Kilmarnock West Custom Knives
Tools for Generations
My name is Doug Boyd. I started making knives in 2011 after taking an introductory knife making class from Tom McGinnis of Ozark Knifemakers. After I took that first class I knew I was in deep. I joined the Blacksmith Association of Missouri, found several mentors, including Jim Crowell and Brion Tomberlin. I also read numerous books, and started acquiring the tools and equipment to fashion knives in my own home shop.
Like many knife makers, I started out using pre-made blades and finishing the handles. It was not long before I felt the need to develop my skills further to design and shape my own knives from raw steel.
In 2012 I joined the American Bladesmith Society as an Apprentice Bladesmith. That same year I also attended the two week resident Introduction to Bladesmithing course at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Washington, AR. This course lays the foundation for Bladesmiths to continue their journey and learn the skills necessary to progress to Journeyman and eventually the MasterSmith level. My goal is to earn the title of Master Bladesmith so that I too may pass this skill on to the next generation of knifemakers, and continue to revive a once nearly lost art.
I work with several different types of steel, as each has its own particular properties. I enjoy working with Damascus steel, but have lately become fascinated with the process of wrapping a blade in clay before heat treating to produce a wavy "hamon" line in the metal. The word "hamon" is Japanese and translates as "blade pattern". This is the wavy line that is seen on many Japanese swords.
My goal is to build knives that are both functional and beautiful. My good friend, Aaron Parrott of Look Outside Design, coined the phrase "Tools for Generations" which sums up my desire very eloquently.
