hubgrinding Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I am just getting started in the art of bladesmithing. I have enrolled in a class at the mass college of art and design under master smith J.D.Smith. I would love to read up on some good beginner books before I Start the class next month. Please note I am a true beginner. I have never picked up a hammer to forge a knife. I am, however, a full time knife sharpener for many years. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Wayne Goddards $50 knife shop for one. and The Complete Bladesmith by Jim Hrisoulas for the next. The first will give you an idea of basics on starting a shop and the second will give yoiu alot to think about and as you learn will be a great reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 You will be learning from a living breathing book, nothing in print today can compare and will pale in comparison to what JD will teach you. The only book I suggest you get is a big notebook to write down everything he tells you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubgrinding Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Thanks, I will look into them both. This bladesmithing has got me obsessed and I need to research it more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Jim Hrisoulas there are three books I have the first 2 and they pointed me in the right direction. there are many on the market and you can't read enough. Lots of diffrent view points to get you to what is going to be your style of knife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubgrinding Posted December 23, 2009 Author Share Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks apprentice man. Do you know of J.D. Smith. I have been trying to do some internet research on him but cannot find much. He seems to have had a website at one time but it is not in operation now for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted December 24, 2009 Share Posted December 24, 2009 you are going to need to pay attention to the mettalurgical information, I have been smithing for 3.5 years or so, and just recently seemed to get a good handle on the changes in metal, austenite, martensite etc..this is vital to understanding the knife making process, if you want to have any success at all. Goddards 50$ knife shop is really, in my mind, the best 1st book, and the others mentioned, for follow up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubgrinding Posted December 24, 2009 Author Share Posted December 24, 2009 I am just starting to read one of the knife stickies above this forum....Metallurgy of steel for bladesmiths. It sure is confusing, but I can tell that there is a ton of good info in there. I think I will read it and then re-read it when I get a better concept of bladesmithing. I think that once some of the concepts are put into practice I will be able to look back and get a better understanding of what I am reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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