- Joined
- Feb 1, 2001
- Messages
- 916
Tim Herman. The Man, The Myth. hmm... sounds a bit pretentious.
How bout Tim Herman and the boot knife he made me.
Doesn't quite roll of the toungue but it will have to do.
I just received the boot knife I posted pics of last week and thought it would be kinda fun to do a mini bio about him along with the usual specs and impressions of the knife. Here goes.
Probably like alot of folks on BF my initial impression of Tim is that he was a talented artist who seems to have very healthy appreciation of the female posterior. As I got to know Tim through BF chat that impression was proved true.
But there is more to him than that.
Tim was a commericial illustrator in his pre knife maker days working mainly with an airbrush. He also tried his hand as a musician but I think he was mainly doing that for the groupie scene.
In 1976 he started making knives. Like alot of folks during that time he was making Loveless inspired hunters. In 1978 he was accepted into the Knifemaker's Guild. Some of the folks who signed his application were A.G. Russell and Buster Warenski. Eventually Tim turned to folders learning mainly from Bill Davis and Steve Hoel. Warenski and Jim Hardenbrook mentored Tim when his folders started moving towards the art end of the scale. Pretty impressive list of teachers.
Some of his many accomplishments are winning the 1991 Barrett/Smythe award for Best Folder at the Knifemakers Guild Show and being invited to the prestigous Art Knife Invitational. He developed color engraving after studying the Italian masters of stipple engraving and not liking the fact that it only looked good at just the right ange with the right lighting.. Recently he has been exploring utility liner lock folders while spending time learning in the Kentucky shops of a couple of obscure makers named Carson and Smith.
Pretty impressive bio but you'd never know it talking to Tim. I've found him extremely down to earth with a wicked sense of humor(often self depreciating). He is always quick to help anybody with knife making questions.
But what about my boot knife? I was blown away when I opened the box. The knife had a nice flow to it. All the lines worked together. Nothing out of place. Crisp grinds and one of the best satin finishes I've ever seen. One thing that Tim does is that he uses stones to finish a knife instead of sandpaper. The thuya burl scales have a subtle contouring that make for an extremely comfortable and secure grip. 3 mosiac pins with copper accents go perfectly with the wood. The blade is 1/8" thick s30v(one of his first blades in this). Oal length is 8" with a 3/5" blade.
Hope you didnt find this too boring and you learned something new about Tim. I'm glad to call him one of my favorite makers and a friend as well.
How bout Tim Herman and the boot knife he made me.
Doesn't quite roll of the toungue but it will have to do.
I just received the boot knife I posted pics of last week and thought it would be kinda fun to do a mini bio about him along with the usual specs and impressions of the knife. Here goes.
Probably like alot of folks on BF my initial impression of Tim is that he was a talented artist who seems to have very healthy appreciation of the female posterior. As I got to know Tim through BF chat that impression was proved true.
But there is more to him than that.Tim was a commericial illustrator in his pre knife maker days working mainly with an airbrush. He also tried his hand as a musician but I think he was mainly doing that for the groupie scene.
In 1976 he started making knives. Like alot of folks during that time he was making Loveless inspired hunters. In 1978 he was accepted into the Knifemaker's Guild. Some of the folks who signed his application were A.G. Russell and Buster Warenski. Eventually Tim turned to folders learning mainly from Bill Davis and Steve Hoel. Warenski and Jim Hardenbrook mentored Tim when his folders started moving towards the art end of the scale. Pretty impressive list of teachers.
Some of his many accomplishments are winning the 1991 Barrett/Smythe award for Best Folder at the Knifemakers Guild Show and being invited to the prestigous Art Knife Invitational. He developed color engraving after studying the Italian masters of stipple engraving and not liking the fact that it only looked good at just the right ange with the right lighting.. Recently he has been exploring utility liner lock folders while spending time learning in the Kentucky shops of a couple of obscure makers named Carson and Smith. Pretty impressive bio but you'd never know it talking to Tim. I've found him extremely down to earth with a wicked sense of humor(often self depreciating). He is always quick to help anybody with knife making questions.
But what about my boot knife? I was blown away when I opened the box. The knife had a nice flow to it. All the lines worked together. Nothing out of place. Crisp grinds and one of the best satin finishes I've ever seen. One thing that Tim does is that he uses stones to finish a knife instead of sandpaper. The thuya burl scales have a subtle contouring that make for an extremely comfortable and secure grip. 3 mosiac pins with copper accents go perfectly with the wood. The blade is 1/8" thick s30v(one of his first blades in this). Oal length is 8" with a 3/5" blade.
Hope you didnt find this too boring and you learned something new about Tim. I'm glad to call him one of my favorite makers and a friend as well.
