When you have reached the peak, where do you go from there?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
4,453
There some knifemakers who have reached the peak in their career. This means their knifemaking skills are no longer questionable. Their blades are awesome, even inspiring.

They have more orders than the years of their natural life. All these mean they have scaled the heights and have hit the top and have planted their flags.

Where do these knifemakers go next? Are there any more fields to conquer? The passion for making knives is still burning in them but making knives and more knives simply means cruising on a plateau.

So when you as a top knifemaker have reached the top, where else can you go? Where do you want to go?

Is there anything that you don't know? What else can you learn?

Or, is it from now on, you want to impart some or all of that hard-earned knowledge to the up and coming knifemakers?

Tell us your story.
 
There's no peak. As long as human lives, they'll keep learning.

Take an example Jerry Fisk. He just learned how to engrave.
 
I completely agree. The craft is never mastered, there is always something to learn every day, plus the fact that no matter how good you are, every knife is a challenge.:p
 
For you new knife makers, just remember, "Be nice to the people on the way up...because you're gonna meet the same people on the way down."

Jackie Gleason-1953
 
Some may reach a plateau, but for those that strive for perfection the quest will always continue. Look at Bill Moran. His knives just keep getting better and better. Something tells these makers that no matter how good the last knife was, the next one can be better. These makers never reach a plateau, they just get to the point where they physically can't do it any more.

Edited because I left another damn word out.:grumpy:
 
Once you'v e reached a peak, you can always go back to creating imported POS's and start all over again. :)
 
Golok: The things you speak of are only a small part of what knifemaking can be. Financial success (preceived by others or self) is trivial when you consider the variables we have to work with.

The finest steels ever known to man are at our fingertips. Research and documentation enough to keep a man busy for years, just learning all the variables that can influence one steel immediately available for a fee, money to purchase and time to read.

The courage to stick your neck out and discuss your findings and the ability to communicate to others are very real challenges that will know no end.

Sometimes it is lonely, then along comes a fellow explorer and the time shared takes both to new horizons.

We can visit the past and study knives of legend or those of history. Usually we find a little of both, the search for one concept within thousands of pages is highly motiviating. For example are there any knifemakers or historians who have sought the facts that may lie within the legend of Excalibur?

Paul Wellman mentions many highly interesting thougts when he discusses the birth of the Iron Mistress. Where did he get his information? someone was pretty sharp.

The machanics of the human hand when it meets the knife handel are beyond simple explanation. The varaibles as complex as our ability to see, still the answer is in your hand.

The knife is as simple or complex as we wish to make it. When we blend in the psychology of the men who were or are involved with some facets of the knife, there are many thoughts to consider.

We may take a break every now and then, but unless we have outlived our usefulness, more thoughts will stimulate the vision of new frontiers.

Good Question
 
Originally posted by PhilL
For you new knife makers, just remember, "Be nice to the people on the way up...because you're gonna meet the same people on the way down."

Jackie Gleason-1953
Click to expand...

It was actually comedian Jimmy Durante who is noted for that famous quote. ;)
 
Ed, your reply has shed light on some areas which I have suspected have always been there but never seen.

Wisdom, humility and experience are a most inspiring combination.

May you have many, many more long and fruitful years.
 
besides we have been improving the knife for the the last million years! why not the next?
 
I really enjoy reading Ed's writing. I find it inspiring, and yes he has a way with words.

I wonder if he was an English teacher before.....:)
 
Ed - thank you for the inspiring words

another avenue is to look for new grounds to conquer - like Allen Elishewitz is doing with watches now days..
 
I feel that the public often percieves the sucess or lack there of in makers.Ours is an endless pursuit of the ultimate knife. We must first satisfy ourselves.As our technique improves so does our expectations.As technology improves so does the knife and as long as there are makers willing to push the envelope the knife will continue to improve.Those that are willing to evolve with this ever changing industry and learn new techniques will always be challenged and can never know it all.
 
There's not a maker out there that has created a perfect knife and there never will be. The makers at the top of their game are the ones that know this and keep climbing towards the peak.
 
When you have reached the peak, where do you go from there?
i gen get out of bed and smoke a cig!!:)
harley
 
I havn't been making knives nearly as long as a lot of the makers out there, & by no means think I rank with the top dogs but I want to & won't quit trying until the day I die or until the day this body can't handle being in the shop. Every knife I make seems to be a little better than the last, but they don't seem to be that much better, I try as hard as I can to make a perfect knife & have never done it nor do I ever think I will but will never quit striving for the perfect knife. I always seem to find at least one or two blemishes. Most people don't know they're there but I do & it eats on me but you have to find a stopping point on each one you do. One thing I have noticed, when I really started getting into knifemaking in 96 I thought I was doing ok but when I see one of knives I made back then I always try to talk the owner out of it so I can build him another one & throw that one in the trash or the bottom of the lake. They're plumb embarrasing ! But I can't afford to bye them all back:( Each time I get the privilege to hang around people like Johnny Stout, Harvey Dean, Steve Dunn, Steve Schwarzer & the like, I really try to soak as much knowledge as I can up in this spungy brain of mine. And my knives always get better everytime I spend time with these gentlemen & others but My knives still do not satisfy me completely. All I can do is hope & pray that the Good Lord above will allow me to grow in the craft & spend time with all of you & become the best I can be as a knifemaker & a man. That is my goal. But as far as reaching the peak, I don't see it happening to me. I've enjoyed all of yall's post's. Dwayne
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top