I learned from Michael J. Smith. The funny part is that he hasn't done fixed blades in years, so he had to pull a lot of stuff out of the memory banks. It had never crossed my mind to start making knives (I had just began collecting and learning about customs). A friend had this fixed blade knife with some damage, and he asked me to help him find the maker. The maker's mark said Michael J. Smith, Tampa FL, so I called around and got a phone number from Reese Weiland (who I didn't know at the time). Just by weird coincidence, Mike had just moved back to Tampa after 5-6 years and wasn't doing anything as simple as the fixed blade I took to him to have repaired. He started showing me his knives and I had never seen anything like it. Then he showed me his equipment, which was not much. So here is this guy basically my age (I thought all knifemakers were crotchety old men - although most of you are) and I thought knifemakers had these large professional shops with loads of modern, expensive equipment. That was all it took, and the little seed was planted in my head. A little over one year later and I almost have my own shop outfitted and I have received advice from a lot of great folks.

I can tell you that I *wish* someone had taught me how to make knives. I would have profited greatly from having had someone to show me the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid. I have had to learn everything the hard way (from books and personal experience), although I will say I have learned a great deal from fellow makers on the internet over the last decade.

I guess my foundational knifemaking concepts came from a book called "Knifecraft" by Sid Lathem, which I got in the late 70's. It included instruction by some great makers, including Warenski, Herron, and Sigman. They were my inspiration.

I was self-taught in the first years. I strictly did stock removal. My main resources were David Boye's famous book, and another with 10 knifemaking projects by Tim McCreight.

In circa 1995 I made my first trip up to The Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing for one of the Hammer-In seminars. I learned quite a bit there because there are so many things that apply regardless of whether you stock remove or forge.

The first major turning point for me was in 1996 when I attended a class there under the instruction of Mastersmiths Jerry Fisk, and Steve Dunn.

I continued to stay in touch with both of them by e-mail or phone. Then in 1998 came the second major milestone. Steve Dunn invited me to come stay with him for a week and work with him in his shop.

This was some intensive training. Every day we were up early and in the shop while there was still dew on the ground. Some days we worked until 11:00 at night, breaking for lunch and supper. Other days we might come in at 6:00 or so, study books and videos, eat, then hit the shop again. We covered forging, grinding, heat treating, fit and finish, handles and guards, multi-piece ferrules, soldering, mortised tang construction, filework, and more. We even made several billets of damascus. When Steve started going over liner locks, I had hit information overload -- a saturation point where the brain is like a sponge full of water -- it just won't hold anymore.

I apologize for such a lengthy post, but there is one other person that needs to be mentioned here. While most of our communication has been via e-mail, Mastersmith Don Fogg has been instrumental in opening up new doors and unveiling some of the more technical and esoteric mysteries of steel for me. When you've gone past the point of "Heat her up to austenitic and chunk her in oil", and want to understand what's really happening in there on a molecular level, Don's the man.

hmmm, self taught in the beginning, as in no formal training, but found the Guadalupe Forge Hammer-In very early on. Thanks Johnny! I have been to Johnny's probably 7 times now and the ABS hammer-in once. Any time you can learn from the likes of Johnny Stout, Harvey Dean, Riger Green, Steve Schwarzer, Devin Thomas, David Broadwell, Allen Elishewitz, Bill Ruple, Ron Newton(these are just instructors I have learned from at Johnny's!), jump on it. It is an informal instructional weekend full of years woth of experience. Plus you get different maker's points of view. Trial and error if you want, but there's nothing like personal training from those who have done it all before. Some makers offer one on one training, which would be another great way to learn.

Randall...well it was an article I read as a kid about him and his knives. here is a link to it on my site. In danish but good pictures!



ansoknives.com/popular.htm (http://ansoknives.com/popular.htm)

20 years ago I didn't know any teachers. I wish I had. A drawer full of mistakes taught me more than anything else.
Jim Pugh probably gave me my first real words of encouragement. Jim lived about 40 miles north and did heat treat for me back then.
I have had over a hundred knifemakers out to my shop to learn but I've never been invited to someone else's shop. Don? Ed? I have been to Johnny's, but have never been able to do the whole weekend.
The Internet has allowed me to "visit" other shops in a way. This forum for example gives you a glimpse in a maker's shop. Many makers are adding shop tours to their web sites.
The knowledge available today is astounding.

I have been in other makers' shops, but only for short visits, not to be taught. I have learned to do many thing the hard way as a result. Aspiring makers are well advised to attend hammer-ins and schools if they can, and spend time with active makers. It can save you a lot of time and grief.

There have been several people who have helped me when I was just starting out. Jim Small showed me how to grind my first blade,George Herron taught me to take the time and do it right the first time. and last but by no means least is Michael collins. He is a true master of every thing he does. He has more talent than any one person should have. He taught me that the impossible thing can be done they just take a little longer to finish. However none of this would have come about is it hadn't been for mr.Bob loveless. In the spring of 1969 I had just received my super deluxe custom rosewood stocked ($139.00)BSA action 300 win.mag.from Herters Inc. I called Bob to buy one of his 4"d.p. hunters.Ever thing was going well until he told me the knife was $140.00, that was more than I had paid for my new custom rifle.I really wanted that knife so I sucked up a breath of air and told him to wrap it up and I would send him the money. That was when he told me there was a 3 year waiting list. You can imagine my disappointment with that statement. I told Bob that I could learn to make knives on my on in that length of time. Bobs reply was" you probability can and if I can be of any help just let me know". that was over 30 years ago,my only regret is that I did not place the order. I have a lot of respect for Bob and every time I have talked to him or ask his advise he has been very helpful. Sorry to blow your cover Bob but you are really a nice guy--not the hard a-- some people think you are.

My first teacher was the book by David Boye also. I would make a knife, read again, make a knife, read again, etc. I started forging and car springs and reading about knives every chance I got. Harry Fentress of Sallisaw taught me how to hollow grind and to make folders. Years later, a neighbor and fellow knifemaker, Troy Brown invited me to a knife club meeting at Cliff Polk's home. That was the turning point for me as I found out that almost all knife makers will help if your are willing to work and learn. I joined the Arkansas Knifemakeres Association and the American Bladesmith Society and continue to make the hammer-ins and shop tours. At the hammer-ins, I have learned from the apprentice, Journeyman, and the Master Smiths. I have been blessed with some caring instructors at all these meetings. Since Troy only lives about 7 miles from me, we have learned and shared a lot of information and time together. He has picked up on some tricks of knifemaking that I would miss when in the same class. Another knife maker that has shared his experience in heat treating of 52100 with me is Charlie Ochs. There are many others that have helped and I don't mean to slight any of them.
I expect that I will have more teachers before I quit making knives.

I don't think I would have ever considered picking it up on my own. It is just a mindset thing for me, I guess. I had to see it done before I knew I wanted it. Mike opened the door for me, but the help and mentoring hasn't ended there. Steve Johnson, Ricardo Velarde and Reese Weiland have all shared with me and advanced my knowledge by years. Now I just have to get my hands to do what my mind tells them to do. I know it is old hat for you guys that have been doing it for years, but to just sit there and watch Steve take a blade from rough grind to mirror polish in a very deliberate, relaxed manner blew me away. Or to watch Ricardo use the slightest variation in light to see imperfections that a machine probably could not catch keeps my inspiration bucket quite full.

I couldnt find the pocket knife that i wanted so I got to looking around and I found Texas kKnife Makers in my home town. So I paid them a visit. Finding all this neat stuff was overwhelming, but they told me that I needed to start on fixed blades first. Took some classes on file work from them also. Then at the Houston Gun and Knife Show I ran into Glenn Hemperley. We talked about his knives and he looked at my pocket knife for awhile. We found out that we lived in the same subdivision. When I left is booth and moved on down the isle He left his table and asked if I was interested I could come over for some pointers. Thats all it took. We have been good friends since. He has taught me alot and still does. I am trying to get ready for my first knife show and he has mentaly prepared me for it. If he told me to put the handle on a knife backwards then you bet it going to happen. there will be a lesson in it some where. Thanks Glenn.