The Generosity in OUR craft

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
9,437
I just got done reading a very long post on another forum about how many jerks there are in the knifemaking community.

Well, that just makes me mad.

I'd like to take this little soap-box to disagree.

This morning I got a very fast and courteous response to some important construction technique questions from Ron Newton...notable Mastersmith in the American Bladesmith Society.

Just a few moments ago, I was on the phone with Jerry Fisk...very kindly answering my questions. Not only that, but Jerry called me back after I had called his place! Oh and that's right...Jerry is also a Mastersmith in the American Bladesmith Society.

Who am I??? Nobody, but that didn't keep them from taking time from their busy schedules to help me.

That's two occurrances in one day. Hmmm...

And I'm not singling out the ABS either...just grabbing two examples.

I just wanted to have a positive rant.

Nick Wheeler
Proud member of the ABS, NWKC, OKCA, and MKA
 
Nick,

In a few short years, the new guys will be calling you for advice, and I suspect that you will be taking time from your busy day to help them out also. What goes around comes around.

Best,
Peter
 
My experience with fellow knifeaholics are that they are a great and very trustworthy group.
 
By far the majority of my experiences with people in the knife community have been very positive. I would have to say that there are incredibly few jerks in this community.

Nick, have you got a link to this thread you were reading?
 
I have to chime in here. Even though I kid around a lot on these forums and in real life, the vast majority of folks I have been blessed to get to know in the custom knife community have made me a better person. Knives aside, there are no finer people I have associated with in my life. That is not hype. It is a fact and I do not see how anyone with any length of experience with face to face relationships could come to any other conclusion.

The percentage for me is around 97 to 99 and the bad eggs do not hang around long since they stick out like sore thumbs. I have seen first hand way to many examples of sharing, compassion and caring in this group to take a bad comment on the community as a whole seriously. Taking time to learn is the key, it can be easy as a beginner to make mistakes from the point of view of making and collecting. The "business" of custom knives does not operate in the way the normal business world does. The best way for a maker or collector to get started is to take a good look around first.

Where else do you find the best of the best willing to share their techniques down to the smallest details with others in the "Business". You need not look further than the A.B.S. to see this happen daily. (Not the the A.B.S. has a lock on that, just that they do more to foster that type of attitude than any other group or organization that I am familiar with.)
 
I don't often feel compelled to write, but this is a subject that feel strongly about. I would be nowhere in my knifemaking if it weren't for the help of other makers.

Lyle Brunckhorst, Tom Ferry, and Nick Wheeler have helped me a ton. These three guys make their living making knives and still take the time to help me.

I think that if a person truly has the passion to make knives, most makers can't resist trying to help in some way.

Mark Merz
 
Every well known maker I had privilege to talk to was just like your best friend and lived next door to you all your life. I have never experienced this degree of brotherhood anywhere else! And these guys I had never talked to before, nor had the honor of meeting them, but they took the time out of their busy schedules to answer all questions and offer sound advice. They wanted to help out any way they could. What a bunch of folks! The only way I can perceive to repay them is to act in kind, and help my fellow makers when ever I can.
 
Mr. Wheeler, I think I know which thread youre talking about. I think that some folks just want the attention of being a rebel and creating controversy. I commented on the thread and got flamed by this guy. Join a group or not, I couldn't care less. Just don't go around smearing the groups with such mindless dribble. I really got irked at that thread too. ABS APPRENTICE AND PROUD!!!!!!!!! Brett
 
Originally posted by ptgdvc
In a few short years, the new guys will be calling you for advice, and I suspect that you will be taking time from your busy day to help them out also. What goes around comes around.
Click to expand...

Actually, I am one who already does, and Nick's always extremely generous with his knowledge and time. He won't be lowering the bar.
 
Taken as a whole, those who make up the "knife community" are as a good a bunch of people as I've yet come across in my fifty years.
There is a tremendous amount of caring and concern out there, not to mention the great times to be had which can't be mentioned in a "G" rated forum. :cool:
 
Another ABS apprentice here, saying thanks to all those that have been so generous with their time, their knowledge, and their goodwill.

This crew can make such a fun and rewarding experience out of learning.

Group hug. :o
 
Perhaps too often we think of knives and other edged tools mostly in terms of their commercial, tactical or defensive value (which they surely have), especially in today's "marketplace".
Perhaps we think less often about their multitude of other social and utilitarian (food, shelter, rituals, artmaking, toolmaking, etc. etc.) values and the ancient (we are talking thousands of years here) traditions embodied in the philosophy, work and contributions of today's knifemakers.
As a collector and user of both production and custom knives, I appreciate and celebrate the connection these artifacts provide to ways of being human that are older than any of us and will be there long after we are gone.
The quality of a great knife reflects not only the skills required to craft it, but also quality of the person who crafted it.
Thank you to all the knifemakers who embody the qualities enumerated in this thread.
Joel.
 
Wait a minute........IS NICK TESTING THIS YEAR???:eek: :confused: :D

Ron Newton went out of his way to give me full blown lesson on anodizing. That was at the Invitational in Orlando about 5 or more years ago!! Generous and helpful is an understatement.
 
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAA:D

As much as it may have sounded like blowing sunshine...nope, I'm not testing this year.

I knew I wasn't alone, but it's nice to hear some agreement here. :)

Thanks,
Nick
 
The post about the "jerks" in the knife business kinda stirred me up. The business and art world is full of hype. Many people base their success on this hype. Hype can be positive or negative. As in Hollywood; negative publicity is better than no publicity in some peoples eyes. There are people who really toot their own horn. Some people bring attention to themselves by loudly lauding others. There are those who bring attention to themselves by tearing others down. The simple fact is that your work stands for itself; period. The knife business has as a huge majority some of the nicest, most sincere, and honest folks I have ever dealt with. I am proud to be a part of it. I am proud to call them my friends. mike
 
I could not agree more Mike. Isn't it funny how most the folks who try to splash with hype don't seem to hang in there in the long run.
 
Nick,
As always you're a gentleman.

I've received so much help from my ABS family that it seems like they are just that....family.

There's always a bad apple in every bushel. I just consider what they are, throw 'em away and keep enjoying the rest of all the good apples.
 
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