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Well everyone here is the official start of the 2013 Mini Knife KITH! Back by popular demand, this is the third annual running, and I will be your host again. This thread is where you can post Im in, I will make a knife by July 7. You are not obligated until the JULY 7, 2013 deadline when all will have to post: "My knife is done and in a box ready to ship." I have extended it an extra week this year to the end of the Independance Day weekend.
This KITH is open to all who wish to make a mini knife or similar tool (sword, hawk, etc.) that they feel represents the best of their abilities and efforts. The spirit of this KITH is to encourage makers of all skills and abilities to try their hand at making a mini knife. All others who have made one before should just try and do a good job. We have knives from fairly new makers to master smiths. All are given with the spirit of the KITH, and received just as gladly.
There will be no exceptions to the JULY 7, 2013 cutoff (midnight PST). If the knife isn't finished by then, you won't get a shipping label....no exceptions. (If you need the label early ,that won't be such a problem, but no extensions.)
So, if everyone wants to, lets get started. Here is the KITH:
2013 MINI KNIFE KITH
This thread is for all those interested in joining the 2013 MINI KNIFE KITH.
While the normal KITH's are for full sized working (or display) knives, this one will be exclusively for miniatures. The purpose is to make a knife and give it away to another knife maker. In return you will get a knife from someone. No one will know who they are making the knife for until after the knife is finished, and no one will know who they will receive a knife from until it arrives in the mail.
SOME BASIC RULES:
The entrant must make, finish, and box the knife by or before JULY 7, 2013. Once finished, the maker can then post on the 2013 MINI KNIFE KITH - Im Ready, thread. This thread will be posted starting MAY 1, 2013. Photos of the completed knives can be posted on a separate KITH Photos" thread if it gets to the size where a separate thread is needed.
By JULY 14, 2013, I will make a shipping label and an envelope for each entrant, from those who have logged on the Im Ready thread. I will have a third party randomly draw the labels and stick them in an envelope. The only examination of the names will be to assure no one is sent their own label. I will then email the name and address to each person in the KITH.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this; post on this thread, Im In - I will make a knife by JULY 7, 2013.
Also, send me an email to, fast14riot@gmail.com . Give me you real name, your forum name, shipping address, contact phone, and email.
At this point, that is all you need to do. I will keep track of those who are interested in participating. I will send out reminders by email to keep us all going. If you dont finish the knife, or if there is a conflict of schedule, there is no problem this way - the recipients are only drawn from those who have completed their entry by July 7, 2013.
About the knives:
A miniature can be many things, I generally think it should be of 1/4 scale or less, but it is up to you. A 1/4 scale Bowie can easily be 4" long, but a 1/4 scale katana I would think of as a knife. Whatever scale you choose, be sure to pay attention to every detail to make sure it is true to scale. The entry can be any knife or blade smith related item; fixed blade, folder, axe, hawk, sword, etc. The only requirement is that it be made by the submitter and of miniature scale (For simplicity, I will refer to it as the knife). The workmanship should be of the best quality that you are able to do. Levels will vary depending on ability and experience, but if you feel your knife will be a suitable gift, then by all means enter. If you are just starting, and still learning the basics, perhaps sitting this year out would be best. The knife should be fully completed, and a sheath or case is completely optional due to the non-usable nature of minis. You should provide all the pertinent information on the knife in a note to the recipient (put this in the box). Outside services, such as Water Jet, Stabilization, and Heat Treatment are fine, but the workmanship on the knife should be yours. The value level of the knife is up to you as most likely these will be made of scraps. It should be something that will be happily received by the new owner, but levels of value will vary, depending on the maker and their circumstances. It is a fun gift exchange, not a swap meet. It is not about what you get back for what you put in. Some knives will be worth more than others, but it is totally up to you. No one is obligated to go beyond their means to enter this KITH.
Lets all have some fun and make some truly worthy mini knives.
-Xander Holman
This KITH is open to all who wish to make a mini knife or similar tool (sword, hawk, etc.) that they feel represents the best of their abilities and efforts. The spirit of this KITH is to encourage makers of all skills and abilities to try their hand at making a mini knife. All others who have made one before should just try and do a good job. We have knives from fairly new makers to master smiths. All are given with the spirit of the KITH, and received just as gladly.
There will be no exceptions to the JULY 7, 2013 cutoff (midnight PST). If the knife isn't finished by then, you won't get a shipping label....no exceptions. (If you need the label early ,that won't be such a problem, but no extensions.)
So, if everyone wants to, lets get started. Here is the KITH:
2013 MINI KNIFE KITH
This thread is for all those interested in joining the 2013 MINI KNIFE KITH.
While the normal KITH's are for full sized working (or display) knives, this one will be exclusively for miniatures. The purpose is to make a knife and give it away to another knife maker. In return you will get a knife from someone. No one will know who they are making the knife for until after the knife is finished, and no one will know who they will receive a knife from until it arrives in the mail.
SOME BASIC RULES:
The entrant must make, finish, and box the knife by or before JULY 7, 2013. Once finished, the maker can then post on the 2013 MINI KNIFE KITH - Im Ready, thread. This thread will be posted starting MAY 1, 2013. Photos of the completed knives can be posted on a separate KITH Photos" thread if it gets to the size where a separate thread is needed.
By JULY 14, 2013, I will make a shipping label and an envelope for each entrant, from those who have logged on the Im Ready thread. I will have a third party randomly draw the labels and stick them in an envelope. The only examination of the names will be to assure no one is sent their own label. I will then email the name and address to each person in the KITH.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this; post on this thread, Im In - I will make a knife by JULY 7, 2013.
Also, send me an email to, fast14riot@gmail.com . Give me you real name, your forum name, shipping address, contact phone, and email.
At this point, that is all you need to do. I will keep track of those who are interested in participating. I will send out reminders by email to keep us all going. If you dont finish the knife, or if there is a conflict of schedule, there is no problem this way - the recipients are only drawn from those who have completed their entry by July 7, 2013.
About the knives:
A miniature can be many things, I generally think it should be of 1/4 scale or less, but it is up to you. A 1/4 scale Bowie can easily be 4" long, but a 1/4 scale katana I would think of as a knife. Whatever scale you choose, be sure to pay attention to every detail to make sure it is true to scale. The entry can be any knife or blade smith related item; fixed blade, folder, axe, hawk, sword, etc. The only requirement is that it be made by the submitter and of miniature scale (For simplicity, I will refer to it as the knife). The workmanship should be of the best quality that you are able to do. Levels will vary depending on ability and experience, but if you feel your knife will be a suitable gift, then by all means enter. If you are just starting, and still learning the basics, perhaps sitting this year out would be best. The knife should be fully completed, and a sheath or case is completely optional due to the non-usable nature of minis. You should provide all the pertinent information on the knife in a note to the recipient (put this in the box). Outside services, such as Water Jet, Stabilization, and Heat Treatment are fine, but the workmanship on the knife should be yours. The value level of the knife is up to you as most likely these will be made of scraps. It should be something that will be happily received by the new owner, but levels of value will vary, depending on the maker and their circumstances. It is a fun gift exchange, not a swap meet. It is not about what you get back for what you put in. Some knives will be worth more than others, but it is totally up to you. No one is obligated to go beyond their means to enter this KITH.
Lets all have some fun and make some truly worthy mini knives.
-Xander Holman
I was wondering if you could give some more ideas for minis, I know you've mentioned tomahawks and bowies and that they should be 1/4 scale, but when you say a bowie would/could be about 4" , do you mean the overall length of it would be 4"? So are these minis really not meant to be used at all, or can they actually be functional like small dashis are for example? So yea basically I'm lookin for other ideas of styles of blades when it comes to being able to shrink one into a mini, cause I'm drawin a big blank 
Also could you point me in the direction of where I might find some examples? Thanks! 
Take care! 
