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- Jun 23, 2007
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I was priviliged to be the invited Mastersmith at Jerry Fisk's Micro-Show this year. Matt Roberts was the Journeyman.You've seen most of the knives Matt and I took to Jerry's show posted here over the months past. Jerry posted most of his on his site: www.fisk-knives.com and I posted my full line-up on the forum at www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com.Matt's knives can be seen at www.robertsknives.com . Some of J.R.Cook's knives. which were sold Fri,and can be seen at www.jrcookknives.com were also posted earlier.Chuck Ward took photos of each knife for sale at the show, and I'll post up some of his professional pics whenever he gets them to me. Chuck's photos can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuck_ward_photography/ Paul Long was the invited Sheathmaker, and can be reached at pfl@cebridge.net
So,instead of knife photos,let me just give a short run-down of the fun-filled week-end.
The weather was stunning:clear blue skies, 60 degree mornings and 80 degree days with light breezes ,Thurs, Fri and Sat, then heavy rain and a cool morning Sunday for our departure. Nashville is a farm town with rolling, gravelly hills, pine and mixed hardwood forests. Jerry's place is on a two-lane, rural road, set on a slight rise, with woods on both sides, and his small hay-field behind. His shop is a steel building set just beside the road.
The gorging began for the early arrivals Thurs nite at a local catfish parlor. The fish and steak were both quite good, and talk was heavy among the 12 or 14 present. Serious eating began Fri morning with a stand-up breakfast at Jerry's house, then the group of 20 invited collectors and the rest of us drove to the Old Washington State Park, a restored historic town about 15 miles away, for a tour of James Black's Blacksmith's shop, complete with talk by the resident smith on the knives Black made for Jim Bowie in the 1800's. Following a walk through the Armaments Museum, we decamped for the restored William's Tavern for a heart-clogging southern lunch of country-fried steak, greens, cornbread, and more sweet tea.
We then swung by Mastersmith J.R. Cook's immaculate knife shop, set on a rise, down a little gravel road, in among tall pines, and over-looking his hay-fields and little pond. Walking through the dogs and ducks led us to a fully equipped, extra tidy shop, where "Cookie" showed how the "W" billet from which he made three of the knives he had at the show, could be manipulated to give three completely different appearing blades.
Re-turning to Jerry's, the afternoon was spent cutting rope and 2x4's, explaining knife-making,and milling through jerry's shop.Evening saw a sit down dinner on tables set up in the carport. Barbequed brisket, in sauce, and "dry", so tender I literally cut it with a fork, and all the trimmings. While we ate, the pro barbeque cooks came with a BACKHOE on a tractor and dug the pit for the pig-roast to come on Saturday, and started the fire to fill the pit with coals for the 14 hour roast.
After dinner, Jerry, Matt, Cookie, and I spread our knives on tables in Jerry's living room for viewing. J.R.Cooks knives, all with carved E.Ivory handles, were sold (out) at the viewing. Price and description lists were given out for the other knives, and ample time was given for "coon-fingering." The collectors made notes, and had all night and the next morning to compare notes and do preliminary horse-trading before Saturday's drawings.
"Show and tell" by the collectors then began at Jerry's on tables provided, and continued late into the night back at the hotel. I went on sensory overload after handling two Warenski's, a Carter, a Fogg, and a Steigerwalt dagger(s) from the beginning of one collectors stash.
Saturday was the big day. It began with another sit-down breakfast at Jerry's, followed by the drawings for the knives sold by Matt Roberts. After a short break, Jerry's knives were sold by drawing, and after another break, my knives were sold. The drawing for the CKCA Prostate Cancer Benefit Bowie saw Don Henrichs as the lucky winner. Folks, the custom knife market seems to me to be doing well!
Another huge sit-down lunch followed. I can no longer follow the menu line-up, but it shows around my middle. After the meal, re-enactors from a Civil War Re-enactor group gave a talk, illustrated by authentic examples, of the evolution of the US military sabre. The lecture was followed by mounted "Horseback Sabre Drill."
The afternoon continued with knife talk, show and tell, shooting of Kentucky Muzzle-loaders in the back pasture, and culminated with a valiant attempt by thirty or so people to eat a 400# roast pig. I think the pig won.
Sunday morning saw the arrival of heavy rain, and though a die-hard group ate another stand-up breakfast at Jerry's, the week-end was about over as folks left for the drive or flight home. The entire week-end was filmed by a group of documentary film-makers, for a proposed film on the Art of Knife-making, which I understand is about in the middle of a two year effort.
I truly can't express how much fun I had talking knives and visiting with old friends, meeting new ones, and just hanging out! Jerry Fisk's Micro-Show is a signal event in the Custom Knife world, and I'm glad to have had the chance to participate this year.
John
So,instead of knife photos,let me just give a short run-down of the fun-filled week-end.
The weather was stunning:clear blue skies, 60 degree mornings and 80 degree days with light breezes ,Thurs, Fri and Sat, then heavy rain and a cool morning Sunday for our departure. Nashville is a farm town with rolling, gravelly hills, pine and mixed hardwood forests. Jerry's place is on a two-lane, rural road, set on a slight rise, with woods on both sides, and his small hay-field behind. His shop is a steel building set just beside the road.
The gorging began for the early arrivals Thurs nite at a local catfish parlor. The fish and steak were both quite good, and talk was heavy among the 12 or 14 present. Serious eating began Fri morning with a stand-up breakfast at Jerry's house, then the group of 20 invited collectors and the rest of us drove to the Old Washington State Park, a restored historic town about 15 miles away, for a tour of James Black's Blacksmith's shop, complete with talk by the resident smith on the knives Black made for Jim Bowie in the 1800's. Following a walk through the Armaments Museum, we decamped for the restored William's Tavern for a heart-clogging southern lunch of country-fried steak, greens, cornbread, and more sweet tea.
We then swung by Mastersmith J.R. Cook's immaculate knife shop, set on a rise, down a little gravel road, in among tall pines, and over-looking his hay-fields and little pond. Walking through the dogs and ducks led us to a fully equipped, extra tidy shop, where "Cookie" showed how the "W" billet from which he made three of the knives he had at the show, could be manipulated to give three completely different appearing blades.
Re-turning to Jerry's, the afternoon was spent cutting rope and 2x4's, explaining knife-making,and milling through jerry's shop.Evening saw a sit down dinner on tables set up in the carport. Barbequed brisket, in sauce, and "dry", so tender I literally cut it with a fork, and all the trimmings. While we ate, the pro barbeque cooks came with a BACKHOE on a tractor and dug the pit for the pig-roast to come on Saturday, and started the fire to fill the pit with coals for the 14 hour roast.
After dinner, Jerry, Matt, Cookie, and I spread our knives on tables in Jerry's living room for viewing. J.R.Cooks knives, all with carved E.Ivory handles, were sold (out) at the viewing. Price and description lists were given out for the other knives, and ample time was given for "coon-fingering." The collectors made notes, and had all night and the next morning to compare notes and do preliminary horse-trading before Saturday's drawings.
"Show and tell" by the collectors then began at Jerry's on tables provided, and continued late into the night back at the hotel. I went on sensory overload after handling two Warenski's, a Carter, a Fogg, and a Steigerwalt dagger(s) from the beginning of one collectors stash.
Saturday was the big day. It began with another sit-down breakfast at Jerry's, followed by the drawings for the knives sold by Matt Roberts. After a short break, Jerry's knives were sold by drawing, and after another break, my knives were sold. The drawing for the CKCA Prostate Cancer Benefit Bowie saw Don Henrichs as the lucky winner. Folks, the custom knife market seems to me to be doing well!
Another huge sit-down lunch followed. I can no longer follow the menu line-up, but it shows around my middle. After the meal, re-enactors from a Civil War Re-enactor group gave a talk, illustrated by authentic examples, of the evolution of the US military sabre. The lecture was followed by mounted "Horseback Sabre Drill."
The afternoon continued with knife talk, show and tell, shooting of Kentucky Muzzle-loaders in the back pasture, and culminated with a valiant attempt by thirty or so people to eat a 400# roast pig. I think the pig won.
Sunday morning saw the arrival of heavy rain, and though a die-hard group ate another stand-up breakfast at Jerry's, the week-end was about over as folks left for the drive or flight home. The entire week-end was filmed by a group of documentary film-makers, for a proposed film on the Art of Knife-making, which I understand is about in the middle of a two year effort.
I truly can't express how much fun I had talking knives and visiting with old friends, meeting new ones, and just hanging out! Jerry Fisk's Micro-Show is a signal event in the Custom Knife world, and I'm glad to have had the chance to participate this year.
John
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