Smith, RJ (Rick)

I have been collecting knives of all kinds since I was around ten years old. Originally I was mainly interested in folding knives, but after reading 'How To Make Knives by Loveless and Barney', I decided to try my hand at making fixed blades back in 2001. Well I guess you could say I fell in love with fixed blades and have been making them since then. I make all my knives with the stock removal method and primarily use stainless steels such as CPM154, ATS-34, and 154CM, although I occasionally make a few with 01 tool steel and do the heat treat for those in the propane forge that I built myself. All of the knives I make with stainless steel are sent out for heat treating, usually to Peters Heat Treating here in Pennsylvania. My favorite knife makers include R.W. Loveless, Jim Merrit, and S.R. Johnson, among others. If I had to describe my knife making style I guess you could say I strive for the classic looks that these makers have demonstrated. During the past year I have done some major upgrades to my shop including a new mill, and various grinder upgrades. I hope to continue making fixed blades and I constantly try to improve my knife making, always striving to make that perfect knife. Some of my other plans for the future are to try my hand at making some folders. My interests in folding knives range from classic styles such as Ron Lake, to high tech cool stuff such as the knives made by Reese Weiland. I think I would also like to try a few slip joints, just for good measure."