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

Those are some awesome looking axes, I was curious what the last one was made from, because that looks like a nice heavy chuck of steel. Also I really like the leather wrappings on some of these. How are you attaching the leather to the handle? It looks like brads of some kind but would love to know how you are doing it.

Let's try again.

Hey Aaron. Nice looking work, what I could see of it. Those pics are HUGE!! Try downloading "Fotosizer" . It's a free download to resize your photos. I resize mine to 600px X 450px and they come out about right. You can resize to any size you like, though. Good job on the hawks.

]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 got a source a local flee market , 16 inch by 1 3/4 at widest part by 5/16 thick, nickleson brand (i think) for 50 cents each. he's got hundreds and lots of other random stuff, i have a horseshoe rasp (also 50 cents) i cant wait to use... question, did you grind your teeth at all, because ive found cracks in some that i didnt grind fairly well?

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.