Weltall

http://archaeology.about.com/od/ancientweapons/a/damascus_steel_2.htm

This is a neat article I found while tromping around on the interwebz. I thought it was neat. I'm sure its been posted before, but I'll put it up anyway for grins, maybe someone like myself can learn from it.

I work in Chino! That's awesome. I have a riveters forge and small anvil from there as well.

My 50# hammer was shipped new in 1911 to the Kasmer and Mastell Mine in Garrison North Dakota. It made its way to Cotton Wood Arizona, then to Flagstaff Az. and then to Tucson.
 
My 100# hammer shipped new in 1975 to Phelps Dodge, Hildalgo smelter in Animas New Mexico, then ended up at the Chino mine in Santa Rita New Mexico. I saved it before it went to scrap. Unfortunatly I wasn't able to save anything else out of the "Boiler" shop, which included a beautiful steam hammer, platten tables, hundreds of tongs, spring tools etc. The hammer is now safe in Tucson.
 
Heck the history of the Chino mine is pretty darn interesting as well:
From Wikipedia
 
"The huge open-pit mine was once the largest in the world, but has been surpassed by Chuquicamata, and is perhaps the oldest mining site still being used in the American southwest. Apaches, Spaniards, Mexicans, and Americans have all obtained native copper and copper ore from this site, once known as the Santa Rita mine, and in the 19th century, a tunnel mine. The present-day open-pit mining operation was begun in 1910. It is the third oldest open pit copper mine in the world after the Bingham Canyon Mine

and Chuquicamata."
 
Dan

Correction, that was 1018, not 1080... But I got another one today anyway. What should I do with them?

Lol. Who knows? Its key stock. There is another piece, 4x6x24 I have my eye on.

A 3 inch cube of 1080 I just acquired from work.... More to come.

Yup, '65 LeMans. :)

Bentiron, it's always nice to be in the company of a fellow enthusiast. Not many know the sound of ringing steel at 1000 yards. :)
Frank, I keep swearing that I need to go visit Taos someday! Lol.

I will endeavor to quit smoking, and continue to improve my marksmanship. I will gobble up all knowledge presented to me, and use that knowledge to develop skills that can benefit my family and myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF4GfCRCHqM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

My bike. Thieves did over $4000 in damage. It Sat for three years. Now its finally coming together.

Just thought I would show off some of my other hobbies...

 

By the way, I am looking for books that have more to with the tools, methods, terminology, and processes of blacksmithing, rather than any particular facet. Thanks!

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

On to my first real question. I know that reading is no substitute for experience, but that studying the works of others who DO possess that experience is nothing but beneficial. That being said, I would welcome all of your suggestions on what to read. I know I won't be doing any kind of work this winter, but I still want to learn.
So, what books do you all recommend? What books should I use to start fires with?

:D

Thanks Thomas!

Alright. So if any of you looked at that link, assuming it worked, you'll notice the state its all in... The anvil was never the best to begin with, but I won't complain about free. The forge needs rebuilt, and the drill press needs to be oiled and broke free. The old man said he has the tools and other stuff as well, he just needs to find it all.

 

Once I do have everything, I'll need to fix whats broken, replace what isn't any good, and figure out if I can use the anvil as is. If it is worth fixing, awesome. If not, I can sell it to some sucker here in town as art.

I'm in southwestern New Mexico.
Sorry about the huge url, but here's a few pics.

http://m1211.photobucket.com/albums/Weltall69/smith%20stuff/?src=www?pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2QlGelg%2F69x0vgH%2BajIRr7GGUMJortr84j3eJHYggexq7v5uM%2FjueVYe%2FaihdS%2FX7NqqzdpJuOKBrjx2uIRnKGmnxI1vXc9zmi82X8unbSAAU5WTwwl%2FY%2FNC7QETwYb3iO983C5Caw8%2B1yfD2pBj8ZE%3D

A friend of my grandfather gave me an anvil, forge, and drill press. He said he use to forge knives before he got to old to swing a hammer, and decided I could make better use of the things than he.
I'll post some pictures soon, its all rather old, and it all needs some TLC.

My background:
US Army Iraq Veteran, I plan on beating metal to help me with PTSD. I literally have everything to learn, and no-one to learn from.
Cheers!