MICRO INVITATIONAL SHOW

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 -2010 shows 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 Camel but we wont go there now.

2012 date is October 12 and 13th
with show date being the 13th

Makers that will be showing at the 2012 show are Master Smith Shawn Mcintyre and Mastersmith Terry Vandeventer. 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 10 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 Second 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 approx 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 registration 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.
To make reservations for your lodging. I suggest the Southern Belle Inn here in Nashville. The phone number is 870 845 2353 This is simple but clean lodging and is only 5 mintues drive from the house.
This is the link so you can register. Ask for the Fisk Knives Block, this way they will put yall together and you wont keep the normal people awake. http://www.southernbelleinn.com/

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 collectible.

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 nice investment type pieces. . 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, it is also called the Collectors Cornor. 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. This will give you some relaxed one on one time to meet these folks and you can learn more and learn it faster. I will update the guest speakers when I get them committed.

You want to shoot me? There will be an official photographer at the show -- 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. These demo pieces might be by all three makers or just one maker, depends on the demo and your request.

What Else can I do while I am there? The Friday tour was quite a success. You will have time to freshen up and rest in time for the snackies and preview that night. Some come in just for saturday and leave, some come in to take in the tour portion, this is up to you and your schedule.
Part of 2012's activites is that we are trying to set up a hog hunt for the 11th and 12th. we will have a collectors "Knife Rodeo" [cutting competition] the afternoon of the 13th here at the house. This should be fun and educational at the same time. For those of you attending bring a knife to cut with or buy one from our invited smiths and learn how to use it in all types of situations.

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? A light meal 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. Let me tell you with my daughter Holly cooking that weekend we eat like Kings around here. 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.

What did we do right after the 2011 show rush? We took about 12 days off.
This is some scenes from our adventures.
First we loaded up the camper and took it to the river. White Cliffs down on the Little River here in SW Arkansas. Many of you will remember this area from when we went on the gator tour in 2010.

Ah. Butter milk bisquits in the dutch oven. These will make you slap your grandma for being in the kitchen. Above I am using a plastic glass to cut the bisquits after I rolled them out.

almost done but time to turn the lid.

The end result. I used some of our homemade apple butter.

Below is were we went kayaking. Lots of gators to look at. Some of them up to 4 foot from the kayak. Some of them around 20 ft away. The only noise back in these places are the planes overhead and the swamp noises. Bob and I use hand signals back in these places.

Below is were we are coming out from. This is the end of a several mile long slough that motor boats do not do well in for the most part. It gets really narrow and gatorery as you go back in there. You can almost hear the banjos playing in the background.

Below, is were I had set out some yo yos for catfish. We caught several.

Below is my rifle and shooting back and my proto of the new folding hunter I am playing with. This morning I took a yearling deer for food and used this knife through out. Normally I advoid cutting the hair anymore than possible just due to it will help wear out an edge. On this one I used it rough. I also split the brisket with it, dejointed the legs with it so ended up quartering the whole deer with this folder. It would shave when I got through with it. It had enough belly to skin with, it had enough point to get down in the leg joints. It is a slip joint with a good spring on it and a half stop. It never tried to fold up on me to the half stop so I was happy with that as well. Overall, this is a good folder. I have some skinning photos that I could post.
I am making bisquits now, Bob is making her outstanding gravy and mashed potatos to go with the tenderloin. Life is good.
The rifle is about 30 years old now. It is a 45 cal. southern poor boy style with iron mountings and a 40 inch barrell.I have taken mucho deer with this rifle. I had a feller in SC make it for me so I could finish it out when I got it.

2011 was a good show. All knives sold out. Below is what when on at the 2011 show.
Micro Show 2011
Sendero
#1 piece

This little beauty has a Dog star pattern damascus blade that is about 4 3/4 inches long. The stainless guard has presentation deep relief style of engraving, the pins and the front of the guard being engraved as well. The handle is some excellent fossil walrus ivory. Very classic piece.
#2 piece
Sendero with wild mammoth

This is a Dog Star pattern damascus blade, stainless guard that is engraved on the front of it as well as some small detailed engraving on the sides. Some wild mammoth ivory with this one. This is a one of a kind due to the kindly mammoth.
#3 Piece.
"La Petite Feminine Sendero"

This is your wife's or daughter's Sendero.This is the second mini Sendero that I have made.It has a dog star pattern damascus blade, the handle is Mother of Pearl with gold pins, and engraved on the guard it has a chain of 7 daises complete with gold inlaid centers to bring good luck. The Blade is approx 3 1/2 inch long, the handle is only around 1/4 inch thick, so it is thin and easy to carry for a lady. For more details see
"The LINK"

#4
Arkansas Toothpick.
NLT marked piece.

This is my first Arkansas Toothpick to make and it is an NLT marked piece. The blade is a composite of left and right hand twist 48 layers with straight lines in the center of a lower count of 11 layers. The handle is fossil walrus ivory, what few cracks that are showing are very shallow, you will be able to see that yourself. The mountings are in stainless as the the narrow handle frame.The engraving is deep relief with line cuts with touches of deep relief on the back and face of the guard, the top of the pommell that you cannot see as well as the under portions of the pommell. The side of the guard is both line cut and with a row of very small gold beading. The gold down the spine is 24kt as is the rest of the gold. There is a small oval on one side of the ferrule where I will mark it NLT and its number.
This knife just kept growing with things that I wanted to do for the first time. Engraving time alone ran just a tad over 80 hours for me.
It is just slid together for the photo, I still have to sigh the engraving and mark it with the number and year.
This is one is one I like very much. To me there is very little difference between a dagger and an Arkansas toothpick. That is a long story and I will explain at the show the difference historically.
T

For progression description please click here for the Work in Progress {WIP} thread on
"The Link"
#5.
"Brown Betty" Bowie
2011

This is an approx 9 inch damascus blade with a chisel ground clip, wolf tooth pattern on the bottom of the damascus and some chevrons near the spine. The Sambar stag handle [premium pop corn style] is accented with browned iron. This is the first time I have made a browned iron mounted piece in several years. The guard is scalloped on the sides the ferrule plain and the butt end has been filed to fit the stag and then simple line engraved with the accent of a womans head. Hence the name, Brown Betty. I had to lighten the photo quite a bit so you can see Brown Bettys butt cap. This is the only engraving on this piece.
It is a subtle yet nice to have just like the whole piece.
#6
Saddle Horn Folder

This is my first Medium size Saddle Horn folder. Open the blade is 2 3/4 inches long.
It is a stag handle. Yes, I know, the rarest of the folders from me. It is a stretched out basket weave. I still have to engrave it but it will be an NLT simply because it is the first of its kind. To my recollecton the only time in the last 6 years or longer I have ever offered a stag handled folder it was here at the Micro show. Nasty sharp. Legend has it that this knife was the back up plan to split the first atom. They had some one hoovering over the atom with this knife just in case they missed. Ok, maybe that is just campfire talk. However it is a one of a kind NLT that would look good in a collection or it would make your pocket oh so happy to carry it.
#7
My personal engraved Rifle.

This is a new Winchester High Wall in 7MM WSM caliber. It is one I made for myself. It is the only High Wall that I will engrave in my life time so it is a one of kind. I was engraving it for myself and am reshifting to a different gun so I thought one of you folks would enjoy owning this. Along with the Kudu on both sides it has scroll work, deep relief engraving and the words, "Jerry Fisk His Gun" in a banner. This is an old style of marking a gun and it is a wonderful old style gun.
#8.
The $8.00 knife.
8.00

This years $8.00 knife is in 1084 carbon steel, it has a fine piece of desert Iron wood handle, The pins are engraved and on the back pin on the off side it says. $8.00.
Everyone present that wishes to do so can put in for this knife as well.This knife will go to someone who has not won one of these before.
#9
Gamemaster

This is a 1084 carbon steel blade, Gamemaster hunter with a feather crotch Black Walnut handle. This piece would go nicely with the rifle since it has a walnut stock. It will be engraved on the face of the guard as well as the side of the guard and pins. it is just a really good field knife with a bit of engraving.

Fisk Knife Rodeo
Top Cut Trophy
This one goes to the winner to put in his display case

Ryan Hays was the winner of the Knife Rodeo 2011

Beginning this year, each year we will sponser a Knife Rodeo. This will be a cutting contest with you the clients. If you have a cutter bring it. There are no restrictions on size, HOWEVER, EACH KNIFE NEEDS TO HAVE A VISABLE PIN IN THE HANDLE AND A LANYARD ATTACHED FOR SAFTEY. If you do not have one there will be several here that you can borrow. I have a personal bowie each year, beginning this year Bob has a personal knife since she is getting really interested in cutting also. There are probally a few others around as well as JR and Mike Williams and probally Tommy will have one you can cut with.
You will not know what the events are until you get here. You do not have to know how to cut well. This is what we are going to teach you. It is also like a fine gun, you can cut with one then order one if you wish from the maker of you choosing of course.
The events will be fun and informative. Some of the cuts will be for you to learn on, some of the cuts will test your ability, some of the cuts will test the knife itself. There will be a point system for each cut and at the end the person with the highest score wins the trophy and the right to put his name on the shop trophy. This person will retain the title of Top Cut for one year and at that time he must defend his title against all cutters here at the show.

This will help you learn about handle and blade design, the blade grinds, and styles of knives.

This Top Cut Trophy goes in my shop with the winners name on it then fastened to my shop wall. Each year we will add another.
shop

Everyone cutting or participating in some form with the contest will get a button. [Photographs when they get here]. Either the button or the trophy would look good in your knife collection.

Knife Rodeo button

This button is for those that are performing in the Knife Rodeo.
Bob's personal knife 2011
bob

This is Bob's personal knife. Her first one that I have made for her. She has gotten interested in cutting since we are now having a knife Rodeo at the show each year. She thought my personal cutter was too heavy at 16 ounces. She wanted one lighter. So what I came up with is a camp knife with a 9 inch blade. This one weighs in at 11 ounces. It is very quick in the hand. The spine has been swedged so it will help with the deep cuts. The good thing about this is that some of you folks like to cut with my personal knife each year. This will give another thought process. The design is different on both handle and blade, the weights are less so the cutting will be different. It will give you a broader view as to what cuts best for you personally. The touch mark is also different. She wanted hers to have the MS above Fisk, like in Mrs Fisk I guess, anyway if one like this shows up in the future you will know just by the touch mark it is hers. The guard is engraved, Bob's knife 2011 along with the rest of the engraving, the side of the guard and pins are engraved as well. I just thought I would show it,

This is my personal knife for 2011

This is my personal knife for 2011. It has an approx 11 inch blade, it is a Southwest style and has a chisel ground clip. The handle is stabalized maple burl and is engraved on the side of the guard and the front of the guard states that is is my knife for 2011.
This is one of the things we did at the show. This Alien is in the process of his head exploding from a well placed shot. His saw dust brain is exploding and the hands and arms are flying in the air.
alien

2010 show is past us, here are some of the pieces that I had at the show.
#1
Intergal Full Tang
medium size camp knife

This piece has been forged from W2 round bar that came from the Nickleson File company. The handle material is Desert Iron Wood. I engraved the spine just a bit and with the words, 30 yrs on the spine. A simple looking knife this is no simple matter. This is a knife to be used around the cook from trimming limbs to doing a bit of help with the cook chores. The is a variation of the old Dirk that went to most countries in the world and had much influence. This blade is approx 7 1/2 inches long.

#2
Game Master
2nd Generation

This is the second generation Gamemaster hunter. We can just call it the GM-2, that is a lot shorter name. If you look at it and my old Gamemaster hunter handle and the new one you can see that I have put a palm swell on the bottom center. On this particular knife I made the guard thicker than I normally do. The reason of the more guard is that I wanted to use this piece of Dinosaur bone and it was short. This is the first time I have used this material and I like it. I will look for more of it.
This handle design is more comfortable for a longer period of time. I like it. It take 3 more steps to do than the old one but I think you will enjoy using this piece. I have engraved the stainless guard and pins different than I have before. The wolf tooth damascus blade is stamped on the reverse side of the ricasso with the large 30 yr stamp. I have two sizes of the 30 yr mark.
This is the first of the GM-2 models and the first time I have used this material so it will go well in a collection or in the field.

#3
Large
South West Bowie
NLT marked

This is a large "W" pattern South West style blade. The guard and ferrule are stainless. The handle is an artifact fossil walrus ivory tusk that was used as a fire starter. The streak of brown that you see is where the "stick" slid or cut into the ivory to also make a fire with. This is the only time I have seen both methods to start a fire attemped on the same piece of ivory, that ole boy must have fell in the water or something and was trying any method possible to get a fire going. Where was a zippo when you need one? This is an NLT marked piece.

As you can see I have engraved the guard and ferrule. It is deep relief engraving with gold inlaid in the center of the flower top and bottom, on the side of the guard for the center, two bands of gold on the ferrule and two solid honking pins in the back of the handle. There is enough gold in this piece to easy make two rings. I like the engraving here on this piece.
for the step by step go to "the" Link.

#4
Intergal Dirk
NLT #6 for 2010

This piece is an NLT #6 marked damascus intergal dirk. You can see the step by step of the finishing of this knife on the "Link". I hope you like this piece. The handle is Unicorn horn, well, maybe. To be just 3 pieces to the whole knife these things sure get complicated to build. I have not made one of these in years as it is just a lot of time with a 3 cornor file. The handle is antique elephant ivory that is gain twist fluted. Gold inlay in the pommell cap.
In case you were wondering, yep, that is a unicorn skull to display the knife with it and it has a stand with it so it looks really cool.

#5
Saddlehorn folding Bowie #1.

This knife is a "W" pattern that I have then put a ladder pattern in. This is a slip joint style of folder in a Saddle Horn Pattern, damascus spring and blade. Stainless bolsters that are engraved. This is my personal favorite carry style. I have been carrying a simple one of this pattern for 8 months now [see near the bottom of the page]. I will be making me one of this model for full time carry the first of this year. The one I will make for myself will be ivory and engraved. The blade on this measures approx 2 1/4 inch open position. A really good pocket carry in my thinking.
Bear in mind on the folders. I do not have the proper equipment to make folders with. Basically I use a hand file and a sanding block so mine are made by hand, as a result you will find small differences in each folder, some will work just a tad better etc, I am learning. This makes only my third folder for 2010. Most of us are the age in our lives were we enjoy good things. Things we have earned by our own skills. This folder will fit into your life.

#6
Sendero

This is a pattern that I am playing with a bit to see what happens. The handle is Sambar stag with stainless fittings. I did just a touch of engraving on the face of the guard as well as on the side of the guard. Chuck shot it without engraving.

#7
Sendero
Bird and Trout

This is an upswept Sendero with a frame handle. I do not make many of these at all.
This particular one has a wolf tooth damascus blade with a blade length of approx 4 1/2 inches. The handle is pre-ban elephant ivory with the engraved guard and pins being stainless. I engraved this one a bit different then slightly textured, with a single point chisel I might add, the front and back side of the guard. Stamped on reverse 30 yrs.

#8
Mid size Bowie
with Mother of Pearl

This is rare in the fact that MOP in thick scales for handles is getting almost impossible to find. These MOP scales measure a bit over 1/4 inch thich per side. I have put a frame on the handle with front bolsters. I could have put a back bolster on it but I wanted to help mother nature show what she's got as much as possible. I included several other poor quality photos just to show different parts up closer. This one is NLT #8 marked piece. I did a ladder'd W pattern on the steel. Engraving and gold inlays and gold pins. A civilized man should always have a pearl handle knife, that and our ability to accessorize is what seperates us from the lower animals.

#9
An $8.00 Sendero

When I first started making knives, I made hunters. They sold for $8.00 each or a matched pair for $15.00. For those of you that want to, you can put your marble in the bag and we will draw for it, the winner pays $8.00.
If you just really like this knife you can pay the full price of you want to, thats up to you. The blade is 5160 carbon steel, water quenched with an Desert Iron Wood handle and stainless guard and pins. A good solid design with good solid value.

#10
English style
Cowboy bowie

This is in the style that you can see many of old Civil war soldiers and Texas Ranger pictures from the days when they carried this style a lot. The design is right out of some of the English style bowie patterns that were sent over in large batches to the west. It is a carbon steel blade of approx 7 1/2 inches in length. This piece has a straight stag handle that is rounded off like many of them were and has a scalloped type of guard. They used this style of guard and flat ovals a lot as well as a few other designs , some had ferrules some did not. England produced these by the thousands because they were so functional. They still are functional today.
I made a "silver throat and tip" for this one out of stainless. It is the first time I have used stainless. It is requiring me to learn how to tig weld and use just the materials available, no filler metal. Believe me, that is a chore. While teaching myself practiceing, my ground was not hooked up well and the shock knocked me off of my stool. Bob had to come help me out of the floor. I tried to choose an old piece of leather to help make it look distressed or something an old Texas Ranger would have carried. I used a sterling concho for the frog button as most of them old rangers only owned what was on their horse.

#11
The Southern Bowie

This is an approx 9 1/2 inch blade bowie that has a classic ladder pattern set into it. The handle is Sambar stag with a double sculptured guard and a copper spacer. This bowie has a touch of engraving on the face of the guard, engraving on the guard and pins. It weighs 11 ounces with the balance being at the leading edge of the ricasso. This one makes you feel like you should be on the walls of the Alamo just waiting for someone to get close.

That will conclude the 2010 offerings for the Micro-show

These are part of the targets for the 2010 Atl Atl throw. Bob is making a couple more of them so there is a group of natives chasing a missionary. Points deducted on the throw if you hit the missionary. After we are through throwing at them the game is open folks. Tomahawk throw, or if there is another muzzloader.....you name it. This is saturday afternoon. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to shoot some of that foo foo stuff the wives do? Well here is your chance. I'll tell Bob later what we are doing to them. lol. She has been making them up as targets, then got to wondering about it and so she entered them in the County Fair, they took Best of Show. lol, now I ask you, how cool is that for a target? Yehawwwww. What a guy weekend.!!!

My personal prototype folder for 2010

I am not sure I am going to sell this at the show, just wanted to show you
guys. I plan on having one like this but nice, double bolsters, ivory and engraving. I will be making me one to carry everyday like that and thought it would be good to offer one at the show. Thats a good thing about this show, you get the first shot at getting the new designs that I am playing with. This is a slight variation of the small size saddle horn folder. This particular one has a 2 1/4 inch blade. No fooling, this is the most comfortable to use folder that I have ever carried. Once I get my nice one done I will not be without another one of these. I had to make this one in carbon steel and micarta because I needed to know how it carried and what it was capable of doing so I could let you know the straight of it. Y'all remind me at the show to show you. It is marked #1 J. Fisk

NLT #2 from 2009 show
Camp Bowie Knife

This is a big knife. The blade will measure 11 1/2 inches long by a tad over 1 3/4 inches wide. The pattern is unique. You can look close and see it starts out like a dog star but ends up with a "ball" of damascus on the tail of it. The handle material is of black and white "Brain Coral" that was dead and recovered. Yes, for those of you that know me well then you know how appropriate that is for me to do a handle out of this material.
I will only use two pieces of Brain Coral, ever. The other piece I will set aside for an order if one of you want to order the second yet different style piece, the pattern of the Second piece or "spare" brain is different. Both will be one of a kinds of course.
I did the old Greek engraving pattern for water on the ferrule, what is supposed to be Starfish though I could not find any with standard shapes so Starfish can vary as mine do, then I engraved what is supposed to be a seahorse on the pommell with sea grass.

#7 from the 2009 show
Dagger

This is what I call a Medieval stlyle Court Dagger. Ladder pattern damascus blade, stainless mountings with engraving and gold inlays.
For more information see the Link.

#9--2009
Sword
Cutlass/Hanger
an NLT piece
For a somewhat progressive thread see the LINK

I cannot wait for Chuck Ward to photo this as I just had no other way to shoot it. It has my first knuckle bow on the guard, the ferrule has deep relief engraving on the ferrule, the bottom of the "D" has english style engraving on it.
Balance is about 2 inches in front of the guard. Really cool piece but you have to be careful with something like this. It is extreme sharp and the Corp of Engineers wont let me go back to the Lake after the incident. I dont want to talk about it.

Coming up also for the show for 2009,
hopefully a folder but we will have to see if I have time.

Scroll down for a variety of photos from odd and end pieces I had from the past shows.

Some pieces from Micro show 2008

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.

Sheep horn and stainless to go with the Fireworks pattern. I cant believe I forgot to engrave the pins, will do that later today then.
This will be an NLT piece. My photos are not very good but I hope you can get an idea of what it looks like.

Sporting Bowie

This is classed as a sporting bowie. A sporting bowie is different in that it has a single guard instead of a double and the clip on the top of the blade is not sharpened.
This one has wolf tooth pattern in damascus blade with slants above that.
The handle is amber colored Sambar stag and has stainless guard, pins and escutcheon plate. I tried engrave what was supposed to be a bouquet of flowers on the escutcheon plate, it appears it looks like a bunch of tadpoles that has been ran over by a VW hippie bus but thats what we are going to leave it looking like.
In case you were wondering why the escutcheon plate is always on this side of the knife. That side of the knife is known as the private side of the knife, the other is referred to as the public side. There for the escutcheon plate always goes on the private side if only one is used. There, you learned something today and my brain was just vacumed out of all knowledge.

Bushman set
{Axe and hunter}

This is a field grade set of a axe and Gamemaster hunter. This is only the second set I have made like this and it is different than the first. The blade steel in the Gamemaster is W2 and O1 steel in the axe. The mountings are stainless with the handles being Northern Black Walnut. The Walnut is oil finished. This one set would take you world wide in whatever you needed to accomplish in the field.

Game Master Model
"Long Wedgie"

This is a Gamemaster Model in the few "Wedgie" Series. Each is a one of a kind. It is a W pattern damascus blade that is 4 1/2 inches long. The mountings are stainless with two small domed sterling pins. The engraving on both the guard and the Wedgie is deep relief. This is an NLT marked piece #8 of '08 and would be a fine thing to whup out in a crowd.

Fiskmuk
Folding knife

I still have the other side to do most of the engraving on so I will be working on this piece up till the night before the show.
This will be most likely the rarest of this folder pattern. A stag handle. Getting the right stag shape, and size is going to be a problem for me so the stag handles will be the lesser made of the Fiskmuks. This one has a ladder pattern damascus blade and back spring and stainless liners and bolster. The engraving appears to be what looks like Molasses poured on an ant bed. Yall just bear with me as I learn to improve my engraving skills. This is an old style slip joint pattern with a postive half stop. Really a fun knife to take hunting with you and just enjoy the day looking at your knife. Just don't forget to look up on occasions so you dont run into a tree.

Some Pieces from
2007

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

End of 2007 show pieces

These were some of the 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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

South West Bowie
2006

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

Shown here is the finished knife without the engraving. I will repost the photo when the engraving is complete.This is a progressive thread that shows the making of this knife.
Click here to go to the progessive thread on the making of an Damascus W pattern NLT Sendero

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

"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.

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.

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.

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
2007 guest speakers were
Steve Shackleford editor of Blade magazine
BR Hughes, founding ABS member
Carolyn Hughes, editor of American Bladesmith Journal
JR Cook Mastersmith

Makers that were here for the 2008 show.
Daniel Winkler
Craig Cammarra
Bruce Voyles editor of Knife Illustrated
Kevin Jones, Chairman of the Custom Knife Collectors Association
JR Cook, ABS mastersmith

Makers that were here for the 2009 show.
John White
Matt Roberts.

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