My dad whittled me my first toy knife. From that moment on, it seemed like I had to have a "knife" or "sword" with me everywhere I went. The sword changed over the years from stick to lightsaber to cheap katanas bought online, but the intrinsic feeling of holding something that felt powerful never really left me. When I was 17 both of my paternal grandparents passed away within months of each other. Our family was devastated, they were truly the matriarch and patriarch of our family and losing them both in such quick succession was incredibly difficult. Growing up,my grandparents always told me I would someday inherit my grandfather's knife collection. So, in a time of great darkness, there that small ray of light. As I handled the knives that my papa sharpened weekly to a deadly edge, I felt a bit of my grandparents in my hands as well. When my father told me that a few of the knives were made by my papa when he lived in the Philippines (where he grew up) I was blown away. They were a traditional Filipino cane knife and a beautiful Barong. Holding them helped me feel...rooted, to both my family and to a sense of power. I knew then that one day I would make a knife of my own.
Fast forward to 2013. I've earned a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology and a minor in advertising. I am going on my third year working at an ad agency when a friend (shoutout to you Emmalie!) tells me to check out this place called the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum about 45 minutes north of San Diego. I find that they have introductory, beginner and intermediate blacksmithing classes. Boom. Game over. I sign up for everything I can and for the next few months, my weekends are dedicated to learning the basics of blacksmithing. After I have a general grasp of how to not burn myself every session (just most sessions) I decide to build my own little forge out of a soup can and propane torch.
It's great! Except that it isn't, it's actually terrible. I really only used it once. But hey, it helped me to heat treat this knife!
Soon after making that first knife I moved from San Diego back to my hometown of Arroyo Grande. I began pursuing bladesmithing with more vigor. I attended the American Bladesmith Society's Intro to Bladesmithing course in North Carolina, and under the tutelage of renowned Mastersmith Jim Crowell. I began to hit steel with purpose, rather than just hit it hard. Upon my return I took the first steps that changed my life...
Check out my next blog post to see what direction my bladesmithing journey took!