Road to journeyman

all the best to you, Tony!
 
Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for the encouragement and kind words, I really appreciate it. Also, to apologise for my absence, I'm currently 100% focused on completing my set, the back up knives and the required paperwork to travel in the US.

Karl B. Andersen Karl B. Andersen I'm really looking forward to meeting you sir, your work has been an inspiration of mine and would love your feedback and critique over my knives.

Finally, to keep up with the theme of the thread, here is a video of my first back up knife. Not yet 100% completed but close.

Since I have the available time, a second backup knife.
221.jpg
 
Tony Mont said:
Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for the encouragement and kind words, I really appreciate it. Also, to apologise for my absence, I'm currently 100% focused on completing my set, the back up knives and the required paperwork to travel in the US.

Karl B. Andersen Karl B. Andersen I'm really looking forward to meeting you sir, your work has been an inspiration of mine and would love your feedback and critique over my knives.

Finally, to keep up with the theme of the thread, here is a video of my first back up knife. Not yet 100% completed but close.

Since I have the available time, a second backup knife.
View attachment 2938273
Click to expand...

Gotta do what you have to do!!! Best of luck on the rest of your endeavor!!!! Safe travels and Enjoy yourself!!!👌
 
20 days since my last update and I can report that I reached Troy Ohio safe and sound!

Half an hour ago I got into my room after 22.5 hours of travelling. The judging is on Friday 22th but I wanted to give myself a few extra days in case something went wrong along my travels. Luckily, nothing crazy happened on my luggage, which means I will have a couple of days being a proper tourist in Troy.

The following pictures are the gist of my past week.
A couple of glue ups. The second one being glued is my 7th knife which I will definitely not be using. I just finished it because I had the extra time.
IMG_20250812_160447.jpg
IMG_20250816_114331.jpg

It took me an ungodly amount of time to do the final finish on my first knife of the set and less than an hour to do the final finish on this one. It's always mind-blowing for me how easy something becomes once you truly figure it out.
IMG_20250816_124414.jpg
The takedown of my set.
IMG_20250813_144731.jpg

Completed, waxed and packed!
IMG_20250813_151220.jpg

Apart from the knives, these were the items in my luggage. All kinds of abrasives just in case something went wrong.
IMG_20250816_134825.jpg

Now, a few days of relaxation in Troy, make the final check in the knives and Friday morning they will be out on the table for judging!
 
Tony Mont said:
20 days since my last update and I can report that I reached Troy Ohio safe and sound!

Half an hour ago I got into my room after 22.5 hours of travelling. The judging is on Friday 22th but I wanted to give myself a few extra days in case something went wrong along my travels. Luckily, nothing crazy happened on my luggage, which means I will have a couple of days being a proper tourist in Troy.

The following pictures are the gist of my past week.
A couple of glue ups. The second one being glued is my 7th knife which I will definitely not be using. I just finished it because I had the extra time.
View attachment 2953029
View attachment 2953026

It took me an ungodly amount of time to do the final finish on my first knife of the set and less than an hour to do the final finish on this one. It's always mind-blowing for me how easy something becomes once you truly figure it out.
View attachment 2953025
The takedown of my set.
View attachment 2953027

Completed, waxed and packed!
View attachment 2953028

Apart from the knives, these were the items in my luggage. All kinds of abrasives just in case something went wrong.
View attachment 2953024

Now, a few days of relaxation in Troy, make the final check in the knives and Friday morning they will be out on the table for judging!
Click to expand...
Enjoy your break........👌

Best of luck with the testing.....👍.........


You'll do well.....😉
 
Congratulations and enjoy your time here….Karl is a fine Gentleman of many talents and it sounds like you’re ready for your JS Testing. 🎉👏:cool:
 
Best of luck to you! I can't wait to see the complete set all in one photo after you've passed.

Out of curiosity, did you find that you've improved enough between making the first and last knife that you'd consider replacing some of the original set with your extra knives? Or were you able to maintain the quality you want through all of the blades?
 
Thank you guys so much for the encouragement, I really appreciate it!

To back up a bit in the timeline, the plan was to do a bit of proper tourism in Troy since I had the extra days. Unfortunately the next day of my arrival I came down with a fever. That resulted in me staying mostly in the hotel to rest and make sure I was well enough for Friday.

Come Friday, I was feeling better and left early for SOFA (southern Ohio forge and anvil). I arrived around 6:45 and met with other guys that were testing.
Around 7:30 they let us in three at a time to place down our knives.

IMG_20250822_071321.jpg
Around two hours later they began calling us in and I can proudly say that I passed!
IMG_20250822_093831.jpg

I got 7/7 votes to pass. I also received a lot of feedback which is going to help me moving forward for my master smith.
The main issue of my set was a hairline gap on the spine side on one of my guards.

The plan for today is to relax and have fun at the hammer-in and meet new people. I wanted to do that yesterday but the anxiety and lack of sleep made my mind not work properly.
I also got my set professionally photographed and soon will have the pictures.

Peter James said:
Out of curiosity, did you find that you've improved enough between making the first and last knife that you'd consider replacing some of the original set with your extra knives? Or were you able to maintain the quality you want through all of the blades?
Click to expand...
I'd say yes and no. The extra knives were simple by design.
However, since I already knew which processes I had to follow on the extra knives, it was much faster and easier to complete.
The lack of frustration from failing made me work with a clear mind which results in a better knife.

Now, even though I'm only 7 knives ahead since I began my set, I know my knives will be even better.
 
Tony Mont said:
Thank you guys so much for the encouragement, I really appreciate it!

To back up a bit in the timeline, the plan was to do a bit of proper tourism in Troy since I had the extra days. Unfortunately the next day of my arrival I came down with a fever. That resulted in me staying mostly in the hotel to rest and make sure I was well enough for Friday.

Come Friday, I was feeling better and left early for SOFA (southern Ohio forge and anvil). I arrived around 6:45 and met with other guys that were testing.
Around 7:30 they let us in three at a time to place down our knives.

View attachment 2957720
Around two hours later they began calling us in and I can proudly say that I passed!
View attachment 2957721

I got 7/7 votes to pass. I also received a lot of feedback which is going to help me moving forward for my master smith.
The main issue of my set was a hairline gap on the spine side on one of my guards.

The plan for today is to relax and have fun at the hammer-in and meet new people. I wanted to do that yesterday but the anxiety and lack of sleep made my mind not work properly.
I also got my set professionally photographed and soon will have the pictures.


I'd say yes and no. The extra knives were simple by design.
However, since I already knew which processes I had to follow on the extra knives, it was much faster and easier to complete.
The lack of frustration from failing made me work with a clear mind which results in a better knife.

Now, even though I'm only 7 knives ahead since I began my set, I know my knives will be even better.
Click to expand...
Congratulations, Tony!!!! Bummer about the fever, but I'm glad you're better and got such resoundingly good feedback. You made some beautiful knives there and earned your success. Well done!
 
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