Hunterbow Smithy

Melonkernel, There are lots of posts & pictures on the web of guys who have built their own grinders. I am in the final stages of getting mine running and would be glad to send you photos of the material I have collected of various types of grinders, so you can get some ideas. Cheers, Chad

As far as the mechanical advantage of the treadle hammer is concerned, like most things, there is no free lunch. I have the plans for the Clay Spencer Treadle Hammer and myself & my colleague (a mechanical engineer) examined the linkage system and came to the conclusion that they do not multiply the input force since the pivot is practically in the center of each link. That being said they still hit a xxxx of a lot harder than the armstrong hammer, so I guess it comes down to what you want to use the hammer for. If you want to do precise work, then the treadle hammer is probably your best bet, however if you are making billets & drawing out stock all of the time, then a mechanical power hammer is a good option. Or if you have a lot of money to spend ( or a very understanding wife) then get an air hammer and you can do it all. Cheers, Chad

Hi All, I just got a quote on a 268 Lbs. Euroanvil and I am looking for some feedback about them before I commit to getting one. I would buy a Nimba if I had that kind of cash, but sadly I don't. So if anybody has a Euroanvil or has used one, I would sure appreciate your opinions on their overall quality. Thanks, Chad

Thank-you ballpeen, that is very generous. I appreciate the kudos and will try to post more stuff. Chad

Hi, Congrats on the new house, the new anvil and the new "hobby". You should find lots of good folks and information to get you going, I know I sure have. see you 'round, Chad

Howdy, You should find lots of good people & info on this forum. Cheers, Chad

I ordered all my belts from Jantz Knife supply as I cannot buy any locally. They carry Klingspoor & 3M belts. I just hope I can get my xxxx grinder assembled so that I can use them. Chad

Hey Rraven, I made a small pseudo piece of mokume by forging pennies & nickles together. The piece is large enough to make a guard, small bolsters, or butt cap. Saw how to do it on YouTube. Only problem now is that one of the guys at work wants a larger piece to machine and I'm not quite sure how to do it.

As a small child my grandparents took me to Lower Fort Gary, where there was a blacksmith working in costume with period tools. I was mesmerized by the rythm of the hammer. The blacksmith saw that I was watching him very intently and gave me a nail that he had just finished making. I still have the nail. Then much later when I was a teenager my friend's dad had just built a (crude) gas forge and he turned us loose with it. I tried to forge a blade out of a piece of leaf spring that he gave me and ruined it in the process. There have not been too many moments of clarity in my life, but those two instances made deep impressions in me. Since that time, I have taken a blacksmithing intro course at SAIT and a couple of courses with Mark Pierce. However, my real interest lays in bladesmithing and that is quite different altogether. Hopefully I will be able to take some classes specifically for knifemaking, but I will have to practice more and wait until the kids get a littler older. There's me in a nutshell. Chad

Fair enough Rich. I can and will abide by those simple house rules. The next blade that I forge I will post pictures, material specs, heat treatment process, and a humble request that my peers "critique" my work as their time permits. I thank you and anyone else who is kind enough to provide junior smiths with their hard earned experience, and honest opinion. Who could really ask or expect anymore? Peace. Out. Chad

Perhaps then there should be an area where people who want to have their work critiqued can post pics. When I post my pics I wish to have my work critiqued, not simply looked at because if I need the ego boost I would just show my work to my mom - she loves ALL the junk I make. When I posted my first forged blade, I did it with some trepidation as I was not sure how it would be received. All the feedback was positive and I believe that it is as important to point out what a person is doing right as well as wrong, but errors do need to be brought to light or they may never get corrected. However, it would be comforting to know that the people who are making the corrections are qualified to do so. In saying this, would there be any individuals who would be willing to shoulder the task of critiquing work that people specifically submit for that purpose? Chad

RainsFire, There is nothing wrong with friendly competition and it makes a person dig a little deeper when pride is on the line. I think your idea has a lot of merit, but the execution might be difficult in this virtual forum. Who and how would the blades be judged? Also, what would the time-line for an entry be? If I had to submit a blade for testing would I get it back or would it be tested to destruction? These are just a few of the concerns I would have holding an online contest. Not that I would mind giving it a try. Regards, Chad

Beautiful knife Rich! I'd wager it would take me almost ten thousand years to make one of those. Chad

Here is a rather obtuse question, but I am going to ask it anyway: What is the actual circumference of a 2" x 72" belt? Is it actually 72" as implied by the name or slightly smaller like many other nominal sizes like a 2x4? :confused: Sorry for such a dumb question. Please try to keep the blows above the belt. Thanks, Chad

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. RainsFire: I forged the blade very close to the final dimensions; which I later came to learn was not such a good thing; so there was not a lot of grinding to do. The grinding I did do was initially done with a single cut bastard file and then my hand drill and a 5" rubber wheel with Velcro backing that accepts abrasive sanding disks. I was glad to have the sanding wheel as it saved a lot of filing. Chad

Pete, I see that you are a man of all seasons; a thespian as well as blade connoisseur. Thank you for for praise, but tis true that this is my first foray at forging a blade. As for the couch, it is far too comfortable, because I spend more time on it than in the shop, which is probably why my knife does not have a guard or handle yet. Cheers, Chad

Hi Bruce, It's made of 5160. I thought that 5160 would be a good choice for a large camp knife and the price was right. Chad

What an awesome gesture! Obviously the gentleman understands that good tools are meant to be used, not horded away under tarps & dust. I hope I am that gracious when the time comes that I cannot swing a hammer. Please post pic's. Chad

Hi Chris and Welcome, If you are looking for tongs & such, try GS Tongs. He sells tongs on E-bay and has a webpage as well. He charges $25.00 a pair, which is not bad for a person on a limited budget. I have not used them, so I can't personally endorse them. Best of luck, Chad

Not only my first forged knife, but also the first time I have ever posted my work on-line. I made this camp knife as a gift for a friend and as you can see, it still needs some work. The blade was forged from a piece of a brand new coil spring about 3/4" in diameter. The handle is going to be made from a piece of deer antler that I had around the shop. Don't ask me what I copied the profile from because I honestly can't say. If it gets a name, I think I'll call it the Jackfish or something like that since it reminds me of a northern pike. As a first attempt, I am rather pleased with my efforts so far. BUT...I can see that I need to define the grind lines better and I will have to work on the polishing. Also, putting a guard on is going to be a challenge because the shoulders where the tang meets the blade are not even with each other.

Does anybody have any feedback about Nimba anvils? I am thinking about perhaps purchasing a centurion model, but I am not sure because I have never read any reviews or independent articles regarding these anvils. Thanks, Chad

Richard, Yeah...that is a favourite scene of mine as well. Indy got the "point" across pretty well...don't bring a sword to a gun fight. RainsFire, I am not sure what you mean by being shaped like a bulldog. If you are specifically focused on the two handed sword, long sword, or bastard sword...then yes, you may have a point. But there are many other styles made by every culture that had the technology to work iron or bronze; right from antiquity to the early 19th century.

Probably most of you guys (& gals) have seen this site before, but for those who have not and are interested in the history and usage of something other than the katana; check this site ARMA They have a wealth of information that they share for free. Imagine that on the World Wide Web? Cheers, Chad P.s. - Nothing against the katana; which is truly a beautiful weapon to behold, but it does tend to overshadow many other worthy blades. A situation that I believe Hollywood is primarily responsible for. IMHO

Hi Alex, Nice job on the blade. Can't believe you did that on a piece of RR track!? Question for you: Did you aneal the blade after forging it? The forging process imparts a lot of stress in the material and could be one reason why your blade broke. Also, water is a very fast quench medium and probably not suitable for use with the metal you chose. Maybe a light oil or proper quenching solution might work better. All the best, Chad

Welcome Ed, I have seen your work and watched your videos; you set the bar very high indeed! It is nice to see a smith of caliber willing to share your knowledge, so that those of us who can't afford a good knife can at least try to make one (: Best regards, Chad