Where I'm At

This is where I'm at with knifemaking.  I started out when I took one of Tom McGinnis', owner of Ozark Forge, knifemaking classes.  I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to keep going with it.  I went over to his shop quite a bit and learned as much as I could about making handles and doing filework.  I soon started making knives on my own, the first of which I gave to my Dad.  I also started making sheaths for the hunting knives I was making.  I kept working on improving my filework.  Soon I started buying boxes of blades from Jantz Supply and found that a lot of people would buy a handmade knife even if I wasn't forging the blades.  I started making paring, steak, and fillet knives, also.  I began thinking about learning to forge but then we left!  We've wanted to travel full time for years, Mom and Dad just finally decided it was time.  Well, that put a cork in my knifemaking for a while.  I had to leave all my tools and stock behind in our storage trailer.  Whenever I got the chance I made a few knives, though.  I used my uncle's tools to make a fillet knife while in Florida.  When we went back to Missouri I used a friend's tools to make a couple hunting knives.  Then, while in Arizona this winter, I decided I really wanted to start making knives full-time again.  For Christmas I got a band saw and a drill press.  I bought some sanding drums and used the drill press for a sander, also.  I made about ten kitchen knives.  We were able to cram the tools under our desk in the back room of the camper.  Well, that's where I'm at.  I want to go ahead and start forging while we're still on the road.  I'm gonna take it slow and learn all I can in the process.  I'm going to write about everything I do and purchase on here so you can learn from me and I can learn from you.  Feel free to comment on any of my posts.  Let me know your ideas or how you've done it!