| I am a
folder maker. While there will always be
the occasional fixed blade, folders are
my passion. The steels I enjoy working
with include CPM154, ATS-34, 440C, S30V,
and Stainless Damascus from Devin
Thomas. All of the metal parts on my
knives that can be Titanium are Titanium
including frames, liners, thumbstuds,
bolsters, clips and spacers. Pretty much
everything except for the blade. I
often anodize a substantial portion of
my titanium, and can get a deep green
that few makers succeed at. As far as
handle materials go, I mostly use Carbon
fiber, G10, or Micarta. I use large
bronze pivot bushings in all of my
folders, and either Nylatron or Bronze
washers. All of my parts are made
in-house except the screws. I have an
old Bridgeport Mill, an older Logan
Lathe (1943), a Hardcore grinder, and
various other tools, lots of them made
by myself. I also do all of my own Heat
treating in an EvenHeat Oven.
I’ve wanted to make knives since I
was a kid, and have been collecting
materials for knifemaking for a long
time now. I’ve had a knife in my pocket
pretty much every day since I was 10 and
I got a Swiss Army Knife for Christmas.
When I was 13 I received a Buck 110 for
my birthday and it was that day that I
knew I would one day make a knife. I’ve
always wanted to make the knife I carry,
so that’s what motivated me to start up.
For my birthday in August of ’05, I
received Bob Terzuolas book. That was
it; I got to planning my 1st knife. I
built that knife the week of Christmas
of ’05 while the machine shop I worked
in was shut down for maintenance. It is
a Titanium Bolstered, Titanium Liner
Locking folder. Then, right after New
Year ’06, I was laid off. I ended up at
a meeting of the Southern California
Blades knife collecting club and decided
to ask some knife nuts what they thought
of my 1st knife. There was so much
interest in it, I decided to make some
more. At this point, I figured I needed
some motivation, so I bought myself a
table at their Pasadena Show in
February, just 2 months after finishing
my 1st knife.
Under the unreasonable pressure I had
put on myself, I managed to make a few
more folders in time for the show, and
sold them there. Within 2 months of
making my 1st knife, I was selling them!
What a thrill that was. A couple of
months later, I was offered a table at
the Blade Show in Atlanta, and to my
surprise, I sold knives there too. Then,
just 9 months after making my 1st knife,
I set up at the BAKCA show in Palo Alto,
California where I won Best New Maker.
(My 1st Award!) I also unveiled my 1st
Automatic Knife there. All in all, Palo
Alto was a very good show for me.
I made 13 folding knives before I
ever made a fixed blade, and to this
date, I’ve made far more folders than
fixed blades. Since I carry folders far
more often than fixed blades, that is
where my passion is. I do have some
fixed blade designs such as my Chatham
fighter that I am making for some of our
fine Soldiers stationed in Iraq. And
because I spent 5 years as a
Professional Whitewater Rafting Guide on
the Kern River here in California, I am
in the process of making a better Guide
Knife. There just isn’t anything out
there that most guides like. I think I
may be able to fix that.
I apprenticed as a Toolmaker, and
have spent the majority of the last 15
years doing that. Minus the 5 Springs,
and Summers I spent guiding of course.
I really had no mentor when I started
making knives, but have recently spent
time in the shop with local maker T.C.
Collins, and have become pretty good
friends with Warren Thomas. I suppose
if I had known any makers before I
started, I would have begun by making
fixed blades instead of the dozen plus
folders I made 1st.
One of the things I enjoy most about
making knives is creating something with
my hands that will end up being used in
your hands. I derive great pleasure from
creating tools for others (and myself)
to use. Also, the camaraderie of the
knifemaking community is just a
wonderful thing. I know of no other
industry where competitors will so
willingly share knowledge and
information with each other.
I am a Member of the Southern
California Blades, a knife collecting
club and was recently elected to be
their Sergeant at Arms. I am also a
member of the California Knifemakers
Association. |
