From: Bruce Evans To: Beknives@avsia.com Subject: Bruce Bump BIO Date: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:03 PM > > > I made my first knife in 1989. I always loved knives as a boy and > > > decided to try my hand at making them when I was required to teach a > > > craft to boys in our church related frontier camping fellowship. Those > > > early pioneer style knives became popular in our group and soon spread > > > to other camping outposts in the Northwest district. With feedback from > > > my friends and customers along with abusive field testing of my own I > > > soon found that the heat-treatment of the blade steel was the secret to > > > a quality knife. The majority of the blades I make now are high carbon > > > steel damascus in several of my own patterns and styles. Two or more > > > carbon steels are heated to 2300 degrees and forge welded together by a > > > hydraulic press of my own design. The press allows very good control on > > > the hot steel for stretching and patterning for consistant flawless > > > damascus blades. The forge is a factory made 3 burner forced air and > > > propane model fitted with a thermocouple and a digital pyrometer. I am > > > able to adjust the fire to achieve a stable high temperature for welding > > > or a lower temp for forging a blade to shape. > > > > > > I prefer natural handle materials and almost always lean to legal > > > elephant (pre-ban) or mammoth ivory. There is just something about the > > > look and warm feel of a handle made from ivory. The value of a well made > > > knife with an ivory handle never fades. I hand pick each slab and pay > > > premium prices for only quality materials. The way I see it, only the > > > best will do. > > > > > > I have earned my Journeyman certificate with the American Bladesmith > > > society and should be Mastersmith in 2003. I think it is important to be > > > affiliated with an organization that holds me and my work accountable to > > > keep the standards high. > > > > > > My latest interest is in "bladed pistols" A couple centuries ago the > > > pistol was still new and unreliable enough that gunsmiths of that time > > > fitted blades on the guns in case of missfire and as a back-up. These > > > dual threat pieces are a thing of beauty and rare in the original form > > > but can be recreated although not to exact detail but still functional > > > and fun to use. The history of the gunknife covers several centuries > > > from the matchlock to the cap and ball. Some were fixed blade and some > > > were fitted with folding knife blades. I like to make them with damascus > > > steel and ivory. They come with a small powder flask and tool kit. All > > > this stores neatly inside of a custom made velvet lined, leather bound > > > booksafe. > > > > > > If you would like more information please contact me at > > > bbump@hscis.net Bruce D Bump 1103 Rex Lane Walla Walla Wash. > > > 99362 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >