May 23, 2012
Making Damascus
See you all at the Blade Show in Atlanta, GA in two weeks!
June 4, 2011
With BLADE Show in Atlanta, GA just around the corner Zoe is feverishly working to finish some BIG all Damascus Tactical folders. The knives are a collaborative effort with ABS Master Smith Jason Knight. They have striking ZC Feather Damascus blades and unique "W" ladder scales with titanium liners. And they walk and talk beautifully with smooth action and great detent. Ever since Zoe passed his Journeyman Smith performance test under Jason's supervision, Jason has become an amazing mentor (and great friend!). Jason has been working on a flipper design for quite some time. Being inexperienced with folder making and lacking the time to experiment, he shared the pattern with Zoe. Zoe took the design and ran with it, creating three outstanding prototypes. So, the folders are Jason's profile and shape... with the Damascus and complete execution by Zoe. These folders are certainly the beautiful collaboration of two great makers.
Zoe's also been working on a classy fighter with ZC Lotus Damascus blade, Damascus guard, Ivory spacer and Ironwood handle.
Zoe is looking forward to the show and seeing all his friends, so stop by 7S and say hello! Unfortunately, I have class this weekend, so the baby and I will miss seeing everyone! So, I guess we'll have to wait till San Antonio in January :)
In addition, I have been creating some beautiful jewelry pendants out of Zoe's Damascus for the show. So, while your spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on knives, don't forget to make your lovely wife or girlfriend happy... get her a necklace or a pair of earrings made from Zoe Crist Damascus! AND, I hope to have a few key chains ready for the fellas! Thanks in advance for supporting us!
Here's a couple photos of what's been coming out of the shop...
A sample pendant heading to the show...
And a photo of Layne working very hard in the shop with his daddy!
Blessings to you all!
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April 24, 2011
Hi friends!
It has been a busy couple of months and I have been ignoring the computer since the warm weather, escaping outside to the garden. Nothing compares to the sacred act of gardening. And home grown food, especially organic, is the absolute best. I feel so blessed to work with the land and reap its bounty. Plus, Layne loves the outdoors... it's hard to get him to come inside some days!
Well, enough about me... what about the KNIVES !?
I have some pretty exciting news... Zoe and I spent last weekend in South Carolina with ABS Master Smith Jason Knight and his family. Zoe forged and tested the blade for his Journeyman Smith Performance Test. And he passed!!! Yeah! Below are some pictures of the knife and the test. Zoe will be presenting knives for judging at the ABS Knife Expo in San Antonio next January. Jason and his family are truly amazing... both generous, caring and fun!
The Batson Bladesmithing Symposium in Alabama, at the beginning of the month, was a great success. Zoe assisted ABS Journeyman Smith Bill Wiggins in teaching five Damascus classes over the course of the weekend. They got great feedback from attendees saying the Damascus class was the best they'd seen. Dr. Jim Batson invited Zoe to teach the Damascus class (alone) at the Mid-America Bladesmithing Symposium in Troy, OH in August.
JS Test Knife - Before Rope Cutting
2 x 4 Board Chop (twice through) 90 degree Knife Bend
JS Test Knife After Jason and Zoe after the test
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March 8, 2011
Last weekend we attended the Great Smokey Mountain Symposium and Knife Show at Haywood College in Clyde, North Carolina. It was quite a thrill to watch the Battle of the Bladesmith Competition. Mastersmiths Joe Keesler, Jason Knight, Burt Foster and James Rodebaugn each made a knife in 2 hours or less and the audience voted to determine whose knife was best. Burt Foster won the competition. Joe Keesler finished his knife in 45 minutes.
In addition, Zoe is revving up for the 24th Batson Bladesmithing Symposium and Knife Show at Tannehill Ironworks located in McCalla, Alabama. He will be assistant teacher to Journeyan Bill Wiggins on Damascus Making and will have a table at the Show. So if you are attending the symposium please stop by and say hello.
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February 7, 2011
Here's a picture of a custom folder Zoe just completed for a North Carolina Law enforcement officer planning to use it as his everyday carry.
This knife is a titanium liner lock folder, with a carbon fiber handle and Zoe's Feather Damascus blade. It is ambidextrous, having the thumb stud on both sides of the blade and the pocket clip able to be attached on either side of the handle.
Zoe is always happy to work with you to create the knife of your dreams!
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January 24, 2011
Layne and Zoe
Zoe has been busy in the shop forging some new styles and working on orders. Inspired by ABS Mastersmith Burt Foster and Journeyman Bill Wiggins, Zoe has been working on some great laminated steel blades, forging carbon steels and stainless together. They are functional and beautiful. I'll take some pictures soon and give a sneak peek!
Also, Zoe left early this morning for his Quillon Dagger class with Mastersmith Kevin Cashen at Haywood Community College. The class is being sponsored by the ABS. As always he is so excited to learn something new.
~Shio Crist
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January 12, 2011
Hi Everyone!
This is Shio, Zoe's wife. I have officially decided to take over the "What's New!" section of Zoe's website; as it seems to be one of the most viewed pages, but is least updated :( Sorry guys!
Check back in often, as I will try and update this section monthly.
Well! we've been crazy busy here. Zoe has been apprenticing slip joint folder making from Daniel Warren, ABS Journeyman, in Canton, NC. Daniel is a great teacher with enormous patience. Zoe has really enjoyed his time there and has learned so much. As usual he has become obsessed with them and is now taking orders. Here is a quick picture of his second ever slip joint. The blade and bolster are feather Damascus and the handle is Sambar Stag.
Since moving to North Carolina, Zoe has been attending the Haywood Community College Knife Club. There are some really amazing knife makers and enthusiasts in the group; and Zoe has really enjoyed their monthly meetings. Among them, Bill Wiggins, ABS Journeyman and Treasurer, has been a real help to Zoe. Zoe was nominated for a scholarship for a Quillion Dagger class by Kevin Cashen at the end of January at Haywood College. He is really excited about this class. And it will be a great help for Zoe when he tests for his ABS Mastersmith. To become a Mastersmith, one must complete a European Quillion dagger with Damascus steel!
Last night Daniel Warren and Bill Wiggins spent the evening in Zoe's shop making a billet of feather Damascus. They are real down to earth, great men. They really enjoyed themselves in the shop and we enjoyed them as dinner guests!
As far as I have experienced, the knife-making community is full of some extremely giving makers. The exchange of knowledge never ends. They don't hide their wisdom away from each other... rather the opposite! They contribute everything they know, because they all share the same obsession: MAKING KNIVES! And they just keep learning from each other and passing on the knowledge. Quite a trip to be involved in. We owe many thanks to many great makers who continue to help us along the way!
August 20, 2010
Sorry but it's hard to keep up with this section. Well whats new, I will be in Ohio for the Mid-America Bladesmithing Expo & Knife Show on August 27-29. the we have the knifemakers guild show coming up on Sept. 17-19. i have been making some new folder styles and designs and also getting back into the big bowies and fighters.. Have a look around..
July 18,
I haven't kept up this section very well, I will post more updates soon.. I have been making and selling lots of custom folders as of late, I will get some up in the gallery soon. They have all been orders so the available section is sparse right now, but if you would like to order please feel free..
May 9,
Well I guess everyone knows BLADE is coming up in 3 weeks now in Atlanta. I have not been able to post anything new recently because I have been working feverishly to get ready for the big show. Please keep checking in and I will post new work before June 2 of the BLADE bound knives..
Hello again everyone and thanks for visiting. I just returned from the "Shenandoah Valley Knife Collectors Show" in Harrisonburg, VA. It was a nice show and the knives did well and I met a lot of great people. I want to thank everyone that purchased knives, thanks for your support. Also, remember that each and every knife has a FULL lifetime guarantee. If anything ever happens to your blade or handle just return it me and I will make it right, fix it, or if it cant be fixed then I will make you a new one ! I have adjusted some prices on knives. After starting my show circuit and seeing what the market bring I have a better idea. Also remember to check out the new inexpensive line of carbon steel blades with Hamons. Most are cord wrapped but I can also do micarta or wood scales if you prefer. Please visit the "Available" section often as I will be posting some knives left from the "Shenandoah Knife Collectors" show. As of now I am working hard to build my inventory for BLADE show, June 4,5,6 , in Atlanta. I am at table 20J. Please stop by and see me. I am putting up a picture of me and my good friend and mentor Don Fogg. I had a great time learning from him in Auburn, ME at the New England School of Metalwork.
I am working on a new line of hard working knives. They are simple and seriously functional. They would be a low end version.. By low end I mean by price point. With each knife I conducted the ABS test. Shaving, rope cutting, chopping 2x4, shaving again.. Obviously skipped the bend test :-) the knives are 1095 and the Hamon one is 1075-1080. All are hand forged. Contact me if you would like one for your hunting, fishing, or any outdoor sport that demands a good knife.
Hello again.. I just returned from the ABS bladesmithing course at the New England School of Metalwork taught by Master Smiths Don Fogg and Burt Foster. It was a great learning experience at a great school.
Also I would like to invite everyone to join my mailing list by sending me an email. Click HERE to join.
I have been getting a lot of requests for certain knives and so I thought by creating an email list everyone would have the same opportunity at new knives. Also it would be a way to stay in touch and find out which upcoming shows I will be attending, updates to the knives and the website in general. Thanks for stopping by.
Layne discovers "Blade magazine"
Feb 15, 2010
Here are a few new knives that will be going to the show in Harrisonburg, Va. in April 2,3,4 for the 19th annual Greater Shenandoah Valley Knife Show. There are several more still in the shop that I will post in the next week. I am trying to get them done before I leave for the class in Maine (see below). Also I had a new surprise, Knife World put a photo of the "Set" in the latest issue in the "Artistry in Knives" centerfold.. very cool !! I will post the details of the new knives soon, but please look at the photos and send me any comments on them, I would love to hear from you.
Feb 06, 2010
I have 5 new folders done and will post soon. Here is one of them and this coming week I will get the photos up of the others. Please let me know what you think. I also am working on some new Liner locks with mokume and exotic wood scales !! Also many new knives for the upcoming Spring and Summer shows..
Wally Hayes has been great and has spent countless hours on the phone into the late night helping me out.. BIG appreciation goes out to him. And also Kevin Casey has been a huge help and inspiration in this process. I will be offering a whole new line of folding models and pre-orders are now being taken. Please call or email to discuss some models. Here are some samples. Let me know what you think.
I am working full time for some upcoming shows. I will be going to Maine from March 8-19th to study
with Don Fogg and Burt Foster at the New England School of Metalwork for the bladesmithing class; then Harrisonburg, Va. in April 2,3,4 for the 19th annual Greater Shenandoah Valley Knife Show; then to the Blade Show in Atlanta June 4,5,6; then to Louisville KY for the Knifemakers Guild Show Sept. 17,18,19 . Let me know if anyone is coming and it would be nice to meet.
Also in "Whats New" is a picture of our new baby boy, Layne. Born on 10-22-09
This is some of my latest work. Some are available; some are already sold. Please feel free to
contact me if you like anything in particular. click on the pictures for a larger view...
