Who do you look up to? Who inspired you most?

L

Laredian

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May 27, 2013
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This is maybe a departure from the usual topics in this sub, but I think it merits a conversation. You can see this as an appreciation post for those people in the industry that inspired you, that you maybe look up to. I've been musing about this lately and I think it's worth taking a step back once in a while and appreciating the fact that every one of us is or was influenced by some people we look up to, especially when starting out.

For me personally these makers have influenced me the most:
-The Sobral Brothers (CAS knives): i absolutely adore their design language. Sometimes flamboyant, sometimes understated, but every single piece is spectacular in it's own way.
-Jason Knight: he's kind of a bladesmithing celebrity nowadays, but I have always enjoyed his no-nonsense approach to the practicality of his blades. Also I am of the opinion that he is one of the main people who made Bowies with a harpoon-clippoint shape fashionable.
-Nick Wheeler: I have always loved the understated elegance and beauty of his pieces and I am still convinced that he is actually a robot sent here to teach us mortals how to properly make a knife. His attention to quality and especially clean fit and finish has been my benchmark to aspire to, especially when starting out. I do not know if he is still active but I think many younger makers owe him thanks for his incredible generosity when sharing his knowledge. I've watched some of his videos countless times to try to emulate what he is showing and trying to get the same result.

I am not a well known knifemaker, not even in Europe where I'm from, but if anyone on here has seen some of my work I posted on Bladeforums, I think the influence of these great makers mentioned becomes apparent. This also goes to show the power of the internet and platforms like youtube because I have never met these makers in person, I have never been to America, but the influence of looking at their work was there nonetheless. I do not consider myself on the same level as these makers, not even close, but having their work as a sort of guidance of what is actually possible, helped me to improve my own work, so this is me saying thank you.

Probably none of them will ever read this, but I think it makes for a rewarding conversation on this forum to share who inspired you and why. Also a shout-out to all the great and experienced makers on this sub who take the time to answer questions.
 
Devin Thomas

He's not as popular as more mainstream makers, from my observations it's because he is quiet professional and speaks through his work. Very little is put into sharing his accomplishments which seems to have been forgotten with time in the age of social media.

Often seen with his cowboy hat and piercing blue eyes, ol' "Hoss" sitting at his show table at knife shows inviting all that are interested into the deeper world of high performance knives and intricate complexities of forging what is thought to be unforgeable.

He was a pioneer of forging stainless steels and stainless pattern welded damascus steels.

One the first adopters of AEB-L stainless steel before anybody even knew what it was (before Landes, Verhoeven, Stamp) and he was also one of the few knife makers at the time that cared about the important details for heat treatment for quality cutting and sharpening performance rather than the "good enuff" culture some makers seem to cultivate even today despite the abundance of free knowledge now available.

A pioneer of high performance kitchen knives that could rival the Japanese kitchen knives in cutting and sharpening performance, back then there were very few options for hard, thin kitchen knives that worked.

Most importantly he was able to raise a large, beautiful family while still pursuing his never ending passion to share his undying obsession of knives, steel and heat treatment with the community.


As a family man myself with two very young children, I look up to his achievements and accomplishments of balancing family and work. I am inspired by his work ethic and focus.

It is a great achievement to have raised intelligent, independent and successful children and never giving up your dreams.


He is my favorite.
 
some of those no longer with us in body, whose work has inspired me;
Buster Warenski
Bob Loveless
Bob Lum
Rod Chappel
 
in this "Knife making" journey i have been very lucky when i started i meet and knew Nick Wheeler (back when he was no one)
Ed Schemp i still call a (Friend ) though we have not talked in many years.
Bruce Bump a Friend and kinda mentor ,as he would give a honest opinion of your work... if it needed more work he would tell you so
Bob Lum without any doubt a great maker i was very lucky to visit several times (in person ) for hands on teaching of folders ... A true gentleman and great teacher
Shane Smith & Jerry Fisk when i was forging Damascus both gave advise freely and helped me greatly getting great welds/patterns
Bill Tuch a prodigy of Butch Valloton folder and finish work ... we are still close today as we were 20 plus years ago
The #1 help to e came from Frank Jacobs (Jakeknife) as much like Bruce he would call it as he saw it and make you hold your work to a better/higher standard..
it has been a HUGE blessing to me to have all these guys help little old me become a much better knife maker.... and i try as i might to pay some of it forward to the new guys
 
Too many to count, from folks with just a "good idea" to folks who lead the way in understanding.
In no particular order
Stacy
Hoss
Wheeler
Dr Larrin
Bruce Bump
Ed Caffrey
Kevin Cashen

As I said, too many to write down. The internet has been a VERY valuable resource.
 
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DeadboxHero said:
Devin Thomas

He's not as popular as more mainstream makers, from my observations it's because he is quiet professional and speaks through his work. Very little is put into sharing his accomplishments which seems to have been forgotten with time in the age of social media.

Often seen with his cowboy hat and piercing blue eyes, ol' "Hoss" sitting at his show table at knife shows inviting all that are interested into the deeper world of high performance knives and intricate complexities of forging what is thought to be unforgeable.

He was a pioneer of forging stainless steels and stainless pattern welded damascus steels.

One the first adopters of AEB-L stainless steel before anybody even knew what it was (before Landes, Verhoeven, Stamp) and he was also one of the few knife makers at the time that cared about the important details for heat treatment for quality cutting and sharpening performance rather than the "good enuff" culture some makers seem to cultivate even today despite the abundance of free knowledge now available.

A pioneer of high performance kitchen knives that could rival the Japanese kitchen knives in cutting and sharpening performance, back then there were very few options for hard, thin kitchen knives that worked.

Most importantly he was able to raise a large, beautiful family while still pursuing his never ending passion to share his undying obsession of knives, steel and heat treatment with the community.


As a family man myself with two very young children, I look up to his achievements and accomplishments of balancing family and work. I am inspired by his work ethic and focus.

It is a great achievement to have raised intelligent, independent and successful children and never giving up your dreams.


He is my favorite.
Click to expand...
Thanks,

Much love and respect.

Hoss
 
"How to Make Knives", Loveless, Barney. That book was critical in the information vacuum prior to the Internet.

People? When I first started, I'd sit at a monthly Chicago show and hang out with Kevin Hoffman and Jerry Rados. They are my two early "mentors," and taught me so much despite i was never in their shops. I took my first forging lessons and made my first Damascus under Tim Zowada's tutelage. The stuff he's doing still inspires. Wisconsin maker Ed Brandsey taught me a lot. Ron "Bowie" Claiborne was a wellspring of both inspiration and knowledge about how to make Damascus.
 
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I will give the inspirational credit for my work to Mr. Jerry Busse. The first time I saw them on a table at a Dayton gun show, I was hooked :) The overbuilt tend to make me feel warm and fuzzy!

Speaking of that, and after reading how some of you are attributing to folks no longer with us, I'll make this one official.
Thank you sir for your art, and my inspiration to start blade making! Jerry Busse Jerry Busse
 
These folks have answered my questions when I needed help/guidance. I look up to them for that. Many read posts and have info to share but don't always. I too am guilty of it on a rifle related forum. This is not an exhaustive list by any means.
DevinT
Richard338
SBuzek
The artist formerly known as Samuraistuart
Stacy E.Apelt

This guy wrote a book that helped me months back when I didn't know what was actually happening to the steel when it was processed. I refer to that book and likely always will. He writes articles and even uploads YouTube videos to help folks understand. He gets my respect.
Larrin Thomas
 
Bob Loveless
DE Henry
Tony Bose
Phill Hartsfield
Bob Engath
Rick Browne
Ron Horn
 
Me? If there was a list, I would expect my name to be at the very end, on the last page, at the very bottom (channeling Uncle Si there). Seriously, thank you GRapp.

Matthew Gregory. That guy has helped me on so many levels. Thank you very much, Matt.
Kevin Cashen. He has been an early trusted source of heat treating info, plus his love of historical knives/swords and his ability to recreate them with passion. I miss hypefreeblades.com and wish he was still here on Shop Talk.
Larrin Thomas, for obvious reasons. Big thank you to Larrin for his massive contributions to our field.
Cliff Stamp. His insights into sharpening really taught me quite a bit on the subject.
Stacy Apelt. For putting up with me for years!
 
I really liked the proper scientific approach by Kevin Cashen to counterbalance the voodo by what's his name and the other guy.

The Bruce bump WIP threads were epic and better than 3/4's of most books I have.

Bob Terzuola - His book is awesome, everyone should buy two copies.

Nick Wheeler - I still recommend his hand sanding videos to folks that need em.

I can't remember most, Old BF was pretty epic at one time.
 
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It has to be Devin Thomas and Andy Roy for me.

Fiddleback Forge was first step into quality handmade knives, and Andy’s knives have had the biggest influence on my design philosophy.

Devin Thomas is a wealth of metallurgical knowledge and is happy to share what he knows with anyone who is willing to sit down and talk.

I have had the great privilege to get to know these fine makers over the past few years, and their knowledge and experience has helped my knifemaking improve immensely. I will always be grateful for their contributions to the knife community and for the knowledge they have shared with me.
 
Devin Thomas and Larrin Thomas, I do LOVE the science in the steel.
Stacy
So many others here on the forum that share so much information and love what they do.
I always love seeing what Horsewright makes and so so many others here on the forum.

I know I'll never be as good as so many others here but I do so enjoy the craft because of all of you guys.
 
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