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 Andy ShinoskyMy interest in knives goes back to my childhood when I was fascinated by every folding knife that I saw. It was when I became a Tool & Die Maker apprentice in 1988 that I was able to turn that interest into a new hobby, knifemaking. By 1991 the costs associated with this new hobby began to mount. It was then that I decided to try and sell a few pieces at a local knife show to recover some of the related costs. To my surprise I was actually well received and managed to sell a few. I now had the knifemaking bug. It's been quite some time since then and presently I can only make a few knives per year due to family constraints.
The fall of 1991 I did my first small local knife show. Intimidated as I was, it came off well and I started planning for the next show...etc.
I was continually striving to learn more and continually bugging other knifemakers for help...most were very accommodating. I eventually started making Interframe folders which are my favorite type of knife. They lend themselves well to engraving.
In 1996 after speaking with an engraver friend, Jere Davidson, I decided to take a shot at engraving. Jere was kind enough to let me come to his home for some personal instruction on the basics. Engraving is a unique skill of it's own and takes quite some time to develop the ability to do an adequate job. Needless to say I devalued a few knives in the process. I am now finally confidant enough that I would be comfortable engraving someone else's work.
This brings me to the present day where I continue to try and improve on the skills that I have and produce better and better knives with each one that I finish.
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