Thread: All In-I Bought the Whole Shop!

Hi All-Some may remember me posting a couple of months back that my almost 16-year old had gotten into custom knife-making, was apprenticing under local maker Ross Tyser, and had made his first blade here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/conve...-show-off.html

Anyway, as this thing is serious, and may in fact turn into a life-long career, my wife and I are in the process of building him a 12'x20' workshop out back (just waiting for the home equity line to clear). Anyway, I got a call out of the blue yesterday from Ross that an elderly knife-maker (Billy "Burt" Metcalf) had died a couple of years ago, and his family really wanted to sell his knife-making tools. So not knowing much about the situation, we drove down in the country a ways to look it all over. I thought that maybe I'd get a good deal on a used grinder.

As they REALLY didn't want to piece all of his equipment out, after going over it all thoroughly with Ross, I made them an offer, and they accepted. I know these pictures aren't great (poor lighting and an Iphone camera is my excuse), but most of what I got is pictured below:




With Ross's advice to take this crazy good deal, I basically bought everything in the shop: 2 bader grinders with LOTS of belts, several good buffers with bins full of wheels and compound, sanders, the very sturdy workbenches, a table-saw and band-saw (not pictured), a gas forge and anvil with all tools and accessories, lots of steel stock and old saw-blades, drill press, a whole bunch of other knife-making supplies I'm not even sure what they are, all kinds of handle materials (including some very rare and desirable "natural materials," etc., etc. Too much other stuff/tools to even mention. In other words, my son will be ready to forge straight ahead (pardon the pun) with both stock removal bladesmithing, as well as forging-Ross has promised guidance on how to actually use all of this equipment. He is not only a first-rate knifemaker, but a great Southern gentleman and teacher as well.

And as a side benefit, I'll have everything I need to start fooling around with razor restorations beyond my few little hand-sanding and Mother's projects! Time to start watching Undream's videos again! We should have a busy and productive summer-I'll report back with some of the results of this acquisition soon-Now I just have to get the shop built and move all of this stuff up here, hopefully all in the next few weeks. Thanks for looking-Aaron

That is awesome.
I will say this: if your son wants to make knifemaking his profession, he should do it now.
I have a family, a mortages, kids, etc. I cannot make knifemaking my profession without tossing my entire life upside down. Otoh, your son lives at home, has no costs, and needs only very little money to make ends meet as long as he lives under your roof.

He can build a reputation and pay his dues at a point in his life where it won't be a big inconvenience to do so. By the time he wants to start a family and buy a house, hopefully he will be at a point where this has turned into a means to make ends meet and build a life.

Good luck!

The start of something great !
Nice move, Aaron.

Wonderfull.More detailed pics when time allow pls.

Wow! Awesome Deal!
Looks Like You Got Everything And Anything You Need!

Good Luck To Your Son!

I think this falls under the catagory of finding a gold mine, that's for sale, and the price is right. Congratulations on your great find, and all the best to your son. He is lucky to have parents like you.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Hi All-Some may remember me posting a couple of months back that my almost 16-year old had gotten into custom knife-making, was apprenticing under local maker Ross Tyser, and had made his first blade here:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/conve...-show-off.html

Anyway, as this thing is serious, and may in fact turn into a life-long career, my wife and I are in the process of building him a 12'x20' workshop out back (just waiting for the home equity line to clear). Anyway, I got a call out of the blue yesterday from Ross that an elderly knife-maker (Billy "Burt" Metcalf) had died a couple of years ago, and his family really wanted to sell his knife-making tools. So not knowing much about the situation, we drove down in the country a ways to look it all over. I thought that maybe I'd get a good deal on a used grinder.

As they REALLY didn't want to piece all of his equipment out, after going over it all thoroughly with Ross, I made them an offer, and they accepted. I know these pictures aren't great (poor lighting and an Iphone camera is my excuse), but most of what I got is pictured below:




With Ross's advice to take this crazy good deal, I basically bought everything in the shop: 2 bader grinders with LOTS of belts, several good buffers with bins full of wheels and compound, sanders, the very sturdy workbenches, a table-saw and band-saw (not pictured), a gas forge and anvil with all tools and accessories, lots of steel stock and old saw-blades, drill press, a whole bunch of other knife-making supplies I'm not even sure what they are, all kinds of handle materials (including some very rare and desirable "natural materials," etc., etc. Too much other stuff/tools to even mention. In other words, my son will be ready to forge straight ahead (pardon the pun) with both stock removal bladesmithing, as well as forging-Ross has promised guidance on how to actually use all of this equipment. He is not only a first-rate knifemaker, but a great Southern gentleman and teacher as well.

And as a side benefit, I'll have everything I need to start fooling around with razor restorations beyond my few little hand-sanding and Mother's projects! Time to start watching Undream's videos again! We should have a busy and productive summer-I'll report back with some of the results of this acquisition soon-Now I just have to get the shop built and move all of this stuff up here, hopefully all in the next few weeks. Thanks for looking-Aaron

Congrats, Dad!

Oddly enough, while I was reading your post I thought about the Victor Kiam Remington commercial. He said he liked the razors so much he bought the company!

Congrats on the great find...

Thanks for the comments all-I have to admit that I hope to get a couple of knives out of the deal too!

Makes me think of a late friend of mine, Mike Malone. When Sailor Jerry Collins died of a heart attack he had left instructions with his wife to sell his shop to Ed Hardy, Zeke Owen, or if neither of them wanted it, Malone. He borrowed $8,000 and went for it. That was in 1972 when he had been tattooing maybe 2 years. He worked in that shop for 30 years and made a good living. I hope your son does well on this venture.