Fisk Micro Invitational Show
Also known as
Scoundrels and Scalawags Symposium
I have CD's with the
photographs of all the makers knives and photos of the 2006 and 2007shows itself
available now in a limited number. The photos show a bit of
everything we did. If you would like one the cost is only $19.95 plus
shipping, just drop me an email for one. These CD's provides a history
of the show itself and how it is put on. Many of you will want to add
this CD to your knife photo files and for those of you who would
like to attend this CD will give you a better insight to what is going
on. Of course the secret handshake is not shown nor the episode with the
dancing Camel but we wont go there now.
2008 date is October 18-19
Makers that will be showing at the 2008 show are Master Smith Daniel Winkler and rising star Craig Camerer Journeyman
Smith. As the show gets closer we will know how many pieces each will
bring and they can show the photos on their web sites. I plan on
having around 12 or so pieces myself and maybe some work from me that
you will not see at a regular knife show. This show is where I will
have
the most pieces at any given time during the year.
This show is an
annual show that I put on in my house and shop here in Nashville
Arkansas. The date is the third Saturday of October each year. I keep
the show
small so that we can all have fun and perhaps learn a bit about knives
and collecting knives. It is limited to not exceed 20 collectors. There
is a $250 registration fee. If you want a spot just email me and I will
be happy to put you on that list.
Who should come to the show?
People interested in learning about collecting or adding to your
existing collection. You will learn a lot in a hurry because the whole
weekend is geared
toward things that will help you understand better the art of
collecting knives. Men get their own
tickets and sometimes women buy the registeration for their husbands as
a gift. What better gift could you give than support of a loved ones
hobby? If you attend you must be able to purchase the knife you threw
the bag for. Only throw the bag for the knives you want to purchase,
you do not have to put in for more than one knife if you do not want to.
If the fee is paid then you can throw the bag for the knives of your choice.
How did they pick them? There will be two other makers other
than myself each year that is
invited. The makers are voted on and chosen from a list given to the
collectors present
and the selected makers will show their work the following year. The
makers that are on
the list are carefully chosen and each exhibits good
craftsmanship and upstanding business practices. There must be one
Master Bladesmith and one Rising star in the knifemaking field. This show allows you to get to know
these makers in a relaxed setting and even better understand why their
work is collectable.
How do I buy? The makers lay out their knives,
describe them and answer any questions
regarding their work being displayed both friday night at the review
and again right before drawing so you do understand what they are
offering. If you have any questions as to the construction they will
explain that as well. We will have Bowie Bolita
to determine who wins the rights to buy each knife. This is a varation
of an old game that came to this country from Cuba in the 1880's. It
was called Bolita or Throwing The Bag.
Each person will have a
designated number before hand that is on a wooden ball. These balls or numbers are put in the
bag for that particular knife they are interested in and then the bag is
thrown to everyone. Last it is thrown to a
designated person who pinches off a ball inside the sack. All other
numbers are dumped out. The last number in the bag that was pinched off
is then shown and the person that that number has the first right to choose. Just like the makers themselves, all
knives are not created equal and people have
different tastes so some knives will naturally have more numbers than
others in the bag.
There will be coon and possum treats on
friday night at my house where you can preview the knives that will be
for sale on Saturday. The makers are on hand and you will be handed the lineup and the prices of
each piece at this time so you can start marking and figuring and asking particulars if you wish. This way
you can stay up all night
wondering which ones you want more. You can sleep when you go
home. Prices will vary with the maker and what he is offering.
There will be plain field grade pieces at the show to really dressed up
works. There is a limit of two knives total per buyer per show. All sales transactions must be complete at the end of the show. Put
in for the ones you want till you get two knives, hopefully, if you put in for
something and you would rather have one of the others later you can buy
sell and trade amoung yourselves at the set aside time for such.
Can I sell my old one? Now, now, we are talking
knives now, not females, you have to keep her.. There is a designated
time where there is buying, selling and trading
going on among the collectors themselves. I ask that only the knives
being shown from the collectors at that time
be from that years makers and no one else's. This is a fair thing all
the way around.
Who said what. Each year an authority of some sorts will
be here to give a talk. In
2008 we are planning on Bruce Voyles,
editor ofKnives Illustrated magazine, on being here and talking about
something,
with Bruce you just never know what he will say but he will say a lot
of it. We are planning on at this time for a collectors education
class. This will be put on by collector Kevin Jones on how to focus
your collecting, how to track it and best ways where you can sell your
pieces to upgrade if you so desire. This will also cover how to maintain or do the care and feeding of your collection. This will give you some relaxed one
on one
time to meet these folks and you can learn more and learn it faster.
You want to shoot me? There will be an official
photographer at the show -- this year it will be Chuck Ward.
If you do not want your photo
taken please let me know. The photographer will be taking photos of
each knife shown, photos of the demos and shots off and on during the
course of the show. Each person will have a photo taken with him and
his knife as well as something you are doing or particpating in during
the weekend. All photos will be burned on a cd for you. This will
provide an historic record and give you something you can pull up to
enjoy again and again. This is part of the show package. Makers will be
having their knife photos done on Thursday. If you do not attend the
show but would like to purchase a Microshow CD just let me know. They
are only $19.95. These CD's give a good crosssection of knives to view
and lets you know what goes on during the show.
Construction and usage. There will be demos on Saturday
and early Sunday morning. These demos will give you more insight into
how things are done in knifemaking so you can ask better questions when
talking to makers and generally learn to get your moneys worth in knife
buying. The demo pieces themselves will also be drawn for and finished
as per the request of the winner, price to be quoted upon completion.
These demo pieces might be by all three makers or just one maker, depends
on the demo.
What Else can I do while I am there? The
Friday tour was quite a success. In
2008 the tour will include a trip to the James Black forge in Old Washington Arkansas where Black made a knife for Bowie.
We will also be making another shop tour this year we will visit the
shop in Texarkana of Journeyman smith Mike Ruth who was at our 2007
show. Mike will give us some clue as to what he does and why it does it
in his shop.
At this time we are planning on a lunch at Mikes shop. Hummm, hummm,
burgers cooked over a coal forge. Well, we will see when it gets closer. You will
have time to
freshen up and rest in
time for the snackies and preview that night.
Sit and Spit. This is after the drawings and speaking and
before supper or it can be right after supper. There is a lot of Bull
shot at the doings after supper. We have to hire extra people
just to get all of it cleaned up because there is Bull slung
everywhere.
Will I get to eat while I am there? Coffee and sweets with finger foods will be served Friday night with a preview of all knives. This is so you stay up all
night trying to decide what knives you want to throw the bag for.
Saturdays meals will be--Breakfast, lunch for 2008 will be some kind
of mexican food made on the spot by spanish ladies and that evening will be a catered Prime Rib dinner of
course these meals also include the bakery delights of Kim. Light breakfast Sunday and leftovers at lunch if you are still here. After that it is time
for you to go back home. Man, I crack me up sometimes. I just loved
that.
Micro show 2008
At this time I am planning on
1.
A Bandolero with a wolf tooth/chevron pattern damascus blade. Antique
elephant ivory if possible handle and a blued steel frame with
engraving and gold wire inlay. This will a first time for this set up
and it will marked and NLT piece. This one is forged out.
2.
A Sendero with ladder pattern damascus blade, frame handle with back
bolster, sheep horn handle and engraving with gold wire inlay
3.
A feathered "W" pattern Sendero style piece. This is a first for me and
will be marked an NLT piece. So far it is looking really well. I was
spooky that I was going to lose it but at this point it looks good. I
will begin grinding on it this next week.
4. Fiskmuk. Mammoth ivory, damascus, engraving. The Fiskmuk has undergone some handle design changes
5. Old thorny. MOP or mammoth, damascus engraving.
6. A Set. Carbon steel belt ax and Sendero. Matching handles and probally some line type engraving.
I am kicking about what to do on the other 6 pieces.
I may have my personal Fiskmuk for sale as well. It was the 1st prototype
#1
Bandolero

This is an approx 10 inch blade. The damascus pattern is a wolf tooth
with chevrons on top. This pattern normally has mucho shimmer to it. At
this time I plan on nitre bluing the frame/bolster/guard . It will have
engraving and gold wire inlay. This will be the first blued steel
Bandoleros.
#2
Sendero
with Fireworks pattern

I make my W patterns a bit different. After making a 3 stack of 4 bars
for a W I then did a basic feather pattern and it gave me what I think
are fireworks. There was a lot of fireworks and damage being down while
making it as well. When this one gets heat treated and etched out it
will be a really nice blade. I have some nice handle materials to
choose from and will make a frame handle with back bolsters on this
then will trip out the decorations.
Pieces for
2007
#1
. Southwest Bowie
with frame handle


This
piece is forged from a 5160 round bar of steel. It has a stainless
guard and bolster. I do not do many framed handles in this size knife
so that makes this one fairly rare. The bolster is silver brazed onto
the frame handle. It has a nice desert iron wood handle that is shaped
to fit the hand. Desert iron wood is getting harder to get and getting
more expensive.The blade is approx 8 inches long. The back of handle
has the a fan blade shape to it to set it off nicely. Very simple
layout on the engraving, I thought just a touch on this piece so as to
not over do it but I just gotta try to put an ear ring on the pig. It
is just my nature. Hope you like it. This will be a book knife as I
plan on not doing this particular type of set up again.
#2
Biscuit Snatcher


This is nice little 5 inch blade
bowie with a
newer style handle. I like it personally. It weighs in at slightly
under 6 ounces. This one if forged from W2 round bars. The stainless
guard is engraved with a road kill flower that butts up to the Desert
Ironwood handle. This is a doozie that any Ozark-American would like to
carry [we are not referred to as Hillbillies any more]. This one is
also a book knife. I am trying to be careful and make most of the
pieces for the Micro Show to be book pieces. If you need
information on what a book knife is please refer to the newsletter
button. It will explain.
#3
South West Bowie
Intergal with full tang

The piece shown above I forged out at the School in Old Washington as a demo for a hammer-in and
thought just go ahead and do something for a demo that I had not done
before as a demo there. Yeah, thats real smart. Anyway, this is what I ended up with. W2
carbon steel from a round bar and the handle material is stablized
California Buckeye. The blade is approx 6 inches long. I think
this is the first full tang intergal that I have finished. I have had a
couple of full tang Senderos laying on the bench since last year
that I just need to put the handles on.
#4
Old Thorny

This
is my Old Thorny model folding knife. Sometimes called pocket art,
folders can be nice to carry on occasions. This one has a basket woven
mosaic damascus blade, mammoth ivory handles, stainless bolster with
engraving and gold inlays.
I am not set up to do folders. They take 2 or 3 times longer for me to
make than a hunting knife. For the time invested in a folder they way I
make them I lose money on each one. However a maker has got to stretch
themselves and do things out of his norm or he never grows. My old dad
used to say even a turtle never gets anywhere unless he sticks his neck
out first. Knifemakers are the same.
For a step by step progression on the way that I made this folder please press here
#5
Bowie/fighter


This one
is a field grade Bowie type fighter. The steel is 5160 double tempered.
I have split the stag taper and made scales from it that fits well in
the hand with good texture. The mountings are O1 steel and have been
browned. The Blade is approx 8 inches long, the entire knife weighs
approx 11 ounces with the balance point of the knife being right at the
ferrule behind the guard. The pommel is carved to fit the grooves in
the stag.
#6
Intergal Damascus dirk


This
is the Dirk. Many knife patterns including our own American Bowie knife are
derived from this style knife and this one is a doozie. The blade is
approx 10 inches long with ladder pattern damascus. It has a stag handle and an engraved stainless pommell. The F
is inlaid in 24kt gold. Beading is engraved all around the winged demon
sign, or call it what you prefer. I like the Flying F myself but you
can buy it and call it what you want.
#7
Persian piece


This
is an out of the ordinary piece for me. I am through other than
engraving the pins tomorrow. Fossil male Walrus ivory handle,
Quad twist guard, twist back bolster and damascus frame. All mountings
are 44 layers. The blade is 44 layers left hand next to 44 of right
hand with 344 of wolf tooth on the bottom. 24kt gold inlay in the guard and back bolster.NLT marked #7 for 2007
If you would like to see
how this one is made just press the line below. This will be an NLT marked piece.
Progressive Persian thread press here.
#8
Gamemaster
NLT #6 for 2007


This was a booger to forge down. I had a bit left over from the Persian
piece but the Gamemaster is much smaller. You have to be real slow and
careful to get the same pattern because if you stretch if too far on
the sides without doing the same amount at pretty much the same time on
the flats you distort badly. I was lucky in one aspect of this. On the
other hand this little booger had to be ground and re-etched three
times to get what I was wanting.
Mammoth ivory and frame handle handle with stainless mountings. Left
and Right hand twist on the blade with wolf tooth pattern on the bottom.
This has delicate style engraving on it, the most gold I have put on
one yet and I think the gold is at a max, my opinion and this is the
nicest Gamemaster I have made to date.
#9
One of One Intergal
"Trigger Fish"

Well now, this is different is it not? This is an
intergal that I was playing with and wanted to finish it up for the
show. Blade from handle measures approx
6 1/2 inches Sheep horn handle, stainless pins and ferrule. In
case you were sitting there and thinking, yes, you are right, it was a
bugger to forge. 5160 steel. I forge all of my pieces within 95% of
shape. On this one, I forged from the tang area and got it and the
guard done before I forged the blade, which is reverse of what I
normally do. Field grade piece that is unusal and something you would
be proud to whup out at deer camp and holler, Hey, Y'all, Look at this.
#10
Sendero

This is one
my signature pieces. The Sendero. This one has a Dog Star pattern
damascus blade with stainless mountings and a Sambar Stag handle.
Engraving of leaf looking things or things wanting to look like leaves
on the guard and flower petals on the pins. The steels in this blade is
L6 and 1084 and double
tempered. If you do want to carry it to the field you will be pleased
with it.
#11
My personal knife
for 2007

This is my personal bowie for 2007. It is a Southwest style bowie. The
spine has a crown on it so that it will but to the max in deep cuts.
Stainless guard and pins, tiger stripe maple with a black canvas
ferrule behind the guard. I used this bowie in various camp chores and
used it to set up two cutting competitions including the worlds finals.
This is a cutter. W2 steel. On the face of the guard is engraved, Jerry Fisk, My Personal Knife, 2007
#12
Game Master


This one has a damascus blade approx 5 inches
long and made of 1084 and L6 steels. Stainless mountings on a
sheep horn handle.I engraved the guard with a first time pattern for
me. I saw it on an old rifle from the 1800's and liked it. If you are
going to steal an idea make sure it is a good idea and I thought it
was. Hope you like it. I also did fine checkering on the pins, I think
that is a first for me also. Game Master hunters are not as a common
pattern for me as I do probally 6 or less a year.
I have a tomahawk forged out but do not know if I will get it finished or not.
End of 2007 show pieces
These were pieces that I had for the
Fisk Micro Invitational Show for October 2006.
Thank you for all who attended each of you made the show a huge success.
#1
Sendero
Field Grade
Forged from W2 carbon steel round bars. This field grade Sendero
hunter sports a Sambar Stag handle and stainless mountings. This is as
plain as you can make a hunter with a guard and it works like a charm.
#2
"Lockjaw"
This is a very simple looking knife but difficult to do, it is a
forging of an intergal knife with an approx 4
3/4 inch blade. The handle is designed so that your hands go up on the
bolster as part of the handle. It has a sheep horn handle and stainless
pins. I think this is the first intergal full tang that I have had for
sale. I took a photo of the top side so you can get an idea of the
strength of this puppy. You just cant get any stronger than this, it
would give you lockjaw before broke it. Odd thing is the raised
spine. To be truthful I stole
that idea off of JR Cook. I liked it and if you are going to steal an
idea at least steal a good idea. I hand forged this one out at a
public demo I was having to do. It took all day with a 4 pound hammer
and my ole hands were killing me by the time I was done.
#3
Arkansas Camp Knife
Field Grade
This one is an 11 inch blade rough forged from W2
steel. This is my Arkansas Camp Knife model and is an outstanding large
knife. It will handle about any chore that a large knife is called to
do anywhere in the world. The handle is of oil finished Maple burl.
This handle has a lot of figure going on in the pattern but with my
poor photo skills you just will have to take my word for it. I cut a
ring around the ferrule and a bit of file working going on with the
guard. Stainless guard and pins.
#4
Sendero

This
is the finished piece from the rough forging pictured right above it.
Forged from 5160 carbon steel in round bar stock. The handle is sheep
horn and the guard and pins are stainless. I have scratched around on
the blade guard and pins as you can see. Quite a bit of time
doing the engraving work on this piece. This is a one of kind Sendero.
#5
English style Bowie
This one is pretty straight forward. Forged from 5160 carbon steel
in round bar. It hasa flat oval guard and one of the traditional
straight stag handles. The design itself is a piece of history as
cowboys, Texas Rangers and many folks carried one of this pattern. Many
of the pictures show the ole boys toting one of this model. From the
orginial pattern books this also appears to be one of the most popular
models that they in England of the bowie knives. 7 1/2 inch blade.
#6
South West Bowie
7 inch blade South West bowie forged from 5160 round bar. Sambar
Stag handle, Pre-civil war wrought iron fittings. This wrought iron was
from an old wagon wheel taken from a very old burned out farm house in
York County South Carolina. I forge it down from the wagon wheel size
to the size I need for the mountings. At that time I sand and polish
the iron then put a light etch on it so you can see the pattern of the
old iron. There are always inprefections in wrought iron but that is
also what gives it it's uniqueness. I am trying to research it back
closer as to maybe when and who owned or used the old wagon. The design
of the knife is old or older than the old West and the iron fittings on
this piece is a proper tribute to this knife design.
#7
NLT Marked
Sendero

#8
NLT marked
Intergal Spanish Dirk


This piece was a stretch for me on a couple of steps and I enjoyed working on it because of that. Intergals
are pure in a manner of speaking. Nothing but clean lines, supposed to
be anyway. I was slow getting this piece finished as it
was a lot of work This is NLT #7 for 2006 and is named Golden Eye. Slowly he turns, step by step....
Click here to go to the progressive thread on the Spanish Dirk
#9
"Seaweed"
a one of one
"Gamemaster" design


This is a Seaweed pattern. Don't ask me to repeat the pattern, I
probally could not if I tried or at least not one I want to repeat. You
can look up how this pattern was arrived at with the W pattern
progressive thread. See
how the seaweeds come off of the point? The handle is a Stellar Sea Cow
bone handle to go along with the same theme. The guard is
engraved with the old greek drawings or engravings that represented
water. The pins are supposed to be engraved to represent Sand Dollars,
however it is probally a Sand Twobits kind of thing. So, this whole
knife evolved from the sea.
#10
Dirk #2
This is a damascus, ladder pattern, intergal
dirk. The handle is Sambar Stag and the pommel is stainless. The pommel
is shown below in its engraved finish. This is not like I normally do
my engraving. I wanted to give this depth but not fully relieved just
simply to give a different look to it. I also used this piece to try my
hand at giving more detail and depth to my shading. Bit at a time folks
I will get this engraving down. Just bear with me. The blade on this
one measures about 6 inch to a tad over. This knife would look good in
any form of renacting or just sitting on the shelf displaying its role
in the history of the world of cutlery.


#11
This be something a little different. This is to make sure you get
home ok. You can honestly say honey, it was there and I really wanted
to get it for you but them mean ole other guys just beat me out of it.
Well, something along that line. I am doing something wrong with my
photos and I dont know what it is. It looks a little better in person
though this is the first one of these I have tried in sterling. It has
a narrow 24kt gold border inlaid near the edge. There will be a few
more of these down the road but not often and I will make sure they are
all different. If you squint your eyes and stand off about 20 feet it
looks good.

#12
Woojack


This a one of a kind Woojack. 5160 round bar steel, english walnut
handle with African Blackwood and stainless spacers. Approx 8 inch
blade length. Nice balance and weight to this piece.
Makers that exhibited their work at the 2005 Fisk Micro Show
James Cook, Master Bladesmith
Brett Gatlin
2005 guest speakers were
BR Hughes, writer and founding ABS member
Bob Neal dealer and collection adviser
Makers that where here for the 2006 Fisk Mirco Show
Steve Dunn
Mike Ruth
2006 guest speakers were
AG Russell of Russell knives and founding member of the Knifemakers Guild
Les Robertson, knife dealer and writer for Blade and Knives Illustrated
Makers that where here for the 2007 Fisk Micro Show
Harvey Dean
Lin Rhea
2008 guest speakers were
Steve Shackleford editor of Blade magazine
BR Hughes, founding ABS member
Carolyn Hughes, editor of American Bladesmith Journal
JR Cook Mastersmith
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