Rodebaugh

WyoNonSmith

WyoNonSmith

Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Messages
392
I have been doing my best to bring James Rodebaugh, MS into the modern world. He is trying to get more pics. He is trying to let people know that he is still making knives. But, most people think he has dropped out of sight and is merely a hermit. That is partly my fault, I have brought him under my evil influences and he has regained an appreciation for bird hunting. That, and his wife wants him to finish up their home.

Thanks to Keith Montgomery, Jim promises to become part of this forum. Keith really impressed upon him that people need to see your work and know that you are out there. Thanks for that.

Having recently taken an engraving class, Jim is now into that and will be adding something new to his knifemaking. He is really coming along on that and impressed several people up at Josh's Hammer-in.

The forum won't let me re-upload photos I have already posted in other threads, so I apparently can't post them here. So sorry, that was my intention here.

Right now he is in the middle of designing a new bowie that will feature lots of engraving. It is my hope that he can drag himself away from the new Cooper rifle he got in Montana long enough to get things done on this.
 
Well shoot, my mean and nasty post about him would have been better placed here :D

Jim threatened to come on the forums a while back, but I think it was shortly before his move so it didn't pan out.

I know for a fact he's had MANY knives shot by Point 7.... so we gotta tell Jim to tell Eric he wants a digital copy of every image emailed to him so he can post them on here!!! :p :D

Jim has spent time with Hancock and it shows in his construction. He also has great attention to detail and a very fine eye for lines. Jim and I have a lot of very similar tastes and thoughts on knife design, and Jim is one of those makers that really strives to make every knife look just the way he originally envisioned it.

I surely hope that he really does start getting his face and work seen around places like this, as he is a great maker and deserves the recognition :)
 
Going bird hunting is FAR more important than finishing your house or making a living!!!!!!!!:D
 
In a few days I am going to contact Jim to let him know how much I enjoyed meeting him, and too talk to him more about making sure he has a presence on Bladeforums. He was also interested in joining the CKCA, which I think would be great for him, and the CKCA. I'll talk to him some more about that as well.
 
James Rodebaugh is a very talented bladesmith, no doubt about it. I've looked closely at his work a couple of times at the ABS Expo in Reno and also for the past couple of years at the PKA show in Denver. In fact, last August in Denver he had a beautiful moderate sized damascus bowie that got my attention. He started showing me some of the little details that he'd worked into the knife and it really opened my eyes to the point where I realized that I was not nearly as adept at examining a good custom knife as I thought I was. Stupidly, I didn't buy the knife. The price was reasonable but money was a little tight then so I left it lying on the table. I have several images of James but this recent one from Josh's hammer-in is the best.
orig.jpg
 
HTMD:
That's a good pic from the hammer-in. That person you described as a knife nut in another thread, standing next to him is none other than ME. (I'm not Henry Torres).

I remember that knife from Denver. It sold right after he got back from the show.

Nick:
Jim speaks highly of you, too. He still remembers your journeyman's knives and the one that won the Peck. We had hoped to see you in Montana, and I was looking forward to seeing your knives in person...that is, if you have actually gotten any done lately. LOL. You and Jim have an eye for the same line and an attention to detail, which translates into slow knife making. Which ain't such a bad thing, I guess.

Little Jimmy now assures me he has a new computer. But, his phone line got cut so no internet right now. He is using it to transfer his engraving patterns. Last night, we put on a fireworks display we could be proud of out at his house. There were only about 94 mortar rounds fired with assorted other items. For the first time, I am tired of shooting off fireworks.
 
God help me, Jim has finally finished most of his "housework".
He has also gotten his new compressor installed, so can get back to making knives.

MY problem is that he is helping me make my first knife (damascus hunter, thank you very much), but with my busy schedule and his Housework, we haven't had much time lately. Added to that, I have a new pregressive loader that I am trying to get tuned up, with Rodebaugh, for .223 rounds. THEN, Dove Season is rapidly approaching... which means deer, elk, antelope, etc is coming for the master bow hunter, hisself.

A) I think I need to make sure he knows if my knife ain't done, I ain't taking him dove shooting (he limited out in 2 hrs last year). THAT should be enough pressure for him.
B) I wouldn't plan on seeing anything from Jimmy in a while--- at least until he has put some meat in the freezer.
C) Be prepared for a new genre of rodebaugh knives. With his newfound engraving skills, he is upping the ante and is reinvigorated. He is planning all kinds of new stuff.

On another note: I have been trying to get an answer from people just talking with them. Would you be interested in a medium sized take down bowie in an amazing patterned damascus, with an ivory handle already made, that a master smith has made and has been sitting on his bench for 2 years because he can see a minor (very hard to find) blemish in the blade? What if the mastersmith put his makers mark on the knife, but not his MS stamp because it didn't meet his rigid standards? What if it was discounted from his usual fare? Should he break and scrap the blade (finish sanded and polished already and try and make a new blade to go in the handle?
 
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