What is appropriate as a title???

F

Frontier Forge

Joined
Aug 25, 2002
Messages
138
If i wanted to make up some buisness card with my name, number, title(breif,one word description of what I do) what should my title be. 1)Knife maker: which could mean I put together kit knives(i dont)or perhaps make stock removal knive(i do some
2)Bladesmith: which describes blades/blacksmith or to smith/forge, which some refer to selves as silversmiths,goldsmiths,woodsmiths.( i do forge,and since i do my blades usally have an anvil symbol and my company logo)
Now Im not a Abs member so I am not a jouneryman smith,or a master smith(both of which I have a lot to learn to be equal in knowledge,skills, experience) I m confused I dont want to upset people who have worked hard to earn a tiltle through a assossiation. But other folks in other ereas of expertice(in the past) have title that dont nessessarilly have formalized training assossiated with them, say : wheelright,chef(i know there were apprenticeships).....:yawn: Help please...Again this was not intented to be a fuse for an agument or heated debate just a friendly question.
Please keep in mind when my finacial situatio improves I plan on begining the "Bladsmith" prossess,and Knifemakers Guild membership. I would love to be associated with some fine organizations such as these who promote and support the craft. Thanks all, and thank all of you who have answered questions,shared, and given so much in your kindness, and knowledgeand time....As time progresses I hope to be able to meet many more of you.
 
I would say a 'knife builder' puts kits together. Knife maker would be appropriate or bladesmith if you forge your own. Right or wrong, I place bladesmith a cut above knife maker.

RL
 
Hi,
Bladesmith would be a perfectly good title, or, if you're not too sure that you deserve (in your own mind of course, cos, it is actually what you are) then you could put the Company name on the card & proprietor as your title. But, personally, I'd plump for Bladesmith;)
 
I Agree, If U build from a Kit then U are a kit builder. Nothing wrong with it. Knife makers do just that, make knives. Blade smiths I would say are masters or on the way to being masters of the craft of making blades.

Starting with kits is good, just let people know that U build from kits.


My .02 worth.
 
As I mentioned I am not a Kit assembler, Now if i was on my way to becoming a Master Bladesmith, that would make me a Journeyman Bladesmith, at least in the eyes of the ABS so again back to my first question and personell explanation...
 
Originally, in my mind I was a "bladesmith" since day one. Thing is, I started with stock removal only. Logic being, the tradition evolved for blacksmiths and bladesmiths over the years like other trades. For example, how many gunsmiths these days do any forging? Pretty much zero. Same with locksmiths. "Woodsmith" sounds rediculous and I feel is very inappropriate. They already have an ancient designation, its called a "carpenter". "Wood worker" does fine as well.

These days I forge quite a bit; perhaps 75% of my work. On another note to consider, "smith" derived from those who "smite" and those such people worked metals. So, as I "evolved" as a maker I feel the name extension "-smith" goes to those who at least forge metal. So the old logic of mine no longer applies.

I make all kinds of bladed impliments (i.e. knives, swords etc.) and that is where my focus is, blades. Thus, I prefer to call myself a bladesmith. Sounds most appropriate to me.

Jason
 
Well thanks guys,
As a newcomer to the knife world, having only been grinding since July, I was happy with only having to worry about what I was doing and if it was going to turn out. But no. Now I not only don't know what I am doing, but I don't know WHAT I am???
I hope you all figure this out soon......?
I really enjoy reading the forums, thanks
The knife:maker,builder,grinder,assembler,welder,kinda forge,smithing guy.:)
 
Thanks for the opinions, out of those who have replied,or may reply can you please make note if your an Abs member, im curious how all this sits with ABS members too.
 
WOW:eek:
This one could cause a stir.
If you are having a hard time deciding on what to call yourself, you'd better plan on using model numbers on your knives, cause naming them would take forever:) :)
I think it was sometime last year that there was a big discussion on this very same subject. Seems like it was finally decided that you should just call yourself what you thought was right and made you feel good.
Let's keep discussing it but try to keep it civil. I hate locking threads:grumpy:
 
Its true(as far as skill goes)..
knifemaker implies you can make knives, bladesmith implies you can make many blade impliments(ie: knives, swords etc.).
The route taken matters little (forging or machining). I would call a machinist a smith, if he does ht himself and has a good understanding of metalurgy, as far as modern day standards go, the application is fine with me.
If you make solely knives, youre a knifemaker. If you make a lot of stuff your probably a bladesmith.

Doesnt have to be a bad thing, dont some people just fancy making knives only.

Joe Renner

Originally posted by Sylvester
Right or wrong, I place bladesmith a cut above knife maker.
:confused: :( :( :( :grumpy:
Click to expand...
 
cutler kinda covers it all
Click to expand...

I have heard european tradition (German comes to mind) label the "cutler", as he who does the finishing work after the knife blade is completed by the smith first. I.e. handle, polishing, etching, sheathing.

Oh crap, I've just dragged this out some more. :p
 
Y'all are lucky - I have to look in the DSM IV to figure out what to call myself.

Whatever title you prefer it would help, on a bidness card, to add a breif description of what you do. i.e. 'featuring forged blades of 52100 for the demanding user' or 'very pretty stainless steel knives for girls of either sex' or whatever. Ouch. Ouch. somebody make my daughter stop hitting me.

Best Regards

Lynn
 
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