My first knife, from Tom Ferry's "Big Bowies" class

[iikka]

Hi all,

I just took a knife-making class with ABS mastersmith Tom Ferry and journeyman Dave Lisch at the Studio 4 forging facility in Seattle. Previously, my main hand crafting hobby has been woodcarving and my only (unfinished at that) attempt at a knife used a kit. Largely thanks to the expert guidance from Tom and Dave, my first knife turned out better than I could've ever imagined. I hope you enjoy the photos.

Other photos, including in-progress shots in my FB album here


Iikka Keranen

 

[Kevin Jones]

You did well. Fit/finish and execution look quite good.
You had great teachers.

 

[iikka]

Thank you. It was a pretty intensive course with eight students all forging and grinding at the same time, but they still had time to let me adapt my own design to the curriculum whenever possible rather than have everyone make the same knife. I feel that I could now make something pretty good on my own, and have a fairly good idea of what kind of designs I could pull off with either my current tool set or with a few strategic purchases. I think there'll eventually be a knife #2

 

[D lisch]

Iikka it was good to have you in the class your knife came out very nice I think they all came out nice but you had a vision a nice sketch if you still have the sketch I think it would be cool if you show a pic of the sketch so they can see just how close you came. Nice Job.

 

[iikka]

Hi Dave, I actually just scanned it There are certainly many changes to it, but I think the overall feel of my sketch really came through to the final product.