Upswept Skinner

Lively, Don

My name is Don Lively I was borne in the mountains of West Virginia in 1963, I?ve lived and worked here all my life and As far back as I can remember I?ve always had a fascination for knives. I was around 5 when I got my first pocket knife and I was hooked I made my first Bowie style knife at age 25; it was made from saw mill metal. I made a dozen or so, they were crude but, I was proud of them. About four years ago I started making custom knives on a part time basis. I like using older methods along with High carbon steels such as 1095, spring, l6, l7 and tool steel metal. I use brass and copper for finger guards to pommels and the handles are made from wood, antler, buffalo and other natural material, plus micarta,g10 and Dymondwood, and I?m expanding to new materials such as stainless and Damascus. I also hand forge railroad spike knives and coil spring knives. I file art work on the spine of some. I have many styles to choose from. And I custom make for customers. My wife Dianne makes the leather sheaths from raw leather by hand and tools the leather with designs and either sews or laces the sheath for a beautiful piece of art work that is durable. We love to be creative and do things the old fashioned way. I heat treat and temper my knives the way the old timers did, I heat the blade up till a shadow trails up the blade and when the blade won?t stick to a magnet I dowse it in hot oil, and let cool, then I bake till the metal turns the color of straw and that is when it is tempered and resilient. I have a passion for making knives by hand, I believe the lord instilled that in my heart, and many times prayers went out from my little knife shop while making knives. Jesus is the best friend I ever had. Thank you your time, may God bless you. (John 3:16)