Why Do You Make Knives?

James_Terrio

James_Terrio

Joined
Oct 6, 2008
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There's just something special about making handmade, custom, and/or specialized knives. Despite recent arguments about this-and-that, I'm willing to bet everyone here agrees that this knifemaking thing is pretty darn fun. And I think it's high time to focus on that! If it ain't fun, it ain't worth doing.

I'm sure that's no surprise to any of you, but I wanted to start a thread to celebrate it. I don't give a fat flying hoot if you grind/forge, use new steel/old steel, make art knives/users, made one knife or a couple thousand... we're all in the same game and I really feel we should take a minute to just enjoy it and share some positive energy. So here goes...

I'ma start this off by telling why I'm still struggling to make a knife worth showing here... I've made a few and sold 'em locally (no returns yet :)); done some repairs/mods and had good feedback... but I'm not gonna post new stuff here till I feel my work is somewhat close to the quality I see here every day. Y'all set a very high standard!

I was raised by people who took great care and pride in their work and hobbies. Folks who adamantly believed, "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right." I've also been around people who just slog their way through life and don't seem to care much. I bet you can guess which people are more fun and interesting to be around.

I like working by myself. I like not having a "boss" looking over my shoulder and telling me to hurry up and "just get it done and out the door." I like staying up all night to get a finish just right. I like not having to rely on some other doofus handing me mistakes I have to fix; my mistakes are my own. I gotta fix 'em and I usually learn from 'em.

I like certain styles of knives, and sometimes I'm downright stubborn about tiny little design features. That's my right, dang it! ;) The cool thing about knifemakers is, most of 'em say, "Fine son, make it your way. The public will sort it out."

I like taking pride in what I do, and saying, "I made that. I take responsibility for it. If you don't like it, please tell me why so I can learn how to make it better."

It's not just about being free and autonamous, though...

I like being a small part of a community that has given me SO much help, trying to guide me in the right direction. I'm continually amazed that some of the best makers on the planet frequent this forum, and are so willing to help us new folks! To me, that shows a heckuva lot of character. I wouldn't know half of what I know if it wasn't for the experienced guys schooling me. I sure have a lot to learn, and that's a BIG part of the fun.

I try to give back in a small way, so I give my newbie advice to other newbies. Sometimes, I've given the wrong advice, but no one has kicked my butt for it; they just pointed out the correct advice... and I've learned both techniques and humility from those many instances. :o I'm slowly learning when to keep my mouth shut. ;)

I have seen situations where a member or maker got blasted by health problems, natural disasters, or what-have-you... and other folks, whether they knew him/her or not, pitched in what they could to help 'em out. That's a beautiful thing.

I like talking to a client and finding out what they want/need, and figuring out of I can do it for them. No sales BS, no middleman, just me and the customer.

The icing on the cake is selling a piece and getting positive feedback... "I've never owned a knife this sharp!" "Gosh, that's pretty!" "My friend wants you to make one like that!" I've been blessed to experience that a few times now, and I like it a lot. I damn sure acknowledge that I couldn't have done it without y'all's help... and I feel a sense of accomplishment much greater than when I worked in a print-shop or some other factory.

So! What makes making knives special to you? I know it ain't the money ;)
 
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All the fast cars and fast women... Oh wait. ;)


I had a long, fancy reply written, but it was way too wordy.

The super short answer? Cuz I like to work with my hands.


My standard answer:

Knife making is something that allows me to couple my design background and an innate need to work with my hands. It's a rare craft where you can be involved from the initial pencil sketch, all the way through to a finely finished product.

The actual process is rarely fun for me. It's often an uphill battle. None of this stuff has just come easy... but I find it incredibly rewarding to take a handful of raw materials, and end up with a knife that's going in someone's collection or at their side when they need it. It's also rewarding for me to overcome all the little battles I go through to actually finish one.

I LOVE hammering on hot steel, but I often find myself dragging through the rest of the processes... but I still love it all. :
 
Because, when I get the urge on the weekend to do something, I go in the shop and work work work and draw the urge out and create something physical, like the physical manifestation of the urge to do something. And it's fire, hitting things with hammers, cool tools, dangerous, making noise, firecrackers, boobs......Whoops got off track there but you get the idea :D
 
Because it's an immediately tangible evidence and expression of our labors. What other job can you have 100% pure self-expression for it's own sake, except music? I love the lines, I love the dramatic contrast, i love the process. i love the opportunity to challenge my own expectations.
 
Funny you mention music, haggismonger. The only vocation that compares to knifemaking, for me, was playing guitar. There is a certain amount of ego a person has to have, to do either one well and convincingly. You have to be committed and put your butt on the line in front of your "audience". It's kinda nerve-wracking, but also invigorating.

Funny you mention boobs, Sam... I saw plenty of 'em as a result of pickin' on a guitar, but I have yet to see a woman show herself to me because of a knife I made. :(

Nick, I think I understand what you're saying. I find many steps of actually finishing a knife to be outright drudgery. (hand-sanding, anyone? ;)) But the end result is worth it.

NickWheeler said:
The super short answer? Cuz I like to work with my hands.
Click to expand...

I reckon that will be a pretty common answer. I frankly have a real hard time understanding people who don't like to actually make something with their own hands... knifemaking, knitting, whatever... I've never understood folks who just sit in front of the TV all night, y'know?
 
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James this a great thread! I always had a knife growing up, I was raised by my Grandfather and my Dad and they where both avid hunters and fisherman. I always thought knives where the coolest things in the world, espically sharp ones. I had a knife collection of about 50 knives when I was 10, none of them where worth much money but they where all considered good knives. Knives where I grew up where a BIG DEAL!! When you got a new German Eye you had to show it off to all your buddies, I guess it was such a big deal because you had to have one to work,clean fish, skin coons, and skin deer. Knives where I grew up told a story about yourself, its funny! You could tell alot about someone if you seen their knife, If they carried a pakistan folder they where not "IN" so to say, now if they had a Ivory handled German Eye, now they where cool!,LOL I still remember the first knife I had given to me by my Dad, It was a Barlow, and I used the heck out of that thing, I am almost positive I skinned 500 coons with it, Knives just always ment alot to us....20 Years later, here I am making them, and have met some of the nicest people in the world that has offered more instruction, answered more calls, and went out of their way to help me. I make knives because I believe it holds honor as corny as it sounds. I love drawing out something and bringing it to life, and seeing the huge eyes of a customer that holds it for the first time makes me feel great. Its also fun as all get out!!! I have never done anything thats so damn hard but I still cant wait to get out in the morning and get to forging a blade.
 
C.Edmondson said:
...I have never done anything thats so damn hard but I still cant wait to get out in the morning and get to forging a blade.
Click to expand...

I said earlier, if it ain't fun it ain't worth doing. But it's also true to say, if it ain't difficult, it ain't worth doing either! Or, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. :D

This knifemaking game can be a real pain... every day I struggle like heck to get things right... it's harder than it looks! Every little detail stares back at you with accusing eyes if you don't get it quite right. My kid laughs at me when I try to get my drill press perfectly square; but I just tell her "we all got to do the very best we can"...

I know I'll never make a "perfect" knife but by gawd I'm gonna keep trying!! :)
 
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Passion or Obsession I have yet to figure it out. Knives are 90% of Reason I get up in the morning and 10% is I have to pee.
Do what you love, you will never work another day the rest of your life.
 
I started cause I didn't want to pay the price to buy customs.
"No thanks, Ill roll my own"..... falls into pit of infinite money sucking

Iv'e always been fascinated with creating things... If I stop making knives, it will be because I'm caught up creating something else.
 
I have always carried a knife and I always lked tinkering and building stuff. When I built chairs, skateboard ramps and other stuff I never got the satisfaction that I got when I made my first knife. That feeling doesn't go away, it is still the same on my first and 14th knife. I think I just finally found something that I love to do. I want to learn to make awesome durable knives so maybe one day when I am no longer here on this earth my grandkids may stumble upon one of my knives and feel close to his grand dad the way I did when I found a lucky horse shoe that belonged to my grand dad.

-frank
 
I'm not going to lie, I first considered making a knife was because I saw the pro's knives selling for $300+ and at fifteen (when I started) I was just like that can't be too hard, and it'd be good money! (Didn't have a job yet)

Well I got to reading and researching about making knives, and I came across this forum, read more than I could ever think to ask, then ask some pretty newbish questions. Everyone was nice about it though, and that's part of why I wanted to stick with it. The techniques seemed like a challenge, and I felt that I could do it. So I got some O1 from Fastenal and made a knife. I thought it turned out pretty good, and the responses from the forum really kept me going and pushed me to make 7 more. Now I'm still about 4 months into making, and my techniques have improved greatly.

It's also really cool to meet someone and tell them that I make knives, and when I explain the processes involved, they just sort of get a blank look on their face, trying to comprehend what the steels are and hardening.
 
I push papers all day, and work with mentally retarded persons for whom progress is slow if at all. It really turns my crank to be able to draw a knife on a piece of paper and then make it just like I designed it. Visible results, measureable progress, unlike my "real" job. That, and since I failed to get a stimulus check from Mr. Obama, I can use my knife money to finance my fishing and bail out my wife when she overspends.
 
Back in the day, I needed a new hobby, and I couldn't find a knife I really liked in any of the stores. I had read a few articles about knifemaking, and we had one knifemaker not too far away.

I visited his shop, and I was addicted right away. I went home and got on the phone and ordered a Wilton square wheel 2X72 and bought a metal cutting bandsaw at the welding supply house.

I cleaned out the basement, put up lighting and wired it up while I waited for the equipment to arrive.

I needed a hobby that was different from the others at work. Most of the guys there either worked on cars or were cabinet making and carpentry work. I liked the idea of having a hobby that didn't take physical brute force, or having to lay on the cold wet ground looking up at some greasy broken down vehicle.

With the equipment inplace I could start making beautiful knives.... Well, that took some practice, and after making some ugly but practical ones, then the nice ones worked out.

There is such a satisfaction making something of beauty and practicallity. People were in awe of my work and somewhat jealous of my skills.

For me this is the perfect hobby, it satisfies and inner desire, and provides me with a bit of money.

The other thing is that I will leave something lasting after I die. Those knives must number in the hundreds over the years and are being used and enjoyed in other parts of the world.

A little part of me will live on long after I am dead.
 
It starts with a vision and you just know you have to bring that vision into a real life finished product . When I finally finish a knife and bring it into the house for my wife to see , I always tell her " this is why , a beautiful finished product " . Of course it helps when she replies that it is beautiful . Now I have to go make a lousy sheath , I hate sheath making .
 
I make knives because I like burning my fingers, having black snot, and covering everything in the shop with fine layers of assorted dust...

I also make knives because I enjoy being angry and frustrated because I can't get the plunge grinds right, or the design quite right, or I uncover a scratch that makes the Grand Canyon look small in comparison!

I make knives because I enjoy the charlie horses I get when I accidentally dig my thigh into the horn on my anvil, when all I'm trying to do is find my drill press chuck key, or some other thing that went missing!


...Ahh who am I kidding...I make knives because I just wanted to make some cool knives for myself and it turned into something else...a really addictive hobby! I really do enjoy the little time I get in the shop these days, for me it's a real treat! I still owe myself some cool knives though...WTH :confused: -Matt-
 
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Well there are many reasons I love it. My Granddad made some really great knives back when I was growing up and I still remember getting in his shop and playing with all of his tools. Allot of times when I am working on a knife I wonder if he would like it. Also like Nick said I like to make things with my hands and get a great deal of satisfaction from taking a ugly piece of steel and making a nice knife out of it. And there is also the appeal of breaking all the rules you had when growing up, you know "don't play that it will cut you", "don't beat on anything" and "don't play with fire". Even as I get older I still enjoy breaking the rules. Thanks James for starting this thread it was a great idea.
 
I do it because I get to Blow stuff up.
Really, Its just about creating something with pride and decent craftmanship. I guess I'll never be famous or important enough to make the history books. But I do hope that long after I'm gone someone will hand one of my knives to his grandson and say Now here's a good knife. For me that is enough.
 
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