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.

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Micro show 2008

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At this time I am planning on

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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

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#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.

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I have a tomahawk forged out but do not know if I will get it finished or not.

End of 2007 show pieces

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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.

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#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.

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#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.
     

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.
 

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#7
 NLT Marked
Sendero

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#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

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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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

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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

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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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