Mike Pisio lives with his wife, Evelyn, in Kamloops, BC. He started making knives in 1996 when he was living in Vanderhoof, BC and working as an RCMP officer. He met longtime Knifemaker Bob Lay, who was a Conservation Officer. He asked Bob if he would show him how to make a knife. Bob gave Mike a piece of 440C steel, instructions, and said, “Let me know if you need more information”. Mike went to work with some files and sandpaper, making his first knife and a leather sheath for it. He still has the knife (see last knife below), but he has come a long way over the past 30 years. There has been a lot of trial and error and many conversations with Bob. The big change came when he acquired a 2”x72” grinder and kiln from Bob, who was upgrading. Mike has maintained both the grinder and the kiln and continues to use them today.
All of Mike’s knives have a mirror finish. He likes the look; he has tried other finishes, but he wasn’t happy with them. Mike says, “I mirror finish my blades before I heat treat or temper them. After they are heat-treated, I soak them for a day or so in extra-strength vinegar to soften the scale. I wipe them dry and then start buffing, taking them to a 400 grit and the mirror finish.” Mike makes six knives at a time. He estimates that each knife takes about 10 hours from start to finish, and over a month, he has completed the six knives.
Mike grew up on a Saskatchewan farm, so using knifemaking tools and machines came naturally to him. He is now retired after his RCMP career that took him to Kitimat, Terrace, Bella Bella, Smithers, Pentict,on, and with his family to Vanderhoof and Summerland. Knifemaking is a hobby that he enjoys spending several hours each morning in his shop. Before he retired it was evenings and weekends. When asked what he likes most, he said, “I have to be totally focused; if I’m not, then I make a mistake that usually results in an injury. I keep Crazy Glue and band aids on hand. But the thing I like most about it is taking raw materials like a piece of steel and wood and making a knife that is functional and will be handed down in a family.”
Mike uses only 440C for his blades because it is easy to work with and it won’t rust. He uses a variety of materials for handles. He always keeps a lot of handle material on hand and lays it out before he starts. He likes to use stabilized wood, brass bolsters and spacers that are separated with additional black spacers and sometimes elk antler. Mike says, “My knives evolve as I work on them, and I just try different things. One time I made several handles from old jeans that I tore up and stabilized into a 1”x1.5”x4” block. They turned out well.”
Mike makes mostly hunting knives that he sells at BC trade shows, including Chilliwack (March), Kamloops (April), Prince George (May), and Enderby/Salmon Arm (October). He sells between 30 and 50 knives per year. He uses the winter months to get a full inventory ready for the spring. Each knife comes with a durable leather sheath.
When asked about his designs, he said, “I just start grinding, and the shape evolves, and that determines the knife blade. I have been doing this for a long time, so I am comfortable with letting it take shape as I grind.”
Mike says his biggest challenge is, “Not to hurt myself. If I lose concentration, then I get cut. Using the Buffing machine at 1200 rpms, I need to have full concentration. It is easy to catch an edge. One time, I wasn’t focused, and the blade caught, it hit two walls, and I never found it. It remains somewhere in the garage. Luckily, it did not fly backward. I use a leather apron to protect myself. If a blade slips once, I get more focused; if it slips again, I know it is time to wrap up for the day.”
Mike’s Tip #1 – “Take a blade to a mirror finish before heat treating, then afterward, soak it in extra-strength vinegar for a day or so to soften the scale. When buffing, use your bare hands so you can feel the heat of the blade. It should not get overheated, as that will damage the blade. Bob taught me this technique.”
Mike’s Tip #2 - “You don’t need a lot of equipment or space. I have a 2x72 grinder, kiln, buffing machines, ,files, and a corner of the garage. If you take care of your equipment, it will last for a long time. I am still using my original grinder and kiln.”
Words of Wisdom for new Knifemakers – “Don’t expect to make a living unless you are doing it full time and can market yourself and sell lots of knives.”
See more of Mike's Knives on his Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikesknives/
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