Cafe Interview with Fred Carter

Sam

Chief Administrator & Benevolent Dictator
Staff member
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Nov 6, 2006
Messages
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Location
Covington, Louisiana
I'm not sure when I first met Fred, but I think it was back in the '80's at the Knifemakers Guild Show. Fred's knives have always been some of the finest examples of the knifemaker's art, and of course his engraving is just as stunning. Fred's work is super clean, perfectly executed, and beautifully photographed. Sit back and enjoy this interesting interview with one of the world's top knifemakers. Please welcome my friend Dr. Fred Carter!

~Sam
----------------------------
Q. What's your name?
A. Fred Carter


Q. Where are you from?
A. I was born in Oklahoma in 1940 and moved to Texas when I was nine so I
consider myself sort of a Texan.



Q. How long have you been engraving?
A. I bought a copy of “The Art of Engraving†in 1981 so I guess that was
when I began my adventures into this art.


Q. What made you want to become an engraver?
A. Several reasons, first of I thought it might be something I would like to do and also I wanted to do knives that were 100% my own authorship. And last
but not least I could not afford to have my knives engraved at the time – so
if they were to be decorated I was going to have to do it myself.


Q. Are you a hobbyist or professional engraver?
A. I am hobbyist on one level and since I charge extra for engraving I
guess that makes me a professional in some sense – however, I don’t engrave
for others, I only work on my own knives. I have done a few engravings for
old friends to help them and repay them for their friendship.


Q. How did you learn engraving?
A. I am about totally self taught – at the time I began trying to engrave
there was little in the way of information. I bought James Meek’s book and
later Roger Bleile’s “American Engravers†from studying those two books I began to teach myself. I settled on studying Lynton McKenzie’s work as it was well illustrated, very clean and to me, very beautiful. I think that influence is easy to see. I still, to
this day, study his engraving and those two books.


Q. What was your biggest obstacle when you first started?
A. Other than not knowing much about what to do in general I would say
that sharpening was the biggest – I struggled with it for a long time and
was lucky enough to see some of McKenzie’s tools at a Knifemakers Guild show- I had
along with me small optical comparator used to measure my own gravers and was able to
measure the angles and heels on his gravers – my work changes a great deal after that.


Q. Are you a hammer & chisel and/or push engraver, or do you use
pneumatic tools, or a combination of hand and power?
A. I used a Gravermeister for years, wore it out a couple of times, today I
still use it now and then. Four years ago Steve Lindsay sent me one of his Air
Gravers to try out and that is what I use today. I use only the120 graver for all
engraving and shading and a variety of flat gravers for background removal.
However, I have always wanted to learn h&c.


Q. What are your favorite books pertaining to engraving?
A. “The Art of Engraving†by James Meeks and “American Engravers†by Roger
Bleile I have a number of other books but those two are all I really ever
read or even needed.


Q. Of the old engraving masters, whose work is among your favorite?
A. I could do a long list which would include pretty much everyone – I do
like Kornbrath and GustaveYoung probably the most.


Q. What's the worst engraving mistake you ever made, and how did you fix it?
A. The worst mistake was thinking that this endeavor would be easy, I
remember telling my wife that I should have this mastered in a few months –
many years later and still learning -- I think I will take that statement back. As
for engraving mistakes I once put a body on a raised gold butterfly
backwards – I managed to pry off the body and turn it around – if that had
not worked I was going to resort to the mutant butterfly defense.


Q. What are the majority of your engraving jobs (guns, jewelry, etc)?
A. I only engrave knives that I make.


Q. What type of magnification do you use (microscope, Optivisor, etc)?
A. Most of my engraving, for the last 10 or so years has been using a Meji
scope, before that (when I had better eyesight) just an Optivisor. I will say the Meji has done wonders for my engraving, especially shading.


Q. What part of engraving do you find the most challenging or difficult?
A. Layout is always a problem and my weakest point, other than the fact I
really can’t draw very well at all. I seem to understand some types of
scrolls fairly well so that is what I have concentrated on rather than more free flowing organic types of designs.



Q. What part of an engraving job do you dislike the most, and why?
A. Actually I like everything about it whether it is working seriously on
a knife project or just sitting at the bench practicing and trying new
things. For me it is therapy, totally absorbed in what I am doing and not
thinking about much else, time has no meaning – very Zen like I guess. I
love to see the graver move through the metal.


Q. What's your favorite part of an engraving job, and why?
A. I really begin to enjoy the work most after I have the initial cuts made
and begin the work of background removal and shading – the whole thing
begins to look like something and that is very rewarding.


Q. Do you like or dislike lettering, and why?
A. I don’t do much lettering and never paid much attention as it was not
needed on the knives I made. With the advent of computers and transfers I
have done a little more, but using transfers seems like cheating for some
reason.


Q. What kinds of engraving do you refuse to do?
A. I only do engraving on the knives that I make - I feel comfortable
knowing that if I mess something up that I can throw the whole thing in the
trash and start over – can’t do that with other peoples knives.


Q. How do you rate the quality of engraving done today as opposed to
50 or 100 years ago?
A. Today’s work is every bit as good and for the most part even better. I
am amazed and awe struck at what today’s engraving masters can do. Today’s
work makes me feel pretty humble and very appreciative of the magnificent
work being done.


Q. Do you perceive any part of hand engraving as a dying art?
A. I feel engraving it is growing and will continue to grow in quality and
popularity. If anything perhaps hammer and chisel engraving will decline
due to the expanded use of modern equipment.


Q. What country or countries impress you with their highly skilled
engravers?
A. Of course the Europeans are wonderful but I also think the engraving
masters here are also wonderful too. I see work so magnificent and complicated that almost makes me dizzy trying to follow it, sure puts me in my place.


Q. What affect has the internet had on your hand engraving?
A. The internet has made me much more aware of the great engravers working
today; I enjoy seeing it but must admit I am overwhelmed by the intricacy
and mastery. It keeps reminding me of how little I know and how much there
is to learn – young engravers have much to be thankful for.



Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn engraving?
A. I would say to start small – don’t try to do everything at once. Try
to master elements of the engraving one at a time, for instance practice
drawing smooth flowing scroll elements, maybe thousands of times until you
can draw them forward and backward. Concentrate on leaf elements one leaf
at a time or even parts of one of the leaves you are cutting, cut and
compare over and over. Concentrate hard on each shading line you cut, where
it starts, where it stops, how it relates to other lines, etc. cut each line
as if is the most important line in the whole work. Do your best to be a
harsh critic of all of your work, don’t ask your wife or mother, let the
enthusiasm die down and then ask yourself what could I do to make this
better – there is always something – if you can’t find room for improvement
you will never improve, easier said than done. Don’t practice on your
customers or your knives – if you are not sure, cut your design as a
practice plate, more than once if necessary.


::: Personal :::

Q. How many children do you have?
A. Becky and I have two children, both grown and on their own.


Q. What's the occupation of your wife/husband?
A. Becky made a wonderful career of raising our kids and supporting me
100% even when we were dead broke (more than once). She is an outstanding
quilt maker and spends most of her time working on her next big project. I
consider myself about as fortunate as any man could ever be to have her by
my side.



Q. If you have traveled, what was the most exciting country you
visited and what did you enjoy most?
A. I would have to say Japan was the most exciting – we made many trips to
knife shows in Tokyo we were privileged to make friends with Hiroko
Nakamura, the great pianist, and her husband Shoji, they showed us much of
the wonder and beauty of Japan.



Q. Do you have an interesting experience while traveling that you'd
like to share?
A. One day while out with our friends in Tokyo and decided to eat at a
small Korean restaurant we were ask if we wanted hot or cold food. Becky
chose hot and I took cold – she got a nice big bowl of noodles and I got a
dish of raw (horse?) meat with a raw egg on top, it is amazing how gobs of
soy sauce helps the food go down.


Q. What's the most interesting experience you had when meeting people?
A. I was lucky enough to spend two weeks with the great Swiss collector
Eric Meyer in the mid 80â€s. Eric was showing me around and decided we
would visit one of his factories in Germany. We stopped by a very highly
rated restaurant in France and dropped in to say hello. The wait for a
table was months but not only did they give us some truffle pate for a snack
we had a table for supper – the fanciest meal this old Texas boy has ever
gotten in on.


Q. Besides engraving, what are your hobbies and interests?
A. Interest, just about everything – hobbies –competition model airplanes
in my youth – motorcycling – armature astronomy – target archery – fossil
hunting – photography - quail hunting - fly / bass fishing and some I don’t
even remember.


Q. Where is your favorite place to be?
A. Anywhere with Becky – best place no matter where.


Q. What’s one thing of which you are most proud?
A. More than one thing! Getting through graduate school – being able to
support my family with my work- raising a couple of great kids - having the
opportunity to design the 100th anniversary knives for Harley Davidson -
actually making a living doing what I do.


Q. When you were a child, who was your hero?
A. Hard to remember that far back –Of course my father first of all - then
Sky King – Phil Ruzzito – any Yankee player of the 50’s – Bill Vukovitch and
other Indy drivers of his era – Howard Hill and many many others – I was a
pretty impressionable kid.


Q. Tell us something few people know about you.
A. Most think I am a staunch conservative- actually I am just the opposite.



Q. Where were you on September 11, 2001?
A. Here at home sitting in total non belief that this could be happening –
such a terrible day for all, still hard to believe.


Q. Do you have any pet peeves?
A. Sure, especially when people automatically assume that my beliefs are the same

as theirs – most of the time they are dead wrong.


Q. What is your favorite thing to do in your home town?
A. Just being home and messing around in my shop – nothing better.


Q. If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be?
A. Maybe James Randi or Richard Dawkings for people I don’t know. I would
love to dine with many old friends from days past there are too many to
list.


Q. What one person was most influential in your life?
A. Geology professor by the name of Dr. Jack Watkins - my first year in college was
sort of a disaster until I met Dr. Jack, he inspired me, gave me confidence
and got me on the right track – I am forever grateful.


Q. Who (living or deceased) would you most liked to have met?
A. Robert Pursig – Joseph Campbell – Carl Sagan – Richard Feynman and many
of yesterdays and today’s engraving artist, not for them to teach me
technique but to learn more about how they think and approach their work.


Q. Describe what you would think of as a perfect day.
A. Any day any where with Becky.



Q. Tell us a good short, clean joke.
A. I love good jokes but can remember then long enough to tell them.


Q. Is there anything else you'd like to say to the folks reading this?
A. Let me stress that I am primarily a knifemaker and not an engraver. My
main interest and work is and always has been in making knives although engraving has
become a larger part of my work I am still mainly a maker. I don’t
pretend to be in the same league as most of the engravers featured but only
someone doing the best he can with what talent he has. Hopefully I can
encourage more knifemakers to give engraving a good try and for them to know
that they do this if they are willing to work at it. At the end of the day
our only true teachers are ourselves, others can show us and guide us but we
must ultimately learn by practice and determination. If you really want to
learn you can and you can do it alone if you have to. Finally, I wish you all the
best in whatever you seek and wherever destiny leads you. FC
 

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Sam

Chief Administrator & Benevolent Dictator
Staff member
Joined
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Messages
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Location
Covington, Louisiana
A few more from Fred Carter.
 

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Andy

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
146
Location
Ohio
Let me be the first to say hello Fred. I have always loved your knives. You have been an inspiration to me. I never get tired of seeing your work. I hope all is well with you.
 
Last edited:

Glenn

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2006
Messages
714
Thanks for a very nice interview with a humble and talented gentleman!
 

Arnaud Van Tilburgh

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
4,221
Location
Belgium
Fred, I didn't know about your work until now.
You have made very nice knives. I mostly remember your "Zen" attitude from this interview.

Thanks for sharing, arnaud
 

Weldon47

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
1,412
Location
Welfare, Texas
Dr. Fred,

Glad to have you on this side of the Red River! Excellent interview; thank you sincerely for sharing with us!! I always enjoy getting to see a pic or two of your work,

Weldon
 

jlseymour

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
695
Location
Mt. Dora FL
Dr. Fred Thanks for the inspiration... I have admired your engraving and knife work for as long as I have been learning engraving, thanks for sharing yourself with us...
Jerry

Great interview Sam...
Thanks
 

Roger Bleile

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
2,988
Location
Northern Kentucky
Dr. Carter,

Thank you for sharing your story and the pictures of your exquisitly crafted knives. I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to hear that my book played a small role in the development of such a fine engraver.

Best wishes,

Roger Bleile
 

Jim Kelso

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2007
Messages
198
Carter-san, thanks for the interesting read. My best to you and the Beckster.

Jim
 

Ron Smith

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Messages
1,455
Hi Fred,

Long time no see. How have you been?

You engraving and knives are beautiful. Glad you are with us.

Ron S
 

Roger Keagle

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
110
Location
Korumburra Australia
Fred,

You have inspired me more times than I would care to say...to me your wanting to "single hand" your knifes is the same idea that drives me. (Plus that same need to have engraving that I could "afford !")

Each time a new mag would come out with an article about you or your knives it was on my must have list.

Sam, thank you for this interview, a thrill to spend some time with one of my heros !!!

Roger
 

fred carter

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
33
Thanks

I would like to express my appreciation for the comments thank you all very much.

Sam - It has been a pleasure and an honor to have known you for all these years. I still study your engraving and design - informative and inspirational. I knew I should have driven down to get a lesson back when – 20/20 hindsight can be so clear.
Glen - Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them very much.
Andy - I am in awe of your talent - I truly believe that you have the talent and skill to be one of the premier engravers and knifemakers - I have believed this from the get go and I am one of your greatest fans.
Marcus - I love your wide range expertise, amazing. Also I must say that I have admired your fathers work for many years - you are lucky to have had such a man for a father and teacher.
Arnaud - I am watching you grow and grow very quickly - I only wish I had half as much talent as you possess - your efforts will bring you recognition and your hard work will bring you rewards.
Weldon - I really enjoy your engraving, the bowie knocked my socks off - I love all of your work.
Don - Thanks for the compliment on the photography - you have a neat line of knives and a little of your own engraving would be a real plus. If I can help let me know.
John - It is a real pleasure to be able to compliment one of the greatest engravers - your help and expertise on these forums is an inspiration to all. I am now using one of your gravers made from square brass tubing and a cobalt drill bit.
Roger - Your book is a classic, I still enjoy it. Back then I took it to the copy shop and enlarged McKenzie's and Churchill's engravings to huge sizes to study them. What amazes me is the talent range shown in the book. Great book written at the right time for me. Thanks
Kelso san - What a talent and what a friend - What more can I say - love you guys.
Ron - I have one regret and that is that I didn’t drive that 100 miles to Ft.Worth to get to know you years ago. I have admired your work on Tommy's and Warren's knives for years and seeing more of your work on the internet close up makes me even more humbled at your talent and skill. I appreciate your dedication and hard work, engraving, like knifemaking is not an easy way to make a living which makes me even more appreciative of what you have done.
Joe - I see you are having some health problems, I hope you get past this and back engraving soon. I love your engraving and wish you well on your journey to full recovery.
Roger - Wow your comments too kind - I appreciate it - if I can ever be of help just let me know.
 

ddushane

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
1,016
Location
Andrews, TX
Mr. Carter, I have been a fan of yours for over 20 yrs. I make knives as well and am starting to engrave some now myself. The interview with Sam was nice to read. I've studied your work along with the other great engravers and appreciate you sharing your work with all of us. I'm wanting to do every facet of my knives as well, getting my new shop set up to even build my own Damascus. I love your all of your knives weather folders or fixed, weather in the white or blued. Thank you for this interview and all you do. You are an inspiration to so many.

Dwayne
 

fred carter

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
33
Dwyane - Thanks for the kind words - If I can be of any help feel free to ask. At this stage of my career I am all about helping - whether it be via internet or in person - the doors to my shop are open and my help is free.
 

fred carter

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
33
Andrew - Such talent and insight into this craft, wonderful - I have read your advice on the forums and it is always logical, well thought out and to the point. You know your stuff. I think that you have brought your artistic ability to the craft like few have done with wonderful and complex creative engravings. I am an envious admirer of your work and am sure everyone is waiting to see what you come up with next. Thanks for the comments on my work.
 

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