Sir Snark-A-Lot

[TBL]

But the chances of either one of my kids ever being in a room with someone with the same name will be slim to none. I remember when i was in elementary school we had a class of 20-25 kids... 3 people were named Richard in the class .. So they wanted to call me Rick or Richie, i wasnt having that though and just didnt respond at all to it. They ended up calling me Richard and the other 2 got the shortened versions or nicknames.

If there are any other Richards, we can just shorten yours to "Dick". That seems fairly uncomplicated and easy to remember SNARK!!


Speaking of the name Dick.... Very uncommon now a days. I'm guessing is the general maturity level of society killed that name.

While my lineage descends from The Netherlands, my grandfather still refers to me in the Greek variation of my name. Timotheus

 

[TMHunt]

There's no such thing as magic. There are no "secrets" either. Making knives is nothing but research, finding good materials, endless testing, continual attention to detail and hard work. Just trying to make the next one better than the last one. Simple as dirt.



That's probably true. I suppose it does take a certain amount of bawls/ovaries/stubborness to stick with this kind of madness. We're not in it for the glory, fame or money, that's a fact...



I've been involved in a fair amount of skill-specific, labor-intensive and often secretive endeavors. Knifemaking by far stands above and beyond all others when it comes to established/respected guys actually going out of their way to pass on what they know. I'm not gonna "drop names"... but take my word, some of the very best makers and designers on the planet have helped me a great deal, and every one of them has adamantly encouraged me to to pay it forward. :thumbup:

I'll bet you my last nickel that other makers/Beckerheads have had similar mentoring. Those cats ain't scared of anyone "stealing" their ideas; they've found their own way. I can't explain it exactly, that's just how it is.

To add to JT's point. Knife making is kinda like sports as far a mentoring logic goes. Professional players help the newbies, coaches try to improve every player and so on. Yeah money is nice but I hope they do it for the passion of the game. To insure that there sport, or in our case. The craft that we love lives on. Because if it doesn't, we all lose.
Nobody really knew who I was 5 years ago. But I've been making knives since 1998 simply because I love knives and love the craft. Like James said, I've had a ton of people help me along the way, and while some people are just arrogant assholes and just cant be helped, it seems like most people in this circle for the most part are helpful. As a kid growing up in my childhood home, my dad always loved knives and I too developed a love for them. Now today, all of those makers I looked up to as a kid, I've either met, or know on a first name basis. Some have passed, but here I am now, living a dream because of the love of the craft really. Because I was taught and taken under the wing of people that where and are better than me, because they wanted for me, and the craft to succeed. Not many in my circle give a damn about completion, and I love that. I'm so over all of the I'm better, bigger, wiser, prettier, richer attitude that some much of the world is caught up in. I don't have time for that crap.
As far as taking business from someone. Really a non issue as well. No offense, but I have several years experience, thousands of dollars worth of equipment. I just moved into a commercial setting........ you got some catching up to do. but if your willing to put in the work, there plenty of people willing to help. Myself included.

 

[daizee]

I'll bet you my last nickel that other makers/Beckerheads have had similar mentoring. Those cats ain't scared of anyone "stealing" their ideas; they've found their own way. I can't explain it exactly, that's just how it is.

And you'll keep your nickel.

 

[worldwood]

Yea i dont expect to be anywhere near as good as you guys are, not for years anyways. Like said i have a lot of catching up to do And even still im not in this to become famous, get rich, or anything like that. My passion for knives continue to grow. I love testing new steels, love testing different geometries and blade profiles, and just love using knives as a whole. But on a limited income its easy to get to where im at a stand still just because i cant afford to buy new stuff to test. And with lots of time as a stay at home dad with both kids in school this year i figured this way i could learn even more about the passion i have for blades.

The very same day i learned about BladeSports i was contacting Dan to find out just how to get involved, not because i thought id do great at the sport, but because it looked like a fun way to test knives and learn how to better use them and to learn just how far you can push them, and what it takes to push them even further. I saved for nearly half a year to get my comp cutter, and it was worth every penny because i have made some great friends and learned quite a bit about using knives and what a knife is really capable of. Fueling my passion to keep going even more.

There are people out there that have seen some of my knives and just assume i had money, i have received comments from people going as far as saying "im balling" but the thing is they have no idea i sold my boat, indoor growing equipment, and lots of other stuff just to get the knives i have or had because my passion for them just kept growing.

Of course getting all the stuff to start trying to make knives has costed me more than a few nice knives would have.. The old saying "give a man a fish" comes to mind. Im pretty dedicated to learning and once i get a little/lot of practice and experience in its very possible i will be able to make knives for the rest of my life and be able to test everything that comes to mind at a fraction of the cost of buying them on the market. Thats what fueled my desire to learn to make them. Not the thought of selling knives to make money. The ones i make might not/probably wont have as pretty of a finish, or have the "cool" factor that a lot of blades on the market have.. But they could still very well be great performing blades. And i dont need pretty to test and learn more about them.

Im lucky to have everyone here to help get me on the right path, the willingness to help that you guys show is amazing in my eyes. I truly hope to one day be able to help someone the same way that i have been, and im sure will continue to be helped. :thumbup:

 

[worldwood]

Going to be a long day today. And its not starting off great simply because i cant drink any Pepsi this morning LMAO.

Have to fast. Going in around 3pm for blood work. Seeing how my cholesterol and other stuff is doing and seeing if any of the changes i have made have helped at all. Of course i havent done as well as i should of been doing so i might need to take more drastic measures depending on the results. But hopefully if nothing else it has stayed the same and not gotten worse.

Man i HATE having blood drawn. Hate it a LOT. I cant even watch as they do it. They always think its funny when they see all the tattoos i have and still look away the entire time they are drawing the blood. I have no issues getting ink work done, in fact i enjoy it. But something about a needle going into my veins bothers me quite a bit.

But ill be walking into the first store i see when i walk out of the VA looking for some caffeine free Pepsi and a sandwich LMAO

 

[TMHunt]

The best way to make money making knives is to plan on never making any money at it. Do it cause you enjoy it. I have a lot of equipment, this is true. But I started with a hacksaw and a file. I bought 1 piece of equipment as I could afford and my skills got better. I'm also lucky to have a wife that's never givin me hell about buying a expensive tool. She has more faith in me than I ever did or even still do.

 

[TMHunt]

Hey Dubz, did you send that tent UPS. I got so much stuff in the postal system heading my way right now and I recieved a notice from UPS saying something was shipped but I can't figure out what it is?

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Going to be a long day today. And its not starting off great simply because i cant drink any Pepsi this morning LMAO.

Have to fast. Going in around 3pm for blood work. Seeing how my cholesterol and other stuff is doing and seeing if any of the changes i have made have helped at all. Of course i havent done as well as i should of been doing so i might need to take more drastic measures depending on the results. But hopefully if nothing else it has stayed the same and not gotten worse.

Man i HATE having blood drawn. Hate it a LOT. I cant even watch as they do it. They always think its funny when they see all the tattoos i have and still look away the entire time they are drawing the blood. I have no issues getting ink work done, in fact i enjoy it. But something about a needle going into my veins bothers me quite a bit.

But ill be walking into the first store i see when i walk out of the VA looking for some caffeine free Pepsi and a sandwich LMAO

I'm assuming you're going to a VA hospital/clinic, so you may not get choices, but that's why I ALWAYS insist/get an early morning appointment for lab work and colonoscopies. Get it over so I can EAT, DANG IT.

With non-military hospital system I'm with, I can just walk in for my lab work early and they work you in.

I haven't been to a military/VA hospital or doctor. Never wanted to waste my time trying only to find out I was probably inelligible for some pook reason. I'm 1 of 53 lucky souls who are without any GI Bill benefits even with Honorable Discharges. I started out my military career being dead, figuratively. And even now, as I start looking into beginning to draw retired pay, DFAS has my paperwork all fouled up and I'm having to try to dig up paperwork from as far back as 1975. Hhmm. That's with 3 floods, 2 fires and 7 PCS moves included. "Thank you, sir. May I have another?"

 

[DunkEm]

To add to JT's point. Knife making is kinda like sports as far a mentoring logic goes. Professional players help the newbies, coaches try to improve every player and so on. Yeah money is nice but I hope they do it for the passion of the game. To insure that there sport, or in our case. The craft that we love lives on. Because if it doesn't, we all lose.

The direct contact with folks that actually know what they are doing and are willing to help is part of what's so cool about this site. I've made three knives so far, and I hope to get to a point where I can give them away to family and friends without them asking, "What is this?"

But I still want to know where the magic is?

I started out my military career being dead, figuratively.

If it's not too personal, can you explain? I can't quite piece that together.

And if it is too personal just ignore this or shoot me a pm and I'll edit it out.

 

[cbwoods67]

There's no such thing as magic. There are no "secrets" either. Making knives is nothing but research, finding good materials, endless testing, continual attention to detail and hard work. Just trying to make the next one better than the last one. Simple as dirt.

You have made that vehemently clear over the past couple weeks. I was snarkin' ya, JT.

 

[james terrio]

You have made that vehemently clear over the past couple weeks. I was snarkin' ya, JT.

I understand, bro. I took it as a soft pitch... you fed me a line like the "straight man" in a comedy duo and gave me an opportunity to run with it. That's good clean fun

I am pretty vehement about certain things... anyone who don't like that can kindly go take a long walk off a short pier

But I still want to know where the magic is?

There's no such thing as magic. See above.

Anyone who wants to dip their toes in the knifemaking waters, just scroll back a couple pages and re-read what WW, Todd and Daizee have said. Those guys get it.

I've had a lot of really great experiences in the "knife world" with "knife people"... but perhaps the very best was the grind-in at the Beckerhead Gathering last spring. It started as just one moron (me) mentioning half an idea, and it quickly grew into a truly amazing day with many volunteers and vendors chipping in to help and teach, and folks who might not have otherwise even tried giving it their best shot, and so much cool stuff getting made, that even now I can hardly believe it actually happened. But it did happen, because Ethan welcomed and supported us and gave us a place to do it and participated fully in the madness.

And it was really, really freakin' cool :thumbup:

 

[Diez Knives]

Hey WW, check it out! Profiled

 

[The Warrior]

Hey Dubz, did you send that tent UPS. I got so much stuff in the postal system heading my way right now and I recieved a notice from UPS saying something was shipped but I can't figure out what it is?

I was gonna send it UPS, but I would have had to wait until today to ship it. I went to the Post Office and shipped it instead. I checked the tracking. It's en route. Supposed to get there tomorrow.

 

[Silverthorn]

I am pretty vehement about certain things... anyone who don't like that can kindly go take a long walk off a short pier

You mean go swimmin right ? I dont have to have a problem with your opinion to go swimmin do I ? Cause I love to swim....lol Snark Snark

 

[TMHunt]

I was gonna send it UPS, but I would have had to wait until today to ship it. I went to the Post Office and shipped it instead. I checked the tracking. It's en route. Supposed to get there tomorrow.

Oh, o.k. thanks...... I guess I will have to go back and check what all I got coming to me. There's been a lot of $$$ flying out of the shop lately. Trying to gear up for a large run of stock plus get going on Xmas orders. There's a lot of material headin my way and I must of forgotten what all I ordered.

 

[james terrio]

You mean go swimmin right ? I dont have to have a problem with your opinion to go swimmin do I ? Cause I love to swim....lol Snark Snark

Swimming is lots of fun, and good exercise

 

[TMHunt]

I understand, bro. I took it as a soft pitch... you fed me a line like the "straight man" in a comedy duo and gave me an opportunity to run with it. That's good clean fun

I am pretty vehement about certain things... anyone who don't like that can kindly go take a long walk off a short pier



There's no such thing as magic. See above.

Anyone who wants to dip their toes in the knifemaking waters, just scroll back a couple pages and re-read what WW, Todd and Daizee have said. Those guys get it.

I've had a lot of really great experiences in the "knife world" with "knife people"... but perhaps the very best was the grind-in at the Beckerhead Gathering last spring. It started as just one moron (me) mentioning half an idea, and it quickly grew into a truly amazing day with many volunteers and vendors chipping in to help and teach, and folks who might not have otherwise even tried giving it their best shot, and so much cool stuff getting made, that even now I can hardly believe it actually happened. But it did happen, because Ethan welcomed and supported us and gave us a place to do it and participated fully in the madness.

And it was really, really freakin' cool :thumbup:

That indeed was a cool day. Cant remember how many knives was made that day but it was ridiculously cool. I know we worked our asses off but it was sooooo cool. Ive been to Ethans house 5 times and like I told him. That was by far the most fun I ever had there.

 

[worldwood]

Cool stuff 710.

Got my grinder... Easy to set up..... But the belt is rubbing a lot on the casing, back right side of the bottom wheel. I dont knows up with that.

But i have to go to the VA now and worry about it when i get back.

 

[TBL]

Productive day had here. I actually got to have a conversation with a "knife guy"!!! I convinced the wife to take a trip with me to SRKnives. They are a BF supporter and the only "premium" knife dealer in southern Ontario. They are located about 40 in away in a mall with a huge kids play section. I told the wife to leave me be to talk and come get me when she is ready to go. I was on a mission to find my brother in law a folder that was not a piece of crap. His criteria made it almost impossible (he likes partial serrations). I has a great conversation with the manager and he ended up giving me the BF member tax free discount (which is amazing because we pay 14% hst). Even better was I was able to check out potential knives I wanted in hand. I was able to take a whole bunch off my want list because I didn't like the way they felt in hand. Another problem is I know realize that there are a few that I didn't like based on looks but are amazing in the hand (like Striders). All in all awesome trip!

 

[james terrio]

That indeed was a cool day. Cant remember how many knives was made that day but it was ridiculously cool. I know we worked our asses off but it was sooooo cool. Ive been to Ethans house 5 times and like I told him. That was by far the most fun I ever had there.

It feels good to be dead-tired when you had a productive day.

You and Tackett and Ethan and Erik are the guys who really made the Grind-In a success. I can't possibly thank you all enough for the time and effort y'all put into it. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be there and share a little.

Chuck (AKS) and Aldo (NJSB) chipped in to donate steel for it when I asked 'em, and I'll never forget that, either. Pointy brought his gear and led a sharpening seminar, quench tanks were built on the spot, lots of shop-talk and safety tips, making do with what's on hand ... man, there was a lot going on that day

Most important of all was the truly friendly, fun atmosphere and the folks who made their own knives from start-to-cut for the very first time. That's so awesome I can't even describe it. :thumbup: