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| Arkansas Profiles: Michelle Wallace, freelance journalist Home |
| Keen craftsman |
| Stone County artisan Jack Thomas shines as knifesmith, gunsmith extraordinaire in the Ozarks (Note: This story about Jack Thomas, knifemaker and gunmaker exraordinaire, originally appeared in October 2005 in the Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. I just received the devastating news that the superbly talented Mr. Thomas suddenly passed away this weekend. I share his talent with you in the hopes that you appreciate it as so many have.) By Michelle Wallace It is a thing of beauty, a treat to behold. It's also very sharp. It's Jack Thomas' latest masterpiece, one of the most exceptional handcrafted knives there is to be found. A heavy speciman, this elegant piece is set off by an Osage orangewood handle and an intricate design pattern notched along the top of the blade, the guard, and the end of the knife. The artisan has crafted many such knives, and even created several for the Southern Governors Association conference in the fall of 2000. Thomas carries on the traditions that have been alive in Stone County for generations, back in the days when the residents of Stone County and the Ozark Mountains made everything they owned, knives and guns included. Knives and guns have always been a way of life for Thomas. |
| Jack Thomas prepares to put the finishing touches on a beautiful showpiece knife at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View in the fall of 2005. He passed away suddenly in April 2006. His art carries on his memory. |
| "It's always been a part of me," he said. "Knives and guns have always been a part of my life." Everything from start to finish in Thomas' impressive knife and gun crafting is done by hand. "It's all hand-did and a lot of redos," he jokes. From crafting the blade to creating the handle and even making a sheath for the knife, Thomas does it all. "These are all made from scratch," he says, waving his hand at several of his crafted pieces lying around. One of Thomas' knives starts off as a piece of steel for the blade. He buys the steel and does all the forging, tempering, and hardening that make the blades perfect himself. The intricate process involves forging or hammering out the shape of the blade and then tempering or hardening the cutting edge with oil heated from 1450 to 1550 degrees. "You clinch the cutting edge in hot oil. That hardens it," he explains. All of the steel Thomas uses is oil-hardening steel. The entire blade is then heated to 450 degrees. When it is finished, he uses a hand-cranked post drill from the 1800s to make holes in the blade for securing it with pins to the handle. He inscribes his initials on the blade and then comes the final touch — sharpening. "You don't sharpen one of these knives until you get ready to put it in the case," he explains quite seriously. He's careful to tell patrons of his craft not to run their fingers down the blade. He laughs as he relates a story of a man who was warned not to run his fingers down the blade of a knife Thomas had just sharpened. The man's eyes suddenly grew wide and his skin paled, and Thomas knew exactly what he had done. A trial of blood droplets followed the man out the door. "You don't run your finger down a knife blade, especially if I've had a hold of it." Thomas might use anything from wood to antlers for the handle. Sections of wood, quite a few antlers, and even a piece of hippo tusk that will eventually become knife handles are scattered around his shop. He doesn't use much hippo since it's not very malleable, but it does make for some interesting conversation, as do the countless sets of antlers that occupy every available spot. He mainly uses wood native to Arkansas. "I use a lot of Arkansas woods," he said. He favors the Osage orange that decorates the handle of the showpiece in the works today; dogwood and maple are also some of his favorites. Brazilian rosewood and desert ironwood are a few others he uses. The knives he was commissioned to craft for the governor's conference five years ago were all deer-horn Bowie knives. Paper patterns of his blades hang by the dozens on the walls of his work area at the Ozark Folk Center just north of Mountain View. "If a knife sells well, I'll make me a pattern." Not that he uses it again. Hardly ever are any two of his handcrafted knives the same. He doesn't force his creative work upon his knives; instead he lets them dictate to him. "It'll tell you what it wants," he says. "Each one of these knives has a personality." Bringing out those unique qualities just can't be rushed. "It might sit there a week," while he contemplates what the end result will be. Knives in various stages of completion can be found here and there around his workshop. There'll be four or so knives in the works all the time. When it comes time to put it together, Thomas uses tiny pins to secure the blade to the wood handle. The Osage orangewood beauty has 26 pieces counting the pins. Thomas sometimes decorates his knives with stunning patterns along the edges as he is doing with the orangewood knife. Securing the heavy piece on his worktable, Thomas cuts the pattern in the knife with a chainsaw file and a jeweler's file, emphasizing the notches with black coloring. Thomas instructs knifesmithing classes at the folk center and teaches the muzzleloading school as well. He's got some guns he's working on, too. Thomas learned the craft from his father; Jack Thomas himself has operated four gun shops over the years. His guns are like his knives — completely made by hand. As much as his knives and guns have been a part of his life, Thomas does not own one of his own creations. The beautiful Osage orangewood masterpiece would be the perfect piece with which to start a personal collection. Story and photos by Michelle Wallace October 2005 |