SPK Knife

SPK is the name of this Drop Point Hunter feather Damascus pattern knife

































Bronze Guard




Fossilized Walrus Ivory Handle













Mosaic Pins










































SPK stands for "Shayne's Personal Knife" he made it for his Alaska hunting trip to Kodiak Island next month. This is his first try at the feather pattern.

Jay gives his "Two Bits"

We have two bits here:

This bit Jay custom made for a gray horse we have. He went out and measured his mouth every which way. It's just too pretty to use when they kids are riding him around the house, so it sits on a shelf in the living room (Shaynes's Shrine with all of his awards)

Jay also handmade the chains. Clamping down each one individually with pliers. Take note of the chin strap and the bit stand. The buttons are made from scraps of damascus and forged with a hammer.

Jay has made Trudy's barrel horse and Chance's horse bits also. But not this fancy

Bit #2

This bit Jay started last fall for Shayne. It is totaling damascus steel (except for the chain).

The bit stand is the same.

Each ring is also handmade

Jay takes a file and files the roller by hand

His stamp. Amazing welds

Jay mailed this up to us in June after he completed it and decided he wasn't coming up for the summer. He said he wasn't driving anymore. Shayne offer to take him to get groceries, He said "I didn't get this old depending on other people" typical Jay Sharp

He made this bit when he was 89 years old. Yes. He is an amazing man

Side Note: I can't even remember the names and of artists of these bits. Yet, a man twice my age can produce them. I feel a need to try a little harder. A need to be a better person. How about you?

Jay Sharp

So Every fall when Jay goes back to Las Vegas to live with his son

we wonder if he'll be back.

For 3 years we didn't think he would be back because he is getting up there in age, he is 89 after all.

Well, this year was the year.

He decided to stay in Vegas.

And I miss him.

Jay has been spending summers with us since 1999.

He is brilliant

A true living legend

Jay at Shayne's shop in Draper 2004

Shayne and Jay have not made tools for over 5 years now.
Jay has been working on bits and spurs from the 15th century - present
stuff he's been wanting to do for 40 years.
I'm not bugging him to make hammers
Sooo if you see a Jay Sharp hammer for sale
BUY IT

The Bits and Spurs Jay has been reproducing have been made as the craftsman had made them back then. He makes tools for the tools. They are absolutely brilliant. His attention to detail is astounding, you would think Jay's eyesight would be a little shaky. Not any worse than a 40 year who has to hold the pill bottle at arm's length to read the fine print.

I guess I better start off slow so his creations don't fry your brain

So Jay got on a kick of making these bits and spurs out of old rasps

If you can zoom in on the details. His precision is amazing. Even the stand for the bit is a piece of art.

Makes an interesting pattern. I should have written down the names of the bits when he gave them to us

Spurs made out of rasps. Two different patterns. These are actually "useable" spurs. Some of the ones he replicated had rowels on them that were 8-12 INCHES ouch those mean Spaniards

So Cool

One thing Jay does not do is make damascus. So Shayne supplies him and he creates. Check out the buttons. He makes everything.

To be continued...

Updated Photos WCB Raffle Knife

It's true.
Shayne is good at everything.
These are the pic's he had taken.

WCB Raffle Knife

Craig asked Shayne to make a damascus knife for a drawing at the end of the year for the World Champion Blacksmiths Association (WCB). The WCB is selling raffle tickets for this knife. You can purchased them at their website here

I have never claimed to be a photographer, but I can usually fake it. Not with this knife. It was so hard to capture of the beauty of it. I failed miserably

The handle is fossilized Walrus Ivory. The blade is 120 layer twist damascus 1080/15N20 carbon blade. The fittings (guard and butt cap) are stainless steel. The blade style is "Big Belly Hunter"

More items for the raffle to come...

Drawing to be held in January. Championships will be held in Denver CO

Eastern Idaho Farriers Association

Shayne will be doing a clinic for the Eastern Idaho Farrier Association

Date: August 14 and 15, 2009
Location: North Bannock County Fairgrounds
Contact: Dave Wright (208) 775-3451 (one of the nicest people you will ever meet I might add)

Shayne will cover Anatomy and Shoeing.

Inspiration

Shoes from when horse had to work for a living and farriers took pride in their work.

circa late 1800s