Some suggestions for visiting an established knifemaker

Tom Lewis

Tom Lewis

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Feb 24, 2000
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When I first started making knives 35 years ago there was an established knifemaker in town, but he absolutely refused to help me learn anything about knifemaking. His attitude was he was the only knifemaker in town and he intended to keep it that way. Well, I learned anyway and in my opinion became a lot better knifemaker than he was. Because of his attitude I decided I would help anyone who desired to learn how to make knives. I have helped quite a few, and for the most part helping others has been a very good experience.
Today there are books, videos, u-tube, etc. about making knives. Still, if a new knifemaker can visit an established maker they can learn a lot and shorten the learning curve.
How do you get an invitation to visit a established knifemaker? Most of the knifemakers I have visited I have met at Gun and Knife shows, and Knife shows. If you see a knifmaker who lives in your area, talk with them about knifemaking. You will be able to tell pretty quickly if the knifemaker would be willing to help you. While you are speaking with the knifemaker, if a potential customer comes up to the table, be courteous and step back and let the knifemaker deal with the potential customer.
Another way is to call the knifemaker up and talk with them. I have had new knifemakers call me up, and after speaking with them, I have invited them over.
You could send a letter with a self addressed stamped envelope inside.
I think the worst thing to do is just to show up un announced and un invited. I once had two strangers knock on my door and say they were there to see my shop. I told them I was busy. Later one of them called me up we talked awhile, and I invited him over and tried to help him get started.

Some doe's and don'ts of a visit. Other knivemakers may wish to add to this list.

1. Be on time.
2. Don't think that just because you have a invitation it means you can bring a friend or two along.
3. Understand that the knifemakers time is valuable. I would guess that I make between $25.00-$50.00 an hour sometimes more, making knives. I don't mind helping others, but they need to realize that my time is valuable. When I have visited other knifemakers I make it a point to take them a nice piece of stabilized handle material, or a piece of Damascus. When someone visits me, I don't expect them to bring me anything, but it is nice when they do. I use a lot of 1/4" ss tubing, and one fellow after a visit gave me 20 lbs. of the tubing. It took me 20 years to use it all up.
4. Don't be intimidated by the equipment the knifemaker has. Fellows come to my shop and see 5 grinders, 4 band saws, 4 drill presses, etc. They need to realize it took me 35 years to get all this equipment and they don't need all that equipment to make knives.
5. Leave your ego at home. Don't try to impress the knifemaker with how smart you are. If you were so smart you wouldn't be needing any help. (I once tried to help someone who had such a large ego it was impossible to tell him anything.)
6. Keep your hands off the equipment. (I had one fellow over, and he was constantly turning knobs, etc. on my machinery)

Some of the established knifemakers who visit this forum may wish to add to this list.

I really enjoy helping others and if they will follow these do's and don'ts it is a pleasant experience for both of us.
 
Tom, I agree. Anyone can attest that when I visit it's never empty handed. Heck even when folks come by my place they leave with a few tokens. :D
 
I visited a maker in NC a few years ago, won't mention his name, (Mike Craddock)
As a customer. Was as nice and hospitable as someone from Louisiana.
Had a great visit. Didn't touch anything without asking, still getting knives from him when I can. Tried not to stay too long, though I could have.
Dozier
Accuracy beats speed
 
I'm very grateful for the two local makers that have let me come by and watch them work. Great guys!
 
Tom Lewis said:
When I first started making knives 35 years ago there was an established knifemaker in town, but he absolutely refused to help me learn anything about knifemaking. His attitude was he was the only knifemaker in town and he intended to keep it that way. Well, I learned anyway and in my opinion became a lot better knifemaker than he was. Because of his attitude I decided I would help anyone who desired to learn how to make knives. I have helped quite a few, and for the most part helping others has been a very good experience.
Today there are books, videos, u-tube, etc. about making knives. Still, if a new knifemaker can visit an established maker they can learn a lot and shorten the learning curve.
How do you get an invitation to visit a established knifemaker? Most of the knifemakers I have visited I have met at Gun and Knife shows, and Knife shows. If you see a knifmaker who lives in your area, talk with them about knifemaking. You will be able to tell pretty quickly if the knifemaker would be willing to help you. While you are speaking with the knifemaker, if a potential customer comes up to the table, be courteous and step back and let the knifemaker deal with the potential customer.
Another way is to call the knifemaker up and talk with them. I have had new knifemakers call me up, and after speaking with them, I have invited them over.
You could send a letter with a self addressed stamped envelope inside.
I think the worst thing to do is just to show up un announced and un invited. I once had two strangers knock on my door and say they were there to see my shop. I told them I was busy. Later one of them called me up we talked awhile, and I invited him over and tried to help him get started.

Some doe's and don'ts of a visit. Other knivemakers may wish to add to this list.

1. Be on time.
2. Don't think that just because you have a invitation it means you can bring a friend or two along.
3. Understand that the knifemakers time is valuable. I would guess that I make between $25.00-$50.00 an hour sometimes more, making knives. I don't mind helping others, but they need to realize that my time is valuable. When I have visited other knifemakers I make it a point to take them a nice piece of stabilized handle material, or a piece of Damascus. When someone visits me, I don't expect them to bring me anything, but it is nice when they do. I use a lot of 1/4" ss tubing, and one fellow after a visit gave me 20 lbs. of the tubing. It took me 20 years to use it all up.
4. Don't be intimidated by the equipment the knifemaker has. Fellows come to my shop and see 5 grinders, 4 band saws, 4 drill presses, etc. They need to realize it took me 35 years to get all this equipment and they don't need all that equipment to make knives.
5. Leave your ego at home. Don't try to impress the knifemaker with how smart you are. If you were so smart you wouldn't be needing any help. (I once tried to help someone who had such a large ego it was impossible to tell him anything.)
6. Keep your hands off the equipment. (I had one fellow over, and he was constantly turning knobs, etc. on my machinery)

Some of the established knifemakers who visit this forum may wish to add to this list.

I really enjoy helping others and if they will follow these do's and don'ts it is a pleasant experience for both of us.
Click to expand...


I'm still an infant in knifemaking, but I have a similar view. I've had folks request lessons/visits and have done a few.

I've been in some hobbies/trades where the competition is downright nasty/childish when it comes to helping one another, and I just can't abide by that.

I 100% understand protecting hard earned knowledge and not openly helping those who won't help themselves, but you don't have to give away the whole farm just to teach someone to milk a cow.


Edit: WOO HOO 1000th post on BF!
 
When I was still in Virginia I used to attend the gun shows at the Scope and at the Hampton Colliseum. A friend of mine is a leatherworker out in Suffolk. He was making a sheath for a fixed blade I had finished for a friend. A local knife maker in Norfolk stopped by and asked about the blade. Later I stopped by the booth and my leatherworking friend gave me a business card with a hand written phone number from the knife maker. He had seen the knife, liked the overall design and grind and had some tips to help me with the finish.

About a week later I called Paul, the knifemaker, and asked if it would be okay to come visit. He agreed and I met up with him that afternoon. We talked for hours! It turns out that he was a Boswains Mate Senior Chief and Small boat guy back years prior. We talked knifemaking, he shared some knowledge with me and then we continued talking about the Navy, small craft, life in the Mess, guns....it was a truly great time and experience and I am now honored to call Paul a friend.
 
I can attest, Mike does not come empty handed! I really enjoy having other knifemakers come out to the shop. Being a knifemaker is a pretty solitary endeavor so, it's nice to break up the day with a little human interaction. If I were to add anything, it would be to take advantage of the time the maker is giving you. Ask a lot of questions. There are questions that I ask almost every maker even though I feel I already have a good technique, because I am always looking to improve. If the maker has opened his shop to you, he will probably share techniques with you. Also, asking questions gives the maker the feeling that you value their opinion and quality of their work.

Bob
 
When coming to a knife makers shop who has multiple years of experience to share don't expect to learn how to make a knife in a day; there is far to much involved in making a knife to be shared in one outing. Instead, hope to be inspired. When I have hosted new people at my shop this is what my goal is especially if the person attending, has possibilities.

Its great to inspire anyone to step up and make the effort to become skilled at this craft. It takes years to absorb it all; I'm still learning and I've been at it for 16 years.

Enjoy the visit, Fred
 
Keep in mind before asking, check their website.

Some makes give paid lessons and charge for them, don't be asking for a feebee day when it's normally something they make $ on.


Maybe they will offer some time, but don't assume.
 
I've only done one of these really so far, it wasn't a terrible experience but didn't go as well as I had hoped. Hopefully the individual in question doesn't read this... but I doubt he would be on here. If so, well I'm known for putting my foot in my mouth so why stop now? This was an acquaintance and customer who had bought a nice big chef's knife from me, for which I am of course very grateful. Suggestion #5 was in full force. I'm not sure if it was ego as much as just pure ADD, he could not stop talking to save his life. He would ask a question, then interrupt and ramble on for god knows how long. He brought his own grinder and worked on his knife while I ground one of my own. That was a good strategy, I was still getting work done, would come check in every couple minutes to give some coaching, then go back to mine. Unfortunately the ADD was very real, and despite having "20 orders", the finished knife count for him still stands at zero, six months on. I tried to coach caution on buying tools and getting ahead of himself, but that was going in one ear and out the other. At the end of the day, I'm kind of disappointed because I very much enjoy teaching, and we didn't get past about the first 15% of the process of making a knife. Maybe the next one will be better.
 
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