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Ray Kirk
American
Bladesmith Society Master Smith
January 26,
2016. I started
forging knives in 1989 from springs and in 1993 I found out that they
made high carbon flat bar. I did stock removal for a while and now
do mostly forging. I forge most of my knives from a round bar of
52100 that is from 1 3/4" dia. down to .375" diameter.
In the last few
years, I have been making a style of knives that I
consider both useful and simple in design. It is also a very
beautiful knife style and has recently seen a surge in its popularity.
This knife is the integral style knife. It was brought to my
attention by Ricardo Vilar, a very good knife maker from Brazil and is
now one of my main knife styles. That is one reason that two of
the knives I submitted for my Master Smith stamp were damascus integrals
with full tapered tangs.
In January
of 2009, I started a new model of knives, the NDN Integral Series.
These knives will feature an as forged condition on the flats of the
blades and will be more economical due to less hand work.
In October
of 2011, I have acquired a large amount of .531" dia 52100 round bar and
am able to make a small integral that cuts as well as the larger ones.
This is the steel that came from Dahlonega, Ga. and is the steel of the
Trail of Tears model.
I am a member
of the
American Bladesmith Society,
the
Alabama Forge Council, A.F.&A.M.,
the Knife Group Association, the
Kansas
Custom Knifemakers Association, the Arizona Knife Collectors
Association, and the Cherokee Nation
of Oklahoma. I also try to attend many of the hammer-ins and
seminars on knife making during the year. I believe that a Bladesmith
should continue to improve and learn all they can to make the best knife
they can make.
Mailing address:
P. O. Box 1445,
Tahlequah, Ok. 74465
Home
- 918-456-1519
Cell - 918-207-8076
Shipping address:
25494 So. 530 Road, Park
Hill, Ok. 74451
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