A cutting-edge craftsmanFrom his backyard forge, Jason Knight hones metal into award-winning knives By Schuyler Kropf (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Mic Smith Once his blades burn bright and reach a temperature of about 1,900 degrees, master bladesmith Jason Knight begins the shaping process using a metal pounder built in 1918 to do the heavy slamming. 
Mic Smith One of Jason Knight's finished products — a hunting knife. The Damascus steel forged by Knight creates the unique pattern. HARLEYVILLE — When he was just a kid, Jason Knight cut up his grandmother's aluminum ladder, hoping a piece of it could be shaped into a homemade sword. Little did he know it was the start of an award-winning career. A few weeks ago, Knight, who quietly forges handcrafted blades in his backyard workshop, won the prestigious 2008 W.F. Moran Award from the American Bladesmith Society for his skill. He also was recognized for crafting the best Bowie knife at the same Atlanta knife show. The awards are high praise for a career that began partly as a lark, after Knight gave up his job at Gerald's Tires to pursue knife-making full time. "I just never went back to work," Knight, 35, said Wednesday in the middle of his sauna-like workshop, discussing his time attending bladesmithing school in Arkansas. "I didn't intend to do this and make a living." That was eight years ago. Folks in Harleyville may not know what Knight produces for a living, but knife enthusiasts around the world surely do. "He's one of the most popular, fastest-growing, fastest-improving bladesmiths in the industry," said Steve Shackleford, editor of Blade magazine in Iola, Wis. One ranking lists Knight as one of the top four bladesmiths in the industry. Knife-making is a rare art. Some of Knight's well-balanced pieces sell for thousands of dollars, while one of his oyster knives might go for $100 or so. Part of Knight's allure is what he does with metals to turn them into a knife. He "hot-forges" his blades, which means he takes rods of lifeless metal and works to flatten, twist and shape them. The result are blades of all sizes, for hunting, fishing or other uses. Knight's childhood attraction to his grandmother's ladder started, in part, because his last name was Knight; he reckoned a "knight" should have his own a sword. From there his love affair with blades and self-taught metallurgy slowly grew while he built a following. "I could see that I could make a knife and sell it, and make another one and sell it and build my reputation as a bladesmith. It sort of went from there." By adulthood, the one-time blacksmith at Middleton Place was extensively skilled. Lots of awards came his way, and in June 2007 Knight became South Carolina's first and only master bladesmith, he said, one of only about 100 in the world. Inside Knight's shop, the homemade forge he uses burns bright orange. When the temperature is right (about 1,900 degrees) he'll begin the shaping process. Once the steel begins to glow bright, it's ready for pounding into curves, points and shapes. To save his arms from exhaustion, Knight uses an antique metal pounder, christened the Little Giant Power Hammer, from 1918. It slams down on the metal in a repetitive jackhammer fashion, to force the blade's shape and thinness. Designs come "out of your mind, to paper, to putting it in steel," he said. He might make up to three blades a week. Locally, some of his knives are sold at Luden's in downtown Charleston, where sales increase during hunting seasons. "I can't hardly keep them in stock," said Dee Meador, manager of Luden's hunting and fishing department. "He is phenomenal. He is an artist, without question." Meador has six of Knight's knifes in his case this week, priced between $650 and $1,500 each. He expects all to be sold within the next two weeks. For now, Knight is enjoying the relative anonymity he has in the Charleston area. But he'd like to branch out further, maybe even create special kitchen knives for chefs. Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by Neponset on August 7, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have some experience making knives. Looks like this guy is a real artisan. I used the simpler method of grinding the blade from tool steel flat bar, but he forges the blade to shape, which gives the blade better grain structure. One of the pictures shows Damascus steel - if he does the Damascus process, he is a master artisan
Posted by 512c on August 7, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I too hold a fetish for blades, but wonder, are they not ornament? why not make them as art? I admire the damascus steel, and tried to make a ring this way, very brittle.
Posted by Neponset on August 7, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
512
Have not tried the Damascus process, I gather the hot steel needs a flux of borax to make the steel weld/bond together. Have you tried it?
Posted by ASHLEY_COOPER on August 7, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good article Schuyler. Well written.
Are those blades sold free of sales tax? Do federal and state income taxes have to be paid on income from a small operation like this? Is a business license required?
Come on Schuyler. Get in there and get the rest of the story.
Posted by nativecharlestongirl on August 7, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My cousins family owns Ludens and Knight's knives are something they truly value having in their store. It is amazing the beauty found in one of these blades. I personally like his oyster knives!!!
Posted by nanaboo on August 7, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jason is my son - and you can bet I'm one proud Mama! I don't remember anything about that ladder, but I do remember Jason spending hours on end drawing knives of every size, shape and form since he was a very young child, and making them out of whatever he could find. In high school, he became very interested in making his own knives, so his Dad saved little by little to get enough money to buy him his first grinder to use for his knives. We remember old metal files being ground into knives all the time after Dad bought him that grinder.
We never forced him in one direction or another, but allowed and encouraged him to follow his heart and his dreams to find his way in the world. His dad and I are both incredibly proud of OUR son and what he's accomplished - as you can well imagine. Not everyone can make a living by following their heart, and not everyone has the self discipline to work at it as long and hard as Jason has and continues to do. You can find him in his shop at home most any hour of the day or night, working away, creating yet another masterpiece. He seems to be a night person, like me, but that works out very well for him, too. When you are an artist, you work when the spirit moves.
Never being encouraged to follow my own dreams as a child, I tried my best to do just the opposite with my children, especially Jason who has so much talent to share. He has worked very hard to become the man he is - and to do what he loves, while honing his skills to near perfection, realizing his dream, and learning that self discipline goes a long way towards creating the life you desire.
You could say I'm proud of my son, but you'd be wrong. I am literally bursting with pride, love, and awe at his talent, his drive, his ambition and perseverence. He is one incredibly awesome person, and one incredibly awesome son. But, I knew he was special the minute I saw him the day he was born! He continues to prove it every day of his life. What a wonderful gift he is!
Yes, I'm bragging - and will continue to do so every single chance I get! My son is incredible, fantastic, unbelievably talented, and still - he is mine, a wonderful gift to me from day one.
Bonnie G. Knight
Harleyville, SC
Posted by oldglory on August 7, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonderfuly story! Congratulations on your awards, Mr. Knight.
I loved your childhood experience with the ladder and granny; however, bet your granny was not too thrilled with you. But look where your dream has led!
Congratulations again.
Posted by oldglory on August 7, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Never being encouraged to follow my own dreams as a child, I tried my best to do just the opposite with my children, especially Jason who has so much talent to share. He has worked very hard to become the man he is - and to do what he loves, while honing his skills to near perfection, realizing his dream, and learning that self discipline goes a long way towards creating the life you desire."
nanaboo - Well! You and your hubby are the icing on the cake in this story! His awards are obviously well-deserved, but your tribute to your son is over the top! He's probably busting his buttons.
Thank you both for your parenting skills, particularly recognizing your son's dream and being supportive. Thank you for putting your part of the story here for all to see.
(tears just rolling down my face) :)
Posted by olroofer on August 7, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I need a bayonet for my six inch 357 S&W hand canon. I call it grandpa. OH YEAH!