- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 12,329
Whew!
Is my head spinning! Just got in from the three-day weekend up here in NY for the Fall ABS Hammer-in. There was plenty of hammering going on, you can be sure, but that wasn't the half of it. there were so many notables sharing their knowledge and having such a damn good time, it was like a giant party! It just took this local opportnity for me to take advantage of this venue. I'm going back again soon!
Spent time with John Frankl. He is much fun to hang with and *very* talented. Other BF and CKD members were probably present. Speak up....
The seminars were plentiful and very well run, and the notables were present: Batson, Schwarzer, Fisk, Keeslar, Fogg, Hudson, Dellana, Barnett, Dean, Hendrickson, Stephan, Bell, Derringer, J.D. Smith, Szilaski, Davis. Lots of other area knifemakers were present, too. Unfortunately, Bill Moran was NOT there due to a cold or flu.
I swear I got to know each and every one of these folks on a first name basis. And every one of them was as helpful as would make anyone proud. This knifemaking bunch is a darn good family to be in with!!!!
I learned more than I can remember (glad I took notes!), and I forged a blade that needs grinding and HT and then finishing. This will make it as my first fixed blade probably!
There were a bunch of overlapping events, so I couldn't get to all, so I had to pick and choose:
Joe Keeslar on knife design, handles and guards. I knew very little about Joe, but I am sure glad to see him step up as the future pres of the ABS. He was an excellent teacher! Boy, did I learn from him...
Fancy knives design with Dellana and Van Barnett. This was like going to art school. These guys know their stuff! It's all in the 'flow'.....
Carving handles and blades with Daniel Stephan and Donald Bell. Tools, ideas, and PATIENCE!!!
Flat grinding with Harvey Dean. He did an example forged knife from hard scale to heat treat ready and handle fitment in about a half hour! So what if he grinds one side edge down?! It came out PERFECT!!!
Fancy filework with J.D. Smith. It *appeared* easy with his doing it...
Forging and knife design by Robbin Hudson. Still an understated but very respected maker, he just made our jaws drop with his knowledge and ability to teach so understandably. He demonstrated working a blade from a bar to a finished knife with a block of clay! Then he did it with a real slab and gave some great views on knife and handle design and, again, 'flow'. He rocks! I was thoroghly impressed.
Barry Davis gave us a 2-hour overvue on designing a fancy lockback folder. Even more to it than a liner lock. Wow!
Others were Schwarzer and Fogg on damascus, Fisk on blade design and geometry, Wire inlays with Jay Hendrickson, and others too.
Still more fun: The Cutting Contest. Hosted by Jerry Fisk, the 14 contestants had to cut through a 2x4 with a timer, cut through a 1" rope, cut vertically through a NEW can of soda (Sploosh!), cut through a hung t-shirt, and cut the tip of a straw off. Nobody got through the t-shirt or straw, but some got closer than others. 'Up and Comer' Dan Farr won the contest overall, and proceeded to wow us by cutting another 2x4 and going for the 90* bend 'performance' test for his upcoming Journeyman Smith grade. He passed easily! As did Lora Sue Bethke. (Interestingly, she whacked away 241 times at her second 2x4 before severing it. She needs a little more ooomph for a 105 lb woman! (But her knife and skills passed!)
On Saturday makers were invited to put up their knives for display or sale. for a 6-hour show as others did smaller demo's outside. I took advantage of one of Rob Hudson's 'Dragon's Head' knife/letter-opener, and snatched a Don Fogg japanese-styled cord-wrapped handle knife with an amazing temper line. His sheath as well. I can't believe how lucky I got to get this. His knives just aren't out there, and this was sinfully inexpensive. I got sidetracked and passed by a Fisk utility/tactical knife. Now I'm having non-buyer's remorse...! Everyone had a piece for sale! It was heaven for a collector! (BTW--I really like Christoff Derringer's work. He's a little kooky, but what talent!
Lastly, they brought in Col. Tim Ryan to oversee the ABS auction of donated items. From handle supplies, to apprentice time with a Master, to knives, everything was sold. I bought some handle materials and a piece of Steve Schwarzer raw mosaic stock for bolsters. He made it there. Damn, that Tim Ryan was good! He had that auctioneers babble down pat! He had us all laughing and lively and happy to spend good money. He was a real pro. For example, one of the new makers donated a small hunter and the bidding stopped at $75 when the young and pretty girl who was part of the kitchen help and camp workers wanted it. Remember, we had been eating great food all this weekend. She was so smitten with the knifemakers she, too, wanted a knife of her own and was willing to pay for it. Everyone loved her. No one bid further because we all knew it would take it away from her. So Tim did a GREAT thing! He quickly suggested that the crowd all pitch in a few bucks each and that we would instead GIVE her the knife! The crowd went NUTS, and with everyone contributing $10-$25 each, he pulled in $205 for this little gift! It was such a great moment and turnaround. She was in tears as were a few others!!! Awww, shucks...!
Lastly, I set up my trusty cheapo light box and dual halogens and offered to take digital pics of folk's knives for a paltry $5.00 each donation to the ABS. I took about 10 paid shots that I'll chase to them via email and a little photoshop work, and I'll have gotten my own name out there and done a good thing as well. It's all good....
I'll post a link to them when I'm done.
So, finally, I offer you a peek at the weekend and only some of the highlights. Here's the link to the Hammer-in:
http://www.fototime.com/inv/DD596FA1C69CECD
Thanks for reading this far! Back to the daily grind...
Coop
Is my head spinning! Just got in from the three-day weekend up here in NY for the Fall ABS Hammer-in. There was plenty of hammering going on, you can be sure, but that wasn't the half of it. there were so many notables sharing their knowledge and having such a damn good time, it was like a giant party! It just took this local opportnity for me to take advantage of this venue. I'm going back again soon!
Spent time with John Frankl. He is much fun to hang with and *very* talented. Other BF and CKD members were probably present. Speak up....
The seminars were plentiful and very well run, and the notables were present: Batson, Schwarzer, Fisk, Keeslar, Fogg, Hudson, Dellana, Barnett, Dean, Hendrickson, Stephan, Bell, Derringer, J.D. Smith, Szilaski, Davis. Lots of other area knifemakers were present, too. Unfortunately, Bill Moran was NOT there due to a cold or flu.
I swear I got to know each and every one of these folks on a first name basis. And every one of them was as helpful as would make anyone proud. This knifemaking bunch is a darn good family to be in with!!!!
I learned more than I can remember (glad I took notes!), and I forged a blade that needs grinding and HT and then finishing. This will make it as my first fixed blade probably!
There were a bunch of overlapping events, so I couldn't get to all, so I had to pick and choose:
Joe Keeslar on knife design, handles and guards. I knew very little about Joe, but I am sure glad to see him step up as the future pres of the ABS. He was an excellent teacher! Boy, did I learn from him...
Fancy knives design with Dellana and Van Barnett. This was like going to art school. These guys know their stuff! It's all in the 'flow'.....
Carving handles and blades with Daniel Stephan and Donald Bell. Tools, ideas, and PATIENCE!!!
Flat grinding with Harvey Dean. He did an example forged knife from hard scale to heat treat ready and handle fitment in about a half hour! So what if he grinds one side edge down?! It came out PERFECT!!!
Fancy filework with J.D. Smith. It *appeared* easy with his doing it...
Forging and knife design by Robbin Hudson. Still an understated but very respected maker, he just made our jaws drop with his knowledge and ability to teach so understandably. He demonstrated working a blade from a bar to a finished knife with a block of clay! Then he did it with a real slab and gave some great views on knife and handle design and, again, 'flow'. He rocks! I was thoroghly impressed.
Barry Davis gave us a 2-hour overvue on designing a fancy lockback folder. Even more to it than a liner lock. Wow!
Others were Schwarzer and Fogg on damascus, Fisk on blade design and geometry, Wire inlays with Jay Hendrickson, and others too.
Still more fun: The Cutting Contest. Hosted by Jerry Fisk, the 14 contestants had to cut through a 2x4 with a timer, cut through a 1" rope, cut vertically through a NEW can of soda (Sploosh!), cut through a hung t-shirt, and cut the tip of a straw off. Nobody got through the t-shirt or straw, but some got closer than others. 'Up and Comer' Dan Farr won the contest overall, and proceeded to wow us by cutting another 2x4 and going for the 90* bend 'performance' test for his upcoming Journeyman Smith grade. He passed easily! As did Lora Sue Bethke. (Interestingly, she whacked away 241 times at her second 2x4 before severing it. She needs a little more ooomph for a 105 lb woman! (But her knife and skills passed!)
On Saturday makers were invited to put up their knives for display or sale. for a 6-hour show as others did smaller demo's outside. I took advantage of one of Rob Hudson's 'Dragon's Head' knife/letter-opener, and snatched a Don Fogg japanese-styled cord-wrapped handle knife with an amazing temper line. His sheath as well. I can't believe how lucky I got to get this. His knives just aren't out there, and this was sinfully inexpensive. I got sidetracked and passed by a Fisk utility/tactical knife. Now I'm having non-buyer's remorse...! Everyone had a piece for sale! It was heaven for a collector! (BTW--I really like Christoff Derringer's work. He's a little kooky, but what talent!
Lastly, they brought in Col. Tim Ryan to oversee the ABS auction of donated items. From handle supplies, to apprentice time with a Master, to knives, everything was sold. I bought some handle materials and a piece of Steve Schwarzer raw mosaic stock for bolsters. He made it there. Damn, that Tim Ryan was good! He had that auctioneers babble down pat! He had us all laughing and lively and happy to spend good money. He was a real pro. For example, one of the new makers donated a small hunter and the bidding stopped at $75 when the young and pretty girl who was part of the kitchen help and camp workers wanted it. Remember, we had been eating great food all this weekend. She was so smitten with the knifemakers she, too, wanted a knife of her own and was willing to pay for it. Everyone loved her. No one bid further because we all knew it would take it away from her. So Tim did a GREAT thing! He quickly suggested that the crowd all pitch in a few bucks each and that we would instead GIVE her the knife! The crowd went NUTS, and with everyone contributing $10-$25 each, he pulled in $205 for this little gift! It was such a great moment and turnaround. She was in tears as were a few others!!! Awww, shucks...!
Lastly, I set up my trusty cheapo light box and dual halogens and offered to take digital pics of folk's knives for a paltry $5.00 each donation to the ABS. I took about 10 paid shots that I'll chase to them via email and a little photoshop work, and I'll have gotten my own name out there and done a good thing as well. It's all good....
I'll post a link to them when I'm done.
So, finally, I offer you a peek at the weekend and only some of the highlights. Here's the link to the Hammer-in:
http://www.fototime.com/inv/DD596FA1C69CECD
Thanks for reading this far! Back to the daily grind...
Coop
