The Forge

March 3rd, 2010

Pa Pa Attitude

Bad Attitude Blades

Humanity clearly has a noble position amount other creatures of this earth, but how do we distinguish between man and the other critters of the earth?  Each time we’ve attempted to note the difference between man and beast, someone has come along to prove our definition wrong.  Some creatures do have language, they do use tools, they do make war on each other, and they do make love face to face.  So what exactly is the difference between man and beast?  I feel it is the attempted mastery of fire.

I’ve been self employed in one form of creativity or another for about two decades.  I still work with clay, earth and pottery, but fell in love with iron and steel when I realized how malleable it becomes at the proper temperatures.  Today, I have gone so far as to smelt my own iron from the ore I’ve taken from Kentucky creeks and streams using a small but traditional Japanese style tatara.  This season, I hope to make my own steel using the Viking technique.

Forever improving, growing, and learning; I have come to love pattern welded Damascus.  I learned how to pattern weld using nothing but a coal-fired forge, hammer, and anvil.  Gradually, I decided I was spending so much time making the steel that if I wanted to get back to knife making I would have to graduate to a gas forge and hydraulic press.

As my skill and sales improve, I first feed my family and then reinvest in the tools, books, and knowledge necessary to further improve.

See me perform at the Kentucky Highlander Renaissance Festival

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