Hello from Lake Nebagamon Wisconsin! My name is Bobby Matherly, I have been in the ABS for a couple of years now. I have been lurking around the forums for quite sometime. Im still very thirsty for all knowledge related to bladesmithing.
I retired from the Navy Seabees in 2008 and taught Water Survival for the Department of Defense until 2012 when I moved to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I'm now the maintenance supervisor for a school district. My passion has always been bowhunting and fishing but I'm quickly realizing that knife making and building my knife shop has taken over. To put this in perspective, I have been putting in for a bear tag for seven years now and I actually drew a tag this year and I'm thinking about passing on it. Partly because I'm more interested in knife making and I'm also signed up for a Wootz class that runs 1 week during the 3 week bear hunt.
I'm really into take down hunting knives, and I really like San Mai Laminated blades, so you can imagine my excitement when I talked to Karl Andersen and he agreed to help me out. That was last summer and I can assure you I have been a pest ever since! Thanks Karl for your generosity and time you have given me!
I also had the privilege of riding to my first hammer-in in Troy Ohio last year with Karl and Brian Thie. As a newbie, I can't put into words what an awesome experience that was and how much I learned both at the hammer-in and in the car.
I went to my first Blade show this year and got to meet a lot of people, some I knew from the Troy hammer-in and a whole lot of new people. The thing I love most about the ABS besides everyones willingness to share information is the friendships and a sense of family. I hope we keep it that way!
Wish you all the best,
Bobby
Thanks Dan!
Hey Bobby. I'm glad you're here. You better keep one eye on that Andersen feller though. He'll have you makin take down knives or somethin.
Thanks Lin! It was great meeting you and Kay at the blade show. I actually forged my first Bowie on the 4th. Not sure if it will survive the corrections I will make on the grinder. 🙂 we shall see. Take care and say hello to Kay.
Welcome Bobby. Good to have you here. Karl is something else and makes great knives. Good person to learn from.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Thanks Brion! It was nice meeting you at Blade. Hope you are doing well.