Mike Haskew

As The New Generation Of Knifemakers Begin To Hone Their Craft, The Masters Of Today Help Guide Their Path Forward. 

A new wave of interest has brought the younger generation closer to the forge and to the welcoming classrooms of bladesmiths that are quite willing to share their time, talent and tips to help the youngsters develop their own skills. That interest comes not only from a growing awareness of the beauty of the finished forged blade, but also an appreciation of the time and dedication necessary.

American Bladesmith Society (ABS) Master Smith Ray Kirk has been teaching kids bladesmithing for some time, and he sees the investment in the future as time well spent.

“Most of the young students usually have a parent that will either make a blade with them or watch the total process,” he commented. “Besides understanding the phrase ‘Strike while the iron is hot,’ they learn to control the steel by where they hammer. The experience of sharing the class with a parent or sibling is the best kind of memory to make. Knowing they will make something that will probably outlast them is something they probably never did before.”

Ray began teaching his grandchildren when they spent time at his home, and he has taught both boys and girls. Depending on the age, both genders are proficient and can use the hammer. His youngest student began learning at 11, and his grandchildren have been around the forge since they were 6.

“At that age, it was just showing them how to change the shape of steel by heating and hammering,” Ray said. “If they can drive a 16-penny nail into a 2-by-4 they could do the class, and I never really considered the sex of the student to have a bearing on taking the class.”

Some of the more satisfying moments for Ray have been watching his students as young adults competing on History TV’s Forged in Fire. Several have won in competition and all have enjoyed the experience, making friends and expanding their knife knowledge. The smile that shines when a photo is taken of young bladesmiths and their knives is something special.

Ray’s class consists of work to complete two knives of hidden-tang integral design from a 12-inch round bar of three-quarter-inch 52100 steel. 

“What they can’t do I will do for them,” he explained. “Learning how is the important part. I don’t expect the students to be an expert at any part of the procedure, and as long as they are watching and learning, I can finish it for them. If I only have one student, it can be a one-day affair. Two students usually require two days, and out-of-town students can use our guest house to stay in. The cost of the class is $350 per student.”

Pride In Teaching Younger Smiths

ABS Master Smith Rick Dunkerley began teaching privately in his shop in 1992, and his first student was Josh Smith, who went on to become the youngest ABS journeyman smith at 15, the youngest ABS master smith at 19, and twice a competitor on Forged in Fire.

“I started teaching Josh when he was 11,” Rick remembered. “That was 30 years ago. He was on the Little League team I coached and showed interest in the knives I made. He was very motivated and not deterred by the work involved.”

Dunkerley says that he doesn’t have a specific program for kids but has invited those who show interest to his shop or hammer-ins.

“If they continue to show interest, I help them out,” he remarked. “I think making things by hand gives kids and adults great self-confidence and pride. So much of the modern world is fast paced and disposable. The process of making a knife forces a slowing down and focus that is lacking in a lot of kids’ lives. It also gives them something to care for and preserve as opposed to the normal disposable crap of everyday life. I don’t encourage or discourage anyone, kids or adults, to pursue knifemaking as a career. I give them my experience on the subject and let them decide on their own if they can make the sacrifices involved.”

Rick usually starts a student out with stock-removal knives. He says he believes learning to grind a blade is more difficult than forging one. Then, should the student decide to learn bladesmithing, the learning process continues.

“My proudest moments as a teacher have always been seeing the pride and satisfaction in the students’ eyes when the knife is finished,” he added. “I believe the pride and satisfaction of making things with our hands makes better human beings. That’s enough motivation for me to help when I can.”

Absorbing lessons from Dunkerley and listening to his advice has paid huge dividends for Josh Smith, and his memories of those days filled with learning the bladesmithing art remain fresh in his mind.

“Rick’s mentorship launched me into a career that I would never have had without his help,” Josh recalled. “Thirty years ago this year, I started making knives under him. Those times under the tutelage of Rick provided me with an opportunity to tap into my craftsman and artistic side.”

Josh has taught his own kids the fundamentals of bladesmithing. “Time spent in the shop can absolutely help open up the world of possibilities in regard to craftsmanship,” he assessed. “Whether it’s making knives, blacksmithing, gunsmithing, wood carving or woodworking, the shop can provide amazing experiences for kids.”

ABS Program

Don McIntosh runs the youth bladesmithing program at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing at Texarkana College, and he sees a future with the endeavor. 

“We rekindled it this year and it was very successful, so we’re looking to make it something we’ll be proud of on an annual basis,” he commented. “It caters to 14- to 17-year-olds and it’s a 16-hour program over three days.”

The Junior Bladesmithing course was held in June and included six participants who took part in a program that was packed with hands-on activities. The fee is a modest $175, and there may be a tie-in with the college to introduce bladesmithing to a wider audience of youngsters. McIntosh also volunteers with a local Boy Scout troop to demonstrate bladesmithing and generate interest among younger kids.

“Our program at the Bill Moran School this year included a half day on Thursday, a full day on Friday and a half day on Saturday,” Don explained. “At the end of the program, if they have forged a knife, they grind it and heat treat it and then put a cord wrap handle on it.”

The program is open to boys and girls, and Don says any young ladies who are interested in learning about bladesmithing are welcome. 

“Absolutely! We want to keep the spark going, and I’ve been adamant that this is an avenue of approach that’s better than sitting in front of a video game. Most kids are enthusiastic about hunting and bowie knives at that age, and you can come to the program and do something hands-on. The idea of forging your own knife is a pretty cool concept, and interest has been amplified by Forged in Fire. The kids watch it and so do their parents.”

McIntosh says the ABS is currently looking at the format and date for the next Junior Bladesmithing event, and the commitment to the future of the program is firm.

Bladesmith Kit #1

The Blacksmiths Depot’s Bladesmith Kit #1 may have applications with young bladesmiths, depending on their level of interest and experience. 

It comes complete with an 800-gram Swedish hammer; .75- and 1.25-inch blade tongs; White Mountain flux; Cherry Red hardening compound; PBC anti-scaling compound; regular tomahawk mandrel; regular tomahawk handle; men’s Jersey gloves; jumbo block brush; sodium flare safety glasses; ear plugs; and two publications: The Complete Bladesmith by Jim Hrisoulas and Handles and Guards by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Joe Keeslar. Priced at $395, the kit does not include blade steel.

“Most who want to do blades should experiment with mild steel or scrap before spending money on the more expensive metallurgy,” related David Kayne of Blacksmiths Depot. “Youth should not be doing any form of blacksmithing, bladesmithing or stock removal without good safety habits and adult supervision. Anything that has to do with weapons needs training and oversight, including the making of blades.

“Otherwise, we do not see any reason why this kit wouldn’t work out for youth,” he concluded. “Even the hammer in the kit is light enough weight for a youth. We do recommend that both youth and adults read through the books first before attempting to make a knife. A little background knowledge of forging could mean the difference between frustration and success.”

Stimulate And Create

The efforts to introduce bladesmithing to young people and the opportunities it affords them can bring on fantastic results, stimulate natural curiosity and offer an outlet for creative energy. More and more, such programs and events will influence the bladesmiths of tomorrow and contribute to raising them right.

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The Older Generation Is Teaching The Next Crop Of Makers The Ropes Of How To Turn Steel Into Knives And Knives Into Memories.

Though it isn’t rare for kids to follow in the footsteps of their parents when it comes to choosing a career, the path to becoming a well-known custom knifemaker may just involve a bit more dedication than most other vocations.

For American Bladesmith Society (ABS) master smith Josh Fisher and Wolfgang Loerchner, the adventure has been quite rewarding as their respective daughters, Karis and Elizabeth, have become quite accomplished in their own right. 

Josh And Karis Fisher

“When I was younger, I would always sit out in the shop watching my dad make knives,” Karis remembered. “Over time, I slowly started messing around sanding on pieces of metal, thinking I was making a knife. This eventually led to my interest. My first knife was a small full-tang hunter with a pink handle that my dad helped me make.”

Josh, no doubt, was ready and willing to help his daughter hone her skills when the time came. “Karis has always been pretty good at grinding blades,” he smiled, “but she struggled with guard fit up for a while and finally got that figured out.”

Of course, there were challenges and an obstacle or two along the way as Karis gained knowledge in the custom knifemaking world. She spent time at the forge, hammering away in preparation for ABS recognition, but that got placed on hold for a while.

“Yes. Definitely, I had a few setbacks,” she reflected. “I first attempted the ABS journeyman smith test in 2019 and failed. I then tried to retest the next year, but due to [the pandemic] it was canceled. In 2021, at the Texarkana Hammer-In, I finally got to retest and passed. Looking back, I think it worked out for the best because I was able to come back and win the Keeslar Award.”

The Joe Keesler Award is an annual honor for the best knife submitted by a successful journeyman smith applicant. If nothing else, the award validated the hours that both Josh and Karis had dedicated to her custom knife and bladesmith upbringing. And making the year extra special, Josh received his ABS master smith designation at the Texarkana Hammer-In, and later the B.R. Hughes Award for the best knife submitted by a successful master smith applicant. It, too, is an annual honor.

Josh added that sheer space and equipment limitations have impacted the progress of the Fishers’ work from time to time.

 “One of the main obstacles is working around each other in the shop,” he said. “We currently only have one grinder, so we sometimes have to wait for the other to finish before getting to work. Another grinder is definitely one of the next tools we are going to have to get.”

Despite a little inconvenience, Karis has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Family and friends are impressed. 

“All my relatives have always thought that it was cool,” that I made knives, she observed, “but my friends have always thought it was a little strange, especially the fact that my Instagram account has no pictures of me, just my knives.”

Her mom, Kim, is a big fan. “My wife loves to go to knife shows,” Josh related, “so she has always been supportive and happy about Karis and her work in knives.”

While Karis isn’t sure of an exact moment when she knew she wanted to make knives, the idea was never far from her mind. “I think I’ve always kind of known that it was something that I wanted to do,” she noted. “I enjoy making all types of knives, but small hunters are probably my favorite right now. I recently made my first slip joint, and I think they could easily become my new favorite.

“Probably my favorite part of knifemaking is seeing the finished product. But, if I had to choose an actual step, it would be all of the small embellishments and final finishing of the knives. If I had to pick a least favorite part, it would be hand sanding the blades!”

Wolfgang And Elizabeth Loerchner

The year 1982 was momentous for Wolfgang Loerchner. He made his first knife, and topping that achievement, his daughter, Elizabeth, was born. 

“It almost seems as if this path was destined for her,” he smiled. “Knives were a part of her life from the very beginning in various ways—observing the stages of the creation of a knife, the many shows, photos, and articles of the knife shows as seen in various magazines, observing friends visiting, and the many conversations that surrounded all aspects of knives. In some way, shape, or form, knives have always been a part of Elizabeth’s life.”

Elizabeth made an early step into knifemaking and then regrouped. Her second foray has been hugely successful.

“Having always had a strong interest in the arts, knifemaking was something I considered at one point when trying to decide my future,” she commented. “I made one attempt at knifemaking in 2003-2004. However, it quickly became apparent that the timing was not correct. It was not until several years later, after visiting the Milano Show in 2009, that I became truly inspired.”

Elizabeth and Wolfgang were sitting together on their return trip from the Milano Show, and she presented him with the idea of teaching her again. Of course, he was more than happy to get started, and Elizabeth began working on a knife design immediately. In January 2010, she sat down with her father once more—this time in his shop—and custom knifemaking quickly became a huge part of her life.

“I’ve had a couple of personal situations that did set me back,” she related, “but they have not kept me down. All around, there has been full support of my decision. Everyone has been happy to see me working in the arts and also to be carrying on what my father has been doing.”

Elizabeth’s mother, Dianne, shared a positive perspective. “I was glad for her, that she was able to use her artistic abilities to create knives. During her high school education, Elizabeth was always happiest when she was in the midst of creating an art project. In the few years directly after high school, she was thinking about steel and what she could do artistically with steel, which seemed a logical first step to me. 

“Elizabeth has an artistic flair that is unique to her, different from her father’s, and allows her to create pieces that carry more of a whimsical note to her knives. This is reflective of her deep creative ability. When she asked her father to teach her, I was a little hesitant since she had been living away from home for several years. While there were several tense moments, overall it was a good experience for both of them.”

The commitment of time and energy made for a few challenges in the learning process, but the entire experience has been worth the investment for Wolfgang and Elizabeth. Each has a distinctive design and artistic expression, coexisting, learning, and producing outstanding objects of art.

“One of the greatest obstacles we probably had to face was learning to work so closely side by side for so many long hours,” Wolfgang recalled. “There were other small obstacles. Working together in this way involved learning a whole new form of communication. We would often be saying the same thing but speaking it in a different language. Many mistakes were made as a result, but in due time we found our way to overcome this obstacle and work through things more smoothly and efficiently.”

Elizabeth recognizes the fact that she has learned to accept constructive criticism and teaching moments from her father. Wolfgang, on the other hand, points to a new method of communication developed as they worked together. Still, Elizabeth is adjusting.

“The most difficult part has been living in the path or shadow of my father,” she noted, “with the sense of needing to live up to the expectations of others. Creating my designs, it only seems to come naturally that my style is so similar to his. There are many reasons for this, and I constantly strive to find that fingerprint of my own.”

Elizabeth has always been an accomplished artist, drawing and painting with passion. Holding a file seems to come almost as naturally as working with a paintbrush or pencil. So, as her hand-eye coordination came together almost effortlessly, working in steel and making lines flow in knives was virtually second nature.

Fixed blades and integrals are the favorite types of knives for Elizabeth, and she appreciates their aesthetic qualities. 

“There is something about the power and strength of them,” she reasoned, “and what seems to be a limitless canvas. There is something pleasurable about working with folders and how the knife changes, whether open or closed. When working with daggers, fixed blades, and integrals, the limitations of working around the mechanical parts have been removed, and I find this gives more freedom to my designs.

“The most pleasurable part of knifemaking,” she added, “is the filework. Watching the steel slowly come to life, seeing the design come out of it as if it always lived there, is highly rewarding. The final finishing of a knife can be the most frustrating part. This is when any possible flaws start coming to light. Since I am my own worst critic, it can turn into a never-ending process of doing multiple things over and over again.”

Nonetheless, the Loerchners know they were destined to work together, one to learn from the other. In turn, each helps the other reach new heights of artistic expression.

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