I made my first knife in 1986 and took it to work  and thats all it took .  and i have been making knives ever since .a voting member of the knife makers guild and a life member of badger knife club  the steel i like to use  carbon steel  5160 ,1095,  L6, 52100, by request other steels are available . i also make my own demacuse  twist ,ramdom,latter and more.