Mike Martinez
Well-Known Member
reach your breaking point? Let me clarify, by breaking point I mean, your descent into this madness that is knife making. It has always been a point of interest to hear the stories behind each maker and though most of them would sound almost identical to the none-knife-loving ear, each echoes its unique pitch to mine.
My trek all started as many have, with a childhood obsession with sharp and shinny things but it did not blossom into an attempt at an actual knife until much later. It was not until the stress of two long deployments and an equally lengthy stop-loss caught up with me that prompted for the search of an outlet. Knife making was not my first avenue of approach but fittingly, all the things prior to it only strengthened my knowledge base and resolve. As woodworking has always been a passion of mine, I dove back into it head long reequipping my garage with woodworking tools and ungodly amount of burls and native woods. Making razor scales, shaving brushes, re-handling knives, turning pens and making my own mallets and chisel handles all appeased my need for distraction. That is, until I found myself sharpening my tools for the sheer pleasure of removing and shaping steel.
Buying turning chisels, skews and the likes, left my wallet feeling empty and me unsatisfied, as there was always another tool to buy. Soon enough I ended up buying bar stock and making my own chisels, heat-treating them to the best of my ability using coarse means and getting results that were on par with the mid-level tools that were killing my wallet. Around this time, my time with the military was coming to a close as I had left active duty and was finishing up my contractual obligation with the Army Reserves. The introduction of free time allowed me to push toward a though, one long since stowed to back of my mind… making my own knife.
From that point on, there was no helping me. Night after night, I spent reading forums, databases, books and everything else on the subject of knives that I could find. When I got comfortable enough with the amount of information consumed, it was time to make a few more purchases. The following day I purchased a small 2x42 grinder from Sears and started to shape my first knife. (Luckily, said knife has since been misplaced.) On this day, all of my other interests took a back seat to my knife endeavor.
Now I find myself building a set of grinders, making space for a forge and EH Kiln and adding even more wood to my already gigantic collection of lumber. ( Some pieces are too striking to use on just anything so they sit until my skill can match their beauty.)
This seems a bit long winded but I have written it in hopes to get all you to shave in the like. However, I must admit to having read everyone’s “origins,” that have been kind enough to post them on their sites. It seems somewhat odd to type that last statement, but I promise, no one’s bunny is being boiled.
Regards,
M. Martinez
My trek all started as many have, with a childhood obsession with sharp and shinny things but it did not blossom into an attempt at an actual knife until much later. It was not until the stress of two long deployments and an equally lengthy stop-loss caught up with me that prompted for the search of an outlet. Knife making was not my first avenue of approach but fittingly, all the things prior to it only strengthened my knowledge base and resolve. As woodworking has always been a passion of mine, I dove back into it head long reequipping my garage with woodworking tools and ungodly amount of burls and native woods. Making razor scales, shaving brushes, re-handling knives, turning pens and making my own mallets and chisel handles all appeased my need for distraction. That is, until I found myself sharpening my tools for the sheer pleasure of removing and shaping steel.
Buying turning chisels, skews and the likes, left my wallet feeling empty and me unsatisfied, as there was always another tool to buy. Soon enough I ended up buying bar stock and making my own chisels, heat-treating them to the best of my ability using coarse means and getting results that were on par with the mid-level tools that were killing my wallet. Around this time, my time with the military was coming to a close as I had left active duty and was finishing up my contractual obligation with the Army Reserves. The introduction of free time allowed me to push toward a though, one long since stowed to back of my mind… making my own knife.
From that point on, there was no helping me. Night after night, I spent reading forums, databases, books and everything else on the subject of knives that I could find. When I got comfortable enough with the amount of information consumed, it was time to make a few more purchases. The following day I purchased a small 2x42 grinder from Sears and started to shape my first knife. (Luckily, said knife has since been misplaced.) On this day, all of my other interests took a back seat to my knife endeavor.
Now I find myself building a set of grinders, making space for a forge and EH Kiln and adding even more wood to my already gigantic collection of lumber. ( Some pieces are too striking to use on just anything so they sit until my skill can match their beauty.)
This seems a bit long winded but I have written it in hopes to get all you to shave in the like. However, I must admit to having read everyone’s “origins,” that have been kind enough to post them on their sites. It seems somewhat odd to type that last statement, but I promise, no one’s bunny is being boiled.
Regards,
M. Martinez