Ray Kirk
American
Bladesmith Society Master Smith
December 21,
2008. I started forging knives in 1989
from springs and
in 1993 I found out that they made high carbon flat bar. I did stock
removal for a while and now do only forging. I forge most of my
knives from a round bar of 52100 that is 1 3/4" dia. I also make my own
damascus using the 52100 and 15N20. I have passed my MS performance
test and won the first cutting contest at Mesquite with knives made from
this mix. In the ABS sponsored cutting contests, I have three
first place, one second place, and a fifth place in the first ABS World
Championship in Atlanta, Ga. in 2003. Next stop is the Batson Bladesmith
Symposium of 2006 at Tannehill Park just south of Birmingham, Alabama.
I won that one with an 8" tactical of 52100 and that was the last
contest that I will enter. Due to health reasons, I
feel it best to abstain from competition.
In the last
year, I have been learning to make a style of knives that I consider
both useful and difficult to forge. It is also a very beautiful
knife style and has recently seen a surge in its popularity. This
knife is the integral style knife. The Brazilian Gaucho knife is an
example. It was brought to my attention by a few of the makers from
Brazil and is now going to be one of my main knife styles. That is
one reason that two of the knives I submitted for my Master Smith stamp
were damascus integrals with full tapered tangs.
As of
January of 2009, I will have available a new model of knives, The NDN
Series. These knives will feature an as forged condition on the
flats of the blades. They will also not be hand sanded to help
reduce the cost to the customer. If you are looking for an
inexpensive using knife with to withstand the rigors of hard use, this
may be something you have been looking for. Please check out the
"NDN Knives" web page that is coming soon.
I am a member of the
American
Bladesmith Society, The Arkansas Knifemakers Association, the
Alabama
Forge Council, A.F.&A.F., the Knife Group Association, and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
I also attend many of the hammer-ins and seminars on knife making during the year. I
believe that a Bladesmith should continue to improve and learn all they
can to make the best knife they can make.
I had
taught a forging class at the Indian Capital Technology Center since
1996 and this was the start of the Knife Group Association. This
is a group of knife makers, and collectors that will sponsor a
custom
knife show each year in Oklahoma We now have about 100 members and
schedule a
get
together (shop tour) for an exchange of ideas and techniques about 2 times a
year. Our show isn't a large one but there
are plenty of excellent knife makers that attend. A list of them
are on the KGA web site for those that would like to visit.
Admission is reasonable as we want to make it easy for the
young family to attend. The young of today are the
collectors of tomorrow. There will be a link to the list of (KGA Members) included in this web site..
Mailing
address:
P. O. Box
1445, Tahlequah, Ok. 74465 1-918-456-1519
Shipping
address:
25494 So. 530
Road, Park Hill, Ok. 74451
