Recent Changes
You may have noticed some changes to the look and function of my website. Thanks to my webmistress Cara for the improvements. You’ll notice a new sidebar that has new categories, Status Updates, Knife Styles, Tutorials, and Links. To see all my knives, you can use the Knife Gallery link on the sidebar under Knife Styles, or use the Knife Gallery link on the top menu bar. On the sidebar, you’ll noticed that I’ve categorized my knives into sub-categories to make styles easier to find.
You may notice that the flash banner slide show at the top has changed. Now if you click on any particular knife in the slide show, it will take you to that knife’s gallery page. You can also now scroll forward and backward through the show using the arrows on the side.
I’ve recently acquired a logo, and so I’ve updated my site with a similar logo on the top of the page. I now have an etcher, and all the knives from this point forward will be marked with my bass logo.
All website changes aside, I’ve made some major improvements to my knife making business. The primary change is that I have acquired a small kiln. This kiln began its life as a ceramic cup kiln, but I’ve converted it to digital control and plan to use it to heat treat blades. This kiln will only handle blades under about eight inches. Because I now have a temperature controlled heat source, I can now heat treat stainless steels in a cost effective way. I recently ordered 7 feet of D2 bar stock. Look for D2 and stainless blades in the near future.
Another change I’ve made is the addition of some leather tools. I was looking for a way to “up my game” when it came to sheath making. I began looking at stamps at my local Tandy outlet, when I realized that I can do good filework on a knife blade. I figured that if I could do filework, I could make a leather stamp. A few scraps of steel and a few minutes later and I had some functioning stamps. Look for stamped sheaths that match the knife filework.
I also acquired a good stash of new materials including axis deer antler, stainless bolster stock, several new styles of mosaic pins, and several colors of liner material. Look for new handle combinations in the near future. I still have six or seven logs and stumps waiting to be sliced into handle material, including a nice juniper burl from Ruidoso, NM. I also acquired some thin sheet metal from World War II training bombs. Still working on some ways to integrate it into a knife.
I’d like to thank all of you who have ordered and purchased knives from me over the past year. In the year since this website went live, I have had nearly 3000 visitors and more than 20,000 page views. As of 11/16/09, I’ve finished 79 knives, whereas I was only at number 17 at Christmas last year. You guys have been my bailout when Obama failed to send me a personal check. You’ve financed car repairs and family vacations. You’re helping me save for a more efficient air conditioner for my house. You finance my fishing tournament habit. Thanks to you all!
At this point, I have all the orders that I can take and guarantee delivery by Christmas. I will have three knives completed by then that are not already spoken for: One mini skinner and two Spicewood Specials. Email me if you’re interested in one of them, or look for them on the Texas Hunting Forum in the next few weeks.