Dan Downey
New Member
Started blacksmithing about 3 years ago and my Master Smith teacher brought in a Master Bladesmith to teach a two day class on knife making about 18 months ago. I was hooked.
Made a couple of stock removal knives in the 20 hours and I was delighted with how they came out. Bought a Pheer 427 in February and now I'm busy making mistakes in knife making :biggrin:. I try not to make the same ones twice anyway. I realized it's not as easy as when you have a Master Bladesmith helping you and correcting your mistakes! I've made both forged and stock removal knives and at this point I prefer to grind convex blades as I still struggle with making clean plunges and grind lines freehand. I may have to try a grinding jig as I'm wasting a lot of good steel LOL.
I really enjoy the transformation from a bar of steel to a finished blade with a beautiful handle, mosaic pins, highly figured wood or linen micarta. I love going to the websites of great knife makers and looking at their finished products. Amazing craftsmanship, talent and skill. I probably started this vocation to late in life to aspire to that quality, but I'm having a ball anyway.
Made a couple of stock removal knives in the 20 hours and I was delighted with how they came out. Bought a Pheer 427 in February and now I'm busy making mistakes in knife making :biggrin:. I try not to make the same ones twice anyway. I realized it's not as easy as when you have a Master Bladesmith helping you and correcting your mistakes! I've made both forged and stock removal knives and at this point I prefer to grind convex blades as I still struggle with making clean plunges and grind lines freehand. I may have to try a grinding jig as I'm wasting a lot of good steel LOL.
I really enjoy the transformation from a bar of steel to a finished blade with a beautiful handle, mosaic pins, highly figured wood or linen micarta. I love going to the websites of great knife makers and looking at their finished products. Amazing craftsmanship, talent and skill. I probably started this vocation to late in life to aspire to that quality, but I'm having a ball anyway.
