What does everyone do?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brad Hyde on September 16, 2009 at 8:22

Work History: I was an engineer 17 years for AT&T/Lucent Technologies. I owned my own
business for 10 years. Right now I consider myself "semi-retired". I'm a knife dealer that
sets up at gun & knife shows. Looks like I will end up setting up at close to 40 shows this
year... it is turning into a full time job...but I love it. I specialize in collectible,
tactical, edc, and automatic knives. I'm a direct dealer for many of the knife companies. I
have been collecting knives for over 30 years and it is one of my passions.

When I'm not dealing with/in knives, I love to fish and hunt. I enjoy fishing for just about
any species...but the last year or so have been fishing mainly for carp. I'm still relative
new to the euro style fishing methods for carp. For those who don't know....outside of the
USA, the carp is the most sought after fresh water fish in the world and is considered a
game fish. In europe they have carp tournments as big as the BASS tournments we have here in
the states. I'm a member of CAG (Carp Anglers Group) and Hoosier Carpers. I also love to
hunt. I mostly hunt for deer and turkey. I have a 300 acre farm (family owned) in southern
Indiana which I have turned into a "deer/turkey camp" for my friends and kids. ( I think it
is very important getting kids involved in the outdoors). It takes alot of my time keeping
that going...managing the food plots, keeping the cabins maintained....ect.

I usually keep my gun & knife show schedule posted here....so if you make it to one of the
shows that I'm at, please stop by my tables and say hello.

Permalink Reply by Dennis Todd (Bear) on September 16, 2009 at 11:23

I am retired use to work in the point of sales and computers and cash register industry was a field engineer I love to hunt and fish have deer in my yard year round and wild turkey also I mainly hunt with a muzzel loader I attend Rendezvous during the year I carve walking sticks and canes you can see them on my page I also paint gourds and wall plaques on cotton wood bark I have been collecting knives for about 25 yrs or more most any kind but my favorite are trappers I am also a blacksmith and belong to the Indiana blacksmith association we have a blacksmith shop at the Fulton county historical museum we meet every 2nd saturday of the month and all visitors are welcome to attend and and forge with us we also teach if some one would like to learn the skills of the blacksmith if you have any questions feel free to ask
Bear

Permalink Reply by stephen harrison on September 16, 2009 at 12:37

I am 20 years old. Just got out of school, I went to the Ohio Technical College for an automotive class. It has been hard to find a job, but is starting to look good. I have been collecting knifes for about 12 years mostly cheap knifes, but I do have a few very nice knifes. I started making knifes with Jeff Saylor about a month ago. So far I have made 5 knifes and am now remaking one of them to be number 6. You can see them on my page. I also love deer and squirrel hunting and all fishing. Geocaching is another fun sport I love. If anyone would like to know anything else, just send me a message.

I added a few thing to my original post.

Permalink Reply by Charles Ray Wagnor on September 16, 2009 at 14:05

Well I am now a buyer for Polygon Company in Walkerton Indiana. Everything except the chemicals and Resins and
fiberglass. Polygon, who are they? Any time you pick up a power tool, any kind, world wide you have a part in that tool that came from there. Fiberglass tubing and solids of all kinds. I have been here 10 years and the 30+ years before that was in the West Texas Oil Fields and driving them darn ol trucks. I collect just about anything. Knives, arrow heads, bottles, fishing and hunting items. Love my Bow. I shoot an ol High Country Carbon. The knives in my pocket right now is a rough rider stag tiny trapper, with my enitials on the stag. Then a Buck tactacle in my other pocket and on my belt is a Schrade that I have been carrying around for 20 years or so. Only have about 80 knives
under glass, and am working on some ol files out in the barn, grinding them down and such. I drive the only plain red HHR panel around here and am looking for an artist that can paint really nice, so I can get some knives painted on the side of my little wagon. I am onrey and a tough ol goat, white headed, with what little hair I have, an I am a hell of a negotiator, and guess you could say I am a suvivor, after 5 heart attacks.

Permalink Reply by CaptJeff Saylor on September 16, 2009 at 23:24

i just trurned 31 last week, and got married, (to Stephen's sister) last year sept. 27th. my brother-in-law. Stephen Harrison, and i have been making knives for about 2 months now. we both have about 6 knives done, and we are having lots of fun learning the trade. we get our information from the internet, youtube, and friends we have made from iKC.

i work as a carpenter, and have been for years now. i go to ITT Technical Institute in Orland Park Illinois for Computer-Aided-Drafting and Design. i have been attending for almost 2 years and i will graduate with my associates degree this coming March!

i am a christian and i attend Barrington Ridge Baptist Church in Hobart Indiana. i have been attending this church for over 2 years now and realy enjoy it. recently God has laid it on my heart to be a pastor. this was a hard thing to accept for me, as you know i am going to school to be a designer, not a preacher. i have come to accept his calling and my life has been better for it. i preached for the first time August 6th 2009. you can see a picture of me at the alter on my page on iKC. i quit drinking about 2 years ago, quit drugs a few months later, and quit smoking cigaretts 3 months ago! God is good!

i started this group to find people in Indiana who made their own knives who i could learn from, to make friends with fellow Indiana residents, and to possibly find, or start, a local knife makers club. i really like this web site and have met some great people. Stephens goal with this group is to meet you all and to pick your brains to find out what you know about making knives and how we can use that knowledge.

i love to fish for anything, but mostly bluegill. i got into fly fishing last year and really enjoy it.i hunt for deer with a bow and gun, and love to go camping. i havent gotten a deer yet, but just like last year, this is my year! lol

Permalink Reply by Logan Z (Elemental52) on September 22, 2009 at 20:58

I'm a poor 19 year old college student at Indiana University Southeast. I work Information Technology over there (not cause Im into computers, it is just an easy job, and one of the few I could get). I have been collecting knives for about a year now, I have always enjoyed shooting, and got my CCW license about a month ago (God bless indiana's lax gun laws). I would love to get into knife making as a hobby, but unfortunately I lack proper tools and workspace. As most of you know I have been designing and selling knuckle dusters for a while now, but not having proper tools (i.e. a drillpress for one), and I now have a competitor (who uses a CNC machine), Ill probably just make them for myself now. Anyway... yeah...

Permalink Reply by Brad Hyde on September 22, 2009 at 21:41

Logan...your only 19...you have alot of time ahead of you to learn and improve your skills and accumulate the tools/environment you need. Keep your dreams alive and set goals.....never give up...failure is not an option. Most goals/dreams don't happen over night ..it could take you a few years or more...but if you really want this bad enough you will get there. Tell you what...you make a few of your knuckle dusters and I'll try and sell a few for you at the shows I do. This could be good info for you as I can get customer feedback that would help you in your designs. Just let me know if your interested. GOOD LUCK!

Permalink Reply by CaptJeff Saylor on September 22, 2009 at 22:36

i agree with Brad, Logan dont give up! there are always going to be competitors out there, and thats ok. you do what you do and people will appreciate it! perfection takes time, so give it time. it took me a long time to gain the resources that i have, and i still dont have all the proper equipment. shop at yard sales, or ebay, or ask for them for christmas!
you have a good thing going! take Brad's offer to put some on his table! thats the best thing i've heard on here! i havent gotten an offer like that! lol

Permalink Reply by Logan Z (Elemental52) on September 24, 2009 at 7:26

Dang man thanks for that offer! It is amazing. But, I don't want to get you into any trouble. All types of metal knuckles are illegal to sell/trade, and you could get into some serious crap if someone sees you selling them and has a problem with it. I wouldnt want to risk that. I really appreciate the offer though.

But thanks for the encouragement guys! I have been looking at buying a drill press and band saw online, ill keep y'all updated on that.

Permalink Reply by Brad Hyde on September 24, 2009 at 13:35

I'm well informed with the laws...so I know the risk. Most of the time this law is not enforced. I see other dealers that sell them with no problems....they sell them as "paper weights"...lol. It couldn't be any worse than selling automatic knives (which I do). If you change your mind just let me know. I had what I thought was a pretty good marketing idea for them.....I was going to call them the "Element 52" knuckle duster made in the good old USA by custome maker LoganZ. lol

Permalink Reply by Logan Z (Elemental52) on September 24, 2009 at 22:11

Lol that sounds amazing, well if you are still cool with it I will send a pair or two of my knucks to ya when I find time to make them. I will contact you. I like that marketing ad too, sounds like a winner! :)

Permalink Reply by Andy Voelkle "AxeMan" on September 25, 2009 at 9:49

I'm recently retired from the intelligence community. President of the (largest) Houston Chapter of the Association For Intelligence Officers. I really like camping out on our 30 acres in Cut And Shoot, Texas. Health limits me to walking 100 yards from the car and setting up a pretty traditional semi lightweight tarp shelter camp. Former Scoutmaster BSA in early 1970s. Big Nessmuk fan. Build small axes and knives. Test a lot of axes, machetes and knives of all sort in a woodcraft environment.

The knives I own and use are Randall Made Knives, Fallkniven, Kiridashi, Izula and Bark River. I am looking forward to testing and owning Kyley Harris' new Bushcraft Prototype Spear-Point in Kydex with Fire Steel, which promises to be a perfect EDC Bushcraft knife.

Trying to make a few vids, but I have a clunky camera and no editing skill. World's oldest noob.

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