About the Maker's
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| Jeremy Marsh |
After a couple days of paging through the magazines, I was on the phone
ordering materials for two folding knives. After tearing apart my
Benchmade to get the general idea of how these things worked, and
multiple E-mails to David Broadwell (who took the time to answer every
question I had in great detail and who I still owe an extra large 120 oz. half
diet half regular big gulp) for pointers, I built my first two knives. These two
knives -in- law. I have been a addict ever since.
I live in West Michigan with my wife Jennifer, our daughter Peyton and our
dog Panzer. I am a third generation Die Maker, a position I still hold.
Jennifer is a Kindergarten teacher and my right hand at knife shows. My
little girl is now two years old, and I believe she's at just about the right age
to become my first apprentice. Hobbies of mine include minibikes, mountain
bikes, bmx bikes, skateboards, snowboards, or anything that ends with
"board" shooting sports of all kinds, brewing beer and all things fast.
Customization of anything truly interests me. Be it cars, bikes,firearms or
anything someone takes and changes to make it cool and different from
what everyone else has. Some of the custom work I see people do truly
blows my mind, and inspires me to reach deeper into the ozone of
customization.
If you see something here that interests you, or if you have an idea of your
own, drop me a line.
ordering materials for two folding knives. After tearing apart my
Benchmade to get the general idea of how these things worked, and
multiple E-mails to David Broadwell (who took the time to answer every
question I had in great detail and who I still owe an extra large 120 oz. half
diet half regular big gulp) for pointers, I built my first two knives. These two
knives -in- law. I have been a addict ever since.
I live in West Michigan with my wife Jennifer, our daughter Peyton and our
dog Panzer. I am a third generation Die Maker, a position I still hold.
Jennifer is a Kindergarten teacher and my right hand at knife shows. My
little girl is now two years old, and I believe she's at just about the right age
to become my first apprentice. Hobbies of mine include minibikes, mountain
bikes, bmx bikes, skateboards, snowboards, or anything that ends with
"board" shooting sports of all kinds, brewing beer and all things fast.
Customization of anything truly interests me. Be it cars, bikes,firearms or
anything someone takes and changes to make it cool and different from
what everyone else has. Some of the custom work I see people do truly
blows my mind, and inspires me to reach deeper into the ozone of
customization.
If you see something here that interests you, or if you have an idea of your
own, drop me a line.
| Click on "photo" for link to Jeremy's Website |
People often ask how I got
involved in knife making. I
have always carried a pocket
knife, and was always knife,
and was always intrigued and
wanted to own a custom
made folding knife. I started
making rings from family,
and In 2003, my dad came
home one day from work
with a couple issues of Blade
magazine he got from a
coworker.
involved in knife making. I
have always carried a pocket
knife, and was always knife,
and was always intrigued and
wanted to own a custom
made folding knife. I started
making rings from family,
and In 2003, my dad came
home one day from work
with a couple issues of Blade
magazine he got from a
coworker.
Tommy Gann
I grew up in Lompoc, California, a small town just North of
Santa Barbara. It was there that my wife Shona and I were
married in 1992 and where my four children, Raina, Joey,
Samantha, and Anna were born.
I've been fascinated with knives since I was a young boy. I
became interested in making knives when I worked welding
and fabricating steel beams in the early 90s. The first knife I
ever made was from a railroad spike. We still have it in the
kitchen set where all the knife rejects go.
My good friend, Steve Bailey, who shares my interest in
knife making, would go with me to the Solvang Knife Show
every spring. It was there that I could ask the knife makers
questions. They were generous sharing their knowledge, and
with lots of reading and "how to" videos, Steve and I made a
forge and hydraulic press.
Santa Barbara. It was there that my wife Shona and I were
married in 1992 and where my four children, Raina, Joey,
Samantha, and Anna were born.
I've been fascinated with knives since I was a young boy. I
became interested in making knives when I worked welding
and fabricating steel beams in the early 90s. The first knife I
ever made was from a railroad spike. We still have it in the
kitchen set where all the knife rejects go.
My good friend, Steve Bailey, who shares my interest in
knife making, would go with me to the Solvang Knife Show
every spring. It was there that I could ask the knife makers
questions. They were generous sharing their knowledge, and
with lots of reading and "how to" videos, Steve and I made a
forge and hydraulic press.
Every spring after that I would take a knife to the Solvang Show to get Tim Hancock's feedback.
Tim would ask me, "Do you want the truth?" and he would give it to me straight. Finally I asked
Tim if he gave lessons and he said yes.
In June of 2002 I got the chance to work with Tim in his shop where I made a knife with him and
went over testing requirements for the JS (ABS Journeyman) test. The following spring in 2003,
Tim came to my house and tested me for the first part of my JS Stamp (See the Judging
Guidelines) and I passed.
won Best Amateur Knife and Best Fixed Blade.
In the summer of 2004 my family and I took a leap of faith and moved to Canton, Texas to pursue
my dream of becoming a full time knife maker. It wasn't long before we found the house that we
now call home.
After several months, I finally got my shop up and running. It was in March that the electricity got
hooked up to the shop and I had 3 months to make 5 qualifying knives to fulfill the requirements
for my ABS JS Stamp. I worked on them right up until the day my Dad and I drove to the Blade
Show in Georgia.
The morning the knives were judged I was more nervous than when each of my fours kids were
born. After learning that I passed and I would receive my ABS JS Stamp, I was able to enjoy the
show. That evening at the awards banquet, much to my amazement, I was honored with the George
Peck Award for Best Knife submitted by the applying ABS Journeyman Smith rating. Needless to
say I was overwhelmed, honored and surprised.
As of March 2005 I've been able to stay home and make knives, that is, between the kids' school,
sports, hunting, fishing and the daily stuff.
-Tommy Gann
Tim would ask me, "Do you want the truth?" and he would give it to me straight. Finally I asked
Tim if he gave lessons and he said yes.
In June of 2002 I got the chance to work with Tim in his shop where I made a knife with him and
went over testing requirements for the JS (ABS Journeyman) test. The following spring in 2003,
Tim came to my house and tested me for the first part of my JS Stamp (See the Judging
Guidelines) and I passed.
won Best Amateur Knife and Best Fixed Blade.
In the summer of 2004 my family and I took a leap of faith and moved to Canton, Texas to pursue
my dream of becoming a full time knife maker. It wasn't long before we found the house that we
now call home.
After several months, I finally got my shop up and running. It was in March that the electricity got
hooked up to the shop and I had 3 months to make 5 qualifying knives to fulfill the requirements
for my ABS JS Stamp. I worked on them right up until the day my Dad and I drove to the Blade
Show in Georgia.
The morning the knives were judged I was more nervous than when each of my fours kids were
born. After learning that I passed and I would receive my ABS JS Stamp, I was able to enjoy the
show. That evening at the awards banquet, much to my amazement, I was honored with the George
Peck Award for Best Knife submitted by the applying ABS Journeyman Smith rating. Needless to
say I was overwhelmed, honored and surprised.
As of March 2005 I've been able to stay home and make knives, that is, between the kids' school,
sports, hunting, fishing and the daily stuff.
-Tommy Gann
Click on Pic for Link to Tommy's
Website
Website
Wayne G. Hensley
Wayne G. Hensley started making knives part-time in 1973 while
working for the telephone company. In 1978, Wayne joined the
Knifemakers’ Guild (a new organization for makers). He is presently
serving on the Board of Directors - the Guild has grown from the 15
founding members to over 300 members worldwide.
Wayne retired from BellSouth in March 1999 with 38 years of service
and became a full-time knifemaker. He has been a resident of
Conyers, Georgia since 1965 with wife, Rebecca. Wayne is a member
of First Baptist Church of Lithonia where he serves as an Usher, a
member (and past president) of the Flint River Knife Club, Miniature
Knifemakers Society and Chattahoochee Cutlery Club. Wayne is also
a member of Citizens Sheriff’s Academy Alumni Association of
Rockdale County, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited
and the Georgia Custom Knifemakers’ Guild where he has served on
its Board.
working for the telephone company. In 1978, Wayne joined the
Knifemakers’ Guild (a new organization for makers). He is presently
serving on the Board of Directors - the Guild has grown from the 15
founding members to over 300 members worldwide.
Wayne retired from BellSouth in March 1999 with 38 years of service
and became a full-time knifemaker. He has been a resident of
Conyers, Georgia since 1965 with wife, Rebecca. Wayne is a member
of First Baptist Church of Lithonia where he serves as an Usher, a
member (and past president) of the Flint River Knife Club, Miniature
Knifemakers Society and Chattahoochee Cutlery Club. Wayne is also
a member of Citizens Sheriff’s Academy Alumni Association of
Rockdale County, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited
and the Georgia Custom Knifemakers’ Guild where he has served on
its Board.
| Enrique Pena |
My name is Enrique Pena, I am 32 years old and live in Laredo, Texas.
Married to a beautiful wife and have three beautiful girls which are three,
five and seven years old.
I started making knives when I was 13, I would make them out of old files
using a stone grinder that I put together with a motor that I bought at a flea
market for five dollars and a stone and arbor that I purchased at an Ace
Hardware store and then would put wooden handles on them. They were
crude but I enjoyed making them. After a while I stopped making knives
until around late 2006 when I saw a custom knife that a friend Armando
Flores had made. I asked him if he would teach me to make knives and I
got hooked on knife making. The first knife I made after taking lessons
from my friend was a single bladed slitjoint knife. Later I met Bill Ruple
Married to a beautiful wife and have three beautiful girls which are three,
five and seven years old.
I started making knives when I was 13, I would make them out of old files
using a stone grinder that I put together with a motor that I bought at a flea
market for five dollars and a stone and arbor that I purchased at an Ace
Hardware store and then would put wooden handles on them. They were
crude but I enjoyed making them. After a while I stopped making knives
until around late 2006 when I saw a custom knife that a friend Armando
Flores had made. I asked him if he would teach me to make knives and I
got hooked on knife making. The first knife I made after taking lessons
from my friend was a single bladed slitjoint knife. Later I met Bill Ruple
and he helped me refined my knife making skills, I also received mentoring from Rusty Preston. I am
now blessed to call these two men friends and mentors in my knife making endeavor. I exclusively build
traditional slipjoint and some lock back patterns. I am now a full time knife maker and also build and
sell custom grinders for knife making. I always strive for excellence in every knife I make, because I
feel every knife is a reflection of my workmanship and my knives are designed to be carried and used.
Due to the nature of natural handle material, I can not guarantee changes that may occur to it. For
example cracks shrinkage or warpage due to natural processes occurring on the handle material. My
policy is simple, if you are not happy with my knifes, simply call me and will refund the price of the knife.
now blessed to call these two men friends and mentors in my knife making endeavor. I exclusively build
traditional slipjoint and some lock back patterns. I am now a full time knife maker and also build and
sell custom grinders for knife making. I always strive for excellence in every knife I make, because I
feel every knife is a reflection of my workmanship and my knives are designed to be carried and used.
Due to the nature of natural handle material, I can not guarantee changes that may occur to it. For
example cracks shrinkage or warpage due to natural processes occurring on the handle material. My
policy is simple, if you are not happy with my knifes, simply call me and will refund the price of the knife.
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Click on Photo for link to
Enrique's website
Enrique's website