Hello all!

I've been blacksmithing seriously for a few years (sporadically for much longer), and have enjoyed it immensely. I started with the idea that I'd like to learn to make knives eventually, but wanted to get some skill with working in hot metal before specializing. I'm glad I did, since it's been great fun to learn various techniques. But now I think I have enough control and experience to begin learning the more specialized forms. I don't plan to give up general blacksmithing, though, it's too much fun. I've also done some woodworking, machining, and even a little welding.

Less relevant to bladesmithing, I've been active in living history groups and jujitsu, made some armor, and enjoy the outdoors and the company of my wife and kids. By profession I'm a software engineer, but my degree is in applied physics. My neighbors have commented that I'm eccentric: I actually like to fix and build things around the house.

I grew up in, and have returned to live in western Los Angeles; definitely a crowded place with small lots. It's a bit of a challenge to organize a forge and workshop in a way that won't bother the neighbors, but I think I've got it down. For example, I'm using charcoal for fuel: no sulfurous smoke or large scary propane bottles. I can't work far into the night, but working when tired is a bad idea anyway. Nobody's complained about the grinder in the garage, either.

I hope to take some of the bladesmithing classes at any of the various schools; my wife is from New England, so the NESM campus might be the one I end up at, combining the class with a family and friends visit. I'm hoping someone will start up a west coast program; Colorado and Texas are more than a day's drive for me. My local teaching forges (Adam's Forge, Vista Forge) have had some teachers and classes that I've found really worthwhile, but they don't have many on knifemaking.

I'm really looking forward to all this!