95golf

Cool bowie!!! I have not been brave enough to try forging a BIG blade yet. I thought about trying a bush kife first. Any specific problems to watch for when scaling up your knife forging?

This must be the same Richard...he does some unbelievable knives with no power tools. I saw a feather he forged that looked real!

Thanks for all the good words, guys. I'll try to answer a couple of questions but I'm still new at this so remember "grain of salt":) When I set a bevel I use the edge of the anvil with the future blade edged up to it. If you then lift the spine a few degrees (matches the bevel you want) and hammer in your bevel. You're not moving a huge amount of metal if you already put in your blade and distal tapers. The magic is that the anvil will set the other bevel! A thought on filing...Think of the detail work on old firearms and Gothic period armor, a lot of that was hand filed! Can give us some hope!:D

Good to hear from a neighbor! I got hooked on blacksmithing from the guy who works at the smithy in Dollywood, (Sevierville). His name is Richard.

Here's the jig I use when doing my filing. It is meant to be bolted down, but I just clamp it into a large vise. Notice that the blade clamp head can be rotated completely around, and this helps when doing file work. If I have a deep bevel or plunge cut in mind, I try to forge it in, but on the bowie I did a lot of file and sandpaper work. I hope this pic shows up more detail.

Actually, grinders are still a bit beyond me right now($$$) so I do almost all my shaping in the fire. The polished bowie was done with files and then up to 2000 grit wet/dry paper. I wrap the paper around various tools to get a more or less defined edge (like in a corner). Anything from a piece of wood or hard rubber to a file steel with no teeth. I did use a buffer on that one. The other knives pictured were done mostly in the forge. The drop point has maybe two hours of work with files and stones, and the kris was all done in the forge with minimal filing and stones on the edge. I'll post a picture of the jig I use to hold the blades.

I use a steel pipe laid into the fire and then build the fire up around it. I can then let indirect heat bring up the temp for heat treating and still be able to have sight of my blade.

Thank! I'll post pics of the kris when it's finished (when I can get some time! ).

Funny that you mention that, I have no idea. It's unfinished, forged in a gas setup from an unmarked rr spike. The color showed up after wire brushing. It's not heat treated yet, but I wonder if the color is from different cooling rate/thickness? It's really defined in person...any ideas?

Hey, neighbor, I live near Johnson City TN just over the mountains from Ashville. Maybe I'll see you at the western NC forge group meets.

The first one I don't have a picture of, but wanted opinions on these!

I've been 'smithing about a year now, mostly ornamental and sculpture. Knives are an interest but I've only finished three so far. Great web site! I'll be visiting often.