sandpile

I don't know for sure wether you could ever buy shor-nuff elephant skin boots. They had a way of tanning cow hide to have the texture of shark and elephant. Our son had a pair of each and we never did know for sure if they were authentic exotic skins or not. I know they were both tougher than a normal pair of boots. JOE BOB had two of his toes cut off inside the shark skin boots and it did absolutely nothing to the boots themselves. Loaded stock trailer dropped onto his foot. Edge of the angle iron, under the tongue, is what cut the toes off. The piece of Elephant Raw-hide that I have, is about 5/8" thick Chuck

RICK-- We will have to double up on this deal. I will have the Prayer Circle pick up on your Aunt PAM.. Chuck

HATS--Hats are costing a way too much money. I have a half a dozen that need to be cleaned and re-blocked. They are really good hats that can not be equalled on todays market. I sent two in to the Ristitol company to have them cleaned and blocked. They sent a letter offering $500.00 for the used hat. I checked around and found out, if you had one made like it today. It would be as high as a good power hammer.Grin. I am glad I did not take them up on the offer. Chuck

TAR-- It has always been my thoughts that in Blades the only thing that will stay sharp and hold an edge are the carbon crystals in the steel. The finer the grain the better the carbon is able to stay sharp. To say there is no carbon in the edge of a blade is what I found to be off stream. Explain to me how you are going to keep an instrument sharp if there is no carbon in the edge. If I insulted you I apoligize. I did not intend to insult but had a hardtime understanding where you got your info on no carbon in an edge. Impossible to keep an edge without carbon. I am not saying there are separate carbon crystals. The carbon is desolved and distributed throughout the steel, edge and all. It is in every part of the hardend blade. I still think the rest of your post was good. Chuck

TAR- I took the post out it was not meant to be abrasive. Good luck chuck

A.M. carbon steels irregardless of quenchant have to be drawn back to the hardness you want. If left completely hard, they will break like glass went dropped. Chuck P.S- Don't put 5160 in water for a quenchant.Grin.

Are we talking about knives or springs?? Chuck

JIM- I went to the referred spot in your web site. I had no idea that you sold your blades for such an attractive price. Great work at great prices. Will go back> I don't have time to really look at your site. Thanks for putting it up. The just finished blade even at the price it has on it, is still cheap for that kind of blade and work. You must really fly in your shop. Time spent is hard to get around. I have too many hours in some of the simple knives I put out the door. Need to learn how to cut the time down.grin. Congrats on some really nice work. Chuck

The most foolishly astounding thought, I have ever heard of is---We will pick-up all of the weapons and the bad guys will not be able to hurt or kill anyone. I have encountered thugs in various places. One thought he was going to mug me, bare handed in a San Diego Airport restroom. He did not get along as he wished/wanted. There is no such thing as a weapon, until the aggressor picks it up. There is no-limit to what can become a weapon at that time. I have had friends down through the years that were dangerous to encounter. They needed no more than their arms and legs to be capable of permently ended an aggressors efforts to cause problems. These highly trained people were the easyist to get along with. I never, ever, heard of anyone of them being handled by the authorities. Even though they had the most weapons at their disposal People. cause objects to be weapons. You can not pick-up all the objects. Chuck

TOMMY & SUSIE-- Congrats on being Grandparents. I have a new one. Ann Marie Bennett was born the 28th of March. She and her proud parents live in San Angelo. Like ALL of anyones grand kids. She is beautiful. Almost black hair and blue eyes. She is number eleven.grin It might take a while for the new Mom to loosen up. Kindness and thoughful reserve may be the best approach to your problem. Never quit 'trying' to show your love for the kids, Own or in-laws. Things sometimes get twisted and turned. Not really showing a clear view, or giving any inkling as to how things should be handled. You just have to have patience. It will all work out in the end. God Bless and good luck. Chuck Bennett

TAR Alderon.--I am just 75 miles south of the Colo. line in the Panhandle of Tx. Welcome to the forum. Glad to have some neighbors showing up. We make knives, spurs, buckles and bits. Along with some other blacksmithing stuff. Welcome chuck Bennett

Dr. JIM-- Roll over, grunt, move so we will know you are alright.GRIN. I have finished my three days as CO at the prison here in Dalhart Tx. Parttime pays my health ins. Big Deal this ins. Now to spend some time in the shop. Chuck

LUDO-- NIN HAO I can't make the symbols for it.GRIN. Glad to have you join us. You are very welcome and we are looking forward to seeing the first pieces you make. That way we will be able to see you progress. We have all been there and it is amazing how fast some people progress. They get pretty good work after just a short time. Welcome and enjoy life. Chuck Bennett

I have four anvils and there are from a 10 lb. up to a 200lb. I use all of them from time to time. Little one is in the knife shop for silver and copper work. Chuck

DR. JIM Have you had time to work up your composite steel. What kind of blade was it to be. It looked like you were headed for a spear pointed short sword. maybe a Viking blade or some such?? Just curious.grin chuck

Rick We are with you. chuck

A few people are able to take advice on what is bad for their health. Most have the additude that if I am careful I can get away with it. A few things that I have marked down to NOT do again. 1. Don't cut or weld Galv. Except outdoors, in a breeze. 2. Don't weld inside a bright galvanized shed or barn, especially if there or two of you welding. 3.NEVER tell your wife to chill out, shut up, or sit down. Chuck

Thanks, To these men/women that have went over the hill, I am sitting here writing this in English. It is with a very large tear in my eye that I give thanks to ALL the wonderful heros that have laid their lives on the line, in order for the free world to remain free. They are continuing to do so as we sit here in our homes. Safe, comfortable, free, and secure in our thoughts that we will remain so. Thank you Irn, for putting this up for us. Chuck

JIM-- Muchas Gracias. Just what I was wanting to see. Thanks Chuck

RICk- After a lifetime of hunting and fishing. We have enough storys to fill a small book. The best place to hear these stories, is around a table or campfire after a long day of hunting or fishing. You need get busy so you can compile your own and the best of the Numb-heads you will hunt with. Believe me everybody sometime or another will pull a numb-head stunt and the good ole boys you hunt with, will make sure this thing never, ever dies.GRIN I once kicked a male bear in the crotch(deadcenter, hard). This was over a pile of lunch meat and the trimmings for a lunch snack. I was young and the bear was not paying enough attention to who was behind him. He did not stick around to tear me up. Thank goodness.GRIN Chuck

Dennis-- I like you knives and think you are doing good work. I don't know bout suggestions. Sometimes they cause more problems than they help. The only thing I see that might help you some. The pins-- It looks like you have been peining them. I epoxy mine and that way I don't crack or splinter any of my handles You can pein or roll the edges after the epoxy sets up hard, tapping real light like.. You can use a paper liner of your choice on the handle slabs. You asked, now don't grab my ears and start kicking my shins.GRIN. Good luck

Never let it be said that you Aussies do not have enthusiasm(sp). it takes a lot of want to, to have fun in these conditions. I have Rodeoed on this kind of ground conditons. You worry more about a bull or horse falling on you, than him bucking you off.BOG. Chuck

If a few more people would have the desire for knives, I could have me a big swage block. I now have three anvils, one light enough to carry around and two for the shop. Well, I have another ASO that is ten lbs and sits on the knife bench.Grin. I have SWABA swage block spoke for but have not gotten it as yet. Chuck

RICK-- It may be too late to add my two-bits. Use the least force you have to. Meaning, go with the WD40 or alcohol to start with. Pipe cleaners afterward and then maybe another soak. Good luck chuck

Wood tick- All the above is is mostly right. BUUTT-- Lefthanded JOHN simplified it for you. If you have no tongs to handle something like this. Weld a handle on it and go for it. Just remember what JOHN said. chuck