ATX Knives   

The most important lesson I learned was that a good bladesmith is never really satisfied with his work. He strives for perfection in everything. I was instructed by Master Bladesmith Jim Crowell and Tim Potier, who I am proud to now call friends. The class was my first lesson in humility. Jim Crowell stated that our class of nine students had more previous experience than most classes. I quickly found out that there are a lot of really talented knife makers in the world. It was going to take me awhile to catch up with the other eight students in the class. Master Bladesmith Tim Potier saw me struggle to catch up with the others and helped me with a lot of one-on-one instruction.

By the end of the class, I had made a few good blades. But thanks to Jim Crowell and Tim Potier, I had gained the knowledge of how to make a really great knife. I knew it would just take time and a lot of practice. I knew my knife making ability was not where I wanted it yet, but I never gave up trying to make a better knife. After the class, Jim Crowell looked at my knives and said “you’re getting better” and described me as “the most persistent student he had ever had.” He was being nice and teaching me my third lesson on humility. After the class, I returned to Austin to begin practicing my new trade. My father was an engineer and quite a perfectionist, and I had always been quite the opposite. He watched as I talked about the class and how I was making my knives. One day he laughed and looked at my mother and said, “I think the light bulb has come on” referring to my new interest in making sure my work was perfect and had no flaws.

I continue to learn and improve every day. I hope I can always say that.