Bob H.

Here is a link to some good info on knapping. This fella is a member of my group, and gave me some lessons when I was getting started. flintknapping, how to Bob Coyote Forge and Sugarbush

Three of us were bow hunting deer on a large farm. Well, I got kinda bored, so I decided to still hunt just a bit. I move very slowly, stopping and scanning a lot. I also knew where the other guys were, so I figured I just might be able to move some deer their way. Well, I work my way down a lane in the woods, and there is Rocky, up in his tree stand. I watch for awhile, to make sure I didn't spook anything he was watching. Well, he never saw me, and was not very vigilant. SO, I sneak up to the base of his tree, lay down my bow, and skinny up a small tree right next to him. I got as high as his feet, before he turned and saw me. BOY, did his eyes get big! See, ya gotta be alert when hunting! Ya never know what is gonna come down that trail. Coyote Bob

Way too light for an anvil. However, if I remember right, and that ain't always the case, Thomas Powers has used a rail car coupler for an anvil. Now that is a much heavier piece of steel, with a lot of mass under the striking surface. And the last time I was at the steel yard, they had a lot of cut off round stock, that would make an excellent anvil. Lot of mass under the hammer, and you don't really need that big of an area to work on. Bob Harasim Coyote Forge

Actually, used motor oil can carry a wide variety of contaminants. Some very nasty stuff can be in there, that you do not want to breath. I currently use new ATF fluid, but will go to Sams Club and buy the soybean oil they have, same as Ellen has suggested in the past. Something like 5 gallons, for a very low price. Bob Harasim Coyote Forge

Actually, if the gov't wants to save lives, ban CARS! Auto accidents kill more people every year than all gun deaths, and knives, and other weapons combined! I tend to hunt and fish by myself, hike by myself, etc, and the most dangerous thing I do, is drive down the dang road. Bob Harasim Coyote Forge

Well, I guess after further thought, I need to make a correction. I have been making knives for 2 years now. I tend to forget things, you know. Again, the first knives were made to represent early 1800 mountain man style knives. And the very first one I made, from a piece of farm equipment spring, I used to gut and butcher my deer last year. Works like a charm. I have carried some of my flint knives deer hunting, but wasn't successful enough to try them out. Which reminds me, I need to make a sheath for this years deer hunting knife. Bob Harasim Coyote Forge PS. One of the reasons I call myself Coyote Forge, is that my mountain man name is Coyote Bob. And the Native Americans believe the Coyote is a trickster, and uh, well, it kinda fits.

Tim, the handles are a not very curly, curly maple, and a birds eye maple. The birds eye is my sisters x-mas present. Victor, I only last year started making knives. I needed some primitive knives for my mountain man group, and one thing led to another. I have actually been blacksmithing about 5 years, as a hobby only. Bob Harasim Coyote Forge

Hey Woody, I see you are from Rapid City. Spent a year out there, in the Air Force. Out in the Black Hills, I found a rock slide that had a lot of rose quartz. I found a nice, clear, football sized rock. But left it there, as I was in the AF, and didn't know what the heck I'd do with it. NOW, if I had that same rock, I'd try to knap it. I know that many Native Americans used some clear quartz to make some very nice points. Especially the Clovis points, which was a long spear point, that had a flute, or groove, down each side. The spear shaft was then split, and the splits lay in the groove, and then it was wrapped to hold all in place. I used to wander the hills, or bad lands by myself, hiking and taking pictures. Also, did a lot of trout fishing up in the hills. Nice places. Bob Harasim Coyote Forge

OK, here are a few more. Oh, the handles on both of the first knives are maple. One is birdseye, the other is a not very curly, curly maple. Oh, the pictures don't do justice to the knives. The last knife looks like grinder marks on the guard, but that is just something in the digital image. I ain't that good with that camera. Bob Harasim Coyote Forge

OK Ian, how about some pictures of shops, and your own work? Bob Harasim Coyote Forge

Yup, I flintknap too. There is a big learning curve on that. Like how to properly apply a bandage! Lot's of blood in the beginning. Neat hobby. I sometimes do primitive skill demos for cub scouts/boy scouts. Someone will invariably ask if those are Indian arrowheads. My ancesters knapped as well, as all of ours have. The only problem is, I keep putting the point on the wrong end! Bob Harasim Coyote Forge Post edited Site Admin

Wow! It worked. I'm not as think as I dumb I am! So I might as well add a few more.

Here are two knives I made recently. Still need to make sheaths. These are gifts. I don't do a good enough job to sell them. And I don't do it fast enough to make money anyway. I hope it worked uploading the file. We will see.

A friend of mine was still hunting thru a cornfield. Move slow, peek up and down the next row, then step into that one and repeat. He saw a doe, and decided he would back up, move down near the doe, then jump out in front of her. Well, he did, and that deer jumped up in the air, about 3 feet from him. It was almost trying to go in all directions at once, it was so scared. And he realized, that had it gone into him with those hoofs and all, he would have been badly busted up. He will never do that again. When I was younger, bow hunting on the ground, the morning was so dark and foggy, I could not see the hand in front of my face. Then, a LOUD SCREAM breaks out, nearby, maybe a hundred yards away. The SCREAM continues on, sounding like a long winded woman being stabbed with a knife. The hair stands up on the back of my neck, I am so scared, I want to run away. But it is dark, I have an arrow I can't see to aim, and the scream is in the direction of my truck. The SCREAM goes up and down in volume, then dies out. Then I hear little sticks breaking, and leaves rustling. Still can't see a darn thing. Heart is beating, adreaniline is up, don't know what to do. Turns out, that is what a bobcat sounds like. But I did not know that, and boy, I will never forget that hunt!

Yup, Dennis is from the UP, I'm with the Trolls that live Under Da Bridge. I live in SW Michigan, and if you hold up your left hand, for a map of Michigan, Hartiwick is just above the knuckle of your "bird" finger. See, us Michigan boys never get lost, we always have our map with us! Bob Harasim

August 26 and 27, we do the demo at the park. There are other demonstrators and vendors there as well. Usually we set up Friday nite. There is a free, primitive campsite available for demonstrators, tho we are in the main campground of the park, as we registered earlier in the year. There are also local hotels in Grayling, which is probably 7 miles away. If you demonstrate, you do not need to buy a state park sticker. Last year they figure they had over 2,000 visiters on Saturday alone. We really draw in the public. You can sell, tho there may be a small vendor fee. If you need more info, I can give you and email addy to my friend, who helps run the event. My addy is primitiveman43ATAOLDOTCOM, and I'll be happy to give you his addy. Bob

Dennis, I see you are a UP'er. Any chance you are going to the Black Iron Days at Hartwick Pines State Park next month? That is the demo I was refering to in my previous post. LAst year we probably had 50 smiths there. Bob Harasim

Sweet knives, thanks for sharing. Those are something that may make a nice demo at our public blacksmith demo's. And I was looking for some ideas for our demo next month! I think I will make one.

HW, thanks for sharing! Made me laugh. See, that is what happens when you go hunting instead of sitting on the couch. You don't get that kind of adreanaline rush sitting on a couch, nor that warm feeling in the seat of your pants either! :] Bob

I got started with cub scouts and boy scouts. Did a lot of reading and tried to put those skills to use as I wandered around the woods. Pretty much had to learn to hunt on my own. Good shooting skills are very important, but not so good if you get lost! There are many skills that go hand in hand in the enjoyment of the outdoors. The more skills and confidence you have, the more enjoyable your outings will be. I practice shooting, I do flintknapping and other primitive skills, I butcher my own game. I usually hunt alone. I like to be alone in the woods. Good compass skills, and generally orientiering skills are important. Always look behind you as you walk, as the scene looking one way can be very different and confusing to you coming back, if you haven't looked. Watch the sun, and use that as a guide. Look at the lay of the land, which way the ridges run. I usually just wander around, sometimes on trails, sometimes not. I like to explore, and do not usually walk in a straight line. Instead of going around a thicket, I quite often just go thru it. But that is just me. :] I got a lot of good lessons from some of the people I flintknapp with. That is where I learned to make fire with flint and steel or a bow drill. I have also learned other methods of making fire. But I ALWAYS carry matches in a water proof match case, and I don't even smoke. The boy scout motto was -Be Prepared. Good advice. I know this is quite rambling, but that is the way I am. But get with shooters, and start asking questions, and you should start to find people that can teach you the things you want to learn. Ellen's advice about the hunter safety class was spot on. And hey, welcome to the fold! And like previously mentioned, hunting is not always about bringing home game. It is another way to enjoy the outdoors, and get off the couch. I often let rabbits run by me, just to let my beagle mix chase them. That is part of the fun. Bob H. I am a man, therefore I am primitive.

Beautiful work Jim. It really makes me want to try some pattern welding. So far, I am doing simple knives with one steel. But after seeing your work here and on your web site, I know that I will at least have to try some pattern welding. Bob Harasim

I remember Ralph from Anvilfire. I will go and ring my anvil for him. Bob Harasim

In Okinawa, in the older homes, geckos were exactly what they wanted. Kept the bugs down, and also made an alarm call if someone came in during the night. So, a burgerlar alarm that eats bugs! Had a bad thing at work today. Fella tried to kill a blue racer snake. Poor little snake. I picked it up and moved it into the woods. Hope it survives. Snakes keep the pests down as well, and in general, they are good to have around. As long as they are not in your house or a poisonous species that threatens you or your pets. Bob Harasim

Along with the browning, you can also leave some of the forge scale on, if that is the look you are after. Hey, this is my first post here! Bob Harasim