thanks,
Brian
The sharp-edged raptor
 
Hi Brian, a must read book is "How to make Knives" by Robert Loveless and Richard Barney; also the late Bob Engnath's catalog - I think it's still on the web somewhere - was a great wealth of knifemaking tips tricks and information. David Boye's book on knifemaking is excellent and a must have. Robert Terzuola's new book on making folders is the best book by far on that subject.

If you are able to find someone who can show you how to grind blades you will save yourself a million hours - a bunch of which will be frustration. Blade grinding can be talked about and described for pages, but an experienced person can show you a lot in a few hours.

All the best of luck and fun to you!

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http://www.wilkins-knives.com
http://www.wilkins.de
 
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