Hello from Kentucky.

[kenab]

Hi , my name is Kenny. I live near a little town called Barbourville in southeast Kentucky.

I have been viewing this message board for a few weeks and wanted to show a little appreciation.
Thanks to the fine folks at Woodcarving Illustrated and EVERYONE THAT HAS PARTICIPATED on this board for the helpful and generous advice you all give.

I cannot say enough about how invaluable a resource this board has been to me as a new carver.
There are so many fantastic carvers on this site that seem to be more then willing to share there expertise and know-how with new carvers.
From me and all those beginners like myself, thank you all so much.
Because all of your advice and experience, I feel I have gotten off to a good start with some good tools, Flexcut and Denny, so far, purchased from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers
I bought some great books there also.

Ok here is my story……..
I got a new gold cup Colt 45 pistol for Christmas!
They tell me that this is one of the best shooting guns of its type.
Well….. I can’t hit the side of the barn with it.
No really, it’s a great gun. I just can’t shoot well…
I wanted to change the grips to a set of custom walnut grips.
After a few days looking over the net to buy a set, nothing really jumped out at me that I just had to have. Then, “I HAD A BRAIN STORM”.
I’ll make a set!
Maybe some walnut grips with a little checkering and a carved colt logo.

Well, bear with me. I am not trying to write an article about a gun for this fine magazine. I promise.

So my quest turns me to a google search for “Custom Walnut 1911 Grips”.
I wind up on the youtube site. I did find some videos pertaining to what I was looking for.

But…..

I also found some interesting videos that were done by a “character” by the name of Gene Messer.
Ok…. so I watch one of these videos…. then another and another………
Did you know as of this date that Gene has done 256 videos….
I have watched them all and I am looking forward to seeing more of them.

After a few hours into these videos, I think to my self. “I can do this”…

Now you got to understand this. I HAVE NO ARTISTIC SKILLS. I can’t even draw a straight line…….lol

Gene with his humble and persuasive way, made this look so easy.
He just kept chipping away at those little figures that he does so well, I just had to give it a try.
Well, for me, his 5 min bear was more like a 6 hour bear….lol
But I did git-r-done… and some of the little guys too…..
They took the better part of 3 to 4 hours each.
I don’t guess I will be getting wealthy with my carving……lol
As you can see, I am hooked on this new found hobby of mine.

What a wealth of information that Gene has put into his videos.
I certainly appreciate his work as a carver and teacher.

I have visited the blog of Lynn O. Doughty also. What an artist! I love those western scenes .
If ever I learn to carve well enough. I think I will do more of this type of carving then anything else.


I must admit that I have done more reading and admiring all the fine carvings that everyone has submitted to this site, than I have actually carving.
What a joy.

After 6 or so weeks of reading, looking a photographs of great carvings and some time with a knife in my hand, here is what I have done so far. Some of which are still works in progress.
I know they aren’t great but it is a start. And I so much enjoyed doing them.

I made the two knives in front from an old DeWalt sawzal blade. The handles are made of walnut, laminated with the whitest hickory I could find.
They cut pretty well to be homemade by a greenhorn.

As for the pistol grips…….Well,,,, I’ll get around to it……….lol

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Welcome...and those don't look like beginner carvings to me! good job...as for not shooting straight...its because you said you can't draw a straight line!

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Welcome to the forum, nice carvings.

Dave

[Ron Davidson]

Kenab Welcome to the forum!

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Ken. It'snice to have you here with us. I have to say your introduction is the best I've ever seen from a newbie.

Your work certainly doesn't look like a beginner's so you must have natural talent and/or absorbed a lot of what Gene was teaching in his videos. Those two knives look great.

[Mottles]

Well, my goodness, hope Gene see's your post and elevates you to the top of the class. You have done really, really well.
Kathy

[Ed Redwine]

Boy What a lucky guy!! A .45 Gold Match... I'll have to put up with my 9mm S&W for a while longer. For a new guy, you learn fast. Gene has great videos. With your new acquired skills, the grips can't be far behind. Welcom to the Board.
Ed

[Riverman]

Hi Kenny, welcome to the board. Your carvings look good. Have fun here and kept the chips flying.
Bob

[big dave]

howdy and welcome

[Al_Hillis]

Welcome Kenny good of you to join us , your carvings are great