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Full Time Knifemaker

Two of my employees called in sick today. They are good folks and it happens. I feel lucky to have them. Ken, my VP, and David and I had to do our job and theirs today. My day was 4:30 am to just now. I don't even have the energy to pack up the laptop.

Its not my intention to complain, but just to highlight that it is not an easy job. We put out 42 knives per week. It takes a lot of dedication to accomplish this from all 5 of us. If we are lucky and the knives get made, then its on me to sell them. That, once again is no feat, and the ebbs are frightening when others depend on you.

I never get asked to teach folks to make knives anymore. The question is always the same. "Can you teach me to be a full time knifemaker?" I don't automatically say no. Actually, I can. I've had two apprentices that are full time and succeeding. I have two now that work full time for me too and have the potential. Two critical things have to happen though. You have to make sexy knives, and you have to know how to manage a brand. Then you have to have the final critical component, a wife with a good career that provides insurance.

Without my wife, none of this would have happened.

Stay sharp.

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Replies to This Discussion

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Zane Blackwell on April 3, 2014 at 13:45

Check out KNIVES 2014 in the directory. There are several makers in BC, I don't know any of them personally, however most makers I do know don't mind at all teaching a person who truly wants to learn. I am in the middle of Texas, but would gladly help you. There is a certain etiquite especially with full time makers, because it is their bread and butter. You basically have to be at there disposal, but it is worth it in the long run. There are not that many truly self taught knife makers, so any hands on instruction is priceless.

Steve Scheuerman (Manx) said:

I'm way up here in Vernon BC, Canada, Zane.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Roy on April 4, 2014 at 5:57

@ Steve, I can't imagine there is no one willing to show you the ropes. In Georgia we have a knifemakers guild that is very active. I know of other such organizations around the country. I'm sure there are some in Canada as well.

@Zane, we are doing anywhere from 10 tapers to 17 each week. I've got a good trick. I use two rare earth magnets imbedded in a block of micarta to hold the work. To keep the blade from shooting off of the magnets, I push a piece of pinstock just past the magnets, and it fits into a drilled hole in the tang. Then you don't have to hold your other hand above the platen, which is where I always got my fingernail ground off.

Today they are done. I have to put finish grinds on 14 blanks this morning so the crew can glue them up for Monday. Then I will come upstairs and write the Fiddleback Friday thread.

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KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Carl Rechsteiner on April 4, 2014 at 6:26

Here's the thing Steve, there are knifemakers everywhere. Some are good some are still learning and some are just playing with it. That's just the way things are, but.....they are everywhere. Most don't get out and stand in their front yard with a sign saying "I'm a knifemaker. Come in my shop and learn how it's done." We are for the most part, working other jobs to support our habit and when we have the time we have our heads down in the shop or at the forge getting it done.

Not that we are anti-social......we just don't like people (joking here). Trick is to seek them out through your everyday conversations, encounters, and active organizations. Many arts/crafts guilds & clubs have members that are also knifemakers so acquaint yourself with these and talk it up. You probably have a fellow knifemaker living right down the street or around the corner. Even if he is no more skilled than you and finding his way, you can learn from each other.

You have to get in the "hunt" mode and really look. No telling how many I have met in the barber shops and hardware stores. So don't despair just get busy asking.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Roy on April 4, 2014 at 15:06

Well, it was a hell of a week folks. One you just survive. I'm headed home now, have a blessed weekend.

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KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Zane Blackwell on April 4, 2014 at 22:34

I just use a corner magnet like welders use to match up corners. Tapering tangs for me is just one of those steps that's just not all that fun.
Andrew Roy said:

@ Steve, I can't imagine there is no one willing to show you the ropes. In Georgia we have a knifemakers guild that is very active. I know of other such organizations around the country. I'm sure there are some in Canada as well.

@Zane, we are doing anywhere from 10 tapers to 17 each week. I've got a good trick. I use two rare earth magnets imbedded in a block of micarta to hold the work. To keep the blade from shooting off of the magnets, I push a piece of pinstock just past the magnets, and it fits into a drilled hole in the tang. Then you don't have to hold your other hand above the platen, which is where I always got my fingernail ground off.

Today they are done. I have to put finish grinds on 14 blanks this morning so the crew can glue them up for Monday. Then I will come upstairs and write the Fiddleback Friday thread.

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KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Carl Rechsteiner on April 5, 2014 at 5:15

There's one of those issues that make forging more attractive to me ....... frugality with steel. Being an old hippy kind of guy, I don't like to waste much. Goes for good cutlery steel as well. As Andy can tell you, I grind very little. The steel you guys grind off to do your blades distal tapers and tapered tangs is equivalent to another whole knife of very nearly the same size, even when you precut your profiles as most do.

Granted, grinding out a blade is a bit faster, but I'm not spending time sweeping up half my blade material for the land fill. Don't misunderstand, I like well ground blades and that's how I started way back when. Ground them for 20+ years, laughing and cussing all the way. My Dad always said I'd make a better smith than carpenter because I bent and abused a lot of nails (he was always right, dang it).

Now making a blade is more like playing for me doing what most every boy (& girl) wants to do:

Play with fire - beat things with a hammer - handle sharp pointy things - get dirty and make a lot of noise! What's not to like?

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Permalink Reply by George Fernandez on April 6, 2014 at 23:41

Im 6 months into it and its just me know but I can relate, I quit the oil filed and gave it 110% and the wife does have my back. any other woman would of left me by now. lol. But it has been a roller coster for sure

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Roy on April 23, 2014 at 4:39

OK. I've got 40 knives set aside for Blade Show. Were working our tail off here. Ken went down with a cut (at home) tendon in his pinky and had to have hand surgery. He'll be back end of May. I tweaked my back week before last week too. Back pain is no good for a knifemaker and it knocked me from 43 to 13 knives. We managed a full week last week though, and this week is looking good too. This year the blade show curse for us has hit our people, rather than the normal supply chain issues.

Knifemakers, keep in mind that July is coming. July is typically the worst month for the knife industry as a whole.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on April 23, 2014 at 17:48

Blade does indeed disrupt the norm. Simply due to the scale of the show , materials, knives and folks saving money to go there and find that perfect knife AT the show. But what a show!

Andy, I am glad you and Ken are going to be ok. A slow down is hard but you work very hard and Ken is probably itching to come back!

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KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Carl Rechsteiner on April 24, 2014 at 4:53

Glad you guys are on the mend. You're gonna have to be on your best behavior at the Blade....the new floor plan puts you right at the front door (Try not to take all their money before they get a chance to come see me at J-5).