Who have you taken classes with?

Bob Ohlemann

Bob Ohlemann

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Dec 5, 2013
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I spent last week in Nashville, Arkansas with MS J.R. Cook. We were talking about being able to recognize the influences of mentors in makers knives. I thought it would be interesting to see who our members have taken knifemaking classes with. I have a long list of makers who I would like to spend some time learning various skills from. I've also taken some excellent classes from some accomplished makers. Would really like to get max participation on this, especially some of you old timers.

I'll start: I'm not including lectures from hammer-ins or seminars but you are welcome to if you think it's influenced your work.

Johnny Stout - Beginning Knifemaking - 4 days
Johnny Stout - Fine Folders - 5 days
J.R. Cook - Intro to Bladesmithing - 5 days

Bob
 
I haven't been at this stuff too long. The list of makers I'd love to take classes with is very long. To date I've taken 3 classes:


Joe Szilaski - Forging, 2 days

Joe Szilaski - Grinding, 2 days

Joe Szilaski - Handles and guards, 2 days


I can give him a lot of credit for my development as a maker. The mistakes and deficiencies are all mine.
 
No formal classes but around 1990-1991 I used to visit Warren Osborne quite a bit and he really helped me along. Also visited Warrens' good friend Tom Overeyender a few times and picked up some tips from Tom as well. I'm feeling a bit guilty these days that I hadn't stuck with the knifemaking after all the great help I got from those two guys. Looking forward to getting back to doing some fine work and would be very honored to have anyone recognize either of my mentors influences in my work.
 
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Mine were all named "The hard way". Some help/classes would have helped a lot...there about three people that I would like learn from
Peter Ross
Mark Aspery
Joe Szilaski
 
Wow, Joe, Warren and Tom. There's some serious knowledge right there! I'd really like to get an invite out to Warren's shop.

Bob
 
I've not yet taken a formal class like you describe. But I very much enjoyed hour-long seminars I've attended at BLADE the last couple years. The two stand-outs for me were one on general blade design by Jerry Fisk, and one on sushi/sashimi knives by Wally Hayes. Also, Bobby Branton gave a demo/seminar on throwing knives last year that was both a lot of fun and very informative. Likewise, any sanctioned BladeSports cutting competition event is worth attending. Those folks, especially President Donovan Phillips, love to answer questions about what they do and why/how they do it. :thumbup:

If you can make it to a serious knife-specific show, hammer-in or contest anyway (and you should, at least once!) do not forget to check out whoever is giving seminars/classes/demo's, bring a notebook and/or camera, and ask lots of questions. It's well worth it. :)
 
2015:
ABS Intro to Bladesmithing 9 Days - Timothy Potier
ABS Hammer-in 2 Days

2016:
ABS Handles and Guards 5 Days - Kevin Cashen

I dropped the check in the mail for Kevin's class today and I'm real excited about this one. I've been a fan of his work and his scientific approach since I started getting serious about bladesmithing not too long ago.

I find classes with experts to be the best way to shave the learning curve off of any skill or trade. You can learn just about anything on the internet now, which is fantastic since i can't take classes on everything I'd like to know or do. But you just can't compare to hands on with an experienced veteran of their craft in my opinion. So if you can get out there and take one I highly recommend it.

-Clint
 
I've spent about 2 days in Erik Fritz's shop, and 3 days in Shane Taylor's. They are both great guys who I'm VERY grateful to for the time they're spending with me. I'd be absolutely ecstatic if someday someone thought my work shows influence from "The Montana Guys".
 
I learned on my own, but had a life time of building and fitting and finishing. Makes learning knife skills a bit easier.

I've had two people apprentice at my shop over the last 17 years. Both have gone on to build stand alone shops and are accomplished smiths in there own right. Both of these smiths are now great friends who I see regularly.

Sharing your hard earned skills is a very satisfying thing to do and its a way to pay into the knife making community as a whole.

Fred
 
I spent a week with Gil Hibben 3years ago. He's a master at free hand hollow grinding. Planning to spend some time with Johnny Stout in the not too distant future.
 
I find classes with experts to be the best way to shave the learning curve off of any skill or trade.
-Clint
Click to expand...

yeah this works for me too.
Particularly when time is more valuable than money.
Different people learn in different ways.

I've been to a few known knifemakers in my area who are quite skilled. They are happy to show you what they know and let you try things out.
However to be a good teacher is something else. Being a skilled knifemaker doesn't make you a good teacher.
That requires a plan, a known curriculum, conveying information, etc etc.
I got the most out of 4 hours with Mike Vagnino, but this was after I had made about 10 crappy knives on my own. So I had some time behind
the grinder,

I'm signed up for Murray Carter's 6 day Bladesmithing Intensive in Dec, looking forward to that :-)
 
William Schrade said:
I spent a week with Gil Hibben 3years ago. He's a master at free hand hollow grinding. Planning to spend some time with Johnny Stout in the not too distant future.
Click to expand...

I have to say that if you like his style or not that man is a absolute artist with a grinder..
 
I had 5 days with Johnny Stout for his basic knife making class. It helped me understand that applying pressure on different places on bevel either corrected, or in my case caused issuses. :)

I wish I had more time to be at the grinder. This start stop approach i have at the moment makes it difficult to get consistent grinds. Very frustrating to say the least.

I would like to take the intro bladesmithing class at the Texarkana college next.

Russell
 
Haven't taken formal classes but have learned a bit here and there from the many fine makers before me that freely shared their Knowledge at Los Angeles area knife maker get together's.

From the Late Bob Loveless, Tony Swanton and many more that the names escape me. it just cost showing up, and listening and watching. Then getting out in my shop and doing it. I have and will share what i can to most anyone that asks me.

Others do better in a formal class setting. There is always more to learn. I may take a class someday?
 
I had five hours of classes with Tai Goo with a buddy of mine, where we focused on forging integral socket handles and integral octagonal bolsters. He opened up with hand sharpening. Haven't done much with the integral bolsters, but I've made many integral socket handles and have adapted his sharpening style to how I work.

Definitely worth it, and lots of fun to boot!
 
No formal classes, but a number of hammer-ins, shop visits and such. The lectures, demonstration, workshops, tutorials, etc. that I remember best were ones with guys like John Horrigan, Kevin Cashen, Joe Keeslar, Daniel Winkler, John White, Tim Poitier, Larry Harley, J.W. Randall, Ray Kirk, Bailye Bradshaw, Dr. Jim Lucie, Claude Bouchonville, Todd Fischer, Stan Wilson and a number of others. I got advice early on at hammer ins from others like Bill Moran, Jay Hendrickson, Steve Schwarzer, Jerry Fisk, John Fitch, Bert Gaston and of course a ton of guys at the shows. I have learned a LOT from the forums and would specifically single out guys like Ed Caffrey, Don Hanson, Nick Wheeler, Bruce Bump..........i could go on for hours.
 
Do you guys have any recommendations for classes in northern CA or Oregon? Thanks in advance!
 
Not actually a class, but I am fortunate enough to live pretty close to John Loyd.
I was able to hang out with him in his shop a few hours.
I applied what info he gave me from peening to some tricks of the trade of knife making.

I feel I gained tremendous leaps in my knife making since than.
I still on occasions talk to him about knife making.
I feel he's a all around mentor to me.
 
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