Meet The Maker #9: Pierre Mefflin

Meet The Maker #9: Pierre Mefflin

Pierre is the maker behind Mefflin Knives and our 9th maker in this series. 

I have known Pierre for several years and am very pleased he accepted doing a Meet the Maker interview. I think what Pierre touches on with mindfulnes and drawing parallells between martial arts training and knifemaking resonates with many of us; 

G’day I’m Pierre. I’m a part time maker based on the Central coast. I work full time in IT and get in as much knifemaking as I can while renovating, learning other hobbies and mowing a big lawn. I had very little experience with crafting with my hands before I started making knives just some rudimentary blacksmithing and leatherwork.

I make fixed blades by stock removal. My early work was born from my love of the woodlore bushcrafting knife (Originally made by Alan wood for Ray Mears). I’m now branching out into daggers, fighters and art knives. I recently had some laser cut blanks and soon I’ll be water cutting my own designs. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of putting hamon on my knives and expect I’ll always be doing it. I grind my bevels with jigs on my 2 x 72 and freehand my handles on my radius master. I have a paragon oven and heat treat all my work. I work with carbon and stainless steels.

When I was younger I trained in some weaponry martial arts. When training (especially weaponry) you need to concentrate, or you can hurt yourself and/or others. The same concentration is required making knives and I find it easy for the time to melt away when I’m at the grinder. I’ll be so focused on what I’m doing that I forget the pressures of work. Many forms of meditation are built on the concept of mindfulness. I think this might be why people get such a release from knifemaking as it helps them quiet their mind from unnecessary thoughts.

The Bushcraftoz forum and Australian Blade Forums (ABF) are why I am making knives today and not daydreaming about it. Special mention goes to Corin and his wife who were kind enough to host hammer-ins so newbies could try knifemaking. I met so many great people in our industry in his backyard.

I think the majority of knifemaking steels will perform admirably when heat treated appropriately for their use. I’ve used 1095, 15n20, 1084, sup 9, O1, 52100, W2, RWL34, damasteel, 12c27. I don’t know all the ins and outs of each steel or metallurgy so I just try to achieve consistent hardness results that will give a reliable blade.

I love natural and synthetic handle materials (and don’t have a preference), but there’s some colours that I just don’t like to use.

Its awesome to be able to buy known steel and great equipment in Australia. I know the guys who run these businesses and they are top blokes. A lot of people don’t realize that it wasn’t that long ago you could not source a knifemaking grinder in Australia let alone a variety of knife making steel and handle materials.

Its great seeing someone’s eyes light up when they pick up my work at a show. I strongly recommend attending knife shows. As a maker, I had an impression of how I was viewed by the public. After seeing and hearing the publics enthusiasm for our craft and work, I realized many people appreciate and respect what we do.

I'd like to have the opportunity to learn every aspect of knifemaking. I'd also like to make swords, polearms, armour, pattern welded steels and my fully cnc'd pieces. So, as to whats coming up for Mefflin Knives? watch this space cause even I don’t know.

My prevailing goal as a maker is to try to improve my work in at least one aspect every year and be a positive representative of the Australian knife community. One day I'd like to teach but at this stage I've still got so much to learn.

3 tips for anyone starting out?

1.Have fun and have a go, you really might surprise yourself at what you can do.

2.Failure is inevitable and its growth. Knifemaking doesn’t come easy (well it didn’t for me) but when you persevere and see improvements in your work it’s so rewarding.

3.Go to the knife show in your state and chat to some makers. You can see so many amazing knives, see equipment firsthand and chat to a bunch of people who love talking all things knifemaking. It’s just the best.

Thank you, to all of the knifemakers and vendors who’ve helped me on my journey and continue to inspire me with their friendship, their work and their passion for our craft.

A big Thank-you to Pierre for taking the time to write a little about what got him started and what he takes out of knife making. Pierre regularly attends knife shows in Australia to present his work, and can contacted on email here.

To stay updated with his most recent work, give his facebook page a like.

Bjorn J, Creative Man