Thanks, Nick Wheeler!

whoever hasn't been affected by Nick's JS kit, and his Peck Award winning fighter, has a heart as cold as a stone.

 
I've seen every video Nick has produced. I've worked for both William Henry Knives and Medford Knives, and have learned more from Nick's videos than any other source. He has really inspired me to get back into knife making and into the forge, where I was first struck with the passion to design and create, from just an abstract thought to something tangible and useful, with just a hunk of metal into a piece of art: well, I thought it was art, until I looked at what a real knife should look like... a picture of one of Nick's creations.

Anyway, I still use his videos as inspiration to someday work on knives again.

Paul
 
Lorien said:
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed by the lack of responses here...
Click to expand...

I am not surprised. Not because he doesn't deserve it but because he hasn't been on here for a long time and especially because he made a complete break (I think so anyway, I am not on as much as I used to myself). Would have been nice to at least see him here and there. Of course that's a personal decision and I respect that, just saddens me. :(

PS: The “Nick Who?” jokes soon won't be jokes anymore. :(
 
Nicks videos and tutorials were great help and inspiration to me and many people in my country. His full WIP of Lorien knife ...wow... so much effort and willing to help others. Great guy. Amazing blade smith, his craftsmanship is unbelievable. I sure appreciate it a lot.
So thank you Sir.
Best regards
Giedymin
 
I have never met Nick, and I am not sure that I have even interacted with him electronically. I may have.

He and I were both inspired by Don Fogg (although that is about the only place that I should be compared to Nick). Maybe we both love dogs.

But, I have watched and enjoyed his videos on many early mornings. I have borrowed a few ideas from him, and learned a lot about handle design (though I still don't do it as well as many). For some reason, I seem to shine when I make a sword, and knives just aren't quite as good for me.

Here is the main point of this. Nick inspired a young man named Edward Braun, who has become a dear friend of mine. Ed and I have a ton in common as people, and as chasers of the elusive hamon/shangxue (Chinese version of hamon sickness). I am proud to call Ed my friend. Were it not for Nick, Ed may not have gotten into knives, and he almost certainly wouldn't have developed a serious case of hamon fever. Nick's honest, "everyone can do it with a lot of practice," approach on his videos has been a source of inspiration. The ideas he put out, in his laid-back manner, have drawn together like-minded people and helped germinate the seeds of craft and creativity, and of brotherhood, for a lot of us. That is the best possible outcome for social media, right?
 
Where do I begin?

Nick is the man. I would not be making the knives I'm making now if not for the information and techniques that Nick
has shared. I struggle to think of any aspect of my knife making process that hasn't been influenced by Nick in some way.

Matthew Gregory said:
Nick's tutorials, videos, insights and observations were great, but it's his personality and the witty banter I shared with him that I miss. I chat back and forth with him a pinch on IG.

There's an entire generation of new makers that are doing outstanding work, and I'd be willing to bet that the bulk of them can point to Nick as the 'shoulder of the giant' they stood on to leapfrog so quickly through the skills necessary to reach such achievements.
Click to expand...

Very well put.


On a slightly unrelated note; I think it's a testament to Nicks skill that even though he has literally shown us how he does it, step by step, I've never seen a Wheeler-style knife that I could mistake for a Wheeler.
 
Back in January of 2009, I had just purchased a KMG. Up to that point, I had done a lot of reading on grinders, motors and VFD's... but I had almost zero idea how to grind a knife. I made a post in Shop Talk, under my old username, asking if there were any makers in the Seattle area willing to let me be a fly on the wall. Nick responded.

Now Nick's place (I believe it was actually his parents' place) was NOT close by; but I hopped in the car and made the drive. There were a couple of other guys hanging around that day (Jack ONeill was one), but I was definitely the biggest newb. (I'm sure that I have a few photos laying around.)

I've learned a lot of stuff over the last seven years; but will still argue (to anyone who'll listen) that THAT day had more impact on my knifemaking than any other since. Sure, we talked about grinders and grinding; but primarily, what I left with was a new frame of reference.

Or maybe I'm just romanticizing the whole thing... 'cuz Nick's so dreamy. ;) :p

Erin
 
I think Nick is still lurking from time to time. I posted a question in shop talk about how to get those nice seamless handle to guard transitions. Nick responded. Thanks again Nick.
 
Nick is my friend, good enough for me.

The vids are just frosting on the cake. [emoji6]
 
I've never met the man and only know him from BF, but I think of him with gratitude every time I use my disk sander, and every time I hand sand. Those videos in particular really bumped my game up!
In other words, I think of him with gratitude most days.
Best wishes, Mr. W!
 
Dawkind said:
Nick is my friend, good enough for me.

The vids are just frosting on the cake. [emoji6]
Click to expand...

since i have never met him, no idea on that but even if i never meet him, the WIPs he has done have given me more great tips than any other single maker ever so that alone is enough for me.
 
I remember when I first started "making" knives the Nick/Lorien WIP looked like total voodoo wizard business. I studied that thing like I was being tested on it. It really helped me make sense of how these amazing knives that were so new to me were actually humanly possible to build.
 
I was inspired by the Lorien/Wheeler WIP. I was off work for a knee surgery, and started thinking "it can't be that hard, can it?" I've learned much, if not most of what I know from Nick and his advice and videos.

Married life and a home can pull us away from our passions for some time. Hope all is well with Nick and his family.
 
Glad to see nick getting the attention he deserves for his incredible work and his generosity in sharing info
 
I hate Nick for one reason, he makes this stuff look so easy. Truly a master craftsman that is an incredible source of knowledge. He has helped and inspired many makers. His influence is very apparent in many people's work, myself included. The only problem is we don't pull it off nearly as well as he does. Thanks Nick for answering all my dumb questions.
 
Even though I have never had the opportunity to meet or talk with Nick his tutorial videos are what got me started in knife making. His techniques and jigs were as ingenious as they were effective. You can see how most of the tools I use were inspired by the videos :).

nSrzua.jpg


x70cRx.jpg
 
Nick is a master craftsman in every sense of the word. I am fortunate enough to own two knives from him, and its a shame that his work has had to hit the back burner for a while, I'm still hoping to talk him into making me a knife ;). His generosity with his knowledge is an understatement to his personality.

This simple knife is my all time favorite fixed blade, at just 6 inches overall it handles everything. 1084 with rusted dye stamped texture and polished sides - simply beautiful


as new


This pairing knife is not perfectly designed for its purpose but it also makes one hell of a bird and trout. Ground very thin its truly a laser by geometry. Wish I had a better picture.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top