RAY KIRK MS BIO
Ray Kirk of Tahlequah, Oklahoma was born at home just east of Tahlequah in November of 1944. Ray was the first of three children and his earliest recollection of knives was a gumball model that he lost down the door window of his uncles 41 Chevy. It was gone for good and he cried because they wouldn’t take the door panel off to get it for him. Later on his father moved the family to Tulsa, Oklahoma because of the better job opportunities. They stayed in that area till after all had graduated from Jenks High School. His fathers welding skills were passed on to both sons who continued to make a living in the field of welding.
Ray worked for 20 years in field construction as a Boilermaker and Pipefitter welder before beginning a teaching career in 1984 at the Bill Willis Vo-Tech in Tahlequah. His past experience enabled him to teach others his skills to help prepare them for employment in that field.
In 1989, a series of events made a single parent of him and with Christmas coming, the logical thing to do was to forge some knives for Santa’s bag. That was the spark that erupted into a flame of passion for knife making. In 1995, he was asked to start teaching a knife forging class at the Vo-Tech in the evenings for adults. Not knowing what was needed to do a good job of it, Ray asked his knife making friend, Harry Fentress, what to do. He simply said to write Bill Moran. Ray wrote Bill Moran a letter requesting some assistance. This was done at a time when Ray had no idea that he would receive an answer from a total stranger. About a week later, a reply came that was to change the course of Ray’s knife making career forever. Bill Moran not only answered all his questions but also gave him his shop phone number and volunteered to help in any way he could. In the business world, this is an almost unheard of occurrence, sharing the knowledge and skills of your occupation with strangers. This philosophy of sharing and teaching led Ray to accept an invitation from Troy Brown to go on a shop tour of the Arkansas Knifemakers Association being held at Cliff Polk’s home, less than an hours drive. He joined the AKA and the fire was getting bigger.
A few months later, in the spring of 1997, Ray went to a weekend seminar, called a Hammer-In, at Washington, Arkansas. Just before departing, Joe Flournoy and Greg Neeley talked to Ray about the need to “always do the best you can” and you will get better. He joined the American Bladesmith Society when he returned home and set a goal of attaining his journeyman smith rating in 3 years and the master smith rating in 2 more. The first goal was met and the second was postponed due to some back surgeries till the Blade show in 2005. His goal now is to continue to learn, improve, and pass on his knowledge to other willing recipients. Ray is a member of American Bladesmith Association, The Order of Mystic Brotherhood, Arkansas Knifemakers Association, Sociedade Brasileira Dos Cuteleiros, and the Knife Group Association. All knife organizations that promote the image of knives. Ray said “I owe everything I know to almost every one I know”.
Chck out Ray's site: Rakerknives.com