- Joined
- Apr 30, 2001
- Messages
- 1,742
Been getting alot of where are you e-mails lately, so I figured it was time to let you in on what I have been doing.
Right before Blade West 2003 a good friend of mine had a whole mess of Mid-Tech blades made up. He got them to his door just two days before the show. He had wanted a bunch made up for the show, so he planned on working through the night to get them done. I volunteered to come over and help him turn them out. I could tell that he was way to tired to be infront of machines, so I told him that I would take a handfull to my shop and finish them and that he should go get some sleep. He had to be fresh for the show, but I did not have a table so could afford to work staight thru. The next morning I got them to his table right at opening bell.
He later asked me if I would like to finish up the rest of the pieces. I figured why not easy money. Well, that ended up being 500 knives. Took me the better part of 6 months. I finished them up just in time to actually get some of my own knives done for Blade 2004. During this time, I was doing alot of thinking about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in knifemaking. I decided that I really liked doing the whole mid-tech thing, and better still I found that I was really good at it. So I decided to let the word get around that I was open and willing to take on other makers mid-tech/production work.
So word got around at Blade that this was what I was doing. There was more interest than I ever could have expected. I had 200 units lined up before Blade and nearly 10,000 units lined up afterward (all in three days). So that is what I have been doing. I have had to get in tons of new machines and I am constantly on the lookout for shop assistants.
At about this same time I was introduced to some of the crew of the TV show NCIS. They loved my folder work and wanted me to come down to the set to meet the rest of the cast and crew. That led to alot of work on that end. It also looks like it will lead into some other shows as well. You will be able to see my work (and me) in the History Channels up coming special "Alexander the Great". It airs this Sunday (Nov 7th) at 7pm IIRC. I did most of the weapons work for the special and got roped into being an extra. I will be in about 10-15 scenes, three without my helmet (so my face actually shows). With my helmet I am easy to spot, I am the only soldier wearing a bronze smurf hat shaped helmet with a full bronze face shield. All you can see in the helmet is my eyes.
I have decided that this is really what I want to be doing, so my personal customs are taking a back seat. I will still be making my own knives but on a very limited bases. I have decided not to open my order taking back up. It was supposed to open up in September. I have also decided to cut my show schedule back to only three a year (Blade, Vegas and Expo). Shows are pretty much the only times my knives will be open for general sales. Although I may post a few here now and again.
The city has put me on notice that I am out producing what the codes allow for my 680sq" home shop. So I am in the process of moving into a new 4000sq" industrial shop and I need about 3 more shop helpers. I am hoping to make the move final before the end of the year, but we will see what happens. I am currently only able to produce about 150 knives a week, after the move I need to be doing about double that to keep up with demand.
I am also opening an FX business at the same time. A buddy has been wanting to open his own studio (he has been renting space at other shops) for some time, but he really did not have the space he needs nor a full line of machines. He found that I was planning on moving into a new space so he approached me with the offer. I decided to open a studio owned by me and hire him as the full time shop manager. He is a big time player with many box office hits under his belt, so he is bringing alot to the table. Should be fun, we will see what happens with it.
Liquidmetal is really moving right now. We have a major manufacurer of fishing gear looking to start full production on a line of LM1 fishing and sport knives. They are already producing LM1 tuna hooks (for commercial fishing fleets) and thought that LM1 was the perfect choice for thier knives.
Time has really been a huge enemy so I don't have much chance to get on here much any more. But with the move I should have a little easier time of things.
I am fully caught up on my communications (although I could still be a little better at it) and my back log of customs is nearly filled.
Thats about where I stand right now.
Thanks
Ron
Right before Blade West 2003 a good friend of mine had a whole mess of Mid-Tech blades made up. He got them to his door just two days before the show. He had wanted a bunch made up for the show, so he planned on working through the night to get them done. I volunteered to come over and help him turn them out. I could tell that he was way to tired to be infront of machines, so I told him that I would take a handfull to my shop and finish them and that he should go get some sleep. He had to be fresh for the show, but I did not have a table so could afford to work staight thru. The next morning I got them to his table right at opening bell.
He later asked me if I would like to finish up the rest of the pieces. I figured why not easy money. Well, that ended up being 500 knives. Took me the better part of 6 months. I finished them up just in time to actually get some of my own knives done for Blade 2004. During this time, I was doing alot of thinking about what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go in knifemaking. I decided that I really liked doing the whole mid-tech thing, and better still I found that I was really good at it. So I decided to let the word get around that I was open and willing to take on other makers mid-tech/production work.
So word got around at Blade that this was what I was doing. There was more interest than I ever could have expected. I had 200 units lined up before Blade and nearly 10,000 units lined up afterward (all in three days). So that is what I have been doing. I have had to get in tons of new machines and I am constantly on the lookout for shop assistants.
At about this same time I was introduced to some of the crew of the TV show NCIS. They loved my folder work and wanted me to come down to the set to meet the rest of the cast and crew. That led to alot of work on that end. It also looks like it will lead into some other shows as well. You will be able to see my work (and me) in the History Channels up coming special "Alexander the Great". It airs this Sunday (Nov 7th) at 7pm IIRC. I did most of the weapons work for the special and got roped into being an extra. I will be in about 10-15 scenes, three without my helmet (so my face actually shows). With my helmet I am easy to spot, I am the only soldier wearing a bronze smurf hat shaped helmet with a full bronze face shield. All you can see in the helmet is my eyes.
I have decided that this is really what I want to be doing, so my personal customs are taking a back seat. I will still be making my own knives but on a very limited bases. I have decided not to open my order taking back up. It was supposed to open up in September. I have also decided to cut my show schedule back to only three a year (Blade, Vegas and Expo). Shows are pretty much the only times my knives will be open for general sales. Although I may post a few here now and again.
The city has put me on notice that I am out producing what the codes allow for my 680sq" home shop. So I am in the process of moving into a new 4000sq" industrial shop and I need about 3 more shop helpers. I am hoping to make the move final before the end of the year, but we will see what happens. I am currently only able to produce about 150 knives a week, after the move I need to be doing about double that to keep up with demand.
I am also opening an FX business at the same time. A buddy has been wanting to open his own studio (he has been renting space at other shops) for some time, but he really did not have the space he needs nor a full line of machines. He found that I was planning on moving into a new space so he approached me with the offer. I decided to open a studio owned by me and hire him as the full time shop manager. He is a big time player with many box office hits under his belt, so he is bringing alot to the table. Should be fun, we will see what happens with it.
Liquidmetal is really moving right now. We have a major manufacurer of fishing gear looking to start full production on a line of LM1 fishing and sport knives. They are already producing LM1 tuna hooks (for commercial fishing fleets) and thought that LM1 was the perfect choice for thier knives.
Time has really been a huge enemy so I don't have much chance to get on here much any more. But with the move I should have a little easier time of things.
I am fully caught up on my communications (although I could still be a little better at it) and my back log of customs is nearly filled.
Thats about where I stand right now.
Thanks
Ron
