Knives have always been an interest to me since I was very young. I was always buying them whenever I had extra cash. It wasn't until I was in my twenties that I considered making them. One day while shopping in a bookstore with my wife (then girlfriend) Terri I stumbled across a book on knife making. I bought the book with the intent of only furthering my knowledge of knives, not actually making them. Well, that didn't work. I've been obsessed ever since. That was early 1997 as I recall.
My first knives were made from old files and circular saw blades. I would heat treat them with a torch and grind them on a bench grinder. The results were crude knives with large ugly handles. My dad called them "Fat Boys". About a year later I met Knife maker Ted Moore. Ted took me under his wing and taught me the art of knife making. It only takes a quick glance at his work and you can see that he is a true master at the craft. I'm very fortunate to have worked under his guidance.
As my abilities improved I turned to making folding knives. They are now among my favorite knives to design and make. First I started with liner locks then slip joints and eventually lock backs. I use both man made and natural handle materials. The natural material such as mammoth ivory, exotic hard woods and mother of pearl are my favorite to work with. Blade steels include but are not limited to Larry Donnelly and Robert Eggerling damascus, 154cm stainless steel, A2, D2 and 01. I embellish some of my knives with file work, engraving and the occasional gemstone.
Although the world of knives is constantly changing I tend to stick to making knives that I enjoy. I feel it would be a great disservice to my customers and my self to do other wise. If the job does not interest me it would surely show in the finished product. It is my goal to make each knife better than the last and it's that challenge that keeps me coming back to make the best knives I possibly can.
My first knives were made from old files and circular saw blades. I would heat treat them with a torch and grind them on a bench grinder. The results were crude knives with large ugly handles. My dad called them "Fat Boys". About a year later I met Knife maker Ted Moore. Ted took me under his wing and taught me the art of knife making. It only takes a quick glance at his work and you can see that he is a true master at the craft. I'm very fortunate to have worked under his guidance.