mitch4ging

Chinobi, I don't believe there is a top lock of any sorts, it just stops against the top frame. I guess you might be able to add a indent of sorts so it catchs some... May be interesting to figure out a lock for this style, if no one already has...

Tim, very nice!!! Looks like a family heirloom in the make!

Very nice!! Love the coloring, blends nicely.

http://www.minnesotafarriers.com/Hammer.htm lets try this than..

Toothy, After you get it removed, you can go to www.minnesotafarriers.com/Hammer, there is a good article on re - handling a hammer. It is helpful. (Note: not sure if an outside link of this type was acceptable, so the above link is not active, but you can cut / paste to google. )

Nice! Looks like it may have found a home next to the bottle opener as well! Grilled meat and cold drink....a good thing! :)

Nice, Dragon! Scotty, those are awsome. I could see why you should be able to sell bunches of 'em.

Ding....light bulb came on. How about a striker/opener thats a belt buckle! That way you always have it! You can also always carry some char cloth in a small tube on your key chain... just not sure how to carru the flint...? Maybe on dog tag chain around the neck. Might be very marketable once figured out? Just some out loud thinking...:) Frosty, I think you can only have the novelty "paper weights" Gromgor spoke of.....can't carry. Same way as with auto knives....have a whole bunch, including an early Charles Ochs Black auto, just cant carry them anymore.

Tnks Frosty & Vaughn. It really has some possibilities. Maybe evan an old WW2 Trench knife/ brass knuckle type thing, with bottle opener the main function of course!!

Tnks Frosty & Vaughn. It really has some possibilities. Maybe evan an old WW2 Trench knife/ brass knuckle type thing, with bottle opener the main function of course!!

It looks like you had a good weekend! They look good!

Vaughn; After reading my last post, didn't come out right...didn't mean to sound like a smart aleck. I was being somewhat serious about expounding it some. maybe adding some sort of short blade or serration. Anyway, I apologize if you took offense, none intended.

Thats great, VT. Now maybe add a knife, compass, file...;)

It pays to be thorough! ;)

Nice VT! Looks like it passed the testing & QC!

Nice hall, Jim, Michael an NJ. I get excited if I find a rusty ball pein!

That is gorgeous! Nicely done!

Welcome BP. I am up in Moore. Glad to have ya. As you already have found out, LOTS of good info here, including casting and making jewelry. Also, sounds like you have a bead on the Saltfork group, gread bunch of guys. Happy hammering!

Nice, Rp. Looks like "feather trowels"! Maybe a marketing niche.

"And if you did lose 'some' hardness, would it still be a better tool that lasts longer than one that never was hardened to begin with?" That has confused me as well. I did not harden mine, but do you get more longevity out of the tool if you do? Would you need to re-do the harden/temper after a while?

But then you have Brian's reasoning on this... "brianbrazealblacksmith20 Jun 2012 I don't harden hot cuts, and I don't know why others do. I used to because I assummed it was necessary, but that was a totally incorrect assumption. I can cut 2" and under 4140 in one heat with a hand hammer with a hot cut made out of the same material and so can anyone else if they have the right tools. I will harden and temper hand chisels, fullers, and punches that I use to lay out cold material like you would with a center punch, but there is no reason or need for haredening and tempering punches and chisels that you do hot work with, and you would only lose the temper when doing large work. If you are going to cut cold then you need to heat treat. I would like to hear some reasons why others would harden such a tool and not just the same old excuse that I had of doing what I thought I had to do or what I was told to do." Maybe another good debate...?

Hey, it's coming along! I know you'll be happy when you get your new forge up and roaring! are you going to try to drift with your current forge? Keep hammering!

Very nice! I agree with Windancer. Like it very much!

Soooo.....BF found a HB marked US? ;) Nice looking anvil! Great find.

Jim, they are used in leather work, i.e. belts. You can get them at a Tandy's leather, if you have those up there. Never thought of using one on the anvil though. Great idea!