About the Maker's
Jim Krause
 |  |  |  |
I want to share a little about myself and
information about my knives and wood
sculpting. I have been making knives
almost 7 years. I have been very fortunate
to have been helped by some really fine
makers. Al Dippold , Larry & Gail Lunn
& Les Voorhies. I am grateful to them
and to the other makers and purveyors
who have so willingly advised and helped.
This has also given my wife and I the
opportunity to work together as a team.
My #1 goal in my efforts is to be able to
honor God with creation of each knife and
each wood sculpting.
information about my knives and wood
sculpting. I have been making knives
almost 7 years. I have been very fortunate
to have been helped by some really fine
makers. Al Dippold , Larry & Gail Lunn
& Les Voorhies. I am grateful to them
and to the other makers and purveyors
who have so willingly advised and helped.
This has also given my wife and I the
opportunity to work together as a team.
My #1 goal in my efforts is to be able to
honor God with creation of each knife and
each wood sculpting.
Secondly my goal is to make each knife to the best of my ability and to use the best materials.
I flat & hollow grind all my knives using the stock removal method. My preference of steel at this
time is CPM 154, CPM M4, CPM V3 & S30V for my blades along with Damasteel and Damascus
made by Devin Thomas, Hank Knickmyer, Bill Miller, Doug Ponzio and Bill Buxton. My handle
materials vary, but some of my favorites include mammoth and pre-banned elephant ivory along
with ancient walrus ivory, mammoth tooth, mother of pearl, bone and stag. I will also use exotic
woods or I will use other material of your choice if at all possible.
You can be sure each knife I design and make is one of a kind and is made by hand with no CNC or
laser parts. I use no set pattern or design, making each individually unique. My Stainless blades
are heat treated by Paul Bos and my carbon blades by Al Dippold.
I flat & hollow grind all my knives using the stock removal method. My preference of steel at this
time is CPM 154, CPM M4, CPM V3 & S30V for my blades along with Damasteel and Damascus
made by Devin Thomas, Hank Knickmyer, Bill Miller, Doug Ponzio and Bill Buxton. My handle
materials vary, but some of my favorites include mammoth and pre-banned elephant ivory along
with ancient walrus ivory, mammoth tooth, mother of pearl, bone and stag. I will also use exotic
woods or I will use other material of your choice if at all possible.
You can be sure each knife I design and make is one of a kind and is made by hand with no CNC or
laser parts. I use no set pattern or design, making each individually unique. My Stainless blades
are heat treated by Paul Bos and my carbon blades by Al Dippold.
| Click on "photo" for link to Jim's website |
Rusty Preston
Custom knives came into my life in sort of a strange way. I made contact with
Lynn Nester, a friend I grew up with in the small West Texas town of
Marathon. As we got re-aquainted, I learned Lynn makes knives. He invited
me to spend a weekend with him in Weimer and make a knife in his shop. This
sounded interesting and about the 20th of October 2003 I had completed my
first knife. I enjoyed the experience and wanted to learn more and make more
knives.
Lynn took me to Texas Knifemakers Supply and introduced me to Jim Lemcke.
Lynn Nester, a friend I grew up with in the small West Texas town of
Marathon. As we got re-aquainted, I learned Lynn makes knives. He invited
me to spend a weekend with him in Weimer and make a knife in his shop. This
sounded interesting and about the 20th of October 2003 I had completed my
first knife. I enjoyed the experience and wanted to learn more and make more
knives.
Lynn took me to Texas Knifemakers Supply and introduced me to Jim Lemcke.
Jim was a wealth of information about knives, knife making, supplies, equipment, shows etc. and told me about a
weekend seminar about making knives, called a Hammer-In, that was coming up in Central Texas. I went to my first
Hammer-In, hosted by Johnny Stout and Harvy Dean in Johnny's shop in New Braunfels, in early 2004. The weekend
was a total overload for me but I came home excited about all the information available, the people I had met, and
really amazed at the quality and variety of custom knives I had seen. I have attended every Hammer-In since and have
been encouraged and inspired by people I have met at every one. After each one I return to my own shop with new
ideas and techniques to apply to my own knifemaking.
At the first Hammer-In Bill Ruple had a few of his slip-joint folders with him and I got a look at them. I had a hard time
believing that his knives were hand made. They were too perfect. I decided I wanted to learn more about making
folders so when I got home I ordered several books about folders and read each of them twice and one of them three
times. At the next Hammer-In I expressed my interest in folders to Bill and ask him if there was a school or siminar I
could attend that would give me some hands-on instruction on building folders. Since then I have spent many hours with
Bill in his shop learning how to build folders. Bill has been more than generous with his time and advice. He has helped
me aquire some good equipment I have needed in my shop and has made several trips to my shop to help me install
equipment and teach me to use it. Thanks Bill!
weekend seminar about making knives, called a Hammer-In, that was coming up in Central Texas. I went to my first
Hammer-In, hosted by Johnny Stout and Harvy Dean in Johnny's shop in New Braunfels, in early 2004. The weekend
was a total overload for me but I came home excited about all the information available, the people I had met, and
really amazed at the quality and variety of custom knives I had seen. I have attended every Hammer-In since and have
been encouraged and inspired by people I have met at every one. After each one I return to my own shop with new
ideas and techniques to apply to my own knifemaking.
At the first Hammer-In Bill Ruple had a few of his slip-joint folders with him and I got a look at them. I had a hard time
believing that his knives were hand made. They were too perfect. I decided I wanted to learn more about making
folders so when I got home I ordered several books about folders and read each of them twice and one of them three
times. At the next Hammer-In I expressed my interest in folders to Bill and ask him if there was a school or siminar I
could attend that would give me some hands-on instruction on building folders. Since then I have spent many hours with
Bill in his shop learning how to build folders. Bill has been more than generous with his time and advice. He has helped
me aquire some good equipment I have needed in my shop and has made several trips to my shop to help me install
equipment and teach me to use it. Thanks Bill!
Click on "photo" for link to Rusty's website
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Doug Noren |
Doug grew up in the same little town in Michigan that William Scagel lived in and remembers him and has always
been interested in his knives. Besides being influenced by Scagel and making his replicas, he loves the challenge of
making large English bowies like those made in Sheffield, England by Joseph Rogers.
Doug is married to Gwen and they have 4 children and 7 Grandchildren. All of the children are interested in his
knife making and his son, Matthew, has made several knives himself.
Doug says; "In knife making everyday is a new challenge and a learning opportunity".
Sandra Brady -
Scrimshander
Scrimshander
I've always been involved in art. I can remember in grade school taking
classes at the Toledo Museum of Art. Whether drawing, painting, or throwing
pots, (not at anyone, I mean making them) , I loved it all. So when I had the
opportunity to learn scrimshaw and get paid for it, I was thrilled. That was
during my high school years, and I've been “scratching”out a living ever since.
I've continued my education at the University of Toledo, and at the Toledo
Museum of Art taking classes in drawing, painting and printmaking with a
particular focus on anatomy and the human form. This has allowed me to
pursue the wildlife themes in the scrimshaw art that I love.
Thirty years of trial and error brings us to today. Now I teach scrimshaw and
attend trade shows throughout the country. My work is in private collections
all over the world, and from now through July 2006 you can see three
exceptional pieces in an exhibit at the South Carolina State Museum. I also
give short talks, seminars and demos. Commissions are gladly accepted, and in
fact, make up the bulk of my work.
classes at the Toledo Museum of Art. Whether drawing, painting, or throwing
pots, (not at anyone, I mean making them) , I loved it all. So when I had the
opportunity to learn scrimshaw and get paid for it, I was thrilled. That was
during my high school years, and I've been “scratching”out a living ever since.
I've continued my education at the University of Toledo, and at the Toledo
Museum of Art taking classes in drawing, painting and printmaking with a
particular focus on anatomy and the human form. This has allowed me to
pursue the wildlife themes in the scrimshaw art that I love.
Thirty years of trial and error brings us to today. Now I teach scrimshaw and
attend trade shows throughout the country. My work is in private collections
all over the world, and from now through July 2006 you can see three
exceptional pieces in an exhibit at the South Carolina State Museum. I also
give short talks, seminars and demos. Commissions are gladly accepted, and in
fact, make up the bulk of my work.
Click on "Photo" for Link to Sandy's website
| | | |
he uses, wood, ivory, bronze, leather, copper, nickel silver,
sterling silver, and even stone in his knives. However, the
people he has met in the knife world has been the driving
force. He loves the camaraderie and feeling of meeting
"Family" each time he goes to a show or ABS Hammer -
In. "Everyone seems so friendly and we really try to help
each other".
sterling silver, and even stone in his knives. However, the
people he has met in the knife world has been the driving
force. He loves the camaraderie and feeling of meeting
"Family" each time he goes to a show or ABS Hammer -
In. "Everyone seems so friendly and we really try to help
each other".