Montana7

Well said. Couldn't agree more.

My thoughts exactly. I love the cold forged finish on blades.

Well, it might explain his self appointed middle name beneath his post.

What makes you think this can't be used? Saying it can't be used & won't be used are entirely different. Embellishments or not, from where I'm sitting it looks like it would handle any job requiring a hawk quite well. I'm pretty sure Geronimo or Sitting Bull would agree with that. :) I'm in on the beer.

Yes Chris, diamonds & gem would too much bling for this or any hawk. Way, way too much. Do you have your own website where you sell your work?

I look at this piece the same as high end custom knives....it wouldn't get used. To each his own on that score.

Yet another incredible piece. Indeed, keep it coming.......

My feelings exactly. Chris, all of your items posted on the site are incredible.

Very nice job!

Sage advice.

xxxx. I feel your pain.

Finally a voice of reason from Tim Miller. I'm pretty new to this site & do a lot of reading of various threads to learn a bit about blacksmithing. I'm retired now & thought I might like to move some metal around. Nothing major, as I've never had any aspirations of being a blacksmith, farrier, whatever. I'd just like to pound some metal a bit & see where it leads me. Which may be nowhere after after the first try. A few months ago I found a mousehole anvil & plan on getting together with a guy out my way who makes (hand forges) knives. I met him at a gun show where he had a table set up & after talking with him awhile, it got me thinking about looking for a anvil. Which brings me to this post after reading these negative comments about collectors, which is pretty pervasive with some members on a lot of threads. Which begs the ? Where does this sense of entitlement/snobbery come from, that only blacksmiths should own anvils? I mean, it's not like they're a rare item & only so many are out there. If that were the case, I could see the point of guys getting upset about someone buying one just to have & not use. But let's face it, that isn't the case. I see guys here brag about getting them on the cheap from sellers before they're put on auction. Or guys going to auctions or constantly searching craigs list & having success that way. (he, haw) So because you're a blacksmith, you're the only one entitled to do this? Really? Kind of seems that's the attitude from where I'm sitting & reading. No, I don't collect anvils & have no desire to do so. But I do collect other things, among them vintage firearms. And any forums I go to, I don't see this same sense of entitlement or putting down collectors that exists on this forum. There's plenty of guys who don't shoot their vintage firearms, but I don't see others putting them down because they choose to do so. I see guys who collect expensive custom made knives that never get used, yet they don't get the attitude that's shown to collectors here. Would any of you guys who make custom knives put someone down because he chose not to use it? Would you choose not to sell to someone if he said it was going in his collection & not used? I'm sure you'd like to see a knife that you made being used, but I'm willing to bet the majority of you wouldn't say no to a collector who wanted to buy it & showed you the cash. Let's be honest, would you? All you guys who condemn collectors, have you ever collected anything yourselves? Like guns, watches, stamps, coins, knives, train sets or anything at all? Because if you have, doesn't that make you a hypocrite for someone that wants a anvil in his collection? Bottom line guys (& gals), there's plenty of anvils out there that can be had for a reasonable price if you are patient & know where to look. Heck, since I bought the mousehole a few months ago, I could have bought 3 more since at a reasonable price. Lighten up guys, what you do is a noble profession & good, honest hard work. But let's face it, blacksmiths aren't finding cures for diseases nor are they the center of the universe. Uh, far from it. Despite what you think, being a blacksmith really doesn't give you entitlement to all the anvils out there. I'm not looking to change the attitude I speak of, because I'm pretty certain it will always exist with some of you. It's just an observation that I thought was a good time to throw out there.

I'm a couple hrs. north of you & find anvils aren't that difficult to come by. Check out craigs list or barn sales on a regular basis & sooner or later you'll find one to your liking. And don't feel you have to jump on the first one you see, as they're plentiful in this part of the country. Patience is a virtue.

Nice job Ranger.

You really need to give more info & pictures to even give you a ballpark. From the worn receiver finish, it looks to be a pre-64 Winnie, but can't say for sure. Do you know the ser.#? That would provide the year it was made. From what I can see, it doesn't look abused, just well used. If it's pre-64 & in good mechanical condition, I'd guess $300 minimum, & who knows above that at the auction. I've seen rediculous prices on junk guns I wouldn't touch & why I stopped going to them years ago. Like I said before, you can find much nicer online. The 99 Savage is a great gun & I'd take a good look at that one before the Winnie. How much does condition mean to you?

I recently saw an anchor on a smaller Fisher anvil. I was wondering myself why that was there.

I'd also pass on that Winchester. Far better ones can be found in shops or internet auctions, if condition means anything to you. I've been very happy with my online purchases. Just be sure to ask a lot of ?s, get plenty of clear, close-up pictures & make sure the seller has a return policy if it has to go back. Also, look at the sellers feedback from buyers on previous sales. That's important.

What he said.

Nice job, especially being your first.

That's a great looking knife that just needs a nice sheath to compliment it. If I saw it for sale, I'd be hard pressed not to buy it.

Nice one Mike. I've heard good things about Placid. I paddle a Bell Magic I picked up used (great shape) about 7 years ago....love it.

Debate probably wasn't the right word. Just a discussion with differing opinions. Boat works for me.

Oh, I agree, but some boat builders still consider it a canoe. It just brought back a discussion I vaguely remember some time ago on a canoe building forum on whether a similar style boat could/should be considered a canoe (which it was by the owner & started the debate) or a kayak. Hence, my post. IIRC, the opinions were pretty evenly split.

Looks good Jacques. Now comes the age old ?. Is it a canoe or kayak? :)

That should be a good 3 day trip Mike. Might as well get to work on that holder....nice addition to your boat.