11/4/2008

Once again I am late getting the newsletter posted.  I was at the Fall Hammer-In at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing, in Arkansas, this last weekend.  It was a very good Hammer-In and I picked up a few knifemaking tips.  I was also asked to be an instructor for one of the Introductory Bladesmithing classes next year. J. R. Cook and I will be teaching the class held March 30th through April 3rd.  I am very pleased to have been asked to be an instructor at the school.  I look forward to the opportunity to help others learn the art of Bladesmithing and think it will be great fun.  Perhaps they will ask me to instruct other classes in the future.

I am currently working on several knives.  I have made the damascus for the handle frame for the “Mastersmith Knife” that I am making for next years ABS auction.  I made some damascus that I hoped to use for the blade for the Master’s knife, but I didn’t like how the pattern came out, so I will have to try another billet.  I’ve got a partially finished saddle-horn pattern folder on the bench right now.  I’m having a little trouble finding handle material to fit it, so it is on hold at this time.  I am also working on a small dagger that will have a ladder pattern damascus blade and a sculptured stainless steel handle.  The handle will have abalone insets on each side.  This is the first time that I have tried this much sculpturing on a handle, so we’ll see how I do with it.

I am still practicing my engraving every day.  I’m getting better at it, but still need to work on drawing scroll designs.  Last week, my air compressor quit on me.  I bought a Sil-Air compressor from GRS and just got it hooked up today.  I also bought a positioning vice from GRS, so I will be selling my Magnablock vice and turntable.

The Kansas Custom Knifemaker’s Association is now incorporated.  I filed the necessary documents with the state of Kansas last week.  Still have some paperwork to do before we are an officially recognized non-profit organization by the IRS, but we’re getting there.  The association by-laws should be ready for approval by our Board of Directors at our next meeting.  The meeting is to be held in Topeka, KS on January 10, 2009

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