Darious

Brandon builds the fire up until the flames are only about 8 inch high. He feeds what wood he can find (Mostly Deadfall) onto the fire to keep it controlled and lets it burn to a bed of charcoal keeping one larger log burning. Once he has a bed of charcoal he separates it using a green branch and moves it to the side so he has 2 separate sections; the bed of charcoal on one side and the active burning log in another. As the log burns down he replaces it with another and continues to grow the charcoal pile. Brandon asks ben to find a way to dig a hole a few feet from the fire for later use. “I need someone to find 2 large branches; Alder would work well, Approximately 5 feet long and 1.5 inches in diameter. Bring them over so we can fire harden them and set up the shelter better. We will use them to prop the Tart at an angle. Knowing light was soon going to be an issue Brandon attempts to make some torches using green branches wrapped with a mixture of twigs, bark, and woven evergreen. (Beach grass if he remembers seeing any while leaving the water line) Snares and deadfall traps can be set tomorrow for more long term food sources. As well tomorrow they could start scavenging the beach and surrounding area for metals and items to make better tools out of. With the fire burning Brandon takes the survey tape and walks about 20 feet outside the camp. He ties a knot about shoulder height facing the camp where everyone could see it. Then he walked a circle around the camp tying a knot about every 5 feet (Where trees permitted) breaking it off so as not to waste line in between the trees. “If anyone needs to use the washroom do it outside that line. Don’t use the same spot every time. We want to create a line of smell in that circle to deter animals from getting to close to the camp.” He marked off one area to use as a entryway into the camp. “While there is light let’s get some of those tents set up.” While Brandon was helping to set up he was being sure to keep an eye on the fire to stop it from burning down. Steadily increasing his pile of Charcoals.

Ain't that always the truth of it. we can have a thousand ideas that will get materials and "Save money in the long run" as she flys on by it.

That is a beautiful piece. What did you use to polish and sharpen the blade?

A coarse Draw file would also make a really interesting texture like that for those of us who don't have the power equipment for a project like that

So I've been seeing a lot of pictures of Construction equipment being transformed into Anvils. Can you post pictures of the Abnormal and Construction equipment pieces your using as an anvil. I feel it will help to see the different ideas that branch away from the RR track and Classic Anvil for all of us new guys.

After spotting the party and carefully winding his way over to them Brandon takes a full assessment of the situation. Most of the party, with the exception of Aaron, has minor injuries that a little bit of R&R mixed with some TLC would fix no problem. Aaron’s injuries on the other hand, while partially treated, would require a much better more urgent solution. If not helped soon he was potentially going to slip into shock as soon as the adrenaline and numbness wore off. Brandon fished through his first aid kit for a Mylar space blanket that he could wrap around Aaron to keep him warm. Other than that he had to keep him engaged until they had shelter. “Aaron, you are more familiar with this area than the rest of us so I need some information: What did the captain say was the name of this island? What can we expect for wildlife on the island? Are there any kinds of vegetation that we need to watch out for either as a potential threat or as a higher source of nutritional value?” The questions were two-fold; A) they kept Aaron concentrated away from his injuries, and B ) they provided important information to the survivors on what to expect coming up. Brandon Looks over to Ben “Are you able to start looking for a suitable place to build a shelter. Look for an evergreen with a large base and a partial hollow under it or a large size deadfall that we can support and make a temporary shelter. Stay within easy shouting distance of the rest of us, preferably within eye sight, so out to about 100 meters. 50 if it gets too dense.” “Clinton, let’s find a place where we can help Aaron to sit and build a small fire. We can move again later but with night falling we need a source of heat and warmth.” Brandon takes any of the packs he can find and searches all of them for Mylar space blankets and hands them out to everyone. “These will help to retain body heat. It may not feel too cold out here but with everyone being wet the chill can set in fast and it is dangerous. Take off any large over jackets that are soaked through. Once we get a fire going we will hang them to dry.” “Max, are you able to check all of the kits to see what they have for food. We need to take an inventory of everything we have so we know how long we have to forage. First priority is making it through the night, Tomorrow when it is light out we will look at setting up better signals and a more reliable shelter, maybe find a way to get some tools made.” With that done Brandon starts gathering any dry twigs he can find and shaving them into tinder with his Gerber. Then using the striker on his bracelet attempts to start a small fire.

Brandon realizes that survival in thwe conditions could become an issue and was defiantly going to become a team issue. Only problem was he has no idea where anyone else is. Knowing that the tide is coming in and dark is starting to hit he moves away from the water and once he's a safe distance from the tidal line (150 meters or so) he starts to look for signs of any of the others. He looks for a stout branch to use as a staff and to stay on the safe side keeps the water to his right as he moves parallel to the shore.

(Sorry for the delay, rolled a 5) Brandon looked over the Dahlia B and felt a small pang of homesickness. It had been a long time since he had been home. He missed being on the boats to help with the lobster dumping on dump day. (The entire town practically shuts down so everyone can help out) The Dahlia looked to be a proud ship with all of her own quirks and the ship hands who knew and loved them. Feeling completely comfortable with the boat Brandon put on all the equipment grabbed a pair of goggles and strapped his knife to his leg. Then stepped out on deck to ride the waves for a bit. Food was served and Brandon enjoyed a small bite to warm himself up. Had a glass of coffee. And helped himself to a couple packages of crackers. All that done he settled into his armor book again. As the weather grew worse reading became a thing of the past and Brandon became more alert. As the ship bucked and rode the waves he began listening to the difference in the engine sounds. As items started to knock loose firm the deck Brandon circulated and helped everyone adjust what safety gear they had and handed out whatever he could find. The ship let out with a huge lurch and Brandon was tossed from his feet. At that point he knew what was happening next. He rushed over to a mounted first aid kit and filled a barf bag with everything he could fit. Then he used his paracord bracelet and tied the bag to his pfd. When the emergency bags were passed out his training kicked into overdrive and he grabbed and tossed. A jump from the boat into seas like this was risky for even the trained professionals. He was far from professional but he had experience in the surf from basic airline bail out training. It always ducked. With a final check of his straps to make sure everything was secure he leaped far and hard off the boat feet first. In mid air he crossed his arms, plugged his nose and drew in a deep breath. Then fought to keep it as the frigid water smashed into him. Once in the water he tried his to support his random tumble through surf and debris while on his way to shore. It took a great deal of energy to pick himself up but when he finally did he started to help out. Seeing Aaron down was a blow but there was too much to do to worry about it now. He was being treated already. Brandon checked to see if he still had the medical supplies to toss over to them. Then was asked to break a trail and went off in search of a safe trail

it looks like there may have originally been an iron insert that went inside the cement. May have been removed?

Another good use is if he is just learning then based off experienced members seeing the videos they can give pointers on correcting technique and explaining what went wrong with any processes without having to grill him with questions to figure out what he did first.

what im wondering is how will the edge hold up? Have you done any testing to find out?

It will be interesting to see what you make with this. Wondering how it will clean up

Mind if I use this idea? These are really neat and would be fun to make

Brandon does a quick wipe down of his rifle then removes the bolt and magazine and hands it over to Chuck. Afterwards he offers to help anyone who needs a hand with cleaning. The trip back to the Floatel was refreshing and the coffee once he arrived even more so. After a quick stretch and a bit of fresh air Brandon retrieves his rifle and sits down to start the relaxing strip down process on it. He takes his time doing a full strip and examining every piece to make sure everything was in perfect working order. Brandon offers to help anyone who wants it with their firearms and generally tries to make small talk and swap stories with everyone in the party. After a hearty dinner and some good company Brandon decides it’s time to bunk down. He sets his alarm for 7:00 am and settles in for the night. He’s expecting tomorrow to be an interesting and eventful day.

(Generally shooting iron sights on the old .22 Cooey I can get 3” groupings at 100 yards. Most commonly either upper or lower right side.) Brandon was grateful for the chance to hit the range before he started out on the trip. While his US Optics piece was built rugged and could take a beating without losing accuracy; it was always nice to hair-tune it right before shooting. After making sure everything was oiled properly and running smooth he loaded up a magazine with five rounds of Federal Premium Gold Hollow points. As soon as the line was clear and checked Brandon advanced to his designated position and waited for the Line to open again. He concentrated on his breathing while waiting to fire. Just like in his Canadian Forces weapon proficiency training, only this time it wasn’t with a C7. The breathing was rhythmic. As the line opened up he began to fire. Making zeroing adjustments as needed to the scope. Inhale..hold…… exhale….. hold…fire…. Inhale again and repeat the process. Firing in that second between heartbeats when everything is still. Making sure his finger was placed just perfectly on the trigger so there was no hesitation or delay in the smooth trigger pull from start to finish. Finally ensuring that he followed through with the recoil to prevent as much muzzle lift as possible. Brandon fired until the magazine was empty then shook his head to clear the trancelike state that sinks in every time he fired. With a deep breath to fill his lungs again he sat up and waited for the others to finish so he could go check his placement.

Brandon takes Aarons cue and digs out his cold weather gear; A trusty UF Pro Delta Zero Jacket with Monsoon pants and LOFT Ice Box gloves. The only thing they lacked was a healthy layer of reflectivity to remain visible in the bush. After taking a quick look around the facility Brandon decides to join the others on the trip to the market. He needs to stock up on Mink oil for his boots and a nice dark coffee would offset the slight chill. Also on his list were a few reflective pieces and a decent quality hat to keep the rain out of his eyes. A waterproof rifle sleeve would also come in handy as well. While everyone was wandering and talking Brandon kept his eyes open for the telltale signs of old metal works. Moor fastenings that haven’t been used in years and such. Maybe an old anchor laying up on the wharf. It was always fascinating to see what materials they were made and what kinds of detail were put into their design.

Can you send me what you have so far as well as pictures. The one you have right now is good and will work it just needs a few minor adjustments. As well send me pics of your burner. Including how you built it. I think I can get it to welding Temps for you without too much work.

The long plane ride to the Ted Stevens international gave Brandon the perfect start to his much needed vacation. The sounds of the 747 were comforting and allowed him to easily settle into his book: Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction (The 14th century) by: Brian R. Price. The plane ride ended shortly after 0700 hours with a slight amount of turbulence and clean landing followed by a taxi to the south terminal. After disembarking Brandon retrieved his luggage and worked his way to the diner where breakfast was being served and they were to await their guide. Originally he was going to take an unguided trip but after thinking it through Brandon figured a fully guided hunt would be more relaxing. While helping himself to a large plate of scrambled eggs, Bacon, Hash browns, Sausage, and a huge mug of 3 cream 4 Sugar; Brandon took out his pocket notebook and opened to his ballistic charts. It was a perfect time for him to reset his watch to local time and ensure his point of impact solutions were placed inside his watches internal memory. As the Limo pulled up Brandon got up and hoisted his packs in. He placed his Gerber and his side into his backpack along with the ammunition to take into the main area with him. The rest was stored with the luggage. Brandon Hopped into the Limo and stretched out a bit. Everyone else was starting to load up as well so he figured it best to wait before starting his introduction. Finally everyone was loaded and the guide stepped in. Brandon knew pretty quickly he was going to get along well with Aaron. He had the bearing of a man who had seen it all and knew how to handle himself in most situations you could face up here. "Who brought a 9mm auto for a backup piece?" Brandon knew the question was directed at him and reached into his pack for it. After ensuring the safety and chamber was cleared he reversed his grip on it and passed it over to Aaron. The revolver he received in turn was a beautiful piece. Without a closer look Brandon figured it to be a S&W piece but he would have to look into the trademarks to be sure. “The heft is nice and the double action is always reliable in a pinch. What Calibre is the chamber? .357?” Brandon reached into his bag and took out the silver box of Hornady Critical Duty Flexlock ammunition. “They may not be much for size but they pack a punch when needed.” He passed over the box as well. “Although for anything as large as a bear I would much prefer my TT3. Hopefully I’m never in the situation I’m without either, I’m good with a knife but not that good. I’m sure a bear will be much better!” Brandon let out a laugh and glanced over at the other people in the limo to break the tension and invite them to join into the conversation.

Would it work if you did a blade out of S7 with a core and flares out of Copper? Have it so the S7 (Shock Resistant) completely coats the copper except for multiple contact points throughout the blade length in which the copper is exposed. This should give the blade more durability with the added protection from the Shock to the wielder (If you do a solid S7 Tang) Not sure if this will work as its purely speculation at this point.

Personally I prefer the american Tanto design. I like having the two separate cutting edges and the two distinct points. I find that when im cutting with it I have far more control then with more traditional rounded points. its also easy to put two different edges on them depending on your use. Those two pieces are beautiful. And the maple on the Tanto really helps to define the Shape. I would never have thought of using spent casings for knife hardware. Thats a good Idea. What did you use for the interior pins under the casings?

Did you want a full description of clothing styles. Materials. Outdoor gear. And such as well?

Thank you guys so much for all the advice. I downloaded the book and am settling down for a good read. I'm gonna have to see about getting a hard copy of it though as nothing beats the feeling of running the pages in in your hands. I will update you guys with the plans as I go along and post pictures as I start building.

First thanks for the advice in the forge Frosty. I will strip that idea and start from scratch again. I think I can get an old propane tank to cut down. I will look up some designs. My biggest concern is that it has to be portable and not too large as I'm renting and it is being stored in a shed when cool and not in use. Disconnected from everything of course. The Emmerling blower plans can be found here: www.waynecoeartistblacksmith. com/uploads/Ribbon_Forge_Burner.pdf Although if I'm understanding correctly I may not have to worry about going through the effort of making that anyway. Mike do you have photos of your design with the beveled edges. It sounds very efficient on gas.

Thanks in advance for all the help. To start with I'm probably going to be a pain with all the questions. It's how I learn best so better get them all down as best I can. First things first: I don't have any materials yet as I want to have a concrete blueprint with research done on it before I purchase anything. Second: the only blacksmithing I have ever done was twist an iron firepoker in a historic forge as a class field trip almost 16 years ago. All that being said I've been interested in doing my own work ever since and only just recently found that I have the ability and time and space to do it at last. What I have my eyes on is a version of John Emmerlings ribbon burner. For a forge I would like to build a rectangle out of fire bricks. Then line the inside and outside with refractory cement and round it out inside while it's workable. In theory anyway. Feel free to tear apart the design concept and please hit me with the worst of it. If I know all the issues before I start then I may design something better. I mainly want to do knifemaking once I practice and learn how. For starters I would like to know what connections am I going to need from the propane tank to the burner. What recommendations would you share for choosing a material to transport the propane? And most important what safety features can I add between the propane and the burner? The more the better. I don't care if it's overkill. I'll have more after but right now it's 2am here in Calgary and I have to be awake again in 4 hours. Thanks again everyone

This thread could not have come at a better time as I've just spent the last 4 weeks pouring over different burner information and trying to wrap my head around all the info. I want to have as clear an idea as possible before I build my first forge. Thanks in advance for all the information. I'm now going to sit back and greedily absorbe all the upcoming knowledge!