I just looked up my first correspondence with Doug to ask for help making my first blade. I was so inspired with his little caper that I needed to try to at least make one knife of my own...April 8, 2005!
I've had a pretty good journey so far with teachers like Doug, Joe Keeslar, Jason Knight & Burt Foster plus everyone here! After trying my hand at all sorts of styles, I still come back to that simple Campbell caper. These caper/skinners are off shoots from Jason & Burt's style of forging...Keep it Simple. tippit
52100 7 1/4" AOL with 3 1/4" blade. The top blade has already dressed & Skinned a hog just fine.
(http://images5a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp63597%3Enu%3D32%3A4%3E%3B87%3E672%3EWSNRCG%3D3793%3A875%3C732%3Cnu0mrj)
Perfect !
Very useful design. Hard to improve on a great design. Well done.
Chris
The circle keeps going Jeff.
Each time you go back to basics you peel off a layer, like the proverbial onion, and study each curve and line, trying to make an improvement. When you add up the improvements, the sum total is a much better looking knife.
You're doing great Jeff, because you have seen "the way" to improve. I look forward to seeing your JS knives.
Thanks Jeff, watching you get going and seeing the kind of Bladesmith you have become brings a huge smile to my heart. We couldn't have been successful teachers without such a great student, you deserve the credit Buddy.