W.R.Bladeworks: A bit of an introduction.

Hello everyone and welcome to W.R.Bladeworks! Knives have been a passion and fascination of mine since I can remember. I remember starting my collections when I was about ten years old. My parents gave me a survival knife for Christmas, from then on I was hooked. I started my collection with knives that I could afford through allowance and the chores that I did around the house. I purchased my first custom knife in 1990 from Jack W Crain and my second two years later also from Jack. A couple of years ago I found a web site known as the USN (Usual Suspects Network) which was a dream come true for me. I'm still collecting knives even to this day but more so, within the last year and a half, I started making custom knives.

I met the owner of Dervish Knives at a local USN meet and greet, John Gonzalez. I spent most of the time talking to John about knives, picking his brain about knife making, equipment, etc...I'm surprised that he didn't think that I was some weardo fanatic. I was really surprised when invited me to come by the shop and that he would show me how it all happens. I spent quite a few days in his shop soaking up every little detail. I was even privileged enough to help him on a batch of Silverfish, even though my job consisted of sand blasting, tapping and drilling it was still an awesome experience for me. John also helped me make my first knife, I did just about everything except for the heat treat and the sharpening, I had John do those things...lol!

Thanks John, I appreciate everything you've taught me and still are teaching me.

Since that time I've put my own shop together, consisting of an old drill press and band saw form the 1950's, a Trinco sand blaster, a media tumbler and a KMG grinder. This was the first knife that I made on my own, the SK.