Maker said ok.

dsgibbs1

dsgibbs1

Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
325
I've been lurking around and learning stuff. I have taken the advice of previous posters and bought books, bought steel, files sand paper and all sorts of stuff. However I still wanted more information. A couple of years ago when my wife was having our third child. The nurse noticed I was reading a Blade magizine. She said "My husband is a bladesmith." This created a buzz in the head. I talked to the smith and ordered a knife. Delivery time 6 months. I recieved the knife and an invite. To come by and learn how its done. My job transferred me shortly thereafter. Fast forward a few years. I call Wayne Short of Littleton Nc today.
He said hey I remember talking to you. He informs me that his workload is quite heavy. He said. "Call me in 3 weeks. I will get you out here and teach you how to make the tools required for the bladesmith. Where we go from then is up to you." So... I AM SO STOKED.:D Wouldn't you be?
 
I would be, guy who taught me how to forge a blade knows how to do it well but that is about as far as he goes with them. He has a drawer full of finished blades with no handles. But he is also very busy and has a job that takes most of his time so I am glad to have learned how to forge weld. I would love to go learn from a master maker. Of course money is short until my job starts up again (and it is snowing here again today :mad:)so it won't happen for a while. One of these days I'll make it.

Have fun and I look forward to seeing your creation.
 
It's a generous invitation, listen well and take notes if he allows you to. In the mean time read the sticies here, read up as much as you can so you have the context to understand what he's doing. If something he's doing contradicts what you've read ask him what he's doing, but don't say "Master Smith so and so says you should be doing it this way" as everyone has different ways of doing things, just because someone posts a lot, writes a book, or has a column in a knife magazine doesn't necessarily mean they "own the one true way of doing it right" learn as much as you can from as many sources as possible and the the facts will become apparent/

Have fun!

-Page
 
sunshadow said:
It's a generous invitation, listen well and take notes if he allows you to. In the mean time read the sticies here, read up as much as you can so you have the context to understand what he's doing. If something he's doing contradicts what you've read ask him what he's doing, but don't say "Master Smith so and so says you should be doing it this way" as everyone has different ways of doing things, just because someone posts a lot, writes a book, or has a column in a knife magazine doesn't necessarily mean they "own the one true way of doing it right" learn as much as you can from as many sources as possible and the the facts will become apparent/

Have fun!

-Page
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Page,
Well said, I take bits and pieces from every maker I talk to. It doesn't matter if they're a mastersmith or only been doing this a few years, there is ALWAYS something new to learn. If you stop listening, you stop learning.
 
You are going to have a lot of fun. I love learning from any source, and really enjoy teaching, too whenever someone wants to learn something I know about. Knife school is the funnest subject of all, congrats, you're stoked.
 
I have been on a tour of his shop. He has the traditional forge that is coal fired. He also has the more usual propane setup. I look at everything on the BF. I have read everything I could about forging. I am just excited that Mr. Short is willing to teach someone. He has taught his kids and all. I just didn't expect him to let me come in and work with him. As I understand it people once paid a smith to learn. I told him I have a family and couldn't afford much but if there was a charge, I would pay what I could and was willing to work off the rest. I was informed that he was teaching me because it was a pleasure to pass on the skills. He said most makers are famous for their work usually after they pass away. He said he thinks thats ok, but, he would like to be known for the skills he could pass along. If this isn't the coolest thing, I don't know what is.
I plan on taking photos of the journey. So yall will get to see the Good, Bad and Ugly.
 
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