Background
I have been making knives since 1979. The first impression of a handmade knife came from my machine shop instructor in 1968. The image of that knife was burned into my mind and I knew that someday I would have to attempt to make one for myself.
I am a spare time maker. I work a full time public job and my knife making comes as time allows. My background is Tool and Die making, Tool Designer, and Art. My life away from public work is my family and hobbies. I am a journeyman smith and a member of the American Bladesmith Society. Some of the hobbies I enjoy are photography, buck skinning, knife making, horn making, archery, hunting, and woodworking.
I do all the work on each knife that is made. I hand finish each blade up to a 320 grit paper. On my damascus blades I finish them up to a 1000 grit paper. I will leave the sanded finish or put an aged look on the traditional blade. I hand forge each knife that I make. I use primarily 1075, 1084, 1095 and O-1 steel in the traditional blades that I make. The size and type of knife that I choose to make helps me in selecting the type of steel I use when I make a blade. The damascus steel I make is made from O-1, 1084, 1075, L-6, and 15N20. I prefer to use from 256 to 320 layers for the blades I make.
The style of knife I prefer to make is known as the period knife or traditional knife. The design that I choose is based on blade styles that were made from the early 1700’s to the mid 1800’s. I refer to different books that show these knives when selecting a style of blade that I want to make. Sometimes I will combine different parts of 2 or 3 knives and put them into the knife that I am making.
Each knife comes with a sheath. The sheaths are hand sewn with artificial sinew. Beaded sheaths are available, but the cost is extra. The handle is a part of the beauty of the knife and it should compliment the blade. I use bone, wood, horn, and ivory for the handle material. I prefer curly maple and burl walnut for wooden handles. The wooden handle to me has a warmer and more comfortable feel to it than the other material that is available. I stain the wood to where it has an older look to it. Stag is available, but on a limited basis. As you may know, there’s an embargo against the importing of stag.
The hardware I use is steel, nickel silver, brass, or mokume. I try and use guard designs that were used during that period, but It’s hard to find a picture of a guard on a blade to where you can see it in its entirety.
I do all the work on my powder horns. The scrim work is copied from old original horns from books that I have in my collection. Horns are limited on the availability of horns that I have on hand. They are ready to use when I am finished making them. I choose to leave the natural finish that is on the horn. If they are used and handled enough they will age themselves and have more beauty to them. I have a pair of flat horns that I use when I am hunting with my flintlock. These can be viewed on the powder horn page.
Thanks for your time and interest and I hope you
have a very pleasant day.
Makers personal rig.
