What makes you feel good as a knifemaker?

[i4Marc]

What makes me happy as a knife maker? Um,..........I like hugs. Plus I really love seeing something that started in my head realized through hard work. It's pretty satisfying.

That's freakin cool flatblack. How neat to have such a fearless wife. Takes guts to turn full time I'd reckon.

I'm the same way Eric. You'd think the biking community would be pretty tight, and they are, but not like the knife buyers and makers. Sometimes I really wish I could buy you all a coffee.

I don't drink coffee but I'll take a hot chocolate.


+1 to what flatblackcapo said. You guys (and gals) really are the best.

 

[Jeremy Barnard]

I like seeing the finished piece and how I can make the next one better. That and helping fellow makers if I can.

 

[Britt_Askew]

This summer we cooked a pig on the grill, I stayed here and got the boiler hot while others went to the farmers to shoot the hog but I did send a knife for them to use to stick the hog. When they pulled back up it took me a while to stop laughing because I have never seen a poor hog get decapitated like that. Later that evening seeing the excitement the farmer had telling me my knife was the sharpest thing he had ever seen made me feel good.

 

[Sgt John]

I've only been at knife making for about a year now, but I think the best thing so far that I've noticed is having other people admire the work that was put into a knife. Hearing things like, "You made that?" and "You even shaped the steel?" gives me kind of a warm fuzzy. But recently, the absolute best comment that I received was from my daughter. She said, "Dad, I love how you draw the knife on paper and then make it come to life." That made me feel good. Once I complete a knife, the feeling of accomplishment is definitely what makes me feel good.

 

[William Schrade]

Doing what three generations before me did. Wish they could see me now.

 

[someoldfart]

I don't post a lot, but I would like to say I have never been a part of a community of folks who are so willing to share their knowledge and expertise with those of us who are beginners.

I had one of those moments the other day when a friend I had given a knife to was sharing how he had just finished up cleaning a deer, he whips out the little edc pocket carry that I had given him and shaves the hair on his arm, he looks around and says guys that's my 3rd deer and I haven't had to sharpen it yet... Sure made me feel good.

 

[kc custom]

To have been a part of the journey from lets say 1972 until present. I do remember
a few years back when orders went nuts and I knew "the full time" choice was here.
My wifes support.
Ken.

 

[Jason Fry]

I write paperwork for a living. I make knives for "a life". My favorite part? Seeing a knife in my head, putting it on paper, and then later holding that completed knife up to the paper and saying to myself "I knew I could do it." The part of the process where it's finally taking shape and you can see what it will be when it's finished is my favorite part.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

Comparing one of my early knives to the knives I make now.

I have the ability to make tools that I never would have dreamed I was capable of producing a few years ago.

 

[james terrio]

Sharing my knowledge with others.

I am eternally grateful for makers like you, who joyfully and selflessly share everything they know. I certainly wouldn't know half what I know without that. :thumbup:

The willingness, aptitude and ability to teach is a very special thing. I've been blessed to learn from some of the finest knifemakers on the planet through this forum, and ask them questions they've probably answered a thousand times before... and in several cases, meet them in person and shake their hands. It's because of the many, many makers who act as coaches and mentors, that our craft/industry has such high standards.

We stand on the shoulders of giants.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I like 'knife people' in general.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Equal part:

Bringing to reality a vision I have in my head.
&
The great friends I made.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I realy enjoy the fine work. First and only time I domed a pin.... it took me an evening but it felt wonderfull achieving it.
Or filing a semi round "slot" with a 2mm round file in the side of a 3mm bolster and then hand polishing the inside....
And the beauty of wood that comes to be when you hand finish it with patience up to 2500, it´s so rewarding!
Having small beautifull details and working with tools some people can´t even hold in there hands....
That´s something I realy enjoy about making knives.
(and ofcouse the people)

 

[Salem Straub]

Pretty much everything said up to now in this thread. What an uplifting discussion.

Some of mine:
Teaching.
Using machines and finding out more about how to use them.
Figuring out more and more about the direction I want to go with my work.
Absolutely the community.
Sitting around the house at night thinking about and picturing the fittings, etc. on the next knife I'm excited about.

 

[John Katt]

Finding something I can do (and like) for the rest of my life that doesn't continue to break down my body the way 32 year of construction has done!


I swear, I sound like a bowl of Rice krispies when I get out of bed in the morning ;0)

 

[Karburized]

WOW! great answers everyone. I had a feeling the bulk of the answers were philosophically geared towards self improvement and community.

Even though I'm a relatively new maker, i look back at my brief time and wonder how I ever got into it. It's awesome to know that when I look forward, with enough patience, humility and work, the work gets better and more exciting.