Thread: Some of my knives...

Something to be said for experience, I guess.

And centuries of tradition

I have also found, when meeting some of these folks, both smelters and smiths, will give even a modern metallurgist a run for their money. Despite being bound by traditional methods, they can talk high temperature chemistry and metals with the best.

The saddest thing is that there are very few of the new generation of Japanese who are even interested in apprenticeships and this stuff could get lost.

But then, if you want to make a razor, just walk to the shelf and pull off a 50 cent piece of whatever your favorite steel is and grind away. If you made a mess of the work, pull another cheap piece of good tool steel down and do it again. Making a mess out of a bar that you put three or four days into is a whole nother heartache.

So, can I come and help on the next batch? Seriously! Send me a PM with the date if it's OK.

You guys would not believe Mikes workshop. He has all the coolest toys! Maybe I can take some pics the next time I go there.

The next scheduled burn will be the first weekend in October. SE Minnesota. John and I are talking about doing one in June sometime, but that is still fuzzy.

Lots of dirty work to be done, the more hands the merrier.

I'll think about coming over as well, but it's nasty going south of the border. If I fly, there's the TSA to deal with. If I drive, I can literally be thrown in jail for a 3mph over the limit ticket.

It's okay, I've got some good buddies in the maritimes. I know we'll get a smelt going up there for sure. Don't know when, but I know it'll happen.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

The saddest thing is that there are very few of the new generation of Japanese who are even interested in apprenticeships and this stuff could get lost.

The same is true in the martial arts. As a society, the Japanese seem more interested in pursuing more "American" pursuits such as golf. There is a lot of great knowledge which has been lost already, and I fear most of it will die with the present generation of master-level teachers.

Someone posted a link to the making of a katana here earlier in the week. It was a really, truly great video showing the last traditional smelting operation in Japan. When the knowledge is gone, it's gone forever. The main guy is very old, but he can tell simply by the color of the material what needs to happen. Truly wonderful stuff.

If my work schedule permits, I'd like to see about joining in with you guys on this.

The main guy is a pretty cool fellow. I met him and watched his handiwork at the University of Minnesota over a couple weekends.

More learners are always welcome. Wear old clothes.