Justin Carnecchia

Hi, I have been working on this knife for some time. I had picked a handle material, and then it didn't come and didn't come, problem at the post office or something. Well I gave up on the wood but not the knife. I have an old gnarly aspen stump lying around so I fired up the chainsaw, cut a piece off and threw it in the stabilizing jar. Well that was last week and now I got the handle together, wouldn't ya know the beautiful chestnut burl I ordered finally came. Well I think I like the aspen more. So here it is: 6.25" blade 12" overall with a balance right at the heel, differentialy hardened W2 tool steel honyaki wa-santuko with spalted aspen handle and buffalo horn ferule. It is all done but the horn still needs polished. Here the pics. So that's it, thanks for looking let me know what you think, -Justin

Hi, So I've had some time to work on the large drop point knife. I got the tenon for the guard filed in and had a chance to polish it. The blade is 8" in W2 with a false edge along the last third of the blade. I plan on finishing it with a stainless guard and chestnut burl handle. There were a couple problems with it, I goofed a bit on the plunge lines, and the hamon is to close to the edge(a little hotter next time) but overall I am pretty happy with it. So there it is, thanks for looking I would love any feedback, -Justin

Grant thank you for your most helpful recomendation. John thank you as well, I will in all likely hood buy your 100-20, hopefully within the year. Thanks to everybody else who has posted, I live in the middle of nowhere and often forums like this are the only chance I have to interact with other smiths. -Justin

Monster Metal, thanks for the generous offer and if I can get out that way I will certainly take you up on it. Also thanks for giving an honest opinion that doesn't seem to be terribly biased, I assumed as much about the comment of the run down Iron Kiss. John & Grant, I am still curious as to the 75# hammers ability to do the type of work I want to do? How would you say this hammer compares to say a Little Giant 100# for moving metal? John is there anyone out there using your 75# hammer to do traditional high layer Japanese swords? Thanks for all the feedback, at this point I am still leaning towards the Iron Kiss 100-20, I like the anvil ratio and like that the parts most likely to break are readily available and should be for some time to come. I look at Striker hammers and wonder you would do if you had one and had to replace a major part. With the Iron Kiss someone will always be making pnuematic cylinders and valves. And as for the weight I figure you can't go to high, I know of smiths using Nazel 3b's for the type of work I want to do. I would probably go bigger but I don't think I can afford it, the 100# will be a stretch, hence my interest in the 75#. Thanks again, Justin

Hey guys, thanks for looking and thanks for the great feedback. I will post more when I finish up a couple more knives. Thanks again, -Justin

Hi everyone, I am pretty new to this forum and thought I would share some knives I have done and a couple I'm working on. I've been forging knive for a little over a year now. I became interested when I was looking for a new chef knife and came across Japanese gyuto's. Long story short, I couldn't afford a new knife but did come across a website showing how to make a knife out of an old file. Soon after I found Ron Reil's sight and built a gas forge. Well soon I was out of files and was srarting to get something looking like knives. So here's where I'm at... This Is the first knife I finished. probobaly about four months ago. It is forged 1084fg with titanium liners and G-10 scales. This is the second knife I finshed, It is a 9" W2 honyaki wa-gyuto. It is currently in use as my daily use knife(I'm a chef).It is very sharp, very thin and very light. The third knife I finished is a largish drop point hunter in W2 with a desert iron wood handle, cable guard and brass spacer. Those are the knives I have finshed, but I have several I am working on. This is a W2 santuko that I should finish up in the next several days. This is another large drop point that I will also finish up in the next few days, well maybe more like a week. Here are several swords I have been working on, the first is a cable katana I did last summer. I am not entirely happy so I don't plan on polishing, it has been lots of fun using though. The next one down is a W2 katana I forged ealier this week. The one on the bottom is another cable katana I finished forging today. I don't have any way to temper these two at present so it will be a while before I heat treat and polish them. hopefully not too long. Thanks for looking, let me know what you think. -Justin

This conversation is beginning to feel very one sided Thanks for all the advice guys. It will be a while before I have the money for this so I have plenty of time to think it over. I would love to try some hammers if I can find some to try within a couple hours of Sandpoint Id. So far no luck with that...If anyone in Spokane or Missoula has a hammer I could try I would be most thankful. Has anyone here dealt with Nathan Neale? How does he stand behind his product? I would love to hear from someone with an Iron Kiss 75# or 100#. Thanks again guys, as forums like this may end up being the driving factor in my ultimate decision I appreciate any information I can get. -Justin

Thanks for the advice guys, I am suprised to get so many recomendations for the Say-mak when it was largely this forum that swayed me over to the Iron Kiss. I have a couple of concerns with the Say-mak among others that it has been very hard to get any information on them. The other main issue is the 6-1 anvil ratio, I have read they have no problem moving metal but how are they with control? Do they have the control the Iron Kiss has? Also the seperate air compressor that I first saw as a negative I am seeing as a possible plus since I can use it for other things, as well as move it away from where I forge to reduce background noise. You guys all have self contained and seem very happy so maybe I will give it more thought. I have thought about a press as the price difference between the 100# and 75# would just about cover it, but I think I will have an easier time getting the go ahead on one really big purchase than two not quite so big purchases. That is why I want to know if the 75# will do it or of I need to go with the 100#. I know smiths doing the type of work I want to be able to do with Little Giant 100# so I know the Iron Kiss 100#s should do it. That being said unless someone who has one tells me a 75# will be more than adequate I will go with the 100# just following the old advice pick the size you think you need and go one bigger. Thanks again for the advice guys, -Justin

Hi guys, I am planning on buying a power hammer sometime within the next year. I have all but decided on the Iron Kiss either in the 100# or the 75#. The other hammer I am giving consideration to is the Say-mak 110#. I am a bladesmith so I know the 75# will be more than enough for most of my uses. I do however need to be able to forge sword sized billets of damacus to do Japanese style swords and would like to be able to process bloomery iron for the same purpose. Is the 75# big enough to handle this type of work in a timely fashion or would I need the 100#. That being where I want to be now what the future may bring who knows? I will likely only ever have one chance to buy a power hammer, should I get the 100# planning ahead for production damascus work? Thanks for any advice you can give, -Justin

Wow Jim, That is amazing. I usualy only look at the power hammer page on this forum(I am currently a bit obsessed with the idea of getting one) but I am sure glad I looke at the sword forum. I have long been impressed with your work but I didn't realize your mastery of the art includes Japanese blades as well. So if I work my butt off for the next thirty years and have some talent, I can hope to produce a blade like this? Really though truly amazing work, it is not clear to me why your name is not mentioned in regards to Japanese swords as you are clearly one of the best out there. Thanks again for your advice with cable over on the other forum, I can't wait to see your new book, -Justin Carnecchia