Kevin Colwell Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Hello Everyone, Joshua was kind enough to message me and make sure I wasn't dead. I was having a crisis in an economic sense a couple of years ago, and I was thinking of ways to make more money from the knifemaking portion of my professional life. Well, I did and I didn't figure it out. Not knives, anyway. I have paired with Scott Rodell. He designs Chinese swords based upon original examples. Then, he draws me a one-to-one pic for his design. Then, I make it. It is awesome. I send it to him, and he gives me critical feedback (and if needed, I modify the thing). Imagine if every Bladesmith could partner with a person who is both a historian and an expert with the use of the things we make. It has been wonderful for me. Of course, I can only make about 3 swords per year. Each one is custom, each one is different. Each is made to the specs of the client (Scott works with them the way Holland and Holland would work with someone if they were making them an over-and-under). Here is the last one. The client named it Winter Moon. It has 400+ layers of 1075 and 15N20 with a W2 center plate in sanmei arrangement. The fittings are nickel silver except the blade collar (tunkou), it is sterling. The wood is simple poplar with a poly stain. DON"T EVERY TRY TO PUT THIS ON POPLAR, get better wood. It took MONTHS to get the scabbard right. Hope y'all like it! 2 1 please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Most excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Blohm Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 I'm still picking my jaw up off of the floor...well done sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Adams Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Great work! Good to hear from you. Doug Jn. 3:16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin carnecchia Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Wow! Fantastic work Kevin! Visit wrencoforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lester Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Very nice wow factor to that sword. Very proper cord wrap on it too. Doug HELP...I'm a twenty year old trapped in the body of an old man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Brewer Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Nice work Kevin, also nice to see you around here again............... If ya can't be good don't git caught !! People who say stuff can't be done need to git the hell outta the way of people who do stuff !!! Show me a man who is called an expert by his peers And I will show you a good man to listen to ...... Show me a man who calls himself an expert and I will show you an egotistical asshole...............!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dougherty Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Very nice Kevin! (that is an understatement) It's good to hear from you again (also an understatement) -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 I was just wondering this morning. That is some excellent work. Very well done. "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos qui libertate donati nescimus quid constat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted September 2, 2018 Author Share Posted September 2, 2018 thanks everyone. I am working on a couple of jian and a guan dao now. The last thing is a sort of halberd. I am actually stoked about it. Today I have to get my tire hammer running. I have been doing all of this with Uncle Al's press (I am on the third motor). But I built a tire hammer at a workshop last summer and it has sat in my shop since then. Just anchored it down last month. Today is the day to fire it up (I got more power for the shop so I don't have to run a damn generator all the time). kc please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 Damn Kevin, that is a gorgeous sword. It has been a while since you posted something, so this is certainly a treat. I love that steel! “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Cook Posted September 4, 2018 Share Posted September 4, 2018 Good to see you back, and being able to make what makes you happy. Wonderful piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua States Posted September 5, 2018 Share Posted September 5, 2018 (edited) I am so overjoyed to see this piece and hear this news. I only wish I could like the post twice. Thanks so much for bringing this to our little piece of the net. P.S. Poplar wood is Yggdrasil's way of saying "this stuff you paint" Edited September 5, 2018 by Joshua States “So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.” The only bad experience is the one from which you learn nothing. Josh http://www.dosgatosdesignsllc.com/#! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg J.States Bladesmith | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71 https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted September 6, 2018 Author Share Posted September 6, 2018 Joshua - you made me laugh, yes, poplar needs paint. It is a bitch to stain or lacquer. please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 Hey Kevin. Good to see you back. Great looking piece. Love the san mai w/ pw blade. Good stuff, man. -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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