melsdad

Thank you Latticiano. I feel the same way about the heel of the blade being closer to the bolster. The antlers are on the knives how I got them. I wanted to keep them as natural as possible.

I have made knives by stock removal in the past. Always wanted to start forging blades. 1084 steel, elk antler on the top knife. Deer antler on the bottom one. Both have poured pewter bolsters, another first for me.

A question for those that have a kmg grinder or a home built clone. What size bearings are pressed into your idler wheels, and contact wheels? I know the I.D. is .500" I believe the O.D. is 1.125", and the width is .313" If this is correct can you tell me what if any visible markings are on the bearings.

Very nice knife! Where do you get your 1080 material?

Yep, found it right here in Elizabeth Township. Just across the river from where you grew up.....correct?

It does a fine job of washin' yer' grubby hands too :)

Thanks for the info. I don't plan on parting with it, just wondered the value.

Here are 2 of the lathes I have full use of at work. There are others, but I don't have any pictures. The Romi is a hybrid type machine. It can be run manually like a conventional engine lathe, or programmed conversationally, or standard g-code programming. The hardinge is the cadillac of the hardinge lathe line. Threading capability, and a digital read out. This baby will hold tenths with ease.

Well Philip, I guess I should have said, I have know this farmer for years. He didn't want anything for it but I will gladly trade him some scrap metal for it. Does anyone have an idea of the value of this anvil?

Now I can read it since you pointed out the name. What do you think of the condition?

I found my first anvil on Saturday. It is in pretty decent shape, It weighs 75#. I noticed it in a farmers ballast box on the back of his tractor. I asked him if he would part with it, he said "sure..you can have it" So I traded him some large bar ends from the scrap bin at work for the anvil. I am not sure of the make, or model. Part of it looks like is says "Rhode" you can see it in the picture. Here is the hard to make out name stamped in the side. I hope someone can help me identify this anvil.

I bought five tickets for that rifle, and will probably buy some more before the raffle. The rifle is valued over $40,000

Most of the knives I have made so far are from O1. None I made have been forged yet, all stock removal. If properly heat treated, and tempered they make excellent blades that hold an edge well.

Very beautiful knife! love the looks of it!!

Thanks for the advice guys. Before I bury this hunk of metal in the ground, I was thinking I should machine, say a

I have access to a piece that is 4" x 8" x 48" long. I can cut and machine it to about anything I need. I was hoping it would get me buy till I can get a real anvil.

Can this material be used to make an anvil? I know the piece is a high tensile strength, but am not sure of the actual numbers.

I appreciate the offer Bruce, I just may take you up on that sometime.

Thanks for the welcomes everyone. Bruce, you know exactly where I am located. I have a few friends that live in Coulter. Shame you still don't live there, maybe you could teach me a thing or too about forging.

after a few months of lurking in the background learning, and absorbing the large amounts of information available here. With tons more to learn!! My wife, 5 year old daughter, and I recently moved into our new home in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Now that I have the space I am that much closer to getting a forge built so I can try my hand at forging knives. I started making knives last year (March of 2008 to be exact) when I became interested in flintlock rifles, and blackpowder shooting. I joined a website forum called "The Traditional Muzzloading Association". I noticed some folks on there making there own accoutrements. I was always one to make my own stuff when possible, so I decided to try and make a knife. I was pleased with how it turned out for not knowing anything about knife making So I made a few more, and learned alot along the way. I have made six knives to date, all by stock removal. Five of them I made from O1, and one I made from 5160. I am looking forward to forging knives out of some old files, and high carbon steel I have been collecting. I have rambled on enough. Here are a few pictures of a couple knives I have made so far. I look forward to learning from you folks in the near future. This is the first one I made...O1 tool steel, hickory scales. I left the scale of the oil quench on the blade for a different look. This knife I carry on my shooting bag for blackpowder shoots. O1 steel walnut scales with a copper bolster. This is another made of O1 steel with curly maple scales. This knife is for an online auction for the TMA website I mentioned. finally this is the last knife I finished. O1 steel curly sugar maple scales, filework on the spine is an opposing arrowhead design. This knife I made for the Pheasants Forever chapter 603 annual banquet. I was pleased that this knife auctioned off for $400.00 to benefit the PF