Some random action shots (just 'cuz)

NickWheeler said:
...You make knives?!?! Scarey!"

Okay, that last one wasn't so much a question as the reaction I get from all the people I went to high school with that didn't know I started doing this stuff when I was 14 and somehow don't appreciate bladesmithing as a creative outlet yet rather some weird, dark, demonic process that must be REALLY EASY yet really scarey as well.

I have to quit drinking too much coffee and posting. :o ;)
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I really appreciate you saying this, I am 16 and have just started making knives, and I get the exact same reaction. It is tough to know that even though it is an ancient art, it gets grouped with making jail tattoos and drugs in school. :rolleyes:
 
This thread is awesome!!!!!
I wish more threads like this could be posted!
Nick, you are amazing!!! You should use this series of pictures and put together a booklet that you could offer for sale on your web site or at shows or even give to customers to show folks how you make the knives they buy or are considering buying. It is fascinating looking at the process!!!

One question, why do you use the power hammer to draw the billet instead of using the press?
Thanks so much for sharing you time and talent with us Nick!!!!
 
Hey duece,

I'll trade you a power hammer video for pictures of the table attachment on your burr king. (the one that you are using for the clip) see you in Reno
 
NickWheeler said:
"$1500!?!?! Holy $hit, I should be a knifemaker so I can get rich!!!"



Okay, that last one wasn't so much a question as the reaction I get from all the people I went to high school with that didn't know I started doing this stuff when I was 14 and somehow don't appreciate bladesmithing as a creative outlet yet rather some weird, dark, demonic process that must be REALLY EASY yet really scarey as well.

I have to quit drinking too much coffee and posting. :o ;)
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HAHA yeah right, get rich knifemaking. You ever hear the saying "you want to be a millionare knifemaker? Start with 2 million"
 
I originally tried to convince the ole lady that I could sell the knives I made to recoup the expenses for all the tools and maybe make a buck in the process but in reality I doubt I could sell any knives I make for quite a while. I originally thought I could make a knife in a few hours but I see that to make a good piece it must take dozens of hours! How much time would you say it takes to build a knife? I know it is a vague question but are we talking 5 hours for someone experianced or are we looking at 30 hours? The shop of mine is coming along slowly and I will not be able to actually grind anythinf for at least another month!! Argh...
 
Keithcellini said:
I originally tried to convince the ole lady that I could sell the knives I made to recoup the expenses for all the tools and maybe make a buck in the process but in reality I doubt I could sell any knives I make for quite a while. I originally thought I could make a knife in a few hours but I see that to make a good piece it must take dozens of hours! How much time would you say it takes to build a knife? I know it is a vague question but are we talking 5 hours for someone experianced or are we looking at 30 hours? The shop of mine is coming along slowly and I will not be able to actually grind anythinf for at least another month!! Argh...
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Keith,
No knifemaker with any amount of brains is going to tell you on a forum how much or how little time it takes him to make a knife. Ask in person or by email an you may get some answers.

I can tell you that it takes me 5-10 times as long as either Dozier or Loveless.
 
This is a really cool thread and one hell of an insight into how much work goes into a well made knife. Thanks Nick! Can't wait for pictures of the finished work.
 
Nick, Fantastic tutorial on your process of the making of this particular knife. The shots of the working tools with the knife in various stages was of particular interest to me. It's like a dissertation for a knife PhD! I think this type of thread can help custom knife buyers understand the vast knowledge, quantity of tools, and time to create a working piece of art. When one goes to the shows, and sees knives with what appear to be 'high price tags' on tables of small custom knifemakers such as yourself; it should put into perspective just how much work goes into a finished piece.

Congrats on the nicely equipped shop and your understanding shop pixie! What more could a Man ask for?!
 
Guys... two things... okay, maybe three. :)

First I wanted to say thank you for all the kind words!!! :)

Secondly, I want to point out that there are TONS of makers that can do all of this and more. Many of them better and with less struggle than me. I really got into this thread as I love that it's working so well to spread the idea of the forged blade.

I am NOT one of those chest beaters that looks down at stockremoval. Obviously I removed a hell of a lot of stock from this blade to maximize the pattern!

But I have the greatest love for the hot work. I just got off the phone with Matt Lamey... a very cool guy and a hell of a bladesmith!!! And we both got all riled up talking about hammers and forging and heat-treating... It's just plain fun stuff.

It sounds corny, but I feel compelled even more to spread the word on what you can do with forging after getting my Js and working towards my Ms. A steward if you will.

This stuff is educational for both sides of the coin. Makers that haven't been exposed to this stuff, and collectors get a better look at what goes into what they're buying.

I am down to the wire so I might not be able to get too many more detailed shots of this knife, but if anybody is interested I'll do more of this stuff on some other knives I've got going in the near future (like after the ABS Forged Blade Expo in Reno! :) ). I will have Point7 do a pro photo in Reno and post it when I get home!

Oh, and for the record... I am kinda fat... I need to get back down to 205 instead of 230! :p :D (but I can't just take all that ribbing lying down can I???) LMAO!!!
 
As long as you give us a picture of the finished product! Great thread here, and it's a joy to watch a knife being conceived and born.

--nathan
 
Killer thread Nick.

One of the makers that I hope to get to meet in person one day is Nick.

you got talent bud....


plus I told my kids you were one of the backstreet boys and will get your autograph for them ;)
**inside joke between me and Nick **
 
striper28 said:
After seeing all the work that went into this knife I hope that it gets the handle that it deserves. :confused:

As long as it's not wood! :barf:
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What is wrong with wood?

A select block of wood can enhance a nice damascus pattern more than a nice piece of ivory can enhance poor damascus.

Achieving balance in the materials is critical to a great looking knife.
 
a nice, stabilized hard wood would be great IMO, and it would be tough to get any other thing big enough for the pattern.
 
What a great thread! Nick, you're a funny guy and seem to make all this hard work look like a lot of fun :thumbup:

(By the way, I vote for Ebony)
 
Still finishing it!!! :eek:

Had a MAJOR meltdown last night when I was trying to make the pommel nut and the lathe motor just quit on me. Not being an electrician I couldn't figure it out. Should just be a fuse in that little DC motor controller.... but no matter because I couldn't get it. Finally red-neck engineering kicked in and I drug my little harbor freight drill press (for drilling holes in sheaths) over to the lathe and put the belt from that motor over to the little Sherline.

SOOOOO hoaky... but it worked! lol :o

I was originally going to go with walrus ivory but didn't have a piece that would work to get the handle shape I want. How frustrating is it to have thousands of dollars of ivory in front of you and NONE of it is the right piece???

So I went with my second choice, a premium piece of African Blackwood. Sorry Chuck ;)

Okay... I just had to wait until the coffee started kicking in. :)

Back to the shop I go :D
 
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