- Joined
- Oct 31, 1998
- Messages
- 3,036
I had the pleasure of meeting Kurt Meerdink at a Knife show a couple of months ago.I had some exposure to his work before hand, since I had purchased a couple of fighters he made from JT's Knife Shop in Port Jervis,N.Y. previous to the show.Anyone not familiar with Kurt Meerdink,he worked and apprenticed with Bud Nealy for a number of years before going out on his own.I was introduced to Kurt at the Poughkeepsie Gun & Knife show by our very own JailHack.The three of us chatted for awhile and towards the end Kurt invited me out to his new shop located in Barryville,N.Y. for a tour sometime.I was very excited about being invited to the shop,not only because I love his knives,but I had never been to a custom knife makers shop before.I finally took him up on the offer and gave him a call last week to make plans for a nice day trip out to his shop on Saturday.He was very pleasant to speak with over the phone, as he was in person.Then Saturday rolled around and my wife and I were off to Barryville which is not to far from Port Jervis,N.Y..My first stop was at good ole' JT's Knife Shop to drool over some of his very wide selection of production and custom knives.After departing JT's with my newly acquired NICA CR Tanto Sebenza,we were on our way to Kurt Meerdink's Shop.It was a beautiful ride through the scenic terrain.We had great views of the mountains and Delaware River.There was a winding,s- curve roadway with stone walls that was breathtaking and according to Kurt a place of filming for commercials,photo-shoots etc.
If the drive wasn't impressive enough,we finally made it out to the end of his roadway which he was kind enough to be waiting for us to make sure we didn't get lost.Actually,at first I didn't recognize him because he had shaved his facial hair,after reintroducing himself to me,We followed Kurt to his driveway.It was quite a ways back nestled in the middle of a peaceful section of the mountain top and only one other house anywhere in site.What a beautiful house he has,so peaceful and tranquil.I would love to live out in the "country" like where he is located.I saw his very handsome Siberian Husky out back behind the house,wish I could've taken the dog home with me.I introduced my wife to Kurt and he introduced his lovely wife and I believe his sister in-law to my wife and I.We talked about his new house for awhile and then proceeded to his shop which was down in the basement.The shop was fairly large and very spacious,nothing was messy or cluttered.The first thing that amazed me was the fact it was so clean and organized.He had a wood stove,anvil,a few drill presses,Bader belt grinder with a great vacuum system,a small disc type grinder,a couple of benches,vices,buffer,cabinets with handle materials like all types of g-10,micarta,stabilized woods and natural materials like bones,ivory,stag,exotic woods etc.He even has a nice little office.Kurt was very helpful and full of enthusium answering my many questions.Kurt has an overwhelming amount of knowledge and by the end of our discussion I had a good understanding of the knife making process from start to finish.We discussed many subjects including Knives,designs,handle materials,blade materials,sheaths,engraving etc.My wife and I spent about three hours over at Kurts place.After we concluded the shop tour we went upstairs and we looked at his private collection of knives and knives ready to go for show stock.
I drooled all over the beautiful bowie he made that was pictured in the Jan 2000 issue of Tactical Knives.Eleven inches of fileworked blade,engraved hilt,stag scales,absolutly beautiful workmanship.If I had the money on me and if the wife wasn't with,I probably would have left there with that bowie
.I saw one of the most awsome swords I ever have seen,he made a broadsword out of D-2 steel.If you can grind a sword out of that stuff you are one heck of a knifemaker.Kurt is a perfectionist,if it isn't perfect and done right it doesn't leave the shop.He showed me some great folders he made,fit and function perfect of course.Ball detent,linerlock,scales fit and function perfect.Kurt is extremely talented and can pretty much make any style of knife you desire from neck knives,fighters,bowies,folders etc. something simple and basic to a presentation grade knife.When we concluded our knife discussions we talked about guns and he showed me his latest addition.Just before we left we met Kurt's father a very nice man too.Kurt was very friendly and receptive throughout the whole visit.He made me feel like I was a long time friend and told me I was welcome back anytime.Kurt is a total gentleman and professional,as well as a talented knife maker.I recommend highly if anyone receives an invitation out to his shop you should go,you won't be disappointed.Kurt Meerdink currently has about a six month wait from the time you order,which isn't long of a wait.Currently Kurt has no computer access,though JailHack and I are trying to get him to get on-line soon
.If your interested in getting something right away JT'S Knife Shop in Port Jervis carries some of his neck knives and fighters.I just wanted to mention again just how wonderful the experience was and what a great time I had at Kurt's shop.Thank you Kurt!
Contact info for Maker:
Kurt Meerdink
120 Split Rock Dr.
Barryville,N.Y. 12719
Phone: (914)557-0783
Contact info for JT's is as follows:
J.T.'s Knife Shop
264 East Main Street
Port Jervis,N.Y. 12771 Phone-(914)856-6904
E-mail: jtarbell@warwick.net
Thanks for reading,Ralph aka-TOMBSTONE
[This message has been edited by TOMBSTONE (edited 04-02-2000).]
[This message has been edited by TOMBSTONE (edited 04-02-2000).]
If the drive wasn't impressive enough,we finally made it out to the end of his roadway which he was kind enough to be waiting for us to make sure we didn't get lost.Actually,at first I didn't recognize him because he had shaved his facial hair,after reintroducing himself to me,We followed Kurt to his driveway.It was quite a ways back nestled in the middle of a peaceful section of the mountain top and only one other house anywhere in site.What a beautiful house he has,so peaceful and tranquil.I would love to live out in the "country" like where he is located.I saw his very handsome Siberian Husky out back behind the house,wish I could've taken the dog home with me.I introduced my wife to Kurt and he introduced his lovely wife and I believe his sister in-law to my wife and I.We talked about his new house for awhile and then proceeded to his shop which was down in the basement.The shop was fairly large and very spacious,nothing was messy or cluttered.The first thing that amazed me was the fact it was so clean and organized.He had a wood stove,anvil,a few drill presses,Bader belt grinder with a great vacuum system,a small disc type grinder,a couple of benches,vices,buffer,cabinets with handle materials like all types of g-10,micarta,stabilized woods and natural materials like bones,ivory,stag,exotic woods etc.He even has a nice little office.Kurt was very helpful and full of enthusium answering my many questions.Kurt has an overwhelming amount of knowledge and by the end of our discussion I had a good understanding of the knife making process from start to finish.We discussed many subjects including Knives,designs,handle materials,blade materials,sheaths,engraving etc.My wife and I spent about three hours over at Kurts place.After we concluded the shop tour we went upstairs and we looked at his private collection of knives and knives ready to go for show stock.
I drooled all over the beautiful bowie he made that was pictured in the Jan 2000 issue of Tactical Knives.Eleven inches of fileworked blade,engraved hilt,stag scales,absolutly beautiful workmanship.If I had the money on me and if the wife wasn't with,I probably would have left there with that bowie
Contact info for Maker:
Kurt Meerdink
120 Split Rock Dr.
Barryville,N.Y. 12719
Phone: (914)557-0783
Contact info for JT's is as follows:
J.T.'s Knife Shop
264 East Main Street
Port Jervis,N.Y. 12771 Phone-(914)856-6904
E-mail: jtarbell@warwick.net
Thanks for reading,Ralph aka-TOMBSTONE
[This message has been edited by TOMBSTONE (edited 04-02-2000).]
[This message has been edited by TOMBSTONE (edited 04-02-2000).]
