The Soul of a Craftsman    

Fine weaponry and the gear that goes along with it has been sought after by all walks of life. The quality of the tool meant the difference in life or death whether in battle or feeding a family. For centuries it has been improved upon from the very foundation to the intricate ornamentation that adorns the object. Masters passed there skills from one generation to the next. Every generation added a little more advancement to the craft. These items, whether plain to the eye or highly decorated stood the test of time. In the right hands these tools could do the impossible. Some of these items where purchased never to be used only left alone investments in someones vault. Some where used hard and gained character with time adding more beauty to the tool.  As we advanced and time gave way to the industrial age a lot of the tradesman where replaced by machinery and so began the age of a throw away world. The masters gained age with no apprentices to show the skills of the old ways. But in certain pockets around the world a few held on and there where a few young people willing to invest in there skills. These craftsman where blacksmiths, bladesmiths, gunsmiths, saddle makers, harness makers, leather workers, bowyers, bit and spur makers the list goes on and on. These where time honored skills that where common place but have now become well less common. We as "traditional archers" embrace the old ways we like the feel of good wood and leather. We like to hold a knife that holds the sweat of the man who stood before the fire with a discriminating eye. These are the things we value most for when we take them afield they have meaning, they have life, they have the soul of the maker in them. Although there may never be quite the need for these craftsman as there had in past there still is a need. There will always be people who can see the difference. There will always be people who know that the initial cost is more but it is a better value in the long run. There will always be people who need the best so they can be there best. There will always be people who demand the best. When stuck in a environment that is unforgiving and your life depends on it is where these tools shine. But there are few who will ever really put themselves in that type of situation. Just as it is a comfort to know there are places that are still wild it is also a comfort to know there a still some craftsman left building in a tradition that is almost all but gone. Long live the craftsman.

By Scott Teaschner

Well put Scott !

Scott very well said.!


      A fine handcrafted tool be it a Bow, Knife, Quiver etc. has some of the makers sweat and soul in it.

A good reminder, especially to myself. Besides, anyone quoting Waylon has their priorities lined up!

I believed you said all that needs to be said,well done.

Thanks Scott, Well said. Craftsman are still at our core.

Thanks Guys

I share your sentiments. I have valued craftsmen and hand crafted tools since I was a teenager 40 years ago. I like hand saws and I sharpen my own. Try to buy a box of slim taper files these days and you'll realize another craft is almost dead.

I also value paragraphs and the difference between there and their. And I value "an" before words that start with vowels.

Most of the wordsmiths are gone too.

Crotchety old Jim in Kentucky

Lots of truth in there. One thing I like about this group is that there are a lot of true craftsmen among us. A lot of them would say "pish tosh" (or a variant thereof   ) but they are artisans, working hard for a perfection that they will never admit is good enough.

Like the archer always striving for perfection, a craftsman can get damn good, but will never get the Robin-Hooded x-ring with every shot they take. Thank goodness, or they/we would have to take up a new challenge. And I like this one well enough!

Killdeer

A wordsmith I may not be but I felt like talking about something I love.

Sometimes the thoughts are compelling enough that one overlooks the grammar. Yours is such a post. Thank you for spurring my thoughts and responses.

Killdeer

there
their
they're
were
where
wear
ware

It is actually quite quite quit fun...  

Thanks Killdeer I think I need a editor.

Smart Alec!  

Scott, good thoughts for sure. Not meaning to demean.

I was a news editor for 21 years. We always said EVERYONE needs an editor. If you follow my posts. You'll find I need one too, or two. ;>)

Jim

Et tu?


Back to craftsmen...

How about some of our own?

Rough Country



Knife River



snakewood3



Dano, Dan Casey, Shell, we are so blessed. Part of the nature of the sport is that we strive for excellence, and don't balk at taking the extra effort in order to do it in the traditional way. These craftsmen and women exemplify that mindset.

Killdeer

Some very nice gear Killdeer! The Severe's have been at it a long time they have and outstanding reputation in the saddle world. No problem Jim. I deserve it. The last I put thoughts to words was back in high school and that my friend was over twenty years ago. I need to take a refresher course becaus I can not even tell you the diffrence between a noun and verb. That is sad! But I felt inspired with all the great people I get to work with that build cool things with there,they're or their hands.

Very well put Scott.
The cool thing in todays world for craftsmen is this information hiway. We get to see new ideas in our craft at a very rapid pace and it inspire's us to try new things.

Kathy should be a writer, but I'll settle for her riding herd on us just to see how she puts words together. Craftswoman with words.