When you’re lucky enough
to live just down the road from Bill Moran, how can you ignore what this genius
bladesmith produces? The friendship that links these two men goes back a long
way. It is almost a master / disciple relationship.
Moran reintroduced the
art of embellishing a forged knife, taking his inspiration from the work of
Black and Scagel. After having played with compositions of different materials,
in the purest Scagel style, that is to say by sticking strips of leather
between strips of stage antler, for example, or alternating with beautiful
fruit-tree wood, Moran reinvented the art of inlaying. It took many years to
find an inert wood, one that would not reject the silver thread. He finally
found it with curly maple, which had the added advantage of having a very
beautiful range of varying tones and patterns. Jay Hendrickson soon realized
that he could never rival Moran as far as the forging of knives was concerned,
since the results obtained by Moran seemed to be more the fruit of genius
rather than technique. However, Hendrickson was totally captivated by the art
of decoration, and so that was where he was able to give full rein to his
talent.
High quality blades,
wonderfully worked handles, scrupulous attention given to the tiniest detail,
such is the Hendrickson style. Naturally, the sheaths have not been forgotten;
their leather is also decorated with the same motifs as those on the handle;
sometimes there is one of those little “extras” so dear to Scagel, a silver
arrowhead or star.
Jay was one of the ABS members instrumental in the planning and
formulation of the W.F. Moran School of Bladesmithing in Washington, Arkansas
and the Blacksmith Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has been teaching the
basic bladesmithing course at the school since it’s beginning.
From 1989 through 2001, he taught the basic
"Introduction to Bladesmithing" course at the William F. Moran School
of Bladesmithing in Washington, Arkansas. Prior to this, he taught ABS
classes at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, for five
years. Jay, along with other ABS members, was instrumental in the
original planning and formulation of the W. F. Moran School and the ABS
Bladesmith Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Jay has made knives knives for people in many countries of the world but
one of the highlights of his knifemaking career was to forge Kukri Knives for
Prince Abdullah Hussein, now King Hussein of Jordan. His knives have been
featured on the covers of many knife magazines: Knives Illustrated, La Passion
des Couteaux, and Knives 99.
The tradition has thus
been carried on, and Hendrickson, this worthy successor to Bill Moran, and head
of the Association of American Master Smiths, will also become a legend
himself, that’s for sure.
His son Shawn
Hendrickson is also collaborating with his father on knife projects.
Sources
100 Legendary Knives by
Gerard Pacella in 2000
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