I did not get a chance to speak with Lynn Dawson but I did speak with her husband a couple of times.  This is a family business started by Lynn's father and uncle some 40 years ago.  After graduating from high school Lynn apprenticed with Barry Dawson.  She works with many different materials , from Micarta to rare natural woods and Ivory. She uses 440C, ATS34, 5160, and also works in high contrast Damascus. Lynn prides herself in the diversity of her designs.  Her husband could not say enough about her devotion  to the knife making trade and community.  I was impressed that she creates her knives from start to finish, taking them through each step including the heat treatment process, with care and skill.

Her husband tells me they have 2 little girls that are itching to get out to the shop also but at 3 and 5 they are still a bit young.  New lady knife makers from a fine family of knifemakers?  We can only hope

Robert,

I have invited them and many more also.  I sent you a message yesterday about a cajun knife maker I met.  Do you happen to know who he might have been.  I wanted to share a story he told me

Just got home from the BLADE Show!!!  It was a great show!

Jan - it was awesome to meet you and your husband!!!  Thanks for stopping by and talking!!!  Wish I'd had more time to socialize!!!

And I have to say that I'm blown away by your post below - I'm blushing!!!!  And I swear I was NOT the person that posted that definition of "Dellana" in the Urban Dictionary!!!  I thank you for posting it so I know it now - makes me smile!!!  And all you wrote, too!!  Many, many thanks!!!

Thanks also, for the photo and mention about the book!  We are very pleased with it.  If anyone would like to order one, they are available through BLADE magazine's BladeShop.  

All the best to everyone!!!

"Comment by stephen tungate on June 9, 2011 at 5:45pm

dellana what kind of steel do you use in most of your knives?"

Stephen, I apologize for not answering sooner, but I was locked in the shop until we left for the BLADE show!  So here's the answer now.

I forge all my own Damascus and use a combination of W-2 and 203E steels.  I like the look of 324 layers so that's what I make and then pattern to ladder, raindrop or whatever I'm in the mood for.  I may then cut a wedge out of the finish billet and forge weld a wedge of W-2 to create one of my composite blades.  I really like the look and cutting qualities of this combination. 

Thanks for asking!  :-)

Just a thank you to another family willing to spend time with us and tell us a bit about their business, Premium Knife Supply.  For those just starting out putting knives togeather, The Metzger family makes those dream blanks come true. Reasonably priced 440C stylish blanks with a few carbons thown in.  Thier mission:

In business since 2005, our mission is to provide the best variety of knife blanks and accessories in the industry.

When asked what Mrs Joy Metzger thought about the business she made me laugh, Men like knives like most women like shoes, who knew?  Thanks for the time togeather and the smiles

Team,

Please welcome our newest member Michaela...Thanks for joining.  Tell us about your knife collection

On the American Bladesmith Society end of things, a highlight was the husband and wife team of Adam and Haley DesRosiers winning the B.R. Hughes Award and the George Peck Award, respectively, for the best respective knives by ABS master and journeyman smith applicants. Also, Bert Gaston won the Don Hastings Award, Julie Britton the Margaret Moran Silver Slipper Award, and Kyle Royer the Bill Moran Award for the society’s best annual knife done in the style of a European quillon dagger. Also, the announcement was made that Michael Price, Joe Keeslar and Jim Schmidt would be among those who would be inducted into the ABS Hall Of Fame in August.

Congratulations to all

Have one more that you from the blade show.  Mike at Wood Labs.  Thanks for all the time you spent with us making sure we got the best wood we could afford.  I know morw about stabalizing than I did before and what to look for.  I appreciate the knowledge

Robert,

Thanks we are beginning to grow some :).  I am working on some more women makers but while doing that I ran across one of Audra Drapers knives and just had to share it because it is wonderful!!  There is an article on her in the Women Makers and Bladesmiths above but CHECK THIS OUT

James,

You are welcome.  We would love to see some of your knives

Miss Jan, here's the new cabin with me and my lovely granddaughter, Kelly.

Robert,

Thats the perfect place for her.  Not big enough to get lonely in and close enough to Pawpaw to feel just like home.  Now she needs one of them carbon steel family knives to live in her new home with her

Robert,

How is the work coming on the cabin?

LOL,

You did great James if you only missed a couple times.  I would probably have missed more like 5.  OK, I cant tell a lie at 20 feet away I would have missed 6 times

Hard to say Robert,

You all carry consistantly.  I do also but mine is in a sheath in my pocketboook.  But I use 2 or 3 knives a meal in the kitchen also and on most days I make at least 2 meals for donnie and 1 for case.  How about the rest of you, whats your opinion?

Thought I would take a dayand figure the knives I used.

1 pairing knife  3X

1 Fruit knife      2X

1 Cleaver            1X

1 butcher knife  1X

and my pocket knife  twice

what knives did you use today?

Blade_03_01.pdf

When you spend as much time as I do looking up new knife artists, sometimes you run across one you just have to share.  This gentleman is one of those.  His work is truley and art form and covers many aspects.  The Name:
"The Apach Hunter"
Materials:
Blade: 440 C
Handle: oosik, gold pins, turquoise
Sheath: leather, antler
Description:
The total lenght is 21 CMs

Name: "The Gazelle" Materials: Blade: steel ATS 34 Handle: box wood Sheath: box wood, ostrich skin, silver, gold Description: The total lenght is 24 CMs.		Názov: "Gazela" Materiály: Čepeľ: ATS 34 Rukoväť: krušpán Pošva: krušpán, pštrosia noha, striebro, zlato Popis: Celková dĺžka je 24 cm.

Home safe and sound, will post soon