I first came to know Mel Sorg around Winter of 1998. I was looking for someone to make a few high-quality kit knife blades to my specs. To keep the story short, Mel and I had a lot in common, and we kept in touch even after the project was over. I cannot say that I knew Mel well, but after the many emails we exchanged, I knew brought a refreshing, special attitude to the craft of making knives. I most admired Mel as a craftsman of excellent knives, as many of us have come to appreciate his work on many levels. Mel's untimely death left our small community with an empty space, but Mel lives on in his knives, which are owned and tresured by many of us. This project is the result of my admiration for Mel's work. Thanks, Madpoet, for making great knives, and in your honor, here is a modest photo essay.
As you will find out, Mel was a very versatile knifemaker. He used simple designs that were expertly conceived, and used simple materials to do so. Mel told me he was allergic to synthetic handle materials like Micarta, so his knives exclusively featured wood handles, although you will see a rare instance or two where he dabbled in "fake stuff." Mel used more types of woods than I have seen in others' work, favoring burls of all sorts, desert ironwood, kingwood, and others he selected for character, figure and beauty. Mel also seemed to prefer D-2 tool steel as his main material for blades. He used it in the form of bar stock, old planer blades, or whatever would suit the project at hand. Mel used stainless when it was requested or required, favoring 440C and on occasion, ATS-34. Madpoet's knives were a testament to simplicity, most of which featured flat grinds, were extremely sharp, and super tough. Mel did "production" work as well as customs, although all his knives were utterly unique because he refused to use patterns. Every Madpoet knife was ground freehand and is, therefore, unique to the next one. Also, the choice of woods and Mel's beautiful sheathmaking skills added even more and more variables, as you will see in knives with bolsters and handle scales of contasting materials. If you own a Madpoet knife, you can rest assured it is unique. Treasure it, and enjoy this tribute.
