Jay Fisher - World Class Knifemaker

Rusty Russom

Rusty Russom started making knives in my Enchanted Spirits Studio years ago. As my stepson, he was exposed to many facets of the knife making conversation, and became versed in knife needs, interest, and design. Rusty has favored and made artistic conceptual types of knives for his own interests, and he has a keen eye, a steady hand, and tremendous drive. I could not ignore these extraordinary attributes, and convinced him to consider making some very special knives in collaboration with me.

It wasn't long before Rusty agreed to go full time into knife making, working alongside me in Enchanted Spirits Studio here in Clovis, New Mexico. This started on January 1, 2011. We are both very excited about this. Rusty already is building a order base, and has some great projects in the works in both custom knives and our own creative works together. Like James Beauchamp, who has made knives in collaboration with me in the studio for years, these will be knives that are created together with me, as well-made as if my own hands have created them. The only differences are that they will not have fancy and elaborate finishes, embellishment, or gemstone handle materials and will be made with an eye on speedy delivery, in months instead of years, as my sole authorship knives are quoting a 4-5 year delivery at current levels.

Chef's Knives

Rusty brings unique and very special sets of skills and experience to our knife making world. He is an experienced professional chef, who has managed and operated a busy restaurant in the downtown area of our state's largest and most active city. He has made a living designing, creating, preparing, executing, and delivering fine dishes to Albuquerque's most distinguished professional, government, and civic leaders and workforce, daily. As you can imagine, Rusty and I have had deep and detailed conversations about knives in general, and specifically, Chef's knives. It is one thing to be an accomplished chef and culinary wizard, but to have the experience of a professional chef offers an entirely new perspective to the knife making conversation. Many people cook, some people are chefs, but few are professionals who have made their living operating in a vital, distinctive, and daily position like Rusty has. People have depended on him to provide delicious, inviting, and well-crafted meals, made daily from fresh ingredients, hand prepared. Rusty has solid and established concepts of what constitutes not only high performance professional knives in this field, but also exceptional fine pieces of culinary art and gourmet knives. Please remember that these are not simply knives made by a knife maker, or knives made by a person who cooks; these are knives made by one of the top full-time professional knife makers and an experienced professional restaurant chef, in collaboration. I can't wait to see the new knives coming up!

Tactical Combat Knives

Now that Rusty is going full time, he has agreed to take on our standard tactical combat and professional knife styles and projects. Because of the tremendous demand for these critical knives for our soldiers, rescue personnel, and professionals in military and civilian roles, and since the need for this type of knife is very high, it is not surprising to note that many of Rusty's current works in progress are custom tactical combat knives. Just as James Beauchamp has done, these knives will be collaboratives with me keeping an eye on speedy delivery, in months instead of years as for my sole authorship knives.

Digitally Derived and Inspired Tactical Knives

In addition to having been an accomplished professional chef, Rusty has a background in artistic tactical knife design, an interest he's had since youth. Like many young people, he is knowledgeable and versed in modern computer use and interactive multi-platform entertainment. Rusty's interest in this digital technology realm extends beyond simple gaming and he is versed and proficient in FPS, RPG, RTS and MMORPG as well as higher level educational and video graphic formats. To those who understand these important and continuously emerging media forms, Rusty and I have started a program to bring many of the 2D edged weapons into three dimensions; in essence, to create conceptual digital tactical weapons, stylized knife forms, and create them in reality. We call this Imagined Weapons Made Real. In the computer and digital world, there are many creative individuals who design weapon forms for the characters and players, but, as computer designers, have little or no experience in the realities of a workable tactical knife form. Since interest is high in this type of knife, tool, and weapon, I am often asked to make certain similar designs that are real knives, axes, edged weapons, or forms. Rusty has agreed to offer his services (in collaboration with me) to do this for our clients. Like all of our knives, these collaborative pieces will be real tactical knives, not knock-offs, copies, or novelty items, and will be designed with the digital influence, with careful attention to protect the copyrights and trademarks of the companies that have these forms in their media. This means that exact copies can not be made, and indeed, in order to make the piece in three dimensions and of significant quality, there usually must be substantial modifications to the designs. So, they will never be copies, only influences. This keeps all of the legalities in order, and allows us some creative freedom as knife makers and artists. Wait until you see what we have coming up! Here's a taste of this striking, new type of knife.

Working Knives

Working knives are essential, and many makers have standing and continuous orders for these. Rusty is making them too, so look forward to seeing examples of these knives posted as they are completed. We are building them together from my existing patterns as well as new designs and patterns as clients request them.

On Going Full Time

Rusty working in the shop full time is an exciting prospect for both of us. As an older man, I believe it is good to have the younger influence in the studio in order for everyone to grow, both as established and as emerging artists and craftsmen. Rusty is excited at learning all he can, and seriously applying what he has learned to unique and essential projects. We are both looking forward to what we can build together in this exciting realm!

There is a tremendous amount to learn, as Rusty will be diving into the business of knifemaking as well as the knife creation itself. There is accounting and budgeting, research and development, safety and equipment maintenance and repair. There is everything from shop lighting to web site development and tax accounting to learn. Much of what goes on in the knife making business is not at the forefront of public discussion, usually only the knives are. Some of this basis of instruction will be helpful for me in my upcoming book, so look for that to be another benefit to our trade and industry.

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