My First Knive, 2004

[David Stifle]

I owe everything I've achieved to date to practice, practice, practice and to this forum. Stacy has always been the first guy to jump in with great advice. And, although I started in 2004, and should be a pro by now, I still get stuck and come back to this forum with questions. I'm posting this to encourage all new guys. My first knife was done on my patio with a drill, some attachments, and files. I sent it out for HT. Back then, I wanted to make swords, and after all these years, I am. My point, just keep working at it, ask questions, and it will come.

A deeply felt thanks to Stacy and all the folks who've answered all my many questions over the years. So, here's the first one I ever did. It took me six months. In the true spirit if a newbie, I later utterly ruined it trying it correct a minor flaw. Oh, I ruined so many blades to learn. This one, though, truely hurt. I'm thinking of re-making it, what do you guys think?

 

[Marietta76]

That is your first knife? Wow! I ain't ever gonna post a pic. Reminds me of a Moran ST24 on steroids. Beautiful! You need to make it again!

 

[Perrin]

That was your first knife? That is beautiful. Kinda Persian/Spanish/Bowie-ish. What was the flaw and how is it ruined, if I am inquire?

 

[David Stifle]

I have ten years more experience and a fully equiped shop, but I wonder if I can? It haunts me though, I do need to set it right. I can't even recall what I was trying to fix.

You should post your work, it's the only way to learn. Seriously!

 

[David Stifle]

That was your first knife? That is beautiful. Kinda Persian/Spanish/Bowie-ish. What was the flaw and how is it ruined, if I am inquire?

I don't remember. When I finished my "fix" I couldn't stand to look at it, and I buried it with full honors. It took me years to learn a hard lession, and that is, it doesn't matter if it's not quite perfect. A flaw in an otherwise perfect blade is usually in the eye of the beholder. Some will see it, some won't. As much as it hurts me to say so, I have not yet produced even one absolutely perfect knife.

And, here is where I am today.

 

[gredpe3]

Although there is no such thing as perfect,we strive for it.This is what keeps us going and getting better.If you have learned when to say when,you are miles ahead of me.
Eddie

 

[David Stifle]

Although there is no such thing as perfect,we strive for it.This is what keeps us going and getting better.If you have learned when to say when,you are miles ahead of me.
Eddie

I've learned patience. Each knife is the best we can do at that point in our lives. As a rough estimate, I think I've ruined thirty to sixty knives seeking perfection. All of them looked fine, were properly heat treated, and cut just fine: there was that one little thing to "fix." I have learned how to fix these errors without ruining the knive, it just takes a certain amount of experience. But, all of you guys can do it, hell, if I can, anyone can.

Shoptalk is heavily oriented towards questions and answers, as it should be, but there's plenty of room for show and tell. Post your work and tell everyone what you did, it's a great way to learn.

 

[Willie71]

David, you are one of the makers who inspire me. The knife in your avatar is what I consider a perfect knife. I can't tell you how many times I have stared at it. For all of us new guys, I find this obsession a paradox. I look at the masters and journeyman blades, and think mine are crap. Then I show what I make to my friends and family and they can't stop oohing and awing over it. It's such a disconnect, but we need to look at each blade in terms of: "is this my best, for now?" And if it is, be satisfied.

 

[David Stifle]

David, you are one of the makers who inspire me. The knife in your avatar is what I consider a perfect knife. I can't tell you how many times I have stared at it. For all of us new guys, I find this obsession a paradox. I look at the masters and journeyman blades, and think mine are crap. Then I show what I make to my friends and family and they can't stop oohing and awing over it. It's such a disconnect, but we need to look at each blade in terms of: "is this my best, for now?" And if it is, be satisfied.

Ahh, Willie, youv'e got it!!! Each blade you do is your best, be happy with it. The next one will be better. It's a tragic mistake we all make to compare our work with mastersmiths. Don't! Just practice, learn, think, and apply. It will come. I'm a far, far cry from a master, but that's okay too. Because I enjoy it, it makes me happy, and my blades cut like crazy. Good enough for an old guy. Ahh, but if I were ten years younger...

And, thanks for the compliment on the avator knife, that probably is the closest I've come to a perfect knife. It didn't have one observable flaw in fit and finish. That went to my son for his birthday. You can see better pics of it in my album.

Again, Willie71 and other young makers, post your work and tell us about it. Show and Tell's a great way to learn. Just ask my five year old granddaughter, she loves it.

I'd also like to adknowledge and thank Nick Wheeler for his wonderful WIP's. Nick, I learned so much from your WIP's, thanks!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Comment to David - I remember that knife. It was stunning then, and still is.

Comment to the readers - David is far too hard on himself.

 

[David Stifle]

Comment to David - I remember that knife. It was stunning then, and still is.

Comment to the readers - David is far too hard on himself.

Thanks, Stacy! I think I'll try to bring the old girl back to life. this time with W2. As for being too hard on myself, you are absolutely right. It just took a while to realize nothing's absolutely perfect and to let it go. If you don't, your confidence in yourself goes to heck.

 

[Frank Niro]

Well, that sure brings a lot of thoughts (about knives) flooding into my mind. There was a lot of bells ringing as I read those threads of yours, David. And the over riding thought of all which is it may not be perfect but we did our best and the next one we will try to do even better and it just might be !!! Frank

 

[David Stifle]

Well, that sure brings a lot of thoughts (about knives) flooding into my mind. There was a lot of bells ringing as I read those threads of yours, David. And the over riding thought of all which is it may not be perfect but we did our best and the next one we will try to do even better and it just might be !!! Frank

Hi Frank

I think most of us have this perfection bug, I probably just had it worst than most. I now remember what happened to that knife. I had it for five years or so after I'd finished it. I never even thought abouttrying to sell it. Then, when I got my shop, and my first grinder, I figured it was time to fix that tiny little problem. I touched it to my grinder, and kazamm! It was ruined. To this day, I don't know what the heck was going through my mind. I had so little experience with a grinder. It actually took me a year or so to get used to the power of a grinder, and literally years to truely be able to do a complex grind. Man! I ruined a LOT of steel back then.

But I'm going to remake this knife. It's just something that needs to be done. Should be easy peasey!