You only need to talk with Jim Clow for a few minutes before learning three main things about him and his knifemaking. First, he always wants to be challenged. Second, he has no knifemaking secrets. He is an open book, very collaborative, and willingly shares his knowledge and skills. Third, his wife Bev is part of everything he does in knifemaking and in life. Let’s explore each of these things about him.
Jim and Bev live in Brooks, Alberta. They have three grown children and five grandchildren. Knifemaking came into their lives 26 years ago after Jim heard about a knifemaker who gave courses in Lethbridge, Alberta. Jim contacted him and was told if he could find three others, he would do a course. It was not long before Jim, his brother, and two friends were taking a course. Jim is a Welder/Fabricator and it was the combination of the machinery, materials, fire, and taking raw steel and wood and forming it into a knife that immediately hooked him into lifelong knifemaking.
Jim has never stopped challenging himself. For the first 14 years he made fixed blades until longtime knifemaker/friend, Roger Hatt, showed him how to make a liner-locked folder. Folders continue to give him the greatest satisfaction and challenge. He says, “It is the refinement that takes the time to learn. Just a little change can make a huge difference in the precision of folders.”
Jim has been fascinated with making Damascus for the last 20 years. He says, “10 or so years ago, I spent 2 years just making Damascus and learning about it. I didn’t make one knife during that time. I started from very basic and evolved to complex patterns and canister Damascus.” He invited other knifemakers to his shop, and they learned from each other through a lot of trial and error as well. After two years, he returned to making knives using the sophisticated techniques and skills he learned, and he has travelled to Texas to learn other processes/designs. He is now learning the process of 3D printing to make canister Damascus.
Whether it is folders or Damascus, it is the fine-tuning that challenges him, and he seeks others to learn from. About 4 years ago, he started reaching out to renowned knifemakers in the US and getting together with them. For example, this last winter, he and Bev did an extended driving trip through the US, allowing him to take a week-long engraving course with Ray Cover in Missouri. Then they travelled to Texas so Jim could take a four-day liner-lock course. He says, “For me, knifemaking is not about the destination, it is the journey, and I will never stop learning and challenging myself.”
The second thing you quickly learn about Jim is that he is an open book. He shares his knowledge freely. When asked why, he replied, “I like to help people, I have always been that way. I get a huge satisfaction from seeing people learn and grow.” For many years, he taught 4-6 knife courses and/or hosted hammer-ins per year. But more recently, when people ask him about a technique, he creates a video and shares it on his Instagram and Facebook. Or if there is more in-depth learning, he will pass on his knowledge directly. For example, he says, “Someone I knew only online wanted to make Damascus for a living. I gave him the information I had, and now his Damascus is outstanding. I want to learn from him.”
The third thing about Jim is Bev. She has always been 100% behind Jim’s knifemaking and everything he does. For 10 years, they hosted the Western Canada Knife Association club table at four annual trade shows in BC and Alberta. Jim and Bev had a Welding/Fabrication business that they ran for many years, with Bev doing all of the administrative work. They sold it 10 years ago and semi-retired. But soon afterward, they started another Welding/Fabrication business with their son. It has grown substantially, and his son plans to move into an 8,000 sq foot facility this year. With knifemaking, Bev has both a creative and a critical eye. She gives Jim input on the types of materials and colours that work together. Jim says, “With each completed knife, she finds something that I could have done better. She is my greatest supporter and my best critic, she’s always pushing me to be better. I would not be a knifemaker without Bev.”
Jim makes about 30-40 knives a year. Previously, his customers were from southern Alberta, however, now there is a demand for his knives all over North America. When he completes a knife, he puts it on his Instagram/Facebook, and it is gone quickly. For the past 4 years, he and Bev have toured the US, meeting knifemaking friends and doing knife courses in Texas and other states. He likes to take one knife and asks other knifemakers to critique it.
Favourite Materials – For steel, it is Damascus using 15N20 and 1084. For handle material, it is mammoth ivory. He says “It is awesome to work with 15,000-30,000 year old material. It is pure beauty.”
Biggest Challenge – Jim says, “For many years, it was finding the time to make knives with a busy work and family schedule. But now that I am retired, it is learning the fine-tuning. For example, how deep to etch a blade to get the effect I’m looking for. It is the minute details that take a lot of time to learn.”
Jim’s Tips
Tip #1 – “Take courses from experienced people. It is so much easier to learn hands-on rather than trying to learn on our own.”
Tip #2 – ”Learn the fine details and use simple materials to make your knifemaking smooth. Do it right before trying to get fast. Get good and then get fast.”
Tip #3 – “When making Damascus use steels that have similar compositions such as 15N20 and 1084. They weld together well, and they are compatible. The two years I spent making Damascus I tried different steels with some very disappointing results. ”
See more of Jim's knives at: https://www.instagram.com/jim.clow/
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