A.S.T.

The trade item for our December meeting is a Christmas ornament. This is what I came up with.

Thought I would try to make a "skeleton" handled knife. The first attempt was not quite what I had in mind. So the second picture is after chaneing some steps and adding some steps in the handle forgeing process. Let me know what you think. Aaron

I purchased a drift from Kayne and Sons and am very pleased with it. the top has mushroomed a bit but I keep it cleaned up whith the belt sander and it has not been a problem. Aaron

Tiapan Thanks for the nice coments. The last one was a big hunk of mystery steel. The leather wraps are stitched on and held in place with apolstery tacks or copper and or brass plated brads. Aaron

Let's try again.

CurlyGeorge I managed to get the first image resized. The rest of them are not cooperating . Aaron

]The camera was laying on the table so I took some pics of my most recent hawks.Critique is welcomed. Aaron

Thanks for the replys. I ordered a drift and a handle from blacksmiths depot. Will probably order some more handles from haversack/blackbear trading as well. Aaron

I am currently making my own hawk handles and I have a drift that I made. This has been working so far. But I would like to buy a drift and the handles. Was wondering if anybody could recomend a source. I would prefer to purchase both from the same source. I have googled it and there are several choices. Just wondering if anybody had a prefferance. Aaron

Welcome to I.F.I. Have you checked into H.A.B.A. yet ? They are good group, might even some members close to you. Aaron

inuroku842 Balconesforge is having our big demo this month we are bringing in Gordon Williams. I am in Converse which is a suburb of San Antonio . pm me or email me at kilmorer@sbcglobal.net Aaron

Don't know how far this would be for you. But Gordon williams gives classes at pieh tool co. . He did a spring workshop and demo for our Texas group a while back . I wasn't able to attend any of his classes but the demo was very imformative . We liked him so much we are haveing him back in april. Here is the link to pieh tools site http://www.piehtoolco.com/contents/en-us/d1460.html . Aaron Tilton

Just saw HWHII'S post for the Arizona hammer in. Thought I would post a link to Balcones Forge's big demo same weekend. Gordon Williams is going to be the demonstrator. http://www.balconesforge.org/ A little friendly competiton never hurts anyone . Aaron

You might be a blacksmith if you have ever used a dutch oven and an oxy/accetaline torch to cook anything. A.S.T.

I have made several Hawks out of old leaf springs and had pretty good luck . I fold over and weld to form the eye . Have also had good luck using 5160 flat bar. Aaron

I didn't grind the teeth much at all . Just enough to dull them . I didn't notice any cracks.

The old rasp was given to me by a friend who knows a farrier and the file was given to me buy a mechanic friend of mine. I have had pretty good luck finding old files at the flea market. Aaron

Here are some new knives I have recently finished. As always I am open for critique . The first one is an old farrier's rasp I made as a trade item for our monthly meeting. The loop on the end of it is a bottle opener. The little one is an old file . The last one is 5160 with a mesquite handle. Aaron

I used diluted muriatic acid. Aaron

Welcome to the forum .The HABA group is a great group of guys. I am a member of Balcones Forge . We have a pretty good group as well . Aaron

Just finished this one this morning. It is 9and 3/4 " overall length and the blade is just shy of 5". It is 1and 1/8 " at it's widest point , the spine is 1/8" at the handle and about 1/16" at the tip. P.S. as always critique is wanted. Aaron

I finished this about a week ago . I am going to call it a camp knife because that is it's intended purpose. It's not real pretty to look at but is very functional. And I must have done something right as I chopped through a 2 x4 and can still shave the hair off my arm. Now for the info everybody wants. Overall length is 10" , blade length is 5 1/4" ,it is 1and 1/2 " at the handle. I still need lots of practice in the grinding department. Critique is expected. Aaron

I am looking for a supply of 5160 steel . I don't need alot would like 1/4 x 1 1/2 . I want something more reliable than recycled leaf spring. As I am looking for consistancy. A.S.T.

I also use vise and a draw knife along whith a wood rasp for final shapeing. I start whith a square section and the round it up just like you would square stock when forgeing. nok the corners off makeing it 8 sided then 16 etc. A.S.T.

Chuck I meant to say it was equivelant to 15n20 . As for the eye I wrapped it around a drift and welded . A.S.T.