The knife and times of a maker's whirlwind year (pic heavy)

[Josh A Weston]

It's been quite awhile since I have made some post updates. I have had quite a lot going on. I will load some pics and blather on for a bit.

I miss being active in the forum. I am not making just one off knives right now and that has me spinning in circles. I am in transition from my day job to my blacksmith job. I am 20ish hours a week at the day job and probably 30+ at knives and then I have another part time design job. That with the family I am quite booked.

Anyhow, I managed to get back on Forged in Fire (thanks to people on facebook) and that ended up being a good thing this time. I know some of you hate the show. I don't. I see both sides of the picture, believe, I do. I have had my ups and downs with it. The first time I was on I lost in the final round. They made it seem like I didn't know how to sharpen a blade and that hurt my business. I didn't sell a single knife for 3 months after the air date. But I made more knives, put of videos of me cut testing and booked a lot of shows. I got out and met people, taught lessons and kept forging. My build up was slow but it grew and I started selling knives again. A little over a year after having been on the show I was back to selling knives at a decent rate and price. I had felt like I had at least repaired a lot of my reputation. I also started taking more sculpture work (I can't believe how much more money this can make... lot of work though).

At the beginning of this year I was asked to come back on the show. I went. This time, though, I practiced a lot. I practiced the 3 hour forge time and the 3 hour handle time over and over. Some of my practice rounds I failed. I had a blade shatter to bits (I rushed and didn't heat the oil on a cold day while using 52100) and I had a couple handles that looked like horror film knife handles but I learned and pushed myself forward. I worked on my edge geometry and grinding. I worked on forging to shape. I worked on forging random steels and memorizing junkyard steel sheets. I poured over several of Jim Hrisoulas' books over and over. I won. It was very close and I made mistakes along the way but I won. It felt good to come back from a previous loss.

I have a lot of you to thank. This forum is chalk full of information and help. Even if you don't know you helped, you probably did. I scour(ed) the forums for information and techniques that help me every day. I would not be where I am today as a bladesmith without you.

Let's move on to post FIF. I don't carry a knife. Weird, right? A knife maker that doesn't carry his own knives. I don’t like the bulk. Plus I like to sell everything. But I don’t like full pockets I don’t like belts and though I like necker knives I hate how they fly around if you move. So, on a plane ride back and forth from Brooklyn I sketched up a wrist cuff sheath. I really wanted it to be more cuff accessory than sheath or bracer but yet influenced by both. I am selling these now. Working on a patent and have had an article written about them by knifenews.com. The reaction has been good. I have sold quite a few of them and continue to develop the product. A harsh year of feedback from the first time on FIF has prepped me to deal with the haters (can you believe how many just horrendously negative people are out there).

Business is moving along. I have plenty of work and am getting paid a decent amount for it. I thank God for that. Here are a few pics from the last year.

 

[C Craft]

I knew you looked familiar when I saw your Avatar and the name. After reading I know where I know you from, FIF! It looks like you have been very busy, Quite a varied line of work you have going! Good to hear form you Josh! 

 

 

 

[Collin Miller]

Great job! Your second episode was one of my favorites, great competition and cast overall. Made me really happy when you won, especially since the first one was so close. Your multibar kukri was awesome.

One question about the cuff knives: Doesn't the leather get really hot/sweaty in the summer? Just curious. I know my leather boots have a similar effect, but it's better than stepping on hot steel in a tennis shoe or catching your sneakers on fire! haha

[Chris C-S]

A heap of cool things to oggle there. Thanks for sharing and well done. 

[Charles dP]

Congrats on the win Josh. The episode just aired here in the U.K. and I was routing for you . Those are some impressive blades up there. I particularly like the dark banding on some of the axe shafts. Helped by fire I assume? The ship does look like it might take a while.

C

[Kevin Colwell]

glad the second time went well. I could never do Forged in Fire, so hat's off.

 

Those are some sweet knives. I especially like the big chopper with the curved blade and no point. That thing is both elegant and wicked!

 

[Josh A Weston]

10 hours ago, Collin Miller said:

Great job! Your second episode was one of my favorites, great competition and cast overall. Made me really happy when you won, especially since the first one was so close. Your multibar kukri was awesome.

One question about the cuff knives: Doesn't the leather get really hot/sweaty in the summer? Just curious. I know my leather boots have a similar effect, but it's better than stepping on hot steel in a tennis shoe or catching your sneakers on fire! haha

It's already pretty toasty here in SC. I have been wearing one pretty regularly, even when forging and working in the garage. They can get a little hot but they surprisingly aren't too bad. They have a soft leather liner inside that helps make them a comfortable wear and I think that helps make the heat more bearable. Also, they typically have a little breathing room in them too, which helps. I am, however, trying to figure out ways to add some additional venting. Probably add some small holes or something like that, especially under the wallet version.

Glad you liked the multi-bar kukri. I would like to rebuild that someday, but the way I intended it and not under the pressure of a ticking clock. This last round was very fun. Great group of smiths. We had a blast. Of course the win was super nice too

[Josh A Weston]

8 hours ago, Charles du Preez said:

Congrats on the win Josh. The episode just aired here in the U.K. and I was routing for you . Those are some impressive blades up there. I particularly like the dark banding on some of the axe shafts. Helped by fire I assume? The ship does look like it might take a while.

C

Thanks, Charles!

Yes, the dark banding was carved then burnt. I think I used a soldering pen, actually. I modified the tip for use.

[Alan Longmire]

Congratulations, and nice pile of stuff!  Welcome back.

[owen bush]

Thanks for posting , I think its important for people to know what the effects of Tv shows are , the good and the bad.

and the practicing for it, somthing that is pretty obvious but not somthing I have heard of people doing.

 

Glad to see you are getting on with it.

 

I havnt seen your show's , I only watched a few episodes in a Hotell room on the way to ashokan (so I was armed with an idea of what its all about) but I have felt the effects of the show even over the pond . Its been a great generator of interest ....Huge.

[Josh A Weston]

On 6/12/2017 at 11:22 AM, owen bush said:

Thanks for posting , I think its important for people to know what the effects of Tv shows are , the good and the bad.

and the practicing for it, somthing that is pretty obvious but not somthing I have heard of people doing.

 

Glad to see you are getting on with it.

 

I havnt seen your show's , I only watched a few episodes in a Hotell room on the way to ashokan (so I was armed with an idea of what its all about) but I have felt the effects of the show even over the pond . Its been a great generator of interest ....Huge.

TV can be a dice game. From where I sit now, it is paying off from a money standpoint. That is nice but it has taken quite a bit of effort. I have met a many new smiths though and made connections and friendships that are invaluable. The show is gaining traction and helping to bring back interest in our craft and for that I am very thankful... except that now people want me to teach them. How can I teach when I still have so much to learn? Don't they understand that?! Lol!