PAGE 22 · VISTING THE SMOKIES, APRIL, 2004
PAGE 9 · NEWPORT PLAIN TALK, APRIL 23, 2004
|
Cosby couple forges out a living
|
Len and Varena Landrum in their Cosby shop. You can see them during the monthly Treasures of Appalachia shows off Cosby Hwy, at Holloway's Country Home.
Tucked away in the forested hills above Cosby is a little piece of heaven where a local couple makes their living forging and shaping raw steel into beautiful and useful things. Len and Varena Landrum bought their property in June of 1996. They then spent the next 4 years getting it ready so they could move from Mississippi and live and work here full time.
Len started working metal early. Right after graduating from high school he went into a trade school to learn metalworking. After that he served a 4 year apprenticeship at Ingals Shipyard as a machinist. Before long he was also instructing the Machine Shop class and a high school level Metal Trades class at a local community college.
"I got started doing some blacksmithing while I was working at the community college." States Landrum, "And after a year or so of making hooks and other metal pieces, I was trying to come up with something more challenging to forge. I remembered making some knives early in my career and thought it would be fun to forge out a knife or two instead of just shaping them from bar stock. Not only did it turn out to be fun, but I found that a forged blade cuts much better.
That was 13 years ago, and he's still at it. He's earned his Journeyman's stamp with the American Blade Smith Association, and is working on attaining his Masters.
Len and his wife Varena work together in their 1200 square foot machine shop mostly doing production work for local manufacturing companies. Although they have a pretty complete workshop - in fact they will soon be building a 900 sq. ft. addition to house some new machine tools - they don't do much in the way of repair work.
|
Using a metal lathe, Len Landrum creates parts for his custom forged and finished knives.
|
Lan Landrum works his craft, while visitors watch him make knives.
"Whenever the production work lets up enough for us to catch our breath," states Varena, "Len makes knives and I paint and make the leather sheaths for Len's knives. Making the parts for log home
|
companies pays the bills, but it's the more artistic things that we love to do."
"We enjoy the independence of working for ourselves." Says Len, "And we like knowing that something we are making in our shop is going to help someone else build a nice strong home for themselves. Varena and I are the only two employees, so every part we make reflects directly on us. So we go the extra mile to produce a very good part.
"I guess that is one of the things that is so rewarding about making knives. Knives are tools that everyone uses just about every day in some way or another. I work hard to make knives that look good, feel good in the hand, and cut really well. Most people that buy a knife from me will just add it to their collection, but some will actually use them. So I start with the best steel I know, forge the blade to shape, grind and hand finish, then use a heat treatment that will produce the
|
best cutting edge."
"Len's knives, "adds Varena, "hold an edge for a long time and are easy to re-sharpen."
Landrum also likes using natural materials for the knife handles. "Bone and antler are good, and some types of wood. The combination makes a good looking knife and a good cutting knife. I also forge Damascus for some of the fancier blades. So, any knife I make will work as a collection knife or as a knife to be used… or both!"
The Landrum's knifes can be seen at their web site: www.LandrumKnives.com. Their knives, sheaths and paintings can be seen and purchased at Treasures of Appalachia, 3892 Hwy 321 in Cosby. They are happy to do custom work upon request, and can be reached at (423) 487-5448.
Treasures of Appalachia is a quality Art & Craft Gallery that offers the works of 24 local artisans. Everything in the store is locally made, and hand crafted. You may reach the store at (423) 487-3111 9:00 --5:00, any day except Wednesday and Sunday. Or you may log onto www.TreasuresOfAppalachia.com
|
|
|
