Beautiful. I love to see a craftsman who loves his work.

I wonder if he needs another apprentice. I can't imagine ever getting bored of that job.

I have made many custom decorative knives. (though haven't in a while)

I got my steel from the huge carbide blades used by the mills.
I drew out my pattern, and cut out the shape using a cutting torch.
Then it was grinding, wet-sanding and polishing. I used 3/8-1/2" thick brass plate to decorate the handle and then finish with bone or exotic woods. Brass welding rod, cut and used as a rivet, held the handle together. Then more polishing, and then some more, sharpen it up and you got a knife.

I gave every single one I made, including a great dagger, away as gifts. I only ever kept one of them. A 10" hunting knife with a deer antler handle. It has a great pattern on the blade but it was more functional than decorative.

100s of hours of work and nothing to show for it...

Edit: I didn't forge my own steel - though who wouldn't want to get into that - this guy is so lucky to have made a career of it!

Fuck Dove shampoo, but huge kudos to Bob Kramer. It's always a joy to watch a master at work.

i always like videos about skills and technology. like the video of the guys repairing a railroad line a few weeks ago

Note to self, quality this!

I've made a kitchen knife out of spring steel and little damascus blades...nothing immaculate like that! *quality (sorry gwiz )

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by Lann.

Yeah our professor is kind of hard on people who come into the program who only want to be bladesmiths. Not only because it's a fine art program but he also stresses over an over how hard it is to make it as a bladesmith. Knives are hard work! Personally, it took me FOREVER to forge and finish them.

In reply to this comment by Sagemind:
I have made many custom decorative knives. (though haven't in a while)

I got my steel from the huge carbide blades used by the mills.
I drew out my pattern, and cut out the shape using a cutting torch.
Then it was grinding, wet-sanding and polishing. I used 3/8-1/2" thick brass plate to decorate the handle and then finish with bone or exotic woods. Brass welding rod, cut and used as a rivet, held the handle together. Then more polishing, and then some more, sharpen it up and you got a knife.

I gave every single one I made, including a great dagger, away as gifts. I only ever kept one of them. A 10" hunting knife with a deer antler handle. It has a great pattern on the blade but it was more functional than decorative.

100s of hours of work and nothing to show for it...

Edit: I didn't forge my own steel - though who wouldn't want to get into that - this guy is so lucky to have made a career of it!

Wow. I've never realized how fine such instruments could be. *quality

This video has already declared quality - ignoring quality request by longde.

Amazing how the mechanical properties of basic metals can transform when fused, stretched and hammered like this.

I'm guessing those knives are plus 1.

The most inspiring part is that he waited until later in life to start at such a highly skilled trade. Inspiration for everyone that if you haven't found your calling yet, there's still time to do so.

>> ^nach0s:
I'm guessing those knives are plus 1.


Against everything.


Orcs especially I presume though.

To me, this man epitomises everything that differenciates between the humans who are unique and successful, to those who just exist. His Tenacity, Skill, Endurance, Creativity, Love, and Dedication to his chosen field is, or should be, inspirational to all who encounter him.

Hundreds of dollars per inch, you say?

All right, gimme a claymore!

I thought this was pretty interesting even before he sliced through those water bottles like a lightsaber. Most impressive to me, though, was bending it over in the vice. I'd heard about Damascus steel before, but I'd never really appreciated what that meant.

Love it. I wonder what the katana guys would think of him.

Edit: http://www.surlatable.com/product/gift+types/by+price/ultimate+gifts/shun+bob+kramer+7-piece+knife+block+set+w-bonus.do

>> ^A10anis:
To me, this man epitomises everything that differenciates between the humans who are unique and successful, to those who just exist. His Tenacity, Skill, Endurance, Creativity, Love, and Dedication to his chosen field is, or should be, inspirational to all who encounter him.


Humble and well spoken too.

If you live in Seattle and want to see one of his knives in action, go to Ototo Sushi on Queen Anne Hill. The sushi chef there uses one and it's a total work of art.

Nice, very nice. I love seeing stuff like this, and it instantly reminded me of my all-time favorite piece of bladesmithing, the Norimitsu Ôdachi (http://japantrip.tripod.com/nodachi/norimitsu.html). One of my ambitions is to one day see it myself in real life, but that will not happen withouth some sort of miracle, I take it these things are locked up and hidden pretty well.

That there is a 377cm blade with a 226,7cm cutting edge. And unlike many other ceremonial ôdachis which are composed of two or three pieces and then welded together, this thing is one solid piece of folded steel, made in the same way traditional katanas were made. Mind boggling.

Then there's always the sword of Goujian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_of_Goujian). The damn thing was buried in a tomb underwater for over 2000 years, in a wooden black lacquer scabbard, yet when they pulled it out the blade wasn't tarnished at all and was still sharp. These are the sorts of things I find more beautiful than anything else in the world.

jubuttib, like a fine Rhine whine, huh?

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