Jacob Tkalec

When the jaw broke I cut it off and started anew. Couldn't think of a way to do it other than that, with my skills.

Spent today finishing these off. Had to drag my forge and anvil outside after the carbon monoxide poisoning. Photos! 1. Safety first. 2. Broke the jaw off when I was aligning them... ugh. 3. Heating! 4. Finished product. Tomorrow I'll be straightening and drawing out the handles some.

That sir is a very interesting method. I like the WD-40 and paper towel trick as well.

Great post. From what I've learned about these axes they were used as common tools and weapons of war. I guess you could say similar to a bow or spear.

It doesn't matter where they've moved along to in the technological progression, you still find them using metals that are softer for various reasons. We've had steel for quite a long time but you still find them alongside iron and even bronze items. All I can say is that it ix bronze. It's classified as a celtic socketed axe. As for the exact date, I have no earthly idea. I don't know where it was found. All I know is what I'm told by the archaeologist who let me photograph it. Here is a website that offers more detailed information on how a socketed axe was used (this one is iron, but it offers several pictures as well). http://www.adventurehistory.com/selectedfinds/catalogue/0500iron/

I have not found a "real" anvil here yet. I'm using a 110 pound Harbor Freight anvil that I bought for $125 (more than it cost new, because someone went and shaped the ugly horn properly for me. ) They mostly run around $1.50 to $2.00 a pound.

No sir. It's an odd piece in that they fitted a dowel or an L shaped piece of wood in the end and used it that way. Not sure why that is so, but I'm very confident that is how it was used. Otherwise having the 2 inch (approx) deep circular mount on the end is pointless and detrimental to being used as a wedge.

No. I had no such hospital trip. I did call the American Association for Poison control and they diagnosed it as MOST LIKELY CO poisoning. Mild to moderate. I took the option to "wait and see" due to being tight on funds and $100 dollar copay in the emergency room doesn't seem fun. It went away after about 8 hours but I had typical symptoms. Nausea, headache, dizziness, threw up slightly.

I burn charcoal in my forge. Contracted a case of mild to moderate carbon monoxide poisoning. Windows open, door open.. guess it still isn't enough airflow when the wind ain't blowing.

Let me know what you think! I'm still considering it, I'm very tight on money and I'm trying to save for an apartment. :)

Check the zip files. Perhaps you'll find what you're looking for in the extra photos.

All artifacts shown were hand forged. Everything would've been forged from iron with the exception of the bronze celtic axe head. Thank you ChiChi for your contribution. That was exactly what I was hoping toget.

Well. Take a look at the photos. We did the best we could in the 15-30 minutes we had in the room with all the artifacts. Lighting was poor but we got quite a number of photos of each piece from different angles. I'm hoping to get some insight on how they were forged, in particular. I'm completely new to blacksmithing really and I want to get some insight from those more experienced in the field. Maybe looking at it with the eye of a blacksmith will afford more information on an archaeological level as well.

I'm currently studying to be an archaeologist in college. My professor has an extensive collection of artifacts and I decided that today would be a good day to take photographs of any ancient and forged items he had available. I took quite a number of photographs, and I've inserted some below to show what exactly is available. I'll attach two zip files at the end with all of the photos. The purpose of this is to give people a high-definition look at some ancient forgework, and hopefully get some insight into how things were done. The topic is intended to discuss the different forging techniques used in the items (hopefully) and provide others with the information needed to reproduce similar items. My job is taking the photos and sharing them with you. I can give origins and general dates, although I need to ask around and do some research on most of these for more specific dates. First up we have a Roman spear point from approximately 4th century. (I'll update dates for accuracy when I find definite numbers) Next we have an older spear point that is Roman as well. Following the Roman trend we have a camp axe head. Another axe head (unsure of use. I didn't think to ask around with people more knowledgeable of Mediterranean/European artifacts, my specialty is Colonial America. Two Roman arrow points of different designs, both forged. I had several others available that were much smaller and designed for the Visigoth chainmail, I can get pictures of those if anyone would want them. Three arrow points from Kiev, Ukraine. Medieval period (most accurate I could get) and possibly Viking. A Celtic axe from Gaul, contemporary with the Roman camp axe. Bronze. All photos copywrite of my lovely girlfriend Ms. Shepherd. Credit where credit is due please. Permission has been provided by the copyright holder to use the photographs. Photo credit to Alison Shepherd. Artifacts 1.zip Artifacts 2.zip

http://books.google.com/books?id=kbLmAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PR28&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U3Hy1ev2jG39CJFGWyVfferUeIS3A&ci=23%2C16%2C892%2C1288&edge=0 I love old advertisements. :)

...¿Por qué?

I know people who are addicted to them. They do come in handy, that's for sure.

Wonderful little Excel file. I'll be holding onto that.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LOT-41-AMERICAN-BLACKSMITH-MAGAZINE-ANVIL-VISE-FORGE-/150525488500?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230c04ad74#ht_11504wt_1139 Someone selling 41 complete issues scanned onto a CD. Sounds like a pretty nice little bundle. But... is it worth 20 dollars? /

Interesting little trinket up for sale on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Peter-Wright-Anvils-Advertising-Print-Block-/150524679329?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230bf854a1#ht_3390wt_905 Figured someone might find it neat enough to shell out 10 bucks for it. :)

Sounds like you made the same mistake I made when I forged my first item. I was making a J-hook all pretty as you please when I burnt the curl and instead of a nice curl I have a rounded mass on the end. This is life, eh? The thinner the material the easier it is to heat. The easier it is to heat, the easier it is to burnt. Keep a close eye on the tiny bits and you can avoid it (usually). Answering phones seems to induce burning as well.

I've got access to some Roman or Greek fibulae. I'm not sure which they are but I'm comfortable with Roman right now, I want to say 4th century. I'll take some high definition photos of them for you guys to check out.

Yeah. I'm going to close off the windows so that I can get some heat going from the forge. Feels like it's going to be a cold winter.

Essentially I re-purposed an old playhouse we had on the property from when I was a kid. The ceiling is a bit low, and I have to look out for the propane lamp I'm using.. but hey! It's indoors and pretty cozy. Problem is, I have no forge as you might be able to see in the pictures. That's coming (soon).

My first knives that I made last weekend. I've only been at the forge once before I made these. The first knife is made from a piece of lawnmower blade, the second from leaf spring. I was mentored by a more experienced bladesmith from the forums here (RBrown) and I owe any success I have to him. Figured I'd throw them up to get some thoughts and suggestions for my next try.