Who would you want to apprentice with and why?

1. Wayne Goddard. His knives seem to be mostly using knives, and that's the way I go with mine as well. That doesn't take anything away from his skill or fit and finish of a knife, just a plus in my opinion.I also think he and I might have similar working styles. I could be totally off on this one, but I would love to find out, either way.

2. Jerry Fisk....his knives are incredible and we're both Arkansas boys, so I think I'd be pretty comfortable with him.

3. Wally Hayes....His work is superb, and he seems like a down-to-earth guy, not one to talk over your head.
 
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Any of these would do !!!

Seated in the foreground, left to right. Bob Kramer MS, Bill Burke MS, Mike Vagnino MS, Joe Keesler MS and Don Fogg MS....

Gotta love the Hammer-in this year at Visalia CA!
 
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Necro post. Yup. Sorry. Had to do it.
Several makers cone to mind.

I've recently started looking at custom folders and gotta say Jerry McClure. Wow! Everything he makes is phenomenal Locally Brett Matthews makes some pretty amazing folders.(shhhhhh it's a secret)....

A C Richards has been my primary mentor and teacher. He's been very generous and kind with his time. I wish he wasn't 60 miles away.

To continue/add to the thread, who would you most want to apprentice under?
 
I have an inkling that Nick wheeler would be a sea of technical information and good laughs that would be hard to beat. Just an gut feeling, though.
 
Wow, this is an interesting thread.

I would learn from anyone, as long as we got along.
 
Jesus Hernandez, a young guy, but man can he make a great folded katana! Don Fogg, of course, I mean who wouldn't? Clark Howard too. I wouldn't mind working with a whole slew of some of the young Brazilian makers either. They are producing some great stuff as well, plus it would be nice to see Brazil.
 
Ive watched Walter Brend a couple of times would like to spend more time watchin him grind and finish
 
Since I've been bitten hard by the slip joint bug,Todd Davison or Bill Ruple.
Stan
 
In no particular order:
Jay Fisher--lapidary and handle work, strong feeling there'd be a Cashen level course load on just stainless metallurgy.

Prof Cashen--While reading his articles have always made me feel like I was learning Trig (i.e. head-swimming), an in-person education would probably be worth every cent getting there. Similarly, the period education on swordsmithing would be invaluable.

Tai--I've watched his hammer-in vid a half dozen times, read his posts, and learn every time. Father improvisation, I'd sit lotus style on his forge and just soak up everything I could.

Randy Haas--I loved his meteor damascus WIP and think he's gonna turn out some wild stuff in the next few years.

Stacy Apelt--I've enjoyed his Yanagi-bi thread, and his other educational threads into Japanese style cutlery. Likewise, his water stone technique and handle work would be worth being at his shop door, crisp and early with fresh bagels and lox each day.

Jesus Hernandez--To learn to forge what Stacy would teach me to polish.

Ford Hellam--His Tsuba and habiki are mind blowing.

And even though he's not a bladesmith, Uri Hoffi.
 
Fred.Rowe said:
Since there was no mention of whether the smith had to be living, I would opt for 1300's Japan, Sagami Province. I would like to have studied with Goro Nyudo aka Masamune at the Soshu school of sword making.
His swords are considered the epitome, of the art of sword making as it was practiced in Japan for over a thousand years.

All of Masamune's swords, that are known to exist in Japan today, are property of the government and are considered national treasures.

Goro was the man:thumbup:

Fred
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I'm with you Fred! His swords are just insane!

I'd also give anything for a day with the late Phil Hartsfield, his work really speaks to me.
 
Since all of you guys are predominantly mentioning the usual suspects, I'll share a story, and throw you a curve ball.

Some blacksmith friends and I spent two weekends past with Brian Brazael, whom I bet none of you other than Sam has heard of. We first forged all the tools required to forge hammers the traditional way, real punches, drifts, etc. Then we forged hammers, 3-4lbs, out of 2.25" 1045 round, with spotters and strikers, punching plugs instead of drifting predrilled holes, forging cheeks and dilineating the faces with troughs. We discussed technique, watched many examples of genius that contradicted the conventional "wisdom", and generally struggled to keep up with the raw information overload that can only come from someone who's not merely a "master" of the craft, but who is truly dedicated to the persuit of true and deep understanding of the essence of manipulating metal.

The crux is such; Brian, who is not, nor remotely claims to be a knifemaker, or even very interested in knives and their construction, as a result of conversation, demostrated the forging of a blade, from 5160 (what we had on hand) round stock, in one heat, fully set bevels, distal taper, ricasso, and plunges. The evolution of which, taking all of a minute from the forge, was so efficient, and counter intuitive, I'm only just not begining to understand.

I learned more about forging in those 3 days than I'll assimilate in a year, it keeps me awake at night, and I'm a guy that spent months learning to forge bevels to within a dimes thickness, that'll scribe damn close to perfect. Brian taught me more about making knives in one heat, than I've learned since I started, and many of his ideas, contradict the more famous contempories (like Habermann and Hofi) that he's worked with, yet all with intense rationals.

At this point I'm remiss to trust anybody else's perspective. I've learned a lot of "what just works" from some great knife makers who've been willing to share their knowledge with me, but when it comes to how to forge anything, Brian is now the only authority I have on "the best way to do it, and why".

Thanks. I'm including a pic of one of the hammers I forged that weekend.

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So many I can't even think of at the moment.

I'd have to say Keijiro Doi over in Japan. With a translator, or babelfish (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).
 
Arpad Bojtos- Artistic out of this world skills
WOLFGANG LOERCHNER - hand filing and design
Rob brown- fit and finish

The list of makers work I admire could go on and on.
The most important thing would be to work under someone who is a good teacher.
Having served an electricians apprenticeship for 4 yrs. I worked with many journeymen. Some would have you do just the dirty work, others were unable to explain or teach, some people you just don't get along with, most all, would insist you do it their way, which some times became repetitive, after you had become good in your own way. For me conduit bending was the most rewarding, never got enough of that. Welding was second.

But you learned the most after you became a journeyman and was able to apply what you learned and make decisions about your work for yourself.

So Bruce Bump is my choice.
 
javand said:
Brian Brazael, whom I bet none of you other than Sam has heard of.
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Brian's "one heat tong" video is one of my favorite videos online, I've even posted it here. It's crazy to see how definitive each and every hammer blow is. The guy has crazy skillz.

I can forge a blade really close to shape, but have always been embarrassed to forge in front of upper level blacksmiths because they can move steel so much more fluently. I talked to Tom Clark about that several years ago, and he just smiled and said something along the lines of, "Well, I've met some amazing knifemakers, but most of them don't really understand how to move metal under a hammer."

If I had the time and money, there are several blacksmiths I'd love to spend time with to try and get a better understanding of it.

Awesome hammer! :)
 
Brian Brazeal is amazing! The thing I've most admired about him over the past year since I started learning about blacksmithing is his desire And ability to teach. Also, his ability to think outside the box. I'd for sure love to spend time learning under him.
I'd add Dave Lisch too. As a blacksmith as well as a bladesmith unique touches like his hot carved butt caps like on his Raven King fighter are things I'd love to learn.
 
Wow. I just watched that one heat tongs video. Talk about eye opening.

I think I'll put some more focus on hammering technique.
 
J.KNIGHT said:
I would spend a day with JIM CROWELL he is the teacher of many masters including me and has more secrets to reveal.
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Plus Jim is an endless source of hilarious jokes :)

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I haven't met any mastersmiths I wouldn't want to apprentice with, but besides continuing to study to with Jim and JR Cook, I'm especially enamored of the artistic qualities of Burt Foster, Adam Derosiers, and especially Don Fogg's work.
 
Old post but since it was brought up

Folders: Hands down Ray Laconico. Best looking cleanest folders around. I can only DREAM of one day putting out the likes of that guy. Those folders are just my style.

Fixed blades: toss up between a few but good ole Mr. Wheeler for one. Mike who goes by the user name Mcswood located in Delaware. I love the look of his big combat knives. One Mr. Rick Marchand. I think it would not only be informative to apprentice under Rick, but it would be a hoot too!
 
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