New member introduction and questions and pics

[daviscustom]

Hi, just wanted to introduce myself and give a little background info on my experience and interests.

I started out around 11-12 making knives, or trying to anyway. Being raised on a farm I had some basic tools available to work with, and having a father who was a sucker for helping me out in my pursuits and interests. We eventually built a fixture to hold a 6" hand grinder at an adjustable angle that allowed the grinding wheel to protrude up through a metal table so that I could slide the blade across the table against the grinder and have enough control to do it safely. Later on, during high school we built a rudimentary belt grinder/buffer with built-in dust collection. It worked, but never very well, as the contact wheel was made out of a 2" wide grinding stone that we coated in "plasti-dip" and never provided a very stable grinding surface. At this point, having a subscription to Blade I had a pretty good idea of the sort of equipment I needed but couldn't really afford to buy the good stuff.

I eventually made my way into a Bach. of Fine Arts program in college and found that my adviser, who was the metals (jewelry) professor, was totally open to the idea of me slanting my jewelry projects towards applying jewelry techniques into knifemaking, so I continued to accumulate techniques, not necessarily to the point of perfection, but to the point I could successfully attempt most anything I set my mind to.

Eventually my designs started to require the ability to cast metals on a larger scale then the jewelry lab was able to handle, and it was then that I became acquainted with the sculpture professor. He allowed me to try my hand at bronze casting and though it wasn't a perfect casting, I did complete my first "fantasy" or "art" knife with fairly substantial cast bronze fittings.

Well this is dragging on so.....long story short...my sculpture instructor ...of course with the best intentions...began nudging me away from the "craft" of knifemaking and more towards sculpture. By the end of my Master of Fine Arts degree I was "over" my interest in knives and was pursuing a career in teaching sculpture at the college level...soon finding out that in order to pursue such a career long term that I would would have to drag my new wife all over the country to various adjunct (academic speak for temporary slave labor) positions in order to gain enough experience to land a permanent position.... decided this wasn't for me.

So I have spent the last 18 or so years trying to make a living...did a few public sculpture commissions, worked on the family farm, a cabinet shop, and currently I am a service tech fixing automotive service equipment (tire changers, balancers, lifts etc.) trying to be a part-time furniture maker on the side.

Recently I have been struggling to find that elusive one thing that could make my life be a life I enjoy living. I thought furniture making was the right path, and I have the next year or more of my free time filled up with a waiting list of folks wanting things made, but I find myself easily distracted by sharpening chisels, restoring old planes and just generally gravitating back to tools and metal work. I've been praying for guidance.... and two weeks ago I took my family to a Renaissance Festival and after fondling all the custom made swords and knives at several different booths and considering trying to have a booth of my own next year....it hit me that maybe I should take another look at knifemaking. So here I am....hoping for a little wisdom and input.

Sorry I do not yet have any hosted digital photos of my work, but I will work on that soon. I apologize for the long post but I just wanted to lay all my cards on the table so to speak. I realize the quality of the work is the key, so I will try to get some stuff posted fairly soon. Any input is appreciated.

Andy

 

[Jim Rieck]

I wanted to welcome you back to knifemaking. I am a bit of a late bloomer, myself. Next spring I plan to have a table at a show in Oregon to see how my knives sell and decide then if I want to get into the pro thing hook line and sinker. I realize that I might never really make a living wage at it, but since I am retired, that is not an issue. My goal is to come out in the black. If I were you, I wouldn't quit my day job just yet. If you really want to get back into making blades, you can test the waters, see how they sell, then decide if you want to go full time.

I am curious about your handle "daviscustom." There used to be a "Davis Custom Knives" in Spokane, Washington years ago with a pretty famous maker in residence. He popped out of the knife making world around the time you did. Any connection?

 

[daviscustom]

No, afraid not...I've never made much of an attempt at selling any of my knives. The name has come from years of doing woodworking, a little custom gun work and such...not really wanting to pin myself down too much by using a more descriptive handle.

Not intending to jump in with both feet just yet. I have a couple of woodworking jobs that I have to finish before I go crazy and start setting up my knifemaking gear. I have a nicely equipped, one man, woodworking shop that I will most likely begin to slowly morph into a place I can also work with metal.

The more I think about and talk about this....the more it feels like the right thing to do. I don't know if I'm just rationalizing, but I think there is a reason I haven't gotten rid of my gas forge an other stuff that has just been taking up space in my life for the last almost two decades. I've always been a bit of an equipment hoarder but I also didn't want to get rid of anything useful until I knew what I wanted to do.

I've been out of the loop for so long...how many big custom makers are there in the Missouri area now? I assume the best way to test the waters is to just start making stuff an see how it sells? The way I would tend to lean would be towards higher end collector type pieces. I'm assuming this sort of market would best be pursued on line or at national shows. I realize that high quality working knives are the bread and butter for a lot of makers so I wouldn't want to exclude that market...but my heart is in the one of a kind stuff.

Anyone care to give advice towards reaching such a goal?

 

[daviscustom]

Ok I shot a bunch of quick pics...didn't mess around trying to get rid of weird reflections ...so the tanto and the sword especially don't have any marks on the blade other then from the hamon and the hand polishing.

Tried to put them in chronological order....the first two are from high school..through them in for laughs. I don't remember if I got my Square Wheel grinder before or after the dragon dagger.....and yes I know the idea is a little juvenile...I was about 19 or so . I still like the big fantasy fighter but I could do it light years better now and I would make the lines flow together much better this time.

Sorry I probably got a little picture happy

Probably did this one with an angle grinder-can't remember

made out of an old meat cleaver- brazed one of the old holes in w/ brass

440C stainless, bronze, fossilized walrus ivory

Cable damascus (can't remember the maker), nickle-silver fittings, black micarta

1065 steel, ebony, fine silver, and copper/silver laminated

1065 steel, fine silver fittings, stainless wire wrapped grip

1065, composite ivory, brass

 

[daviscustom]

Hello......is this thing on?........Did I post this in the wrong forum ?

Have I unknowingly done the BladeForum equivalent of farting loudly in church?...come on ...throw me a bone

Seriously.. just wanted to get acquainted a little.

 

[Redrummd]

You did probably post this in the wrong forum...

This particular forum has one of the lowest traffic hits (visits) on the site. This thread would receive 10 or more times the views in the Shop Talk section.

With that noted - Your work does show skills needed although most are not what I find interesting but then I am a pocket knife sort.....

There is an incredible amount of "competition" in the knife making sales world. A lot of "hobbiests" make and sell knives made from kits that are very low cost as compared to a sole authorship knife.

In the sole authorship knife world you would be competing with hundreds who are good enough at the metal aspects and artistic aspects to sell their knives at "Blade" and most of the large regional and even local shows. A lot of these artists are retired from a primary job, myself included, and do not need to make $25. an hour to support our lifestyle so our works can have a lot of hours in them and still sell well for what the majority of buyers find acceptable.

My average knife sells for between $200 and $250. and I "make" about $12.00 an hour for the hours I am in my shop. That $12.00 does not include computer time answering questions, searching for stone or even the time used for packaging and shipping. I would guess if those hours were factored in I would probably be making less than $10.00 an hour and I am fairly well known.....

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

Welcome to BF. I would post the pics and an intro in the Custom and handmade section.

Great lookin stuff, really like the tanto.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Moved to "Shop Talk" where more folks can say, "Howdy".

 

[Jim Rieck]

Looks to me like you have a great start in the high end market. All of mine are users and don't have the zing that yours do and probably won't end up in a showcase somewhere.

 

[daviscustom]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words.

As I said, the most recent of these knives were done nearly twenty years ago. Tai Goo was a new promising maker, and if I remember right, it was his articles in Blade that got me started in differential heat treating and led to the tanto and sword using that technique.

I hope that my design skills have matured a bit since then. I know that I would like to work on refining my skills in regards to forging and heat treating and especially do some testing to see how some of the methods I use actually function. I have mostly focused on design and construction techniques....things about a knife that are visually evident. I would also like to know that I can make something that will function well as a tool.

 

[Frank Niro]

Certainly you've come to the right place to have an assosiation with makers in all levels of development and quality of work. Most are very helpful if you ask. Right now I find it difficult to figure where you might classified but that doesn't mean a thing. What matters in the end is the work you do now. I encourage you to go to dealer and maker websites. You will see knives and in a lot of cases prices too. If you are honest with yourself you will see where you fit in to begin and where you may want to work to get to. There are truly some amazing makers out there. You may be one of them whose work I will enjoy a great deal.Frank

 

[daviscustom]

The cased matching daggers probably seem a little unrelated to the rest...they were a part of my thesis exhibition and were made as part of a mixed media series....made to convey a visual message... not really as an art knife project, but as knives that are part of an artwork....mostly just wanted to include them as a part of the "skill set".

They were made after I was drawn away from the concept of knifemaking as art. I'd be glad to explain more about the series if anyone cares, but it's about exploring utilitarian objects and the way they convey their intended use and what they tell you about their user/maker.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Andy,
Welcome to the BF.

I will give you some basic advice and some specific advice.

All new makers will have to wade into the pool slowly. No one can expect to start off selling a bunch of knives. Most new makers think they make a great knife, when in fact they still have a long way to go before their cutlery becomes marketable to the public.

That is where your answer becomes specific. You have skills in casting and design that few new makers have. This will allow you to make some pretty fancy blades and handles.....but that unfortunately isn't where the sales usually are.
The vast majority of knives sold are simple hunting and kitchen knives. The other popular groups are folders and utility knives. These same types can be bought at Walmart for $10 or less, so the draw for a hand made knife at $100-$250 is quality, fit, and finish.....not usually artistic merit.

There might be 100 customers for a user ( simple knife made for use) compared to 2 or 3 who want a wall hanger bowie or a sword. Start with a drop point hunter and progress to a camp knife. With your eye for flow, also consider the upcoming industry in hand made professional chef's cutlery. Once your name is well known, the collectors will be more interested in your higher end collectibles and art pieces.

As a goldsmith, I was drawn to artistic knives as you made. My first knives were way to artsy ( and I still own several of those). I still make some very ornate pieces, but the bulk of what I sell is kitchen knives.

As most of the folks on this forum will tell you ( even those who do it as their living), don't expect to make money making knives. As best most just offset some of the cost. If you reach a break even point you are doing well ,indeed.

Give it a try and make a simple hunter. We would love to see the progress.

 

[daviscustom]

I appreciate the input, I know that you are telling it like it is... and I do appreciate it. I'm disappointed to hear that it is that uncommon to earn a living selling knives. It is certainly my intent to come back slowly, although it seems that it would be the most difficult route to differentiate one from the pack while doing the same thing everyone else does....I guess that is where design comes in....but as I said I am interested in making a good cutting tool as well, so I will be spending some time on that.

It is going to take a while to clear out some the woodworking projects that I have plugging the pipeline, so I'll be doing a lot of reading in the mean time.

 

[Tai Goo]

Hi Andy, your story sounds a lot like mine. I think getting a good college education in the arts is a great place to start and gives you a broad base to work from. I tried my hand at most of the different "crafts", plus sculpture and painting,... but really enjoyed knifemaking and bladesmithing the most. It is a good way to incorporate what you have learned in the various disciplines. As for making a living at it,... I guess I decided I was either going to do it or starve. That was over 30 years ago and I'm still here. Your attitude is going to be critical in this area. You have to be willing to "live the life" of an artist.

As a professional artist you really have to go with what you do best and what people seem to appreciate the most. I got a good response on my knives early on and started selling knives regularly after about 5 years into it. I held a various part time jobs to help make the transition... never sold a painting in my life.

Rather than following the pack and making the types of knives that there is the largest market for (and the most competition), I suggest making the knives as “personal” as possible so they will stand out in a crowd and be noticed. Throw the rule books out, and tap into what makes you unique as a person.

Don't follow the trends, create new ones.

Risk taking is a big part of it, so you have to be willing to stick your neck out a bit. I don’t know of any really successful innovative progressive artists that haven’t taken a lot of risks.

Having a thick skin and a “thick skull” will help. There will always be critics, but never believe your reviews (good or bad),… just stay the course and be true to yourself.

Defend your work and your ideas, but also,... be your own worst critic.

... This is pretty nice!

 

[daviscustom]

Thanks for giving me a shove in the right direction. I definitely do not have a case of "the big head", but my gut was telling the same thing. It is great to hear words of encouragement from someone who's work I admire (and I don't mean that to exclude or discount anyone else's advice). I have always felt a connection of sorts to your designs, ever since I started seeing your work in Blade 20 years or so ago. Your work has always set itself apart from the crowd visually and that is a model I would like to follow.

I know there are many makers that do not have an art background that create wonderful designs, but I do feel that my background at least gives me a fighting chance.