markb

Col. Clink...........er

Great looking pair of knives. I like your use of pins as decoration, very nice design in all your work. What type of steel in your damascus?

ant hill.........?

Can you describe how you do that? I looked in blue prints but didn't see it. Looks really cool but I'm puzzled.

home alone

Good job Nitro, I like that pommel also and the handle looks like it fits your hand, a mistake I made was making mine to small really bugs me that it doesn't fit my hand. Keep at it.

Phil The grind lines are OK but getting the bevels flat is very difficult, needless to say mine aren't. the part near the handle isn't easy either, I need lots of practice. Thanks for your responce it helps to get feed back, as for "seasoned gnarly old" I'm only 57 LOL.

Nitro Thanks I first hot chiseled a groove in the middle of one side with a dulled cold chisel as a guide then used a hot chisel and started cutting through. Alternated each side till I cut through from all sides, then twisted a little and twisted back to open it up. I'm not sure "hot chisel" is the right name, looks like a hatchet I'll take a pic and post it.

I completed one. Heat treated as Jimmy suggested. Beat the blade a little to enthusiastically, blade marks not intended, and had trouble with the grind, dull belt for one. Went to files and discovered a warp, tried to straighten but didn't get it all out. Had fun and feel pretty good about the outcome, so I'm going to go beat up another spike.

Thanks Jimmy, I've been holding off on heat treat just because I haven't done it before. I'll try your suggestion and finish that thing.

I see a big improvement in the pics you posted, keep practicing, it's a lot like grinding blades but I like welding more, not that I'm any better at it.

road rage...........

Happy pessimist

Have him start signing his work.

Judge Judy

Nice hook for any age. The value of your activities can't be overstated. Great hook Mikey. Hit it while it's HOT!

I got the grinder on sale a couple of years ago for $105.00, very handy but their asking price is way too much for what it is, IMHO. grinding ugh.....I started a Bowie and ended up with a letter opener. Another thing I learned, don't work the steel cold. I bent the butt end up to hammer between the 2 tails and did it when it wasn't hot enough, take a look if you click on the pic after it is up you get a close up, also tried to drive a drift thru that hole to make it larger and it cooled the steel very quickly, and cracked it. I guess that little bit of carbon makes a big difference, seems mild steel is much more forgiving. Mark

Phil No purpose for the hole, I just wanted to punch one (learning experience). It was design as you forge and I got a little lost, no plans for a lanyard, but I may wrap the handle. The profile just appeared and I have trouble with the grind, I have a Jet grinder JET 8" Bench Grinder with Multitool Belt Finishing Tool - eBay (item 170194110081 end time Mar-15-08 07:32:16 PDT) I did one twist and flattened it out 11&1/2 inchs finish length. I tried to do a texture thing on the blade with a ball peen hammer but didn't come out so well, but I learned a lot. Thanks for your interest Mark

Good work, I like that letter opener.