Want to watch and learn.

T

tjeford

Joined
Jun 8, 2000
Messages
11
I have always been interested in knives and started makings knives last year. I started out with a simple knife kit and now I am still doing knife kits, but getting a little more expresive in my work. Last year I worked with David Ellis and he showed me his shop and we worked a knife together. It was a Tanto camp knife, 6 inches of 1095, brass press fit guard and Cocobolo handle with a thong tube. We ground, quenched, tempered, ground, finished, fitted the guard and I did the handle.
David has gotten busy in his shop and does not have the time avaiable for me to come over and work with him. Understandable, we all get busy.
What I am looking for are knife makers in Southern Californina that would be willing to have me come over and watch them work and work on my skills a little. I am thinking about becoming a member of the alifornia Knife makers... something.. I read it once. Anyone have info on that?
My shop is small, 6x6, and I hope to be getting a grinder this weekend.
If you are in southern California and are willing to meet with me some time, that would be great. I am not asking for right now. I know that we all are a little busy this time of year. Just would like to make more friends in my area that have the same interests.
Hope to get some replies soon.
Thanks
Todd Ellerby
 
Todd, I believe it was R.W. Clark that posted the info on the Calif. knifemakers group. I'll bet you could e-mail him for info if he doesn't show up here. It sure sounded like a fantastic opportunity!:)
 
Hey, get your butt up here for our next meeting. We are meeting on Saturday at Tru-Grit (www.trugrit.com)in Ontario. The meeting starts at 9:00am. This is a great meeting for the first timer to attend. It will be a little boring, as we are voting on next years board members, but pretty much every member "should" be there.

We have several members who are currently kit builders, and they are more than welcome. This is a true teaching club. About every 6-8 weeks we get meet at one of our members shops and learn the speciality of that member. Last meeting was at Bill Herndons' for pattern welding, demo's by Bill and Jim Roudenbough. Before that it was at Clint Breshears, then Tony Swatton, before that Russ Greene, and before that Jim Ferguson.

For the $30 a year membership you get to learn grinding from the likes of Bob Loveless, shop tooling from Bill Herndon, damascus from Jim Ferguson and Jim Hrisoulas, forging from Red StCyr. I could go on and on.

The point is, whether you desire to make knives as just a hobby or as a living, any maker would be a fool not to join up.

Hope to see you on Saturday.
 
Thanks R.W.
But I have plans for this Saturday Morning and it's too late to change them. I will look into joining the California Knife makers, 30 is affordable. When is the next meeting? I will be taking a look at your website soon.
Hope to talk to you in person some time soon.
 
Thats too bad. Feel free to give our Mebership Chairman a call and join up. He is Clint Breshears at 310-372-0739.

Also if you are free later in the afternoon, I am having some guys over to my place just to tell some lies and futz around the shop. Trace Rinaldi is planning on stopping by and a few others. Feel free to join us. You could also bring a current project.
 
Would like to come up and play.. But I got way too much going on this weekend. Wife and I are trying to find a house to buy and the inlaws just sold there house. Plus with the holidays coming up..
The projects I have are all kits. For now. But i have pictures of past knives that I have done.
R.W.
Does the group have a website? I looked at yours, but it seams to just be pic's. Can you stear me in the right direction?
I will give Clint a call sometime. Thanks.
 
Boy, give a guy a helping hand and look what happens.;). Naw, I'm just kidding.

Just moved in September. It can be a real drag. I don't really have a web site yet, just my photo albums. This is a link to the most the club has put on the net. http://www.twistednickel.com/calknives/index.html

I know that Ferguson is working with several other members to get a full web site up and running. Not sure what the status of that is.

Well, anytime you want to stop by you are more than welcome to. Just drop me a line.
 
Jeeze when I first started I was so hungry I would have crawled over broken glass to get to a So. Cal Blades meeting, and invitation like you presented R.W.!!!HA!! Oh well... The man that got me started on making knives was a So. Cal member named Norm Levine.. I made every meeting I could until he died and for various reasons I stopped attending meetings regular after that.. I will probably re-up and start going to the ones I can get to tomorrow at the Tru Grit meeting. They all look like a bunch of scoundrels, but a more talented group of guys you will not soon find.. I would suggest So. Cal blades HIGHLY to anyone wanting to get into knifemaking.. If you cant find someone in that group to help you, you just cant be helped..LOL..
See ya manana R.W..

Take Care
Trace Rinaldi
www.thrblades.com
 
Trace, you don't happen to have a hammer drill do ya? If so can you bring it. I need to anchor my Bader and am too darn cheap to go rent one.:D

BTW: that drive to Herndons place is worse than broken glass!
 
R.W.
Thanks, went to the web site. Did no know that Claifornia Blades put on the Temecula Show. I hope to make it. Is it on the 1st of Dec?

Note to Trace, I like the knife you have on your site. I hopw to talk to you if you make it to the show..

I don't even know if I am going to make the Show. I would love to. But, like I said before, My wife and I are looking for a home and are kinda pressed for time. But I might be able to break away for a couple of hours to head up there to say HI.

I will let you guys know.
Later
 
I had corresponded with R.W. and planned to attend the Tru-Grit meeting but was called back east for a family emergency (Mom had a brain Aneurysm, no, I'm not kidding, she is recovering slowly). So I missed the meeting. When and where is the next one? With Mom's situationI don't know if I'll make it either, but I'd like to try.

I'm in the same boat as the guy who started this thread, just starting out and need guidance.

Thanks in advance,

jmx
 
We had a great time teaching a newby how to grind after the Tru Grit meeting... He was a natural:-)
I am sure if you are willing to make it we could do it again... Of course I cant say you'll be a natural like Steve was:-)

Take Care
Trace
 
I'm in the same boat as the other two just a different part of the country.

anyone in or around Little Rock AR.
need an apprentice or just lacky in general.

I've made a few knives and have some skill, but would like to learn more.
 
Just Joined Thanks For Letting Me ! I Hope To Learn A Lot.
I Have Been Making Fixed Blades For Less Than A Year.
Thanks Again.
 
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