Thus starts the New Year 2012

Not being one to make resolutions, I have instead decided to take steps both forward and back in my knife making.

I will strive to move forward in quality and craftsmanship.

Move back a bit in style. A little more old school.

More forged blades.

More Every Day Carry (EDC) knives.

Try to start a website.

Play out in the woods more for survival skills.

Knife testing of mine and others knives.

Make upgrades to some of my equipment.

Bring more information to my blog in a timely fashion. Wish I had an assistant.

I have already received an order for two knives from a friend and am working to complete them by a certain deadline. Things are right on track and I have taken a picture of the blades. They have only had a little hand sanding..more to go, and handle material picked out.

Mike-another blogger read my blog when I signed up for his newsletter, is also interested in a custom knife. He is at thebackyardpioneer.blogspot.com, I'm sure some of my readers might be interested in his blog too.

End Of Another Good Year

Not long after receiving my KITH knife and the Sunday after Clifton’s Stroll Through Xmas I came down with an uncommon (for me) cold. This dang thing was nice enough to allow me to work but nasty enough to keep me down the rest of the time.

So on the 29^th of December Leslie talked me into going out hunting for the first time in over two weeks. She has been hunting most days. I made it for 1 ½ hours. The next day I got to my stand by 3:00 and did my best to stay quiet and keep my attention up. Only a couple squirrels romped around for the first two hours. With less than 10 minutes left from the bottom of the hollow came the sound of the footsteps of a deer. I see the body move in a purposeful gait. It is lost for a moment in the tangles. Before I know it the deer is alongside me not 15 yards away. One antler is all I can see. I mentally ask the deer if I can take him and he puts his head down to eat. BANG! My shot is good and there will be venison in the freezer this year. One antler is all he had, and am very thankful for his snacrifice.

So ends another year-2011.

A Stroll Through Christmas.

“A stroll through Christmas” on Main Street Clifton, TN was the last show of the year. December 16th and 17th from 6:00pm until 8:00pm both nights. Main Street was illuminated by candle light, every business was theme decorated, and carolers were singing traditional Christmas songs.

Children had cookies with Santa (a free professional photo will be given for each child), free crafts for kids, a Christmas tree farm, restaurants were open, and shopping available for families. Each night will ended with a Civil War Christmas presentation at the historic Presbyterian Church. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clifton.

This turned out much better than I had expected as I sold my nicest knife to a wonderful lady as a present to her husband. It was funny because just minutes after she bought it, he came by to look at it. I told him that somebody online wanted it and it was left at home. I'll bet he was surprised!

Walk In The Park

Friday Dec. 9^th we set up at Pickwick State Park for their “Walk In The Park” Christmas event that included 50 vendors and specials for couples staying at the hotel. This was the first time setting up at this event so we weren’t sure what to expect.

Friday setup went well but with a noon opening there weren’t many customers walking the isles for the first three or four hours. My sales were very slow as were most of the other vendors.

Saturday opened at 10:00 a.m. and there seemed to be a good amount of customers coming through. Sales picked up Saturday, and after a long day on our feet, it ended up being a successful show for us. Guess that means it’s time to create more stuff for next years shows. I’m going to try locating a few more heritage type shows as people who attend them are more interested in hand-made things like I make.

XMas 2011 KITH

The knife I received was from Jason Carter. It is a 9 7/8” knife of W2 with filework at the top of the handle and jimping at the spine/handle junction. The handle is made of buffalo horn with red liners and brass peened pins. It is a fine knife and it has taken on a patina from cutting up venison tenderloin. I am making a new sheath for this knife as the original sheath is way too loose for my taste.

"Alright! It finally came. Bob the postman drove right up to the house to sign for the box from Jason Carter. Thanks man! Nice knife. I'm telling you I'm going to put it through the wringer. It's Aldo's W2 in a drop point with a nice hamon. The buffalo handle fits my hand really well Jason. Great job. Thanks and Merry Christmas to all you KITHers. LOL Hope the rest of you guys get your knives soon.

"Ok. I've had shows to do and work and...blah, blah, blah. Here's a couple pics of my knife and some venison tenderloins. I used the knife to cut them out and cut them up after they were so wonderfully grilled along with some fried taters. You can see the steam rising from the plate. It is making my mouth water thinking about how good that meal was. What is cool is that the blood helped etch it a little. Gotta love high carbon steel. "

2011 Christmas KITH

The 2011 Christmas Bladeforums KITH went off well with 26 or 27 participants.

My knife for the KITH was a Clip Point Hunter with Osage Micarta that went to Steve Grosvenor.

"WOO HOO I have received my KITH knife from Arcadia Knives, a wonderful hunting knife with handle material I need to learn more about "Osage Micarta" as well as a BONUS gift Thank you Patrick."

Thanks again Patrick I hope to get a chance to use it soon!

PS: As soon as my wife saw the necklace the first thing she asked is if I could make her something like that???