Hi,

I've had an appreciation of knives since before I had my first Swiss Army knife at 8 years old. The first time I can remember ever playing with fire and metal was around 10 or so, I read on the internet how to make lock picks and for some reason I took a pair of head phone metal material and heated it up on my stove and bent a piece with some pliers and a hammer for a torque bar and dunked it in water because it was hot. No idea why. True story. Fast Forward...

I had the privilege of learning with some blacksmiths in Ukraine. Only a few short months. I learned a lot from those guys and I thank them forever for it. While there, I made this knife after months of effort:

Made from Local Mild steel, Some sort of spring steel and a large bearing race. Done in a coal fire, with access to a power hammer. That was a long time ago. I obviously knew nothing about knife design back then.

I learned much from those guys. I also learned as much as I could from whatever I could find on the internet. I wouldn't know half of what I think I know or understand if it wasn't for what I found on the internet and the few books I have.

Here is my latest effort in the form of a hybrid kitchen knife of sorts, and efforts with damascus:

It is made from 1095,15n20, 52100, in approximately 187 layers. I made the bar with aid of my Junk Yard Hammer build a while ago. It works, but I think I left the edge too hard. It was a rush job due to life, so the fit and finish is not what it should be.

I am always in search of the sharpest knife and am always eager to learn. I hope to learn as much as I can wherever I can.

-J.C.