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!
