My Latest Project....

[myamoto1]

Bill - how long have you been making knives? Are you doing this as a side hobby/income or main source of income? Have you done any damascus?

Sorry for all of the questions, but I used to make knives when I was a kid and have always thought about getting back into it to earn some extra cash. I was lucky enough to study under Jim Schmidt, as he was a long time friend of my father's. Great work and I hope to see more pics.

Cheers

[futuresoptions]

Hey Josh go for it man... yeah, I have been making knives since I was a kid as well but never had the opportunity to work with any of the greats as of yet.... I have chosen to do this as a full time profession and will eventually add other sporting good items to what I am producing. I haven't worked with any Damascus and you will probably never see any knives of mine made from Damascus. It just doesn't fit my personality or my goals in knife making... I think as time goes by and as I post more pictures, you will be able to see my niche that I have envisioned take shape. I hope to see some of your items posted soon...

[Joeaksa]

So nice to see someone using anything but stainless. Am not a fan of stainless and yet its much of what you see out there these days.

Just picked up a very nice Damacus recently. Guess I am not a "run of the mill" type of guy.

Keep up the good work!

[myamoto1]

Bill - thanks for the words of encouragement. I'll try to find some pics of knives I've made. Sadly, I'm more of a heavy lifter than a finishing details kinda guy, so my blades are just that - blades and no handle.

Yes, it was quite a privilege to learn some of Jim's techniques. So sad that he passed away before his time. Truely a great man and generous soul. My father has his old squirrel cage forge and an anvil. Both of which originally when to Paul Champagne - known for his Japanese swords, then to my father after Paul also died before his time.

If you ever get the chance, head to an Ashokan seminar in southern NY. I've been twice and am always blown away at the level of talent and outside the box thinking that some of these guys do. Jim was one of the founders of Ashokan.

[futuresoptions]

Sounds interesting, I will have to check into that... I am really amazed at what some of these guys produce... I mean alot of them put some of the custom made/decorated spoons to shame.... For me though, I can't wrap myself around producing works of art.... I want my art to show through in durability and function... I would rest proudly knowing that my items were still being used a long time from now... that is one of the reasons that I really don't like using natural materials for handles... I prefer micarta, but I still need to get my micarta press made so that I can go into production on making my own custom micarta. I have already designed about 30 or so knives, but intend on settling on a catalog of only about 12-15 knives that I will actually produce... and in time will refine the designs and materials used until I consider them "perfect". I don't think I will ever go automated, and intend on producing each knife myself.. lol, I have already had some folks scoff at my attitude and I guess I have tunnel vision on this, but it is what makes me happy... I don't expect folks that I turn down (which I have already turned a couple down) to understand why I won't do "custom" work or "recreations", I just know that doing so would feel too much like work and it is not part of my vision... that is what I like about knife making, it truly is diverse in its make up, and each maker is an artist in his own right... my opinion is you don't go to Picasso to get a Monet..... Which ever artist I end up being when it is all said and done doesn't really matter to me at this point as long as I feel like I have found who I am, what I am supposed to be and found peace in creating... I guess that is all we can really hope for in this life... As far as your knife making goes, I'll tell you what a good friend of mine ( who is also a knife maker) told me... because it truly is the secret to knife making.... You get yourself a piece of metal, and you grind everything off that doesn't look like a knife... lol, I will just add, that you be the artist, and create what makes you happy... as long as you are happy with what you produce, the diversity in the knife industry will always have buyers in your niche... sorry to be long winded in my response, but I am just passionate about the subject...

[myamoto1]

OK Bill - If I get in trouble from the wife, this is entirely your fault. My wife thought I was in the garage working on the "honey do" list, but instead I was digging out my old knives and file work practice blanks and taking pictures.

Here's the 2nd thing I ever made on a forge (first was a RR spike hatchet). Forged into shape - mild steel


This was my next undertaking another mild steel blade, just bit bigger than the first





I still regret (20 something years later) letting my dad talk me into keeping the hammer marks in the blade. He told me it's the only way someone would believe that I made it. Also made the pommel, guard and sheath. Keep in mind I was around 16 and needed a sword to fend off dragons, like the ones Sniper dreams about

Here's the last blade I made, about 6(ish) years ago - also from an old file. You can still see some of the "teeth" in the second pic

[myamoto1]

Here are the two blades I made under Jim's supervision
blade 1


As you can see, I never finished the handle. The handle is actually a piece of mastadon tusk that Jim gave me. He also gave me a ton of crap for my poor attempt at a handle. Someday I'll cut them down and make slab handles for the knife, like Jim ever so gently "suggested".

A few close ups trying to show the damascus. If you look close, you can see an inclusion, where I didn't fully weld the steel back on itself.




blade 2
Has meteorite and nickel in it. Was supposed to live out its life as a lock-back folder. Yet another blade I never finished - Sorry Jim

[myamoto1]

Last but not least, some of my practice file pieces. As Bill mentioned earlier - all done with various shaped rat tail files



A little hard to see, but the pattern layout in the bluing



same piece as above, showing the side view


Keep in mind, not only did I do most of this 20 some odd years ago, but I had one of the best in the world watching over my shoulder correcting my mistakes before I made them. It's really evident when you compare the quality of work between what I did under Jim's supervision compared to what I came up with when going it on my own.

[futuresoptions]

Nice work man, I am digging that sword... It appears from the photos, that the handle is a one piece of wood done on a lathe? I do stock removal as well as forging... when it comes to marks in the metal, I tend to try and get out as many as I can without compromising the blades integrity.... On most of the knives that I have pictured, I used a piece of old stainless steel from the 50's and of course it has marks and dings in the steel that I could not get out... but it really gives the knives character and when you go with natural handles, it sort of gives the knives an old timey feel to them... I really like your design on that last knife alot!!!

[myamoto1]

Originally Posted by futuresoptions

I love that knife. That's very similar what I was trying to execute w/ my last attempt, but yours has much cleaner lines to it. Mine looks much better in pics, than it is in person. I really FUBAR'd where the tang and blade meet. Thanks for the inspiration - I'm definitely going to get back into knives sometime in the near future. Just need to finish the car, honey do list, sell the house, move and....

[futuresoptions]

Oops posted the above before seeing your next round of photos... Josh, thats really great work man... That Damascus is beautiful and your file work looks great... now all you need to do is finish it I haven't attempted to do any decorative file work yet, but will probably do some sometime in the future... I would say get back into it man... you definitely got some skills and could put them to good use....

[myamoto1]

Originally Posted by futuresoptions

Nice work man, I am digging that sword... It appears from the photos, that the handle is a one piece of wood done on a lathe? I do stock removal as well as forging... when it comes to marks in the metal, I tend to try and get out as many as I can without compromising the blades integrity.... On most of the knives that I have pictured, I used a piece of old stainless steel from the 50's and of course it has marks and dings in the steel that I could not get out... but it really gives the knives character and when you go with natural handles, it sort of gives the knives an old timey feel to them... I really like your design on that last knife alot!!!

Ha - didn't even see this post before my last one. I'll trade ya!

Yes, the handle on the sword is a solid piece of ash from an old baseball bat, shaped on a lathe. I then drilled out the center and hammered the tang through, while it was still hot.

The brass was rough shaped on a radial arm saw, fitted with a metal cutting blade. I'm not sure I'm stupid enough to repeat that process again. I remember wrapping towels around my neck and wearing several layes or eye protection in case the blade shattered. All final shaping was done with a hand file.

I really like the look of your knives. Like you said, they have that old time look to them that is so appealing. The one you made for yourself looks like a knife that has been passed down from generation to generation as the family "shop" heirloom. Really a classic look to it.

I just pulled the t-bars from my 911 and they're no longer usable in a car, but may be given new life in the form of a blade sometime down the road. I'll have to set up a shop once we find a new house (and sell our current one). Have you ever used a gas forge? My dad built a cheap single burner one that works ok, but has a few cold spots. I used a really nice one at Jim's that got you to welding temps in no time flat. Makes a world of difference when forge welding - very clean and easy to see when your steel starts to pool. I've mostly used a pea coal forge, since that's what I had access to growing up. I've made tons of "twisty hooks" on that thing

[myamoto1]

Here we go chasing each other's posts... Yeah, like I said - I'm great at the heavy lifting, but peter out on the finishing touches. OK, I can admit it. I just suck at finishing in general

The file work isn't nearly as hard as it looks. Like everything else, it just takes practice. Once you get the feel of what shape(s) you can make with each file profile, the rest just comes down to what order do you string them in to come up with a cool design. I did a lot of them freehand. Those that were to be reviewed by Jim, however, were all meticulously laid out for consistancy!

[Joeaksa]

Josh,

Love the lower knife, the one made out of the file.

Regarding your Father and the hammer marks. Totally disagree. Years from now you will see the blade, think of your Fathers comments and smile. Long after he has left us it will remind you of him and thats well worth it.

[myamoto1]

Joe,

Thanks for the kind words. You are right. Now, whenever I look at the hammer marks I immediately flash back to that conversation and remember everything from that day. Luckily, my dad is still around so I can continue to give him a hard time about the hammer marks It's definitely a fond memory, but I still shake my head and think, "those damn hammer marks."

[Joeaksa]

Someday soon take the sword and have your Father hold it while you do a photo. Some day you will be glad you did.

[myamoto1]

Not sure the friendly TSA would let me on board w/ one of those and I sure as heck wouldn't trust it in checked baggage. Hmmm... now if I only knew someone with a plane

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Just picked up a very nice Damacus recently.

Pics or Ban!!!

[futuresoptions]

Josh,

Once a again great work and thanks for the positive replies on my work... maybe we can meet up together at a trade show etc.. sometime in the future... Keep us updated on what you're doing... I intend on continuing to post items on this thread as I complete them and I hope you'll do the same... I hope doing knives isn't as tough a sell with your wife as it was with mine lol...(in all honesty, mine was pretty supportive)

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by futuresoptions

Pics or Ban!!!

Let me get home and take a couple... have to fly that jet that people keep talking about to get there!