Who The Heck Are Ya?

Great thread idea. My name is Todd Hill. I am quite new to knifemaking. In fact, so far I've only completed two knives and I have six blades that I've forged and are in various states of completion. My wife is using one of the completed knives in the kitchen and she loves it. I use the other one for just about anything I need a knife for. I was introduced to blacksmithing a couple years ago and have been plodding forward at it ever since. I have had to do everything myself from scratch/scrap so it's been slow-going. I grew up in the Amazon jungle (my parents were missionaries) and I had an everpresent knife stuck in the waistband of my shorts. Right now I use a homemade forge with homemade charcoal as fuel. I have a HF 110 lb. Russian anvil with ding marks accumulating on its face. I love knives made and used by third world cultures--I'm sure that's because of my past. So far my knives have been made from 5160 and have been differential hardened with clay. I have some other types of steel waiting to be tried. Right now I live in Tucson, Arizona, but at the beginning of June we are moving to southern New Jersey. I am here to learn from you all. I would love to meet some actual bladesmiths and watch them work. Maybe some day. I forgot to add--I am married and have four beautiful children and I am a high school English teacher and love my job.
 
My name is James. I am 16 and live in Louisiana. I have just started makeing knives. They are not very pretty and i am using some really bad materials. The ones i make are still cool though. I have been using pieces of flat steel from hardwear stors, cuting out my design with a tourch then grinding away. When i finish i Heat till red then quench in oil. I want to use stanless but i have nothing to cut it with. I was wondering if anyone could help me with that. I need a material that won't rust!
 
Paul Gallant - Husband, Father, psychotherapist,guitar playing bladesmith, open to all and every new bit of info on producing quality, usable knives.
 
Ed Rowe (not Fred Rowe) is my name. I don't personally know any other knifemakers but recently devoloped a "bug" for knifemaking a few months ago. I just always admired a fine made knife and have had one custom-made knife for about twenty years that I always loved. I want to make some knives of my own that hopefully, someone else can appreciate and admire for years to come.
 
Tim Betts (hence the screen name heh) Im 14 years old, still at public 'high-school' got a passion for making things. As soon I was old enough to make stuff on my own I have been, mainly making destructive/weaponry, I think the best thing I made was a remote control tank with a flame thrower. My room is a total mess with all the stuff that I use, salvaged parts from around the home etc, If I think of an idea I have to make it or a proto-type, regardless if its 2am hehe. Got into knife making when, erm, I dont know really, Ive always loved knifes and swords, but being 14 its hard to buy them without my parents knowing about it, then they ask questions on why I want the, questions that I dont have answers to, I just love them. Ive seen some nice knives around and posted on another forum (in the off-topic section) because I know those guys like making alot of different things, got referred to here, and here I am, posting about what tools I need for the making.
 
Well I've been apprehensive to introduce myself since I dont really consider myself a knife maker .. Yet! :D
I have done 20 odd heavy mods on some knives that I have and a few cheapies I have bought , to get a feel for fit and finish. So far I've done a big 'ol Kukri and a few folder kits , some fixed blade kits , a custom unfinished blade I bought at a gun show here and some cheap Pakistani 'skinners'.
Some day I'll post pics if anyones interested.
Tonight I'm going to start working on a Busse Boot knife blank I ordered , going to customize the heck out of it , I just hope I get the grind right....
After that project I'm going to start from a blank piece of steel from the ground up. Living in an apartment I am limited to stock removal , I have nice tools and my boos has a complete shop with belt sander and grinder which I can use whenever , that should help a lot.
Some of the things I have the most fun with are , bringing the blade to a near mirror polish , etching the blade and filework , and making the scales.
Nothing prettier than some well finished wood on a well finished blade ! :cool:
Anyways I am sure thankful for the vast wealth of knowledge on this forum and I'm sure youll see me asking questions I cant find answers to.
Thanks in advance , Todd.
 
My name is Chris J. Smith and I live in Lexington/West Liberty, KY. I have been making knives off and on for about 7 years (I think.) I was taught by my dad John Smith and have learned a lot from him over the years. I started making my first knife when I was 14-15 years old, and finished in about a year later. Since then the quality of my knives has improved (I hope.)

I went to college for mechanical CADD and am currently employed as a rebar detailer. I have pretty decent hours so I have time in the evenings to work on knives, thats why I'm converting a 10'X10' building into a shop. I'm currently in the process of building a belt grinder and buying equipment to get started making knives.

I look forward to reading the forums and helping out where I can.
 
Chris. I saw one of your knives up at Nordic Knives a while back and am still kicking myself for not buying it. Your Dad's influence was obvious in the fit and finish department, but the overall design was unlike anything I've seen from him.

Welcome to Blade Forums.

John
 
My name's Kent Hicks and I havent been on the forums since the late 90's. Dont ask me why. I retired from the fire department a couple of years ago and was finaly able to play at bladesmithing full time after being part time for years. Im loving it but I sure am glade pinto beans are cheap.
 
truckee said:
My name's Kent Hicks and I havent been on the forums since the late 90's. Dont ask me why. I retired from the fire department a couple of years ago and was finaly able to play at bladesmithing full time after being part time for years. Im loving it but I sure am glade pinto beans are cheap.
Click to expand...
Kent, if you live around me come on down. :D
 
Thanks George but Ma. is a long hike from Ava Mo. and all the pinto beans cause me to make funny noises when I walk. Birds keep falling out of the sky around me too, I dont know why :)
 
Hey, I live just up yonder in Webb City, MO. I'll be in St. Louis for the summer, but back here in August.

I'm excited to find someone so close to me on the forums.
 
Hi,
My name is David Loukides. Also known as Loussharp. I am a Toolmaker by day and a Knife Maker as a hobby. I've made my own equipment and have made 60 or so knives. I have also taught 6 young teen agers the responsible way to make a knife and sheath from A2 barstock, exotic wood and leather. When they are finished their parents get the knife until they are shown that the lad can be responsible to keep it safely, or when they are 18 years old. My latest apprentice travels 1hour every Saturday for an hour lesson.

That's My Story
Dave
 
Hey DaDanoska come on down if you get a chance. We'll get a fire going and swing a hammer or two
 
Loussharp said:
Hi,
My name is David Loukides. Also known as Loussharp. I am a Toolmaker by day and a Knife Maker as a hobby. I've made my own equipment and have made 60 or so knives. I have also taught 6 young teen agers the responsible way to make a knife and sheath from A2 barstock, exotic wood and leather. When they are finished their parents get the knife until they are shown that the lad can be responsible to keep it safely, or when they are 18 years old. My latest apprentice travels 1hour every Saturday for an hour lesson.

That's My Story
Dave
Click to expand...
Dave if you are ever in MASS. stop in. We (NECKA) have Hammer-Ins a few time a year. The next one is at my shop this coming Saturday. :D
 
IG, I am seeing a lot of good knife makers coming from your neck of the woods. I think your fine NECKA organization has a lot to do with it. My congratulations, George!
 
John Andrews said:
IG, I am seeing a lot of good knife makers coming from your neck of the woods. I think your fine NECKA organization has a lot to do with it. My congratulations, George!
Click to expand...
Thank you!!! This is one of the key goals that NECKA was founded on. :D :D
With someone like you noticing it, it makes it all worth it. ;)
 
Hello all. I'm Larry Slaughter. I'm an LVN by trade, thats LPN everywhere else but california. I've been into rebuilding my old truck for awhile, so that has gotten me into the mindset of cheaper is better, built by me is better. i figure i can screw up anything a mechanic could just as well, but a whole lot cheaper. therefore, I am building my own grinder and buffers. I'm also planning on making a cheapo forge to work with..... I've been accumulating materials here and there, for what yet, I'm not sure. But when the time comes, I'm sure I'll have just the right piece of whatever just laying around waiting......
My father got me into knives when i was a kid. He's a collector. We used to do the knife show rounds here in texas, and in doing so, got to meet some awesome people. I've always talked about making my own knives. I figure if i don't start, i never will. So i have. I have several blades cut out and rough ground, I need to get the grind put on them so i can try heat treating etc.... but until i finish my grinder, I'm content to wait.

Just want to say hey, and i'm sure sooner or later i will have a question.
Later. Larry
 
I am Bill Foote. I have been making stock removal knives for a while. I am moving into a house and shop on 4.25 acres. The shop is a steel bldg. 35 x 45. This time I am outfitting it with a smithy. Ron Claiborne's press, a forge by Rex Price with his T-Rex burners (2), Bader grinder, John LeBlanc's horizontal grinder, surface grinder, Chuck Robinson's knifemaker anvil, compressor and other equipment I already had.
Forging will be a new endeavor for me. I am reading everything I can, talking to people, and have had instruction from Harvey Dean, Johnny Stout, Steve schwartzer, Devin Thomas and others.
I can't wait till the shop is ready to go. It has 100A service, a bathroom, finishing room, water and storage space.
I will start with 1084 and 1080, then try damascus. At this point I was warned to keep at the knifemaking, because damascus is very addicting, maybe even moreso than knives.
I thank all of you for the information that has made me a better knifemaker, and will probably have questions about shop setup in the near future.
Knifemakers are very sharing and It's the best group of guys there ever was.
I am lucky to be here, doing what I am doing.
Thanks,
Bill
 
Just wanted to say hello. I am a sculptor who does his best to do everything in the old way. This includes making my own tools. I am a big fan of knives that do a lot of everything. This is because I am essentially either lazy or busy, I can't remember.
The knife-like objects I've been making have been stock removal pieces so far. I am waiting on buying my own house to construct a proper forge. Right now I just have a fire pit, which is fine for tempering and that's about all.
I have yet to see any knives out there that are like what I'm making, but then, I could say the same thing about the sculpture that my knives help create. Take care now.
 
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