What technique or lesson would you wish to learn from a Mastersmith?

[Teter09]

Hey Guys! I've been lurking for a very long time on here. I've always felt that since I knew nothing, I should just read and keep my mouth shut! Through all of the reading I have been growing my knowledge and understanding of the process for making knives which has also helped me to decide which tools to add to my shop. With all of this reading it is giving me ideas of how I want to proceed and I've made major strides to do so.

I also understand that since I'm new to this, I don't know what I don't know! Sometimes in text it is hard to demonstrate or explain, which is why I've been so fascinated and appreciative of the WIPs and videos made by folks here, especially Nick Wheeler's. It made me wonder.....

If you had the opportunity to watch a Mastersmith in person and learn from for two or three days, what would you want to learn? What would you ask to be demonstrated? I'm sure the newer folks will have ideas and perhaps even those with years of experience might chime in with what they WISHED they could have learned when they were first starting out.

Hopefully this is more thought provoking than a single unanimous decision, but we will see!

Thanks!

Eric

 

[Jason Fry]

I would personally like to pick a MS brain about the different ways to shape the handle to guard transition. A forge welding/ Damascus lesson would be cool as well.

 

[David Stifle]

Ah, for me it would be the secrets and wonders of Damascus, the steels, the patterns, the twists, turns, and results. So much to learn

Ohhh! And while I'm day dreaming, a week or two with Don Fogg on production of his stunning Hamons.

And, a week or two with Tai Goo to capture pure creativity. Heck, who couldn't go on and on...

 

[Russ Andrews]

It might be best to review what you may know, then talk to a MS and
let him/her show you where you should start.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

^ Tai Goo isn't an ABS guy, but for sure his insights into texture and geometry are world class.



I'd ask an ABS Mastersmith, how do you get a great big honking bowie to feel like it's made of air.

Folks like Ed Caffery apparently have special antigravity materials they can fold into their damascus.

 

[Brock Cutlery]

I'd like to have a master smith watch me and tell me what I need to learn first.
I have no real idea where to start and would have way too many questions, probably all off point.

 

[i4Marc]

Why wonder about it? Find a Mastersmith near you and call him. Ask if you can visit his shop and pick his brain. If he offers a class, sign up. I have taken a few classes from a Mastersmith in my area. It has taken years off my learning curve. Unfortunately that still puts me way at the beginning of the curve. If I was going to pick a Mastersmith brain for more info it would be about soldering guards, damascus and metallurgy.

 

[stezann]

i have no doubt: i would ask to teach me how to straighten the tapered blade in the last steps of forging.
They seem to require just few taps in the right places to get that hunky banana corkscrew into an arrow...it just isn't fair

 

[Overmountain]

^ Tai Goo isn't an ABS guy, but for sure his insights into texture and geometry are world class.



I'd ask an ABS Mastersmith, how do you get a great big honking bowie to feel like it's made of air.

Folks like Ed Caffery apparently have special antigravity materials they can fold into their damascus.

They've secretly obtained the supersteel used in the 'Atlas Shrugged' series...

Or they've figured out how to hollow their blades out...


Personally I'd pick their brain about anything and everything until they filed a protection order against me...

-Eric