Jayrocko

Ok, so I went an bought the Trenton 116#. Glad he didn't sell it off, the other was an ASO of 150# wanted $300. Bearing test said less then 40% bounce back. This will work for me as of now. Once I get better I might get a heavier one. Thank you all. I will clean it up and get better pictures later, maybe someone can tell me more about it then.

I looked at the feet and didn't see any markings. Might need to clear off more rust. I will most likely go and get it, just had another one to look at that was bigger, for around the same price. well it did have a 116 on the foot. Maybe it was a USA one then? I will get a better look later as it was dark out and in a dim garage during last look.

Hello all! So I been searching for an anvil to get started on blacksmithing. I have another anvil that I need to look at tomorrow or else I would have bought this one. (if its what I think it is) I think this is a 116# Trenton from Germany. Maybe 1896-1898. I think I can make out Trenton with a diamond around it. Solid Wrought. "many" so I assume Germany. 116 on the feet. And I'm not sure what it is for but a "B" maybe a "P" stamped into it. I did the ball bearing test seemed to go around 70%ish back up. Pending on what the other anvil is you think I should get this one for $100? I was in the market for 100-150# so this fits on the low end for me. (Going to kick myself if he sells it from under me and the other is a flop) Any info/feedback would help. Not sure if it is as good as I am thinking it to be.

Not too sure what he meant by the hot spots tbh. I will have to clear this up with him. The 2 pieces of handle are removable and used in combo to make a fire. Not using the handle itself. maybe put magnesium and a flint so there is some thing to catch the spark. I will have to hit the books more on this before I start the build. Thanks for the input all. :)

Well as of right now I am not a knife maker. I plan on it one day for sure! Just seeing for future reference. I was thinking of just a slide lock system, but your idea of the neodymium magnets sounds great LB. Wouldn't have thought of that. Hmm maybe combine both ideas so it is somewhat locked in and held down if the cord is being used. This will be in the to do list when I become better with my skills. My co-workers main concern was that there will be "hot spots" when the knife is used. This in turn will effect the knife's performance.

So a co-worker and I was talking today about hand made knives. He said that he wanted a survival knife made of a certain type of steel that is absurdly hard and a wooden handle. This got me thinking of a few basic survival needs: means of fire is huge, and cordage for many, many uses. So I was wondering if this idea would work or if it would fail: On one side of the of the knife tang is a removable flint like substance. Other side is a "striker" steel. If needed you can disassemble and light tinder. Not made for all the time use just a survival situation. All this wrapped in a paracord. (paracord alone is too thin and not much to hold on too) Sorry for the crude picture but its a quick idea that I been pondering.

Great work. Not sure on how far up you want the sheath to go. I assume all the way to the handle. In that case I have seen wooden curved sheaths that have a simple design to them: Make your sheath out of 2 pieces of wood attached like that site that criminalhate had linked with one exception, cut in from the side (or top pending how you view it) so the knife doesn't have to slide out from the end but rather from the spine of the blade out..... this is hard to explain with out a picture. Cutting edge of the blade all slides in at once like you are cutting into the wood. Then that is held in with either leather straps or buckles or even cheaper setup is buttons. If this doesn't make sense let me know and I will see if I cant find an example of what I mean. I know I have something near that still packed up from my last move.

Hello, IMO the best bet would be to call and talk to the fire department (or alike in the UK) and ask them. My local FD didn't have any rules/regulations, so they told me to just abide by the fire pit and BBQ codes. (15 feet from any flammable structure, fire extinguisher near, and "keep outta site from nosey neighbors"- said by the 2nd in command there. "If we get called out we will shut you down for good." As for the renting a place, a lot of places would require a large then normal insurance policy, that is IF the renter lets you in the first place. Might be able to rent a garage or a backyard of a friend if your equipment is semi-portable. Jayrocko

In my line of work, I am around a lot of people from the "general public". It never stops amazing me how some of them make it (at all) in life. They expect almost everything handed to them, and RIGHT NOW! . People are in a hurry and just think about themselves. At first I thought it was just in my line of work, seeing this thread has made me laugh a few times, and reassure me its not the case. I'm only 27, not saying I know it all. I am by no means perfect I took some shop classes in middle/high school. In my metals class our "big" project was a copper sprinkler that was soldered together. It was a neat idea, but that was a "small" project in my eyes. Then we bent cold steel with a machine. This shows the basics, yes, but anything after that you where on your own. It was enough to get me into craving more. Now I see that schools are not funding simple programs like this any more. They want to invest more into sports. ( At least where I lived) That is all fine, but what about the kids, or even adults for that matter that are not into the sports side? Give them options! Its no wonder that there is a lot of ill-informed people in the world. Art/music programs where being cut when I was in high school, to give more to the football programs. So when I get the people that are asking the "you kidding me?" questions, I can see why.

Ha GF too? Nope not AF just born/raised here. Dad and I (and well most the family) shoot a lot so we would buy in bulk. Or these I have might just be left overs from my dads days of serving. I'm thinking the work I will want to do would be too big for the ammo can idea then but I still want to see it when you have it done in case I change my mind. It would be best if you posted a pic of the burner IMO. Not that I would be able to answer it, seeing as I know just a drop in a bucket as of right yet. Might want to tell the BTU if its listed as well.

Hello and welcome, I too am from MT and I too am named James, and yes I too am a new user. :blink: Any ways, seems like you know more of what you are doing then I do. If you don't mind me asking, what was you thinking of for the ammo can? I have a few of those as well and might be interested in something that size. As for your small firebrick forge, you might want to think about putting another firebrick on each side of the forge. IMO it will help with heat loss, thus making your forge hotter/more efficient, and use less gas for you. Great work so far.

Thanks Sam, I look forward to making strong attempt at this. I've been looking for a new way to be creative so i think this will suite me. Plus I been wanting to do this for 15+ years. Didn't know it was so easy to build a forge, (yet more so in other ways). Yeah I been working on a few ideas for a cart system/workbench. I will be using propane. 1st forge is going to be a small one I think. (members here talked me into it.) That will make it easier to lug around. Without making the first one yet, I have plans brewing already for my second one.

I know this is just a little bit late on the post. :blink: But if it still matters to the lugging your stump/anvil issue. they make handcarts that are for bigger appliances that has a strap on it to wrap around your material. On the back there is a little wheel or belt system that goes against an edge when lifting them up and down. If you have the clearance in your trailer might be a good option once you bolt down your anvil. That or there is a ramp and a regular hand cart. My .02

After a few posts and great help/tips/info from the members at IFI I figured I better introduce myself. Hello all! Glad to be a part of a very helpful/informative group. My name is James and I live in Montana. I am just getting ready to build my first forge, and start smithing for the very first time. I'm super stoked! My current living situation isn't ideal for metal work of this nature. So I plan on moving with in a year or two. Until then I will have to make it portable and go to friends or family's house. Once I am up and running I will try to post pictures of progress. Might be a long process with no real teacher, but hey I'm a "hands on" type of guy any ways. Jump right in and see where it takes me. Sorry for the late introduction, I got ahead of myself and got excited. Better late then never I guess! :unsure: Wishing you all creative thoughts! James

PS the group I did find via internet didn't do blacksmithing.... even though there was the site saying that they did. Also I did find a group that is near 4 hours(+) away. That might be an option once the weather is better. But until then I would like to watch a smith at work in person. Help when needed and ask questions when they arise.